Lasik MonoVision and Sailing?

[kelseydo]

I've searched the archives and do not find any posts on this subject. I'm about to drop the hammer and treat myself to lasik. Due to age and other factors Lasik Monovision is a good option. Monovision sets the dominant eye to far and the other to near. The brain steps in adapts (usually) so near and far vision are blended and poof glasses free. I've tried lenses to simulate the condition and it seems to work fine. I have not been able to try monovision while sailing and am concerned about depth perception. I don't really want to misjudge and fall off the Mac or crash into a more expensive boat; that would be embarrassing. Does anyone have experience with monovision and sailing they would like to share?
Thanks in advance,
Dan

[Russ]

Sounds like a question for your eye doctor.

However, my mom lost vision on one eye later in life. Her concern was driving and depth perception. She learned how to determine depth somehow and went on to drive successfully.

My guess is you will have some therapy to learn how to see depth and will do just fine.

[mastreb]

I've done standard lasik, and it works just fine. About three years ago, my right eye rather suddenly changed due to presbyopia, so I need to get it re-done and will be doing the "monovision" procedure to set it to "near" vision. My left eye will remain as is as its distance vision is fine.

Point is, my left eye has full range of vision and my right eye isn't good for either at the moment, but that doesn't affect depth perception at all. The dominant eye resolves the object, and as long as you can perceive the same shape and color with the other eye depth perception is just fine.

I recommend it. Much simpler with binoculars and telescopes to not have to wear glasses.

And besides, pirates sail just fine with one eye

[Wayne nicol]

I am 45, and lost the vision in one eye when I was in my early 20's.
I cant catch an arcing object- but the harder you throw it the easier I can catch it- -flatter trajectory.
the arcing trajectory is the killer.

I drive fine- no matter what my wife says!!- seriously general driving, boat docking etc is ok, just cant judge distance when you get close to something. its funny sometimes when I park, I will think I am about to smash the car in front of me, and when I get out I am still 6 feet away.
a few of the toughest things for me just after losing the vision
1.walkin UP stairs
2.putting a glass on a counter-cos I couldn't judge how far the counter was away- I would miss the edge of the counter by 6". now I just make sure I can touch the counter with my other hand- then I know where it is.
3.crossing the road(unique to me 'co I now had drastically reduced peripheral vision)- that still effects my day to day life, walk into things, someone who doesn't know will be offering me chips or something on my blind side, not seeing it, I will "ignore" them, then they get mad at my manners

sailing is not effected- directly, I can still play cricket, if they bowl real hard, no more tennis, rugby, hockey or other ball sports.
I did work as a white water guide for twenty odd years (befor and after losing the vision), on some pretty big class V and VI water, around the world, never had a problem finding my lines, in raft or kayak, or using the safety and rescue equipment, pulling people outta the drink etc.

so , not to hijack your thread, but just to demonstrate, you will be ok. just do it, figure out some systems to deal with the little quirks and foibles of it, but on the whole your brain will figure it out.
heres one last thing.
we have a hunting season up here of 9 months. we only eat venison in my house, and I am a traditional bow hunter, that's a stick a string and NO sights. I have no depth perception, and arrows fly on a very arced trajectory, but somehow my brain figures it out- its all instinctive.
the brain will figure it out- but you just gotta trust it- that's our failing- especially as we get older
jumping from the boat to the dock can be a little testy sometimes

here's a funny story, was changing some light bulbs in our Quonset, a few years ago, probably 15 feet up, so got in the bucket of the tractor, got lifted up changed the bulbs no problem, on the way down me mate- running the tractor stopped at about 6 - 8' I thought he was down, so I stepped out, ended up under the feed truck when I quit rolling- quite funny really- but that's the reality

[Steve K]

My wife had that done many years ago........
We call her eagle eye
Amazes me how well she can see.

I still wear glasses for distance only (read without any lenses) as I have since my early teens ( 60 now). Anyway, I can be corrected to better than 20-20. I notice, particularly when I'm due for new specs, that she can read freeway signs before I can and she can spot things far off in the distance that I can't see.

She loves the fact that she can see distance so well, yet doesn't need reading glasses any more either.
She also refers to wearing contact lenses (which she did for many years) as torture and is very happy she no longer needs to.

No issues with depth perception, she says.

BB,
SK

[CampCook]

Idon't believe you will have an issue. I had the LASIK procedure almost 20 years ago --it was still pretty experimental then. I opted for the mono vision and I never noticed the effect unless I specifically tried. I was a pilot at the time and flew a high performance experimental. I never had a problem in fact the surgery probably saved my life but that is another story.

Having said all that, in the years since the FAA has issued some directives against mono vision. From my experience I would say these directives are ill advised. The ability to see the instruments or outside the cockpit without the help of additional optical correction is a definite advantage.

In the years following I have gotten older and succumbed to cataract surgery which negates all the need for LASIK.

[Spector]

And besides, pirates sail just fine with one eye

Bwahahaha