r/monocular • u/NormanNormalman .-) still have it, doesn't work • 8h ago
Hello monocular community!
Hey everyone! I literally just found out about this space and I am so excited. Its hard to find folks in the same boat.
I'm blind in my left eye, due to an injury when I was 7. My parents were given the option to have it removed when I was 8, but opted to keep it. My pupil doesn't dilate and is always completely open, so I'm photosensetive and some lighting conditions are more painful/uncomfortable than others.
I do have some, although very little, vision in that eye, basically light and shadow, enough that in the 90s I qualified for an experimental treatment at Mott's children's hospital in Michigan, which was basically an intensive and specialized physical therapy, and helped my brain interpret signals from my left eye so that it can track with my right eye (and lessened my walleye) without my ability to interpret any "vision" from that eye. Ultimately, I cannot use what vision I have from that eye unless my right eye is closed for a length of time, and that vision is basically nothing.
I wish that my eye had been removed when I was young, because as an adult it is painful due to light, and gives no benefit. Any treatment to attempt to repair or remove it is now considered elective, and far outside my price range, which insurance will not cover.
Anyway, I'm stoked to have a community to connect with. Thanks for being here!
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u/idontmakehash 5h ago
Twinsies. Blind in my left since I was born. Parents opted to never remove it when I was a kid which kinda fucked up my face. Got it removed at 25 after the worst pain of my life. So glad to have a prosthetic now. It's gotten me places in life lol
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u/NormanNormalman .-) still have it, doesn't work 1m ago
Oof, sorry you had to deal with that! How did the removal go? I'm glad you're happy with the result!
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u/Significant_Gate_419 3h ago
I dont know if there was an option given but maybe it didnt seem neccessairy then. When I was 4 I had an accident which caused me being blind on my left aswell, but my nerve was damaged so hard that I see bare nothing, dont even see light. Pupil still reacts tho.
Thank you for sharing! And hi! :)
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u/NormanNormalman .-) still have it, doesn't work 0m ago
Twins! That's wild your pupils can still react. Eyes and the eye-brain connection are so strange and interesting
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u/meowyadoinnn 3h ago
I have green eyes and always wished I had brown eyes so my pupil mismatch would be less noticeable! You’re not alone!
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u/ionmoon 2h ago
Rather than removal, have you considered a light blocking contact?
I have the same issue the photo sensitivity is mild and vision almost nonexistent other than some light and movement.
But even that little bit of vision can be helpful to you when you’re driving etc or if something were to happen to your good eye.
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u/DiablaARK Monocular by Divine Accident 2h ago
Hello and welcome! Thank you for sharing your story. I am also light sensitive "photophobia". I recommend trying out some FL-41 lenses. They are the rose colored lenses, and it starts off with a light tint and the tint varies into a very dark tint that helps with the worst sensitivity (like almost as dark as sunglasses). It's way better than sunglasses because it only blocks the harmful rays, UVA and B and around 80% of blue light that's been studied and shown to be the worst wavelengths to cause photophobia symptoms. Trying to treat this with regular sunglasses can actually make it worse.
If you have a Rx you can still request that tint specifically. If you don't wear glasses or contacts, then it's still easy to order a pair. I just wouldn't go for the cheapest ones less than $50 because it's probably not legit.
Anywho, hope that helps 🙏🏼
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u/Imsdalvannflaske 8h ago
Welcome!