riding with one eye

[tryandgetme]

Does anyone out there do alot of offroad riding with a depth perception problem?

Over the winter I developed fairly severe retinopathy symptoms in my right eye, it's fuzzy and distorted enough to give me depth perception problems at ranges closer than 10-15 feet, getting worse as it gets closer. Worse with low light, my left eye sees great, right eye has problems with low light, so the problem gets worse. Shaking hands in a dark pub is interesting. I havn't tried any technical offroading yet, I'm just wondering if anyone does or knows of someone that rides with one bad eye that can share the story?

I'm starting to get used to the change in depth perception, so I think it's adaptable. I'm thinking that I'm used to riding in a stable position and my reflexes and timing are good enough to make up for it...I'll probably give it a try with some obstacles today. Lining up left/right wise won't be a problem, I just wonder if I'll have a hard time adjusting timing for the "pull up, over log" thing. Periferal vision in both eyes is still fantastic, maybe that counts for alot.

[althegud1srtakn]

i don't think that she's ever been big into mountain biking, but my grandma is blind in one eye and she drives. she was blind in it from birth tho, so she's probably a bit more adapted

[tryandgetme]

yeah, I don't find driving to be a problem since a depth discrepency of 6 inches over a range of 5 feet isn't a big deal. And the eye doc says beyond 20 feet, we all view the world the same, depth perception wise, even if you only have one eye. Being 6 inches closer to the log than you think you are means you're lifting the front end a bit too late though. Mountain biking takes a whole lot more finesse and accuracy than driving, I find... I just wonder over the long term how much adaptation I can expect...

[rockyrider]

A buddy of mine in Calgary had a detached retina in one eye and did pretty well riding off road, although sometimes he wouldn't see stuff on his blind side.

[tryandgetme]

I jumped on for a few minutes yesterday, didn't seem to affect anything as far as doing curb stunts in the parking lot. I'll go for a trail ride today I think, but I might sink in up to my haircut in mud...

I'm glad...this is one part of my life I'm NOT giving up for anything. Thanks guys...

[rockyrider]

The things to watch for are branches and things sticking out onto the trail on the side with poor vision. That's the kind of stuff that literally can blind side you. :cool: (Stevie Wonder icon?)

[tryandgetme]

yeah, I don't ride without sunglasses, I've got cool mec ones with replacable lenses and I carry the clear set for low light. been poked in the face too many times, comes too close to the eyes. so now sticks just bounce off of the glasses and end up shoved up under the helmet scraping the shit out of my head, but at least I can see the blood.

[mellers]

Does anyone out there do alot of offroad riding with a depth perception problem?

Over the winter I developed fairly severe retinopathy symptoms in my right eye, it's fuzzy and distorted enough to give me depth perception problems at ranges closer than 10-15 feet, getting worse as it gets closer. Worse with low light, my left eye sees great, right eye has problems with low light, so the problem gets worse. Shaking hands in a dark pub is interesting. I havn't tried any technical offroading yet, I'm just wondering if anyone does or knows of someone that rides with one bad eye that can share the story?

I'm starting to get used to the change in depth perception, so I think it's adaptable. I'm thinking that I'm used to riding in a stable position and my reflexes and timing are good enough to make up for it...I'll probably give it a try with some obstacles today. Lining up left/right wise won't be a problem, I just wonder if I'll have a hard time adjusting timing for the "pull up, over log" thing. Periferal vision in both eyes is still fantastic, maybe that counts for alot.

have you thought about seeing an eye doc? :D

[tryandgetme]

have you thought about seeing an eye doc? :D

the laser surgery is a preventative for further blindness, not a treatment, sadly...

[mcstark]

Does anyone out there do alot of offroad riding with a depth perception problem?

Over the winter I developed fairly severe retinopathy symptoms in my right eye, it's fuzzy and distorted enough to give me depth perception problems at ranges closer than 10-15 feet, getting worse as it gets closer. Worse with low light, my left eye sees great, right eye has problems with low light, so the problem gets worse. Shaking hands in a dark pub is interesting. I havn't tried any technical offroading yet, I'm just wondering if anyone does or knows of someone that rides with one bad eye that can share the story?

I'm starting to get used to the change in depth perception, so I think it's adaptable. I'm thinking that I'm used to riding in a stable position and my reflexes and timing are good enough to make up for it...I'll probably give it a try with some obstacles today. Lining up left/right wise won't be a problem, I just wonder if I'll have a hard time adjusting timing for the "pull up, over log" thing. Periferal vision in both eyes is still fantastic, maybe that counts for alot.

