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Medical Forum / General / Vision / April 2007device to help find front of car (double vision)
Hello, I have double vision and dry eye caused either by a severe head injury or a stroke. The eye doc here is an older fellow that I guess doesn't keep up with things as I learned this morning that therapy can be effective but the doc never said anything about that; my solution for now is to wear a patch over the left eye with muscle/nerve damage. Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have adjusted pretty much to using only my right eye. The problem I am looking for a solution for is parking my car. In the street, there are enough other visual cues for me to tell how far away things are, but when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front of the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better idea. It was while looking for information for such a device that I found that there are therapies that could be successful in restoring my vision to normal. Unfortunately, I will need to travel about 500 miles to get to the proper help. I'm starting to work towards that goal as of today now that I know that there might be some hope. Until this morning, I thought I might have to wear this stupid patch the rest of my life. Any suggestions for my car will be greatly appreciated.  SignatureStan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/ Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein > Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have "Interesting" combination of unfortunate events! Hopefully not simultaneous... > the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or > hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a stick > or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi trucks > but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better idea. How about an old-fashioned "curb feeler"? Remember the spring mounted steel probe that was often mounted on the curb side of cars, so you could hear it scraping, before damaging your wheels? Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted side-looking on the front bumper. Dave >> Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have > > "Interesting" combination of unfortunate events! Hopefully not > simultaneous... There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well banked curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in Critical Care after the crash. I don't even remember leaving my house that morning. > How about an old-fashioned "curb feeler"? Remember the spring Yes, damn it, I'm old enough to remember those. ;) > mounted steel probe that was often mounted on the curb side of cars, > so you could hear it scraping, before damaging your wheels? I don't think those would help with things in front of me. > Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted > side-looking on the front bumper. That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on disability, I don't have much to spare. SignatureStan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/ Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein On Apr 18, 1:26 am, Uncle Pirate <UnclePir...@MotorcycleFun.org> wrote: > >> Over the past four years since my strokes/motorcycle wreck, I have > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! > A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein One really good cue to distance is paralax. This is how objects move in relation to one another depending on what you are looking at. If you hold your finger in front of you, look at your finger, and move your head back and forth you will notice the finger stays in more or less in the same place, but the background (a wall at a good diastance) will move quite quickly. Using this relative motion your brain uses these clues to help determine depth. In fact with persons with two good eyes your brain relys on this "paralax." If you mounted a stick on the front bumper of your car you could certainly benefit from it. Might look s a little strange, and make sure it doesn't block your view of the road, but it will prbably help. Just remember to move your head back and forth a little bit when parking :-) > There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural > highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which > caused the crash, I went straight off a wide, sweeping, well banked > curve. I had six strokes documented while I was in Critical Care after > the crash. I don't even remember leaving my house that morning. Damn! Can't blame the cycle for that one... Hope you have a full recovery, eventually. > I don't think those would help with things in front of me. The curb feeler approach would have to be modified somewhat, true. > > Or, higher tech solution, an LCD display "backup camera", mounted > > side-looking on the front bumper. > > That would probably be ideal but expensive and freshly retired on > disability, I don't have much to spare. I understand that!! They are getting cheaper, though. My wife picked one up at Costco this last Christmas for $89... Dave >> There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a rural >> highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke which [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > I understand that!! They are getting cheaper, though. My wife picked one > up at Costco this last Christmas for $89... I got a brand new one for $58 on eBay! >>> There's no way of knowing for certain because I was alone on a >>> rural highway with no witnesses, but yes, I believe I had a stroke [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> Damn! Can't blame the cycle for that one... Hope you have a full >> recovery, eventually. Thanks. I don't think I can blame another driver either. It's not like so many that get hit by inattentive drivers. Stuff happens. I have a sister that has also had a stroke; she is as bad, if not worse off than I am and she didn't crash a motorcycle when she had the stroke. They can be bad news. >>> I don't think those would help with things in front of me. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > I got a brand new one for $58 on eBay! Thanks guys. You've given me some idea of where/what to look for now. At those kind of prices, I can probably swing something. Another thought I had is a proximity sensor like they are using for backup sensors, just put it on the front? I'll have to do some price comparisons. I sometimes forget how fast the cost of technology is coming down even when sitting here looking at my $169 19" wide flat panel screen. SignatureStan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/ Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein > Another thought I had is a proximity sensor like they are using for > backup sensors, just put it on the front? I'll have to do some price > comparisons. This <http://www.diyelectronics.com/Accessories/URF.html> would take another bit of electronics to turn into a range display or warning indicator, but it's priced about $41 US. I do like a simple, low tech approach, if you can swing it, though. I suppose a lateral wire "feeler" a foot in front of your bumper would look too kludgy? It could push a microswitch, or even make and break a contact directly... Dave >when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front of >the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should be or >hit the sign pole (handicapped spots). I've thought of mounting a >stick or something from the front bumper kind of like you see on semi >trucks but don't know if that will help any or if there is a better >idea. I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the curb. 1. No Cost Solution. Either on your own or with help from someone in the passenger seat, get your car parked correctly six inches from the curb. The curb then makes an imaginary line which intersects the right front of the hood at a certain distance from the fender edge. Line that place up with the curb each time you park. If you have a hood ornament that sticks up, you can use it to line up the curb instead. 