I need to get glasses, any particular kind I should purchase?

I’ve been wearing glasses as long as I can remember.  The last few pairs I’ve gotten have had polycarbonate lenses. They offer good protection in case an object were to strike your lenses. When I work around power equipment like a line trimmer, chainsaw, bench grinder, etc.,  I also slip a pair of safety glasses over the top of my glasses for extra protection and better side protection.

Do you get eye strain and headaches more easily since your good eye is working harder?

Yes, I think that my good eye is moving and tracking more, versus someone with 2 working eyes.  If I want to see something on my left side, my right eye has to move way towards my nose. If I work on a computer for the better part of the day, I do get headaches at times, which I attribute to eye strain. To reduce the likelihood of eye strain and headaches, I try to look away from the computer screen frequently and focus on something in the distance. Taking breaks away from my desk throughout the day helps too.

Can you watch 3-d movies?

I have watched a few 3-d movies. With only 1 working eye, I do not see the picture like someone with normal vision watching with 3-d glasses. If I am given 3-d glasses, I chose not to wear them. In my opinion, the picture looks better without the glasses, versus watching the movie through a red or blue plastic lense. If you have monocular vision and have found a good way to watch 3-d movies, please let me know.

When is a good time to tell children of your disability?

My children never asked me why my eyes looked different sometimes. I shared my story with them when they were middle school aged. If they pushed to know earlier, I would have shared at that time. The response I got was, ‘What are you talking about.’  They had no idea one of my eyes was man-made, a tribute to excellent work by my ocularist.

How do you handle your greatly reduced peripheral vision?

I wear an artificial eye on my left side, so my left is my blind side. Using a clock comparison, if I look straight ahead, I’d guess I can see between 10 o’clock and 4 o’clock. If someone approaches me from my blind side, obviously I can not see them. One trick I use is to watch the eyes of the people in my field of vision. If someone approaches from my left, people on my right tend to glance at the person approaching. I use this visual cue to keep track of what is happening on my blind side. Did you ever have someone walk into a room and you can’t see them, but you know they are there? This may seem odd, but at times I can feel someone approaching from my blind side based on the energy they give off. If I am meeting with someone, I prefer to sit in front of them or have them on my blind side.  This forces me to turn my head a bit to see them which makes me appear less cross-eyed. Make sense?  If not, throw me a comment. From a driving perspective, see separate post (3-Feb-2010).

Do you ever get angry or feel sorry for yourself?

Absolutely! I do occasionally have those feelings. I’m a spiritual person and in the past, I have asked ’God, why did this have to happen to me?’ I believe that one day I will meet my maker and will get an answer to that question. I think the answer will be… your disability made you a better person, you could better empathize with other people, it made you more competitive, it made you a more caring and generous person, it is a part of who I called you to be.

Should I parent my child (with artificial eye) differently?

Your main responsibility is to make sure your child protects their remaining ‘good’ eye with proper eyewear. (I’d recommend they wear glasses at all times, even if they don’t need them to see 20/20.) Beyond that, let your child find their own way in the world. If you witness them getting picked on, resist the urge to intervene. If they want to talk about an incident hear them out. Botton line: I don’t recall my parents treating me differently than my siblings because of my disability. Looking back, I think that was the right call.

Did you ever get picked on because of your disability?

Rarely, I can only remember a couple times this occurred. We all know that kids can be cruel.  If something sets you apart (very tall, heavy, long hair, odd clothes, disability, etc.) , you may get picked on because of it. My advice would be to ignore it the best you can. If you get upset, there is a better chance the teasing will occur again. I had the advantage of an older  brother, which may have helped on a couple occasions (Thanks bro!).

What can I do if my artificial eye feels dry?

You may feel your eye is dry when working in dusty conditions or when you have some build-up on your artificial eye. Using contact lense drops will give you some relief. One that has worked for me is made by Bausch + Lomb: http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer/visioncare/product/softcare/renumpdrop.aspx

How is an artificial eye made?

I’m not an ocularist, so this is based on my most recent customer experience.  Ocularists, if I miss an important step please send a comment :

1. The old artificial eye is removed and the socket is inspected by the ocularist.
2. The eye socket is filled with a cement-like mixture.  After the mixture sets, the mixture is removed from the eye socket.
3. The iris is painted on a small disc to match the color of the natural eye. This is where the ocularist showcases their artistic ability.
4. A small black disk is glued to the top of the painted disc and serves as the pupil.
5. The white of the artificial eye is painted to match the natural eye.
6. Small red threads are added to simulate blood vessels
7. Small adjustments are made to ensure a proper fit.  The ocularist will add wax where necessary to build up the artificial eye before adding more material to the eye.
8. A final polishing is done to the artificial eye.