Acquired monocular vision: functional consequences from the patient's perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The study is conducted to determine the effect of acquired monocular vision (enucleation, phthisis) on the daily activities of patients.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients in a case series completed a 30-question survey evaluating the functional consequences of monocular vision.


RESULTS
Patients with sudden visual loss adapted more slowly than those with gradual loss (8.8 versus 3.6 months). Difficulties with depth perception and cosmesis were prevalent. Unexpected consequences included neck pain, strain with reading, employment change, depression, car accidents, and alcoholism. Ninety-one percent of patients had no formal training to help them adapt.


CONCLUSIONS
More than previously appreciated, there are many obstacles that patients face in making the transition to monocular vision. Few patients receive any formal instruction to help them adapt, yet many indicate that it would be beneficial.
Coday
Mary P
MP
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA.
Warner
Michael A
MA
Jahrling
Kurt V
KV
Rubin
Peter A D
PA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003867:Depth Perception; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*