2. Expensive Solution. Buy an ordinary household suction cup (59 cents US). Stick it on the front of the hood. The knobby part makes a good line-up tool. It's unobtrusive and looks nicest if you center it like a hood ornament. But you can stick it off-center on the right if that seems more convenient for you. -- Regards, Dan I like your idea, but it's not exactly clear for me. If you use a central ornament, that's a different location from that place (to the right) where the curb line intersects the front of the car, isn't it? w.stacy, o.d. > > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > >I like your idea, but it's not exactly clear for me. If you use a >central ornament, that's a different location from that place (to the >right) where the curb line intersects the front of the car, isn't it? The center of the hood will line up with a spot further up the street. Sometimes, it's not practical, but some drivers prefer it to the position on the right because they find it easier to judge from the center of the car. To each his own! -- Regards, Dan >>when parking, there is not enough other cues to tell where the front >>of the car is. I usually wind up several feet from where I should [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the > curb. No, how far away from the pole sticking up in front of handicapped parking spots. I often hit the pole or am a couple feet away. I cannot judge the distance. > 1. No Cost Solution. Either on your own or with help from someone in > the passenger seat, get your car parked correctly six inches from [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > hood ornament that sticks up, you can use it to line up the curb > instead. I am able to use these types of visual cues in traffic but approaching a pole in front of me, there are not enough other visual cues. > 2. Expensive Solution. Buy an ordinary household suction cup (59 > cents US). Stick it on the front of the hood. The knobby part makes > a good line-up tool. It's unobtrusive and looks nicest if you center > it like a hood ornament. But you can stick it off-center on the > right if that seems more convenient for you. Thanks for the offered solutions. SignatureStan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/ Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein >> I take it you want a way to know how far away the car is from the >> curb. > >No, how far away from the pole sticking up in front of handicapped >parking spots. I often hit the pole or am a couple feet away. I >cannot judge the distance. Unc, I'm familiar with your problem. I used to specialize in teaching/reteaching people with disabilities how to drive legally and safely despite the disability. There's a way to test you out and possibly train you with a technique to know where the front of the car is. But it's too difficult to derscribe, and anyway it has to be done with someone knowledgeable (a professional). The success of that technique depends on the severity of your problem and just has to be field-tested. Meanwhile, caution has to rule! Try this two-step process (if you havn't done something like it already). 1. When you're entering a parking space that's diagonal or perpendicular to the curb, stop the car too soon, i.e., when you are sure you are not truly fully parked in the space (and haven't gotten anyplace near the sign post yet). 2. Then inch your car forward slowly, I mean reeeaaally slowly, like almost at a standstill, until your bumper gently taps the sign post. Then back up a few inches and you're in correctly. -- Regards, Dan I'm also blind in one eye and have the same problem with parking. Post brain injury double vision is not uncommon but typically resolves. Studies have indicated that visual therapy can help to restore vision but given the length of time in your case that could be a problem because typically the therapy is conducted early after the incident. If the therapy doesn't work, start learning some basic geometry ... . Good luck, but I still have trouble parking ... . John. John > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! > A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein > I'm also blind in one eye and have the same problem with parking. > Post brain injury double vision is not uncommon but typically [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Good luck, but I still have trouble parking ... . Thanks John, right now I'm looking into backup sensors like come on some of the newer vehicles. They can be purchased for under a hundred dollars and there is no reason they shouldn't work on the front using a switch to turn on rather than depending on backup lights. You might consider the same. As for my vision, I just learned about some of the newer methods of therapy and spot patches. In this small town, the eye doctor is old fashioned and only recommended covering one eye. I've written to a doctor about 500 miles away asking if it's possible that the newer methods could still work. According to my research, the "pirate patch" is old school and no longer recommended. The only thing the doctor here recommended is to wear the patch on the other eye sometimes to help strengthen the damaged eye. I don't use the patch on the other eye because I've found that within about 18" to 24", I see normally; its beyond that that the image starts separating to two. I don't wear the patch at all at home as I've become accustomed to looking up at the TV to see two of them and I'm usually at the computer where I don't see double. I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your eyesight; I hope that it is not too difficult. But that is the reason I posted here, that maybe someone else that has the same problem may have some ideas. I appreciate your input very much. SignatureStan McCann "Uncle Pirate" http://stanmccann.us/ Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein Hey Stan, My problems began at 4 years of age when surgery went awry. So I've had a long time to adjust. For many years I rode a very fast motorbikes, like a maniac, how I survived I'll never know but I did learn lots of survival tricks. If you ride you must or you will die. I found the bike easier to manage than the car. > > I'm also blind in one eye and have the same problem with parking. > > Post brain injury double vision is not uncommon but typically [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > Webmaster, ABATE of NM; AMA#758681; COBB; RETIRED!! > A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein |
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