Baby with limited vision in one eye

[Sunflower1235]

Posting on here as a mother really struggling with post partum depression because of a diagnosis my son has received. We found out at 2 months that he has a coloboma of the optic nerve- basically his vision in his right eye is likely to be significantly reduced. We have been to Moorfields and seen consultants who have assured us that “his vision is normal with both eyes open” and that with vision in one eye you can lead a normal life. I’m really struggling to understand how- anyone out there with similar stories? Living with one eye that sees significantly less? Are you able to live normally? Drive? Play sports? His vision in the bad eye is not likely to be corrected by glasses patching etc so it’s an “it is what it is” situation. Would appreciate any insight from people really really struggling with this daily.

My husband has a coloboma on his optic nerve in his right eye. He has only about 20% vision on that side, but you'd never know it unless he told you. He drives, played Rugby semi professionally in his teens and twenties and I've never known his eyesight to hold him back in any way.

I know it's hard and I'd feel the same if it was my baby, but honestly, it's not an issue in his life even a bit.

Sorry, I've just remembered that there is one thing he can't do- see things with 3D glasses that's literally it.

Oh yeah, I can't do that either. The old red and blue lens ones just look like I'm looking at something with annoying red and blue lines round it and the newer cinema ones just look weirdly fuzzy. Can't do Magic eye pictures either.

Can't say it's been majorly impactful on my life and certainly don't feel like I've missed out on anything.

Definitely couldn’t tell, apart from when they chose to wear googles in sport a few children asked why. One child was more cautionary and wore glasses all day to give protection. Tbf he was adventurous and as his mother I may have made that choice!
We used to make adjustments to ensure that difficulties didn’t arise too, before issues happened. Small things like having the last peg on the row or the top drawer so they were easy to locate quickly in a rushed and busy environment. It’s great to ask for things like this, step painting, an extra adult for cycling proficiency etc, to prevent issues even if they aren’t needed. Small things but it can also simply reduce potential anxiety.

I'm about 70% blind in one eye and tbh it doesn't effect me at all. I live a perfectly normal life and am cleared to drive. It only really causes issues if I close the good eye, or sometimes if I'm looking at screens all day.

@RedWinePoliticsAndHair wow no way!! Semi professional rugby player too that’s so impressive and reassuring thank you for sharing. Did he play with sports goggles to protect the other eye? Has he had to wear glasses as well? Thank you!

My bil has sod all vision in one eye and seems to be fine.

Are you monocular yourself? With the kindest of intent, your message isn’t helpful for the OP.

Whilst you may be technically ‘allowed’ to drive in the EU or the US if you are monocular and have a UK driving licence, I was v specific about my own lived experience of the impact of which eye is monocular.

If only your right eye has sight and you try to drive in either the US or the EU it is dangerous for the driver (and all the other road users) because you simply cannot see the most important peripheral areas relevant to the left hand side of you without turning your head completely. The practical effect of this is it takes your eye completely off the road in front of you.and you can no longer see the oncoming traffic or hazards like pedestrians or cyclists straight in front of you.

However you are technically correct - the DVLA doesn’t (can’t) bar me from driving in the US or EU but my ophthalmologist has done for safety reasons! Interestingly, I have a US colleague who has no sight in her right eye - the opposite side from me - and her US licence explicitly precludes her from driving in countries where you drive on the left, i.e. the UK. This is because it’s dangerous.

It is amazing how little sight the DVLA permit people to have to drive in the UK and my personal view is that it shouldn’t fall to ophthalmologists to recommend people don’t drive in certain countries. Hope this helps clarify my original post for you.

Hi I know it’s been quite a few months since this thread, but wanted to come and say my son, aged almost 4, was born with a coloboma a large one, in the back of the eye so he barley has any vision in the left eye but good vision in the right eye. It breaks my heart when I think of it, but reading all these stories really help. You wouldn’t know, he’s amazing and does everything any other child does, nursery , plays etc. we got told he will be able to drive etc. just not be able to be a pilot etc. hope your ok, it’s a horrible shock to hear, we only found out when he was just turned 3! It was awful. Can’t believe it was missed , but again you don’t know because he was born with it so he just doesn’t know any different. I suppose it’s better than loosing sight after having it and trying to learn. X