Wearable monoculars? (How can I get one?)

[And]

I've had KC for 30 years. My right eye vision is just an amorphous blur, a cross between abstract expressionism and high cubism; I've not seen owt with it for 20+ years. Left is good enough for reading and computer use and not bumping into things. Spectacles and contact lenses don't help, and ophthalmologist advised (2010) that grafts would have only a poor chance of improving current vision.

Today I had occasion to look through binoculars for the first time in 30 years, and to my amazement discovered the phenomenon this site's archives reveal to have been noted by Andrew MacLean in 2007: that is, astonishingly I could see quite clearly through the binoculars with my right eye. It seems to me that if I could wear a monocular against my eye, perhaps fixed there by some sort of elastic headband, then my vision could be revolutionized. If the monocular had 0 magnification and were worn constantly, perhaps I would regain good sight and stereoscopy? Or if the monocular were magnifying, I could wear it just when I need distance vision, which I currently lack.

But how can I find such a wearable monocular? Unwearable monoculars are easy to find, as are binocular attachments to spectacles. But I've not found anything that will keep a lightweight monocular right up against the eye. Surely, since this is a known phenomenon and apparently such an efficacious remedy, such devices must exist? (If it doesn't exist, then the next question would be how best to go about causing it to exist.) Googling "wearable monocular" yields info only on wearable monocular displays, not on wearable monoculars, and "wearable monoculars" finds nothing at all.

--And.

[Anne Klepacz]

Hello And and welcome,
Have you tried looking at the RNIB website to see if they supply anything like this? Or the websites of companies supplying low vision aids such as Optelec or Optima Low Vision? Alternatively, is there a low vision clinic at your hospital or near you which you could visit? We had an optometrist specialising in low vision talking at the last East Mids meeting in Leicester and she brought along all sorts of gizmos for us to look at. I don't know whether what you describe is available, but I was impressed at the range of different aids there are now.
Good luck
Anne

[Grant]

How about taking something like this and removing/customising the mechanism over your good eye? These are very similar to the pair shown at the East Mids meeting. I have pretty good corrected sight in both eyes but still thought these were excellent for improving distance vision.

http://www.visionenhancers.co.uk/Eschen ... acles.html

[And]

Thank you, Anne, for your reply. I had tried many LVA sites to no avail, and I will ask my GP for a referral to Moorfields' LVC, which looks like it's going to be the best next step. I've found that googling for combos of "headband", "bioptic telescope", "loupe" and "monocle" gets closer to the mark than "wearable monocular(s)"; but with the exception of steampunk costumery, I have found nothing that will keep the eyepiece snug against the eye, tho did find what looks like a loupe attached to a flimsy headstrap, which I have experimentally ordered from China in the hope that it is better than nothing. Thank you too, Grant: I have ordered off Ebay a cheapo counterpart of the device you linked to, which may well help get better distance vision with my left eye. But to see anything with my right eye, I seem to have to have the eyepiece pushed right into the eye socket, right up against the eye.

[CrippsCorner]

What an interesting thread... I'm sorry you are thus far unable to find what you require but it made me dig my binoculars out and have a go for myself. For the first time in years I was able to look at a light source and only see a single light bulb rather than loads of the buggers! Quite emotional tbh, please update this thread if