September

I've been toying with the idea of making one of my characters blind in one eye, for a couple of reasons that aren't important to name here. What I would like to know is, if she's been blind in that eye (left, if it makes a difference) since birth would it affect anything she does (aside from not being able to see as far to the left)? I know if you've had vision in both your eyes and then you lose one, you have to adjust to the change in perception, but what if you had always had that perception? Thanks.

Gilles

I heard if you can only see from one eye, you have bad depth perception, so your hand-eye coordination would be off.

I think when you're born, you learn according to your body. Like a normal child will learn how to coordinate with their arms and legs. So yes, you have to get used to it, but unless your character is an awfully slow learner, she probably has already has gotten used to it at a very young age.

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sundara

It does effect depth perception. MY best friend and my mother are blind in one eye. It is a special challenge when driving or threading a needle among other things. Think of all the things you need both eyes for- throwing, catching, arching your eyebrows, putting eye shadow on your good eye… I ate at a Chinese restaurant with my friend recently and she was trying to put mustard on her egg roll. She ended up with mustard all over her hand because she couldn’t aim.

nacreous

bad depth perception is the tip of the iceberg. poor hand-eye coordination, so she cant drive. poor peripheral vision, so she cant really see whats going on all around her. also, its very unlikely to be born blind in just one eye. maybe an accident would explain it better. of course, all of those problems would persist, but, like you said, she'd find some ways around it. basically, though, she would not be a very visually-oriented person, thats for sure.
good luck

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lin

One eyed people can drive just fine. I played on a softball team with a one-eyed outfielder. He could judge the fly by the angle. Good player. Hit over .300

There used to be a totally, 100% blind guy who refereed pingpong matches, judging where the ball hit the table within millimeters by the sound. It was on newsreels, then later on TV.

An infection could easily cause somebody to be born with only one working eye. Or a bad delivery. Or an accident post partum.

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seigfried007

Infection before birth, I'd say no. However, one can easily contract illnesses that may blind or be injured while an infant or toddler. Unborn infants don't have germs on their hands to rub in their eyes.

I'd say a one-eyed person ought to be able to drive. I had a math teacher who lost an eye in a train-wreck and he drove himself around fine despite only having lost his eye a few years previous.

With driving, most of the cues for distance are MONocular. If you look at a picture of teh road,or watch a driving movie, you'll be able to spot distance pretty well. It's not like he couldn't see trees or yellow lines or other cars, either. The dangerous aspects of driving can be seen by anyone not completely blind.

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seigfried007

If all else fails and you really want to do some cheap research, the best way to test this would be to get an eyepatch and walk around like that for a few days--go to public places, drive in not-so-well-traveled places with good roads, mow the lawn, do dishes, go to school. You'll learn more that way than anyting we'll be able to tell you.

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Sam Winchester

I have an uncle and an aunt who are blind in one eye, and both of them still drive. So the belief that people with one blind eye aren't allowed to drive is a myth.

Sam.

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Mike C

Exactly what I was going to suggest. But keep it on for a few days, to give your brain a chance to compensate.

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archer88iv

Yeah, none of that bunk about being blind in one eye being a significantly crippling factor is actually true. Some things I've noticed about my friend who actually is blind in one eye:

1) He's an astonishingly gifted artist. (Probably not related, but his impaired vision certainly proved no detriment to his visual abilities.)

2) He does NOT play baseball, tennis, or any flying-ball-related games.

3) He is an accomplished fencer and participates regularly in SCA events. (One might notice after a while that his parries are generally farther from the body than others'.)

4) Approaching quietly on his blind side is a sure way to surprise him (and will not endear you to him).

5) Since both his eyes *look* functional, it's impossible to tell he's blind unless he actually tells you so. (The blind eye still flits around and focuses with the seeing one, and the iris still contracts.)

6) He does have a car and a license, but with the price of gas these days, who really *wants* to drive?

7) He is hesitant to cross streets without looking very carefully--possibly because of the lack of depth perception, but more likely because of the complete lack of peripheral vision on his left side.

8 ) When it comes to SCA, wielding a sword and shield is a tricky proposition. Defensive stance with a shield places his left side closer to the enemy, which means that he loses some of his vision. [Stupid smiley. >.< ]

9) I did get him to play racquetball once, for ten minutes. Not a successful venture. Thing is, I'm not certain it's so much a physical inability to play (he's an accomplished sportsman in general) as a psychological desire to protect himself. He does tend to favor his good eye. Contacts scare the crap out of him, though he does wear them on occasion.

10) Decent paintball player, but not a very good marksman at long range. Proved to be an adequate marksman with real handguns, too, with a bit of practice.

---

He did once dress as a pirate for Halloween, complete with an eye patch. One of our RAs at the dorm commented that such a costume could be dangerous, since it would impair his ability to see, especially at night. Interesting conversation.

Oh, right! Cause was an illness at the age of 6. Almost forgot to mention that. >.>

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sundara

Both my mother and friend who are blind in one eye drive, but they have concerns that I do not. They are aware of their limited peripheral vision and depth perception and work to compensate. One is a very nervous driver because of it.

For both of them the eye that is blind wanders so you can tell, but I never notice. I guess I’m so accustomed to looking in the good eye when I talk to them.

I thought of something else about people who are blind in one eye- they can’t watch 3D movies in 3D- it’s just a regular movie for them.

September

lin

Could he have a peg leg, too?

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seigfried007

LOL Lin! I actually made a character once who had two peg legs and a hook hand with various attachments-- called him Lieutenant Dan

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