Does anyone know someone who rides with one eye?

[pokihokie]

Just FYI, I have amblyopia - while my left eye works, my brain doesn't process the image from it. There's more to it than that, but at a 10,000 foot level, that's close enough. I have no depth perception and never had any. Took me years to find out why I had such a hard time playing outfield in baseball! Your brain develops ways of filling in the hole left by your AWOL vision - for instance, you will begin to esitmate distance by what obstructs what. It doesn't so much tell you what is how far away, but it does tell you what is further and what is closer. That aspect of riding will be fine, once your brain learns is way around. This is a non-issue for me, as my left eye does work, but to me the big risk will be how you assess the threats that are around on your left side. Compensate by starting in an empty parking lot, adjusting your left mirror to be in the line of site to your right eye, do loops around light poles and such to learn what the field of vision is from the adjusted mirror. If you have anyone that can help, have them ride behind you and to your left so you can start to use your hearing to fill in the sensory gap. There is a lot to learn here, but I don't see any real reason that you should automatically presume that you have to stop riding.

If riding is in your soul, you will learn how to adjust for this challenge. There is no question.

[t84a]

My heart goes out to you, Johnny. Your situation really puts things into perception. I admire you for your positive attitude to move on. You're a great individual. Hopefully, your brain will adjust to your new situation and you'll be able to use both eyes. The brain is an amazing thing when it comes to vision. It already reverses everything we see. Good luck and my prayers are with you.

[Keytickler]

My late FIL lost vision in one eye as a boy when it got smacked with a baseball. He drove successfully his entire adult life. His driving always made me nervous, but that was because of his style of driving, not because of issues with his vision. Much to my amazement, I don't think he ever had an accident behind the wheel.

Sorry to hear about your loss of vision, but you'll be fine I'm sure.

Keytickler

[JohnnyLfromCT]

Man, you bastards are the best.

This is the only place on the 'net where I've always felt like I actually know everyone personally, even though I've only met one person here (m51142 is an awesome guy, don't tell him I said that...).

Now let me stop before I start crying, 'cause you all know what a sensitive girl I am...

[Fitty]

Johnny, I can only add my condolences, as well as encouragement similar to what others have said. Without my contacts I am far sighted in one eye and really nearsighted on the other, to the point of being useless. I regularly ride without my contacts, especially in the daytime. At night it's worse, but actually improves when I close my nearsighted eye. My depth perception is a little off sometimes, but I deal. I do turn my head more to the good eye some. I usually ride track days without my contacts, FWIW. I too think you'll adapt fine. Oh, and a childhood friend of mine lost an eye to a dart, and he played football and was very athletic. Did anything he wanted to do, better than I could.

Good luck man! You've got this!

[Fitty]

Oh, and I also had double vision as a young child, and that fixed itself. You'll probably improve in that area as well.

[quazz]

Ah crap Johnny! That sux but it is most likely at its worst stage now and should get better.

[Cougar]

Originally Posted by okaugust

Such a small place to be confined to but so frightening. I hope everything syncs up for you!

My first flight was with a friend of my grandfather. When we landed, he said, you know what? That pilot only had one eye! I was about 11, and couldn't believe it. He said, he flies twice as good as anyone else I know.

I think the body learns to compensate in a way you won't even be able to notice before long.

But I like the dirt bike idea!

I flew with a one-eyed pilot once and he did a great job.

I'm sorry to hear about this Johnny, but you'll improve over time.

[quazz]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLfromCT

Man, you bastards are the best.

This is the only place on the 'net where I've always felt like I actually know everyone personally, even though I've only met one person here (m51142 is an awesome guy, don't tell him I said that...).

Now let me stop before I start crying, 'cause you all know what a sensitive girl I am...

You have a very short time before the heartfelt condolences and friendship fade to be replaced with jokes. Get better soon my friend. tick tick tick.

[JohnnyLfromCT]

Originally Posted by quazz

You have a very short time before the heartfelt condolences and friendship fade to be replaced with jokes.

Being the sarcastic, heartless jerk that I am, I welcome all forms of heckling!

If my grandfather on my Dad's side were still alive, he'd have already slapped me in my good eye and told me to shut the F up and deal!

[Desmo]

Man Johnny, very sorry to hear this. I imagine that with time and practice you can
overcome it? Maybe spend a lot of time on a dirt bike to get comfortable? I sure understand
your apprehension of riding the roads with limited vision. Take care man.

[gotfz1]

Sorry to hear this man. Fuzzbutt has a condition that results in only using one eye while he rides. It certainly doesn't slow him down.

[okaugust]

Maybe you could find someone to take you two up a few times to work on the visual. I know that's a little...you know...not that there is anything wrong with that...but it could be good practice.

[hammer]

Although dirt bike riding with your son sounds totally awesome, I'm sure sorry for the circumstances with your eye, Johnny.
You're tougher than an MMA fighter ! Good luck, friend.

[bradd]

Sorry to hear that Johnny. Like everyone else said, get a patch and hang out at Pirate bars! Get a HD because they sell you the pirate costume with the bike! You can tell stories about how you lost your eye when you had to "lay it down"!

You will adapt, it will take time but what the others said it true!

[m51142]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLfromCT

Being the sarcastic, heartless jerk that I am, I welcome all forms of heckling!

If my grandfather on my Dad's side were still alive, he'd have already slapped me in my good eye and told me to shut the F up and deal!

Vision should have absolutely no effect with your day job duties. I might be old but I never forget...

[ScanMan]

Just make sure you never underestimate the impact while riding. My son-in-law and my daughter were both legally blind (she still is, but he recovered sight in one eye). I added a Kawasaki Versys to the garage this last year and invited him to ride it (he used to ride 600 Ninja when he was younger). The joy he gets from this is immense, as he never thought he would ride again in his life, but he does scare the shit out me with getting too close. We have some real heart to hearts on this topic, as you might imagine.

I think he can safely go forward as long as he errs on being too far away versus too close. That would be my advice to you, sir.

Merry Christmas!
Randy

[SunsetRider]

Johnny - best wishes in meeting this new challenge. I have a buddy who lost the use of his legs (and everything below the middle of his bacK) but he can still ride on the track. Maybe that would work for you as an exercise/training? After all, on the track you are only supposed to take responsibility for what is in front of you, and although balance might be a challenge at first (leaned over), no doubt that could be overcome.
Another friend of mine with one glass eye loves to drive his car (Ferrari!) on the track. You might find track riding a perfectly safe way to enjoy the 2-wheeled life.

[Allan P.]

Tough break Johnny and I'm very sorry to hear it. I have however, known two people with vision in one eye only and both adapted to the point where it was undetectable.

The first was a school friend of mine who lost an eye in a childhood accident but still bought a scooter and passed his riding test to get a full license. I never actually rode with him, (he was a "Mod" and I was the other thing) but when I saw him ride with his pals I couldn't tell any difference. The second was a former boss of mine who lost an eye as an adult but still drives his car and was the best clay pigeon shooter in our company.

We're all pulling for you.

[bigdave43]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLfromCT

Does anyone know anyone who is one-eyed and still rides?

I have been riding for over forty-five years with one eye. My left eye has 20/60 vision at best,but because it doesn't line up properly,my brain turns it off. If I use both eyes, I see double. I am a very visual person and use perspective for depth perception and it works fine for me. You don't miss something that you never had. I rely on my mirrors more the most and turn my head a lot. You just have to be a little more careful and maybe go slower. Good luck, we know that you will figure it out.