Image from one eye is rotated.

D

DMB

New member
I am returning to pool after a long absence. During the intervening years, my left eye underwent surgery to correct a detached retina. That eye now creates an image which is rotated approximately 10 degrees clockwise. Furthermore, the rotation is not constant across my field of view. In other words, a horizontal line appears to be somewhat wavy and rotated approximately 10 degrees (on average, one might say.) The amount of waviness and rotation also seems to change when my eyeballs are rotated strongly upwards, as when aiming a cue.

My vision system does not fuse the two images; I have a type of mild double vision. This is, of course, a problem when aiming a cue. This type of problem can not be corrected with prism in my eyeglasses, as some types can be.

I am currently learning how to aim, which as you know, is difficult enough. I know about the vision center and believe I am positioning it over the cue and shot line. My face is square to the shot line, within reason. Most of my shots go a little left of the target - 9 out of 10, or more. My stroke seems straight, again within reason. The fact that nearly every shot is slightly left tells me something repeatable is occurring.

I have experimented with aiming and shot analysis when standing, as normal, but when I am down to aim, I close (or ignore) my left eye. In nearly each case, the cue ball hits the target spot on. However, all of my tests have been hitting the cue ball straight into the target; perhaps this is a special case and cut shots would not be so successful.

Nearly all the advice I have seen is to use two eyes when aiming. The primary reason given is the need for depth perception.

The reason for this post is to inquire if anyone has experienced this problem and how it was accommodated.

Secondly, concerning the depth perception issue. When the shot is planned and ghost ball position determined while using two eyes, doesn’t the need for depth perception greatly diminish while down in your stance and aiming the cue? In which case, am I not better off aiming with a single eye?


Thank you in advance for any insight you may have.
 
One of the greatest snooker players ever, Joe Davis, had bad vision in one eye.

What does your ophthalmologist say about playing pool?
 
Bob Jewett said:
One of the greatest snooker players ever, Joe Davis, had bad vision in one eye.

What does your ophthalmologist say about playing pool?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response. My current ophthalmologist does not play pool and did not have any advice. I’m looking for one who does.
 
DMB said:
I am returning to pool after a long absence. During the intervening years, my left eye underwent surgery to correct a detached retina. That eye now creates an image which is rotated approximately 10 degrees clockwise. Furthermore, the rotation is not constant across my field of view. In other words, a horizontal line appears to be somewhat wavy and rotated approximately 10 degrees (on average, one might say.) The amount of waviness and rotation also seems to change when my eyeballs are rotated strongly upwards, as when aiming a cue.

My vision system does not fuse the two images; I have a type of mild double vision. This is, of course, a problem when aiming a cue. This type of problem can not be corrected with prism in my eyeglasses, as some types can be.

I am currently learning how to aim, which as you know, is difficult enough. I know about the vision center and believe I am positioning it over the cue and shot line. My face is square to the shot line, within reason. Most of my shots go a little left of the target - 9 out of 10, or more. My stroke seems straight, again within reason. The fact that nearly every shot is slightly left tells me something repeatable is occurring.

I have experimented with aiming and shot analysis when standing, as normal, but when I am down to aim, I close (or ignore) my left eye. In nearly each case, the cue ball hits the target spot on. However, all of my tests have been hitting the cue ball straight into the target; perhaps this is a special case and cut shots would not be so successful.

Nearly all the advice I have seen is to use two eyes when aiming. The primary reason given is the need for depth perception.

The reason for this post is to inquire if anyone has experienced this problem and how it was accommodated.

Secondly, concerning the depth perception issue. When the shot is planned and ghost ball position determined while using two eyes, doesn’t the need for depth perception greatly diminish while down in your stance and aiming the cue? In which case, am I not better off aiming with a single eye?


Thank you in advance for any insight you may have.
Click to expand...
Depending on how good your game was B4 you stopped playing might give you an advantage over the depth perception issue.
Can't argue with seeing your eye Dr and tt him or her about this.
I'd try closing one eye for awhile and see how you play. I can imagine that's uncomfortable as hell. Perhaps an eye patch?? That way you aren't thinking about keeping that eye closed instead of playing your best.
 
24 years ago, a tumor was discovered behind my left eye. It was wrapped around the optic nerve. I had double vision one morning, but still went to work with my left eye closed. After about 30 minutes, I thought that this is stupid to try to work, I need to find out the why.

I had an X-ray, and was sent home. Then called back for a CT scan and sent home. Then called back for an MRI. I again went home (2 miles) and was called back to be admitted to the hospital four four nights. I wore an eye patch for about three weeks, and did not need it anymore, because my brain blocked out the center of my vision on the left eye. I still have double vision, but not really experiencing it because of the blacked out center. I am surprised this didn't happen to the OP. I had heard a story about a guy who wore goggles that inverted everything 180 degrees. After 2 or 3 weeks, his brain flipped the image for him. After reverting back to his regular glasses for a few weeks, he was seeing normal. Two doctors confirmed that this is legit.

I can't catch anything, but can still shoot pretty good. I am amazed that I can still hit the thin cut shots. Sometimes, I close my left eye.

I tried wearing a patch, and converted clip-on sunglasses by cutting it in the center and using a black marker to black out the lens. That did not work well, as I could still see the perimeter.

I considered buying contact lenses that look like an 8-Ball, to use during a tournament or other long session. Price was too high, and they don't last a long time.

I hope your vision gets better.
 
I've had a detach for 30 yrs or so. They said it would heal and while the Picasso effect is gone, it's still there doing it's own thing. The pool solution is just a matter of faith. Balls are standardized spheres, sticks are straight. No amount of aiming is gonna change that.
 
If you do not wear glasses, you need a flip up eye patch; flip up the patch when determining the distance, flip the patch down to get correct aim.

If you do wear glasses, have the optometrist make an attachment that does essentially what the "pirates patch" does above {probably rotating in from above with a lever a the swing point of the ear-rail.
 
I developed double vision at age 80. Found a specialist in Indianapolis and he added prism to my glasses. Helped greatly but vision still not quite as good as it once was. Still hoping for more improvement since I am not ready to quit playing yet. LOL
 
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