Primary open angle glaucoma: Depth Perception

[Jazz251]

Hi everyone

New to Glaucoma UK as starting to research my condition more.

I recently came across this article bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral...

where the conclusion was "Primary open angle glaucoma patients and glaucoma suspects, showed significant reduction in depth perception. Decreased stereoacuity was associated with greater glaucomatous visual field loss."

Has this depth perception/stereoacuity reduction happened to anyone on the forum who is prepared to share some of their experience etc

[Beecalmed]

I think it’s quite easy to check your stereo acuity with the red dot finger test. Here’s one:

blog.barnerbrand.com/depth-....

I see two dots/two fingers but one of my fingers has lost the top digit now (due to sight loss, not amputation!). I guess when one whole finger is no longer visible due to my potential progressive sight loss in one eye then I might have issues with depth of field.

But no, I don’t think I currently have issues.

[judetheobscure22 in reply to Beecalmed]

An interesting test.

When focusing on the red dot, there's only one finger and it's slightly left of centre of dot.

When focusing on the finger, I get a full red dot on the left and the outside half of the red dot on the right.

[judetheobscure22]

Yes I do and was why I went to the optician for an eye test. I play racket sports and am finding it harder to judge where the ball/shuttle is and what trajectory it's taking. Unfortunately not soon enough to prevent any damage but hopefully will now be stable.

Re @Beecalmed comment, I tested my visual field in my stationary car. Left eye can see all the windscreen on both sides plus a little further. Right eye at the top can see to the rear view mirror and at the bottom a little further. Fortunately the peripheral vision on the right is unaffected.

[Jazz251 in reply to judetheobscure22]

Thanks for your comment - I can fully relate to the difficulty of ball judgement - so frustrating and I find myself now having to concentrate so much on the issue, I'm starting to lose enjoyment of winning points (due to my competitive nature! 😀)

[Eahldt]

I definitely have difficulty in walking down steps and attribute this to a loss of depth perception.

[muddledme in reply to Eahldt]

I have also noticed difficulty walking down steps or over uneven surfaces. It seems to have been quite a slow change. Now when I am out I try and be extra careful,sometimes remembering hidden road bumps or changes in depth of stairs. One bookshop has a very uneven floor , with a notice of warning on the wall ,but little difference in colour on the carpet.

When out for a walk I will often take an old stick to avoid falling over ant hills or down rabbit holes...of which we have plenty here!

Apparently an easy exercise to help balance is to stand on one foot for about 1 minute then alternate with the other. I practice this behind a chair so if I wobble I am still safe.

[Eahldt in reply to muddledme]

My balance isn’t good and hasn’t been for a long time. The sort of exercise you describe is part of the pilates and other exercise I do so I do try but find it hard to see a lot of improvement.

[Littletreasures]

I’ve noticed difficulties with depth perception in recent weeks. Two incidences in particular stand out. I was pouring a drink (non alcoholic!) into a glass and completely missed the glass as it was difficult to judge the back rim of the glass. The second incident was when I was riding my bike. I was on a cycle path adjacent to a footpath and there was what I thought was a line between the two paths. It was in actual fact a kerb not just a line. Fortunately I didn’t try to cross it but if someone had been coming towards me I would have moved over and clipped the kerb which would have thrown me off my bike.

I also struggle with filling a glass under the kitchen tap as I cannot judge where to hold the glass to catch the stream of water and usually miss.

[Derfahrer in reply to Littletreasures]

On the bike was where I first started to notice the loss of some depth perception, as well as some peripheral vision. I noticed I was needing to turn my head more when checking for traffic at cross-streets.

[Anonoms in reply to Derfahrer]

My blind friends ride trikes as they struggle with balance and depth perception. They are registered partially sighted with a different eye condition, but are living proof that you dont have to give up cycling.

[PeterRabbit62]

I have primary open gluacoma for 10 years and I say no I have not, I do have other health issues which make me lose my balance sometimes, also suffering with cataract waiting for surgery.

[Jazz251]

Thanks to everyone for their input and sharing their experiences. I'll keep my eyes on the red dot, thanks to Beecalmed