Blind Optometrist

[Schmarc3000]

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Hey everyone-

I'm completely blind in my right eye. I was wondering if I would be limited in any way as an optometrist, seeing as I do not have stereo vision. I know some exam procedures usually require both eyes.

I've been told by the doctors I've shadowed to not let it limit me, and in fact one doctor knew one or two great surgeons with monocular vision. Other than being half blind, I feel I would make a great optometrist.

Opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Marc

 

[Mixin Marc]

Hey everyone-

I'm completely blind in my right eye. I was wondering if I would be limited in any way as an optometrist, seeing as I do not have stereo vision. I know some exam procedures usually require both eyes.

I've been told by the doctors I've shadowed to not let it limit me, and in fact one doctor knew one or two great surgeons with monocular vision. Other than being half blind, I feel I would make a great optometrist.

Opinions on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Marc

You'll be fine. There were two students at my school who were monocular. Both of them had accidents involving a bar fight where they had one of their eyes gauged out and removed.

 

[StushOD]

Dont let that stop you!!! There is a guy from my high school that is currently a Med student. He is blind, in both eyes AND has Tourettes syndrome!!

That is proof to me that the old cheesy saying is right, you really can do anything if you try.

 

[Mixin Marc]

Dont let that stop you!!! There is a guy from my high school that is currently a Med student. He is blind, in both eyes AND has Tourettes syndrome!!

That is proof to me that the old cheesy saying is right, you really can do anything if you try.

blind in both eyes?

 

[StushOD]

Yes.

 

[jc812]

Dont let that stop you!!! There is a guy from my high school that is currently a Med student. He is blind, in both eyes AND has Tourettes syndrome!!

That is proof to me that the old cheesy saying is right, you really can do anything if you try.

Wow..

 

[aphistis]

Dont let that stop you!!! There is a guy from my high school that is currently a Med student. He is blind, in both eyes AND has Tourettes syndrome!!

That is proof to me that the old cheesy saying is right, you really can do anything if you try.

There a lot of of medical specialties (most of them, in fact) that s/he wouldn't be able to practice without sight. Still, that's quite an accomplishment and I hope they succeed.

 

[rodomon]

The main problem is that being able to see with both eyes greatly improves your depth perception for some optometric tasks, such as determining optic cup depth.

However, while you'd be losing a few tools out of your diagnosis kit, it's not a huge setback. There are still plenty of other methods to use and other tests you can perform.

I know of at least one optometrist who is monocular and works in a group practice simply so that whenever a binocular view would greatly help, another OD can take a quick look. Probably not absolutely necessary, but nice to have as a reassurance.

 

[Eyegirl2k7]

I don't have stereo either. It really only affects me when looking at the optic nerve or when attempting to determine if a subtle retinal lesion is elevated or not. If I don't know for sure, I refer🙂 It will be okay

 

[Schmarc3000]

Thanks.

I've heard there are newer instruments that can take measurements for optic cup depth or assist in looking at certain parts of the eye where monocular cues are lacking. So I guess if I run a private practice down the road I would have to buy/rely on a few instruments more than most for certain types of examinations.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

You'll be fine. There were two students at my school who were monocular. Both of them had accidents involving a bar fight where they had one of their eyes gauged out and removed.

Were they in the same fight? 😉

Seriously though... what are the chances that you'd have two students in an optometry class who both lost one eye due to a bar fight?

 

[itek2OD]

There's always a way. This link is along the same idea:

http://www.komonews.com/news/health/7709997.html

The most definitive 'physical' requirements for an OD student I've seen are listed here:

http://optometry.osu.edu/pdf/ASCOFunctionalStandards.pdf

Go for it. Good luck.