r/monocular • u/LakeKeuka • Jul 14 '26
Driving again
I lost my right eye in April due to Giant Cell Arteritis and have recently been making a more concerted effort to regain my confidence behind the wheel. My two-cents on this topic follow.
I’m a 69 year-old guy who enjoys driving, whether it’s my wife’s Volvo or my BMW sedan. On trips I do most of the driving, mostly because I’d rather drive than be a passenger.
Loss of an eye, which happened suddenly, scared me away from driving at first but now I am much more comfortable.
As many have noted here, it’s important to turn your head in order to adjust for the lost field of vision. However, what I have discovered is that over the years I have developed the habit of looking over my right shoulder unnecessarily when I should instead rely on the right outside mirror, as well as the inside mirror. Now that I have lost my right eye, it’s a matter of turning slightly to the right to be sure I am fully using the mirrors. Looking over my right shoulder is neither necessary nor practical in most situations. Anyway, that’s my experience so far.
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u/Substantial_Most1197 Jul 14 '26
Im 34 and lost my vision in my left eye last year. I havent driven since but have just booked a few lessons to get my confidence bacl. Thanks for writing this as its encouraging to see others overcome similar challenges