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After
loss of vision in one eye, a person can still live a full and
productive life at whatever the age of the loss occurs. Children
growing with only one good eye never know the difference and develop
and learn along with their age groups. Older children or adults who
suddenly lose vision in one eye will go through a re-adjustment
periods, but they generally continue to lead a personally satisfying
and active lifestyle.
President Woodrow Wilson served eight years as President after losing
the vision in his left eye. The great athlete babe Ruth was
“one-eyed” with 20/200 vision in his left eye due to severe amblyopia
(lazy eye). Several popular television star and entertainers have
good vision in only one eye.
Vision Loss
From
childhood though middle adult life, eye injuries are the leading cause
of vision loss. In later adult life, age-related changes such as
glaucoma, diabetes and macular degeneration become the leading causes
of blindness. Once vision is irreversible impaired in one eye, taking
care of the remaining good eye becomes extremely important. All
possible protection measures should be taken to preserve the vision in
the good eye. Any loss of vision in the remaining good eye may cause:
Eye Protection
Protection of the remaining good eye cannot be stressed
enough! At any age, appropriate eye
protection should be worn at all times during work, play, and in
sports or hobby activities. Children especially should be taught the
importance of protecting their eyes and avoiding unnecessary risks.
For
everyday protection, impact-resistant spectacles with sturdy frames
are sufficient. Polycarbonate lenses are recommended because
polycarbonate is a particularly strong material. Impact-resistant
glasses can be made in many pleasing styles.
Once
they are needed, protective eyeglasses should be worn for the
remainder of one’s life, even if no prescription is necessary for the
correction of vision. Contact lenses alone should NOT be used because
they do not offer the same protection from injury.
Sports Participation
Young, active people are at higher risk for eye accidents and sports
injuries. Protective eye equipment should always be used for sports.
While the risk of eye injury varies with different types of sports,
comparing “contact” and “non-contact” sports offers little guidance
regarding eye safety. Racquetball, for example is considered a
“non-contact” sport even though the risk of eye injury is very high.
Participating in sports requires a full understanding of the risks
involved and proper eye protection. For a young child, the parents
must participate in making such decisions.
Work and recreation
Many
work and recreational activities carry risk of eye injury. The
appropriate eye protection should be worn. Loose objects such as
pencils, stick, or particles thrown by tools can be a threat to the
eye.
Industrial safety glasses side, side shields, full face shields, or
even special goggles may be necessary for some activities. As in
sports, certain industrial or hobby activities, for example,
fireworks, may present such a high risk to the eyes that they should
be avoided by the person with one “good” eye.
Just
as automobiles are a fact of modern life, so are automobile
accidents. Protective eyewear and seatbelts should always be worn so
that the eyes are less likely to be bruised or cut in the case of
impact.
Maintaining a Healthy Eye
The
better eye does not “wear out” or “work harder” even though it
provides most or all of a person’s vision. Nevertheless, regular eye
examinations by an ophthalmologist are even more important than for
the normally sighted person. Examinations should be on a schedule
recommended buy your ophthalmologist or at any time new symptoms or
problems develop.
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