DEPTH PERCEPTION

Depth perception, or lack of, is a real bugaboo. There are so many examples of where the ability to judge distances comes into play. More info about depth perception defined and tips on adapting to lack of depth perception are available by clicking the buttons below.

This is my take:

Entering a parking garage… not being sure how close or far I am to the posts, poles, another vehicle or ticket taker machine in the parking garage. Usually, I’m not as close as I think. I found I was often a foot further from being able to reach the ticket and inches shy of pushing the button to grab the ticket. At four months I have adapted quite well and have reason to believe I will have it under control within a year.

Parking was scary as was pulling into and out of stalls. I was planning to purchase a new car sometime in the next year but decided that now was a priority. Before vision loss I was wanting a car with blind spot sensors. Since vision loss I benefit greatly from surround view cameras to aid in all forms of parking and being made aware of vehicles and pedestrians coming from the sides, either in front or the rear. A family member who lost vision in his right eye 10 years ago has driven without incidence and no sensors. He said that it took him 9-12 months to adapt, and adapt he has. Fully.

Looking into bags of stuff… whether it’s a box of odds n ends, tools, or groceries… discerning what you’re seeing takes on a new dimension (no pun intended) and new challenge. In the early days of vision loss the brain hasn’t learned to make sense of things it once did. It is a bit confused. Slow to recognize. You can be looking at exactly what you intended to look at, but the brain is trying to look at all things, organize and file away and that seems to take priority over my priority. Not unlike walking into a room that looks like a tornado tore through. Where to start. How to organize. It takes time. Repetition is the key. It gets easier.

Steps, as in curbs and stairs. “One step at a time”

Very important to take steps slowly. Very important. Especially places where there is only one step. Curbs fall into this category of the single step. In the beginning I would miss a curb while concentrating on my surroundings. I learned to purposely assess where I was at any given time and if curbs were part of the landscape. Thresholds can also fall into this category when entering a house or any building we are doing many things we aren’t aware of. We may be being greeted by our host. As we are walking we are looking at them and not where we are stepping. It is annoying to have to stop and look down, assess and then look up.