Chris - I completely understand your pain. Eleven years ago the retina in my left eye detached enough that my central vision was impacted. Everything got patched up and has been stable since then, but I was left with a scar across my macula. The vision in my left eye is 20/50 or so corrected, but it's wavy and distorted at best. In the conditions you describe (low light, medium distance), catching a ball is hit-or-miss.
My off-roading has been affected a little, but only when I really think about it. My right eye has always been dominant, so there wasn't that much of a change for me. Obviously, my depth perception is a little wacked, and the technical stuff can be tricky...but I find if I deliberately look where I'm going - instead of quickly glancing - my depth perception doesn't bother me too much.
As long as your eye is stable, get on the trail and slowly build up your speed. I pretty much ride the same as before the eye injury, and don't worry about damaging it further.
Of course, at my last checkup the eye doc tells me I'm developing a cataract in the left eye now. I guess it wasn't meant to be.... But I'm trying some vitamin supplements that should help, and plan to enjoy what I have while I have it. That is one thing that I learned from my ordeal -- I could go into a "why me" mode, or be happy that I can still see the trail and my little kids grow up.

BTW, the cause of my detachment was purely natural - my uncorrected vision is 20/200, so my eyes are more football shaped than round. The stress was just too much for my retina to handle. I've taken some pretty hard tumbles since the surgery and my retinas have been stable.

Take care and enjoy the ride!

[tryandgetme]

Thanks for the response, it's exactly what I need to hear. Sadly I was right eye dominant before these problems, so I've had to make some adjustments (taking pictures with the wrong eye, playing pool, etc) but I'm pretty much adjusted for those things.

I find it more interesting at this point than feeling the "oh poor me" thing, the doc thinks I've got a good attitude about it. Lucky that it didn't happen in both eyes instead of "oh poor me, it happened in one eye".

I've been riding to work for a few days now with a few detours offroad, and you're right...it's not making that much of a difference.

I also noticed that if I concentrate less on my central vision and look at a scene with my periferal vision more, my depth perception is bang on.

Chris - I completely understand your pain. Eleven years ago the retina in my left eye detached enough that my central vision was impacted. Everything got patched up and has been stable since then, but I was left with a scar across my macula. The vision in my left eye is 20/50 or so corrected, but it's wavy and distorted at best. In the conditions you describe (low light, medium distance), catching a ball is hit-or-miss.
My off-roading has been affected a little, but only when I really think about it. My right eye has always been dominant, so there wasn't that much of a change for me. Obviously, my depth perception is a little wacked, and the technical stuff can be tricky...but I find if I deliberately look where I'm going - instead of quickly glancing - my depth perception doesn't bother me too much.
As long as your eye is stable, get on the trail and slowly build up your speed. I pretty much ride the same as before the eye injury, and don't worry about damaging it further.
Of course, at my last checkup the eye doc tells me I'm developing a cataract in the left eye now. I guess it wasn't meant to be.... But I'm trying some vitamin supplements that should help, and plan to enjoy what I have while I have it. That is one thing that I learned from my ordeal -- I could go into a "why me" mode, or be happy that I can still see the trail and my little kids grow up.

BTW, the cause of my detachment was purely natural - my uncorrected vision is 20/200, so my eyes are more football shaped than round. The stress was just too much for my retina to handle. I've taken some pretty hard tumbles since the surgery and my retinas have been stable.

Take care and enjoy the ride!

[S. cerevisiae]

Yo! Any news on the eye surgery front?

[tryandgetme]

they saved it! left eye has stabilized, slight loss in night vision (not that I'm ever without a flashlight anyway). right eye still had a bleed though, I'm scheduled for a vitrectomy in november. the doc is quite hopeful. the eye is stable, it's just full of blood so it's fuzzy.

Did some good riding the other day during a vacation, the bad eye effected my riding by exactly zero. course I didn't try any trials type maneouvers. I've noticed the toughest part of the depth perception is 5 feet away from me and closer, anything further than that is fine. I do a whole lot more shoulder checking now to make sure distances are correct, I'm probably a safer driver because of it. playing frisbee is interesting because of the loss of depth perception at a glance right at the range where you need to reach out and grab the moving object. I'm usually only off by an inch and smack the frisbee into the tips of my fingers. If I'm off by an inch bunny hopping something, not much bad happens.

shaking hands at night in dark places is intersting. I tend to stick my hand out faster than they do so they end up grabbing mine instead of me fumbling.

apperantly the eye is one of the fastest healing parts of your body, as long as an existing condition isn't running ramant...

[S. cerevisiae]

Good to hear! I'm gooing to have to wait for that break-through in nerve cell regeneration for my right eye to return. The optic nerve was apparently traumatized or oxygen-starved. It went pale in early August.