Skiing with limited vision?

[SallyCat]

Weird question, but does anyone know what it's like to ski/ride with vision in only one eye?

I'm awaiting a diagnosis regarding a possible melanoma in my left eye. I saw the pics at the Dr's office, and it doesn't look great (large and not al all uniform) so I'm trying to prepare to be optimistic if it's bad news. I would think it might affect riding more than skiing because your field of vision is already limited on a board. And maybe skiing on crowded days might not be a great idea on account of limited peripheral vision. But I'm trying to focus on what I would still be able to do so as not to get too down about it.

 

[skinnyfootskis]

I have seen blind and low vision people ski and bike ride..escorted. Best of luck and look into those programs if you need to. Don’t stop doing what you love.

 

[Christy]

Have you read Frank Bruni's book about losing vision in one eye? (The Beauty of Dusk). One thing he mentions is that there are people/resources that help people who lose some vision figure out how to help the brain compensate for it.

I had a detached retina and spent March-mid November one year with very blurry vision in one eye. My brain pretty quickly figured out how to read, use the computer, etc despite the lopsided vision. Fast moving sports would be more challenging and I don't want to be a Pollyanna, especially not knowing what your worst case result would be. My takeaway from Bruni's book was that a LOT of people deal with limited vision and there are likely people out there that can help figure things out, if you need it.

I have thought about this kind of thing as my other retina will probably detach at some point, and I may or may not have as good an outcome next time (after 3 surgeries I was nearly as good as new).

 

[RachelV]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this and I hope the outcome is the best possible. <3

I know this isn't the same, but my eyes are crossed (they often look ok cosmetically after 2 surgeries but they don't work together), so my depth perception is pretty crap. I ski just fine. I do trip a lot when I hike. As Christy mentions above, it's truly amazing what your brain can compensate for.

 

[SallyCat]

Thanks, everyone! @Christy I had not heard of Bruni's book, but just ordered it; thank you for the recommendation!

 

[Jenny]

Sorry to hear this - fingers crossed for you.

I have a friend who has Stargardt Disease and skis - downhill and cross country. I know it's not the same, but both her eyes are crap so I know it's possible. Besides any adaptive ski resources in your area, check out Ski for Light, if for nothing else than for confirmation that people with all sorts of vision issues have figured it out. I know SFL is cross-country oriented, but I'm quite sure that some of them also downhill as well.

 

[VickiK]

Best of luck, @SallyCat . Your outlook is so smart and good.

 

[Jilly]

Hope things work for the best, but....depth perception will be one thing. Other is peripheral vision on the non sighted side.

Like everyone has said, the brain does wonderful things. I have a stigmatism and wear contacts. The contacts do not correct the stigmatism. My brain does though, well except when I'm really tired...

 

[santacruz skier]

I have post vitreal detachment in my left eye and a black dangling cobweb hanging at the edge of my vision. It will never go away and cannot be corrected (or so I'm told). My ophthalmologist told me my brain will forget it's there most of the time. Only in bright sunlight do I occasionally notice but have floaters in both eyes and see black zigzag lines if I blink or rub my eye. And almost always flashing lightning if walk into a dark room.

Wishing good thoughts for you !

 

[ski diva]

Weird question, but does anyone know what it's like to ski/ride with vision in only one eye?

I'm awaiting a diagnosis regarding a possible melanoma in my left eye. I saw the pics at the Dr's office, and it doesn't look great (large and not al all uniform) so I'm trying to prepare to be optimistic if it's bad news. I would think it might affect riding more than skiing because your field of vision is already limited on a board. And maybe skiing on crowded days might not be a great idea on account of limited peripheral vision. But I'm trying to focus on what I would still be able to do so as not to get too down about it.

Sorry to hear this, @SallyCat. Is there any treatment?

 

[SallyCat]

Sorry to hear this, @SallyCat. Is there any treatment?

There is a progression of treatments, so losing sight entirely in the eye is not a given. But I figure that if I'm prepared to meet the worst case with optimism, I'll be ready for anything,

 

[skibum4ever]

Best of luck, @SallyCat .

I hope you can continue to ski and to do the other activities you love.

 

[ilovepugs]

Sorry to hear this @SallyCat. Way to face it head on, though!

 

[fgor]

Best of luck, fingers crossed you're able to retain vision in that eye! <3

I regularly see even severely vision impaired people skiing at my local, with someone escorting them - they're always in some sort of hi-vis, so i know to give them a wider berth. And it is amazing what the brain can learn to compensate for!

 

[BlueSkies]

Hoping for the best possible outcome for you.

 

[CarverJill]

Fingers crossed for you Sally! Not that it’s really a comparison but I spent one day snowboarding with a scratched cornea and had that eye closed much of the day. It wasn’t much of a problem.

 

[Cygnet]

DH has had sight in only one eye since birth. Obviously he didn’t have to cope with the loss of binocular vision… He learnt to ski in his mid 50s and is now an advanced skier, still going strong in his 70s. The main issues are lack of depth perception, judging speed of things/people coming towards him and limited field of view. The limited field of view is the most significant, and his skiing style is to look/ski down the fall line as much as possible. Going across the hill more would mean his blind side was either uphill and he would not be able to see what was happening above, or downhill and he would not be able to see where he’s going, the terrain or other skiers below. My guess is that this will also make snowboarding too difficult...

Goggles with maximum field of view - very important. DH now has a visor helmet which is excellent.

Hope all goes well. Let me know if you want any more info, DH happy to help too.

 

[DebbieSue]

Hi @SallyCat. My impression is that, depending on size and location, contemporary treatments for choroidal melanoma allow for preservation of vision. I'm a cornea specialist ophthalmologist (front of the eye, not back of the eye), but over the decades have seen many, many patients with treated melanoma. As @Jilly said, if you lose central vision, depth perception will be off, which could make bumps, uneven terrain, and flat light more challenging. If you lose peripheral vision, well you'll have to pay more attention to your surroundings. But your other eye is fine, and I like to say we have two for good reasons!!! Basically, you might have to dial it back a little, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't keep skiing/boarding and having fun. PM me if you have specific questions about your care, once you learn the options.