Vision and Dentistry. In need of some input!

[KLA44]

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Hello everyone!

This is my first time posting, and I had very important question that hopefully can be addressed with some sound advice/input from those of you who are currently in school or who are seasoned pros in dentistry. I just learned that I have no stereopsis/stereo acuity, which basically means I have no depth perception. I really don't think it has ever been a problem for me, as I have had it from a young age and my brain was still plastic enough to "adapt" so to speak. I feel like I see perfectly normal. I played sports all throughout high school which required good hand eye coordination. I basically have monocular vision, as I have one good eye that dominates or over rides my weaker eye, thus I don't have binocular fusion. I guess my ultimate question is, how do you think this would affect me in dentistry? I know one obviously needs good depth perception as things are on such a small scale (within millimeters). I have performed chalk carving tests and done fine (so it seems), but I know this is much different than actually practicing dentistry. Does any one have any advice on my situation? Whether it be how to test my depth perception to see if it would effect me enough not to pursue dentistry. Or if you know of anyone who has monocular vision and done fine. I could really use some advice on what you think of my current situation. Thank you all in advance!! I'm really worried :/

 

[Dental Machine7]

Shadow a dentist and ask if you can try on his/her loupes.

 

[smokyjoe]

Hi KLA44,

Don't stress it. I am almost completely blind in one eye and I graduated from dental school last year. Obviously I don't have visual depth perception either. I got through my drilling exams and have not had a problem performing well in my clinical work at all. I guess I'd find it a bit easier if I had two good eyes but I managed fine. If one eye can see reasonable detail (e.g. an individual hair on your arm) like the average person can then you will be fine.

If you need any more reassurance, consider this. My dental school (Sydney) didn't have any sort of eye test to get onto the course and, as far as I can tell, neither do any of the other dental schools I applied to. I got offers from other dental schools too and none of them mentioned anything about vision.

As long as your chosen dentistry school doesn't have a specific entry requirement for good vision you will be fine but as I have said, none of the dental schools that I applied to or got offers from had any eyesight requirement.

I hope that helps. Don't worry and go for it.

Good luck!

 

[Smegals17]

So i had searched this topic and came across this, as i am in a similar boat to you, i also cant judge depth, and have a dominant eye in which i use to look out of and don't really use the other, i also don't have lenses in my eyes so my vision is not perfect at all, even when wearing contact lenses + reading glasses, as i have other complex vision problems aswell, so i was wondering if i would also have any trouble with being able to be a dentist, as that is one of my options of what i would like study at university. My vision is clear, just everything is a lot smaller compared to how others would see it, if anyone would be able to give me advise that would be great 🙂

-i have also played school sports (netball) and have competed in top grades at the school level against others with perfect vision without much trouble, i also have a season job as an apple thinner, which is a very visual job which i also have done well at considering, i have a good eye for detail to which is odd- this is just extra detail so people get a better idea of my ability

 

[Sublimazing]

Well you know the old saying "if you can trim an apple and win at net-ball...then being a dentist is a good-call"