Blind in one eye as a dentist?

[jwillison]

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Are there any other dentists out there that are blind in one eye or have severely diminished vision in one eye? Could you share your story if this is you. How did you handle it, do you think this significantly effects your ability as a dentist etc. I was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer that originated on the choroid layer of my eye. Radiation therapy left me with damaged nerves and a can see very little out of my eye now. I know others have done it but have yet to talk to an actual practicing dentist where this is the case.

 

[dentaldawg32]

I'd imagine depth perception, which is pretty important in dentistry, would be deficient being blind in one eye.

 

[SeattleRDH]

It would be very difficult to work without depth perception. If I were you I would talk to an attorney and a liability insurance broker about the increased risk you would carry with this disability.

 

[neyelo]

I'm a senior dental student and I am amblyopic (read: very very poor vision in one eye). I've met a number of dentists in the Southeast region who have similar and more severe eye problems in a single eye who get along just fine. I'm happy to be finishing up in the top 5 of my 65 person class. Don't be discouraged!

 

[sokrman14]

There is an instructor with one eye at our school. We always ask him to check our work when we are doing inlays or onlays.

 

[FutureDent020]

I'm a senior dental student and I am amblyopic (read: very very poor vision in one eye). I've met a number of dentists in the Southeast region who have similar and more severe eye problems in a single eye who get along just fine. I'm happy to be finishing up in the top 5 of my 65 person class. Don't be discouraged!

Neyelo, your previous posts suggest you are a 1st year at MCG, so, not sure what you are talking about.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629307

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=683318

To the OP. You will need some sort of aid to increase your poor vision. Depth perception is essential, especially when you are learning dental anatomy. Accurate contours, cusp height, fossa and groove depth will be extremely tough with essentially one eye.

 

[jwillison]

To the OP. You will need some sort of aid to increase your poor vision. Depth perception is essential, especially when you are learning dental anatomy. Accurate contours, cusp height, fossa and groove depth will be extremely tough with essentially one eye.

Hmm, this is why I wanted someone who is already blind in one eye. You never know what you're capable of doing until you're faced with adversity. I have done many labs with only one good eye and never had a problem with doing intricate detailed tasks. Harder yes, impossible no.

There is also no way to "aid" my poor vision. My optic nerve is permanently damaged so no getting around that. You'd be surprised at what your brain can do to compensate.

 

[dentaldawg32]

Neyelo, your previous posts suggest you are a 1st year at MCG, so, not sure what you are talking about.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629307

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=683318[/B]

To the OP. You will need some sort of aid to increase your poor vision. Depth perception is essential, especially when you are learning dental anatomy. Accurate contours, cusp height, fossa and groove depth will be extremely tough with essentially one eye.

lol pwned

 

[omaralt]

I'm a senior dental student and I am amblyopic (read: very very poor vision in one eye). I've met a number of dentists in the Southeast region who have similar and more severe eye problems in a single eye who get along just fine. I'm happy to be finishing up in the top 5 of my 65 person class. Don't be discouraged!

Neyelo, your previous posts suggest you are a 1st year at MCG, so, not sure what you are talking about.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=629307

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=683318

To the OP. You will need some sort of aid to increase your poor vision. Depth perception is essential, especially when you are learning dental anatomy. Accurate contours, cusp height, fossa and groove depth will be extremely tough with essentially one eye.

and it's because of people like neyelo why you cannot believe anything you read on the internet 🙂

 

[monreal]

and it's because of people like neyelo why you cannot believe anything you read on the internet 🙂

Nono! Wanna bet that he/she is using the spouse's account?🙄

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I know of a dentist who has a vision impairment bad enough that he had to have someone in lecture taking notes for him. He is able to function well enough to be a effective dentist. As long as you function well enough with the one eye, then you should be fine.

 

[omaralt]

I know of a dentist who has a vision impairment bad enough that he had to have someone in lecture taking notes for him. He is able to function well enough to be a effective dentist. As long as you function well enough with the one eye, then you should be fine.

lol ya i would not want a dentist with vision that bad..

depth perception is the biggest issue. if you can adapt to it you should be fine. as long as you can see well enough with the other eye.

 

[jwillison]

Thank you all for your input. I know it is hard for you to imagine a dentist with one eye if you have two functioning eyes, but trust me, your brain does a wonderful job adapting. I do have one good eye so as long as nothing happens to that one I should be good. I appreciate those who have given me encouragement, thanks for all your help.

 

[dentstd]

Thank you all for your input. I know it is hard for you to imagine a dentist with one eye if you have two functioning eyes, but trust me, your brain does a wonderful job adapting. I do have one good eye so as long as nothing happens to that one I should be good. I appreciate those who have given me encouragement, thanks for all your help.

You don't need depth perception in dentistry. When prepping, you have the option to constantly move the mouth mirror in any plane you choose. What this does is give you a 3D representation of your working area. You know exactly where you are based on the mirror reflections. In fact, you know exactly where you are in 3 different planes.

Put on an eye patch and see if you can prep a tooth. I'm willing to bet you can.

 

[jwillison]

Update: I'm now a third year dental student and having one eye is not a problem. I'm able to do everything just fine. I've found dentistry to be more tactile than visual most of the time. If anyone is in the same boat as I am and wants advise feel free to message me, it would have been nice to talk to somebody in my situation when I was first starting out.

 

[RadixLuminogen]

There is an ophthalmologist with one eye.

 

[Sublimazing]

There is an ophthalmologist with one eye.

Tobey Maguire in Seabiscuit was blind in one eye

 

[ncamc]

Update: I'm now a third year dental student and having one eye is not a problem. I'm able to do everything just fine. I've found dentistry to be more tactile than visual most of the time. If anyone is in the same boat as I am and wants advise feel free to message me, it would have been nice to talk to somebody in my situation when I was first starting out.

i lost the vision in my left eye my freshman year of college. i haven't begun dental school yet, but i openly discussed in my PS, and was accepted to several schools. the dentist who interviewed me at BU also had vision in one eye.
im very confident that i will be able to everything just fine, but it is encouraging to see some one else who has struggled with this and succeeded

 

[ohcdc]

http://www.jcda.ca/article/c57

not sure if this dentist is still practicing..
im sure for the most part, you'll be fine, especially doing endodontics, you do everything by touch anyways, and i usually close one eye when doing endo.
i might stay away from surgical procedures, too risky if something happens, you dont want them bringing this up in a malpractice suit.
good luck btw

 

[katthenomad]

So glad to have found this thread! It feels good to know that you're not alone on this journey. I lost my left eye sight 10 years ago in a car accident that wrecked not just my eye, but my entire face. The scars have cleared up (for the most part at least), but I'm now pitch black blind on my left eye and wearing a glass scleral shell. I'm set to enter Penn Dental this Jan 2017 and would love to hear from others who have gone through the same experience (losing their eyesight but still pursuing/pursued Dentistry). I salute each and every one of you. Let's keep this thread alive and I hope more one-eyed dental folks will come forward and introduce themselves. 😉

 

[Panis et Circenses]

You don't need depth perception in dentistry. When prepping, you have the option to constantly move the mouth mirror in any plane you choose. What this does is give you a 3D representation of your working area. You know exactly where you are based on the mirror reflections. In fact, you know exactly where you are in 3 different planes.

Put on an eye patch and see if you can prep a tooth. I'm willing to bet you can.

Guess your only real problem is being a BYU fan then

 

[DMikes]

Guess your only real problem is being a BYU fan then

They haven't been on SDN in over 5 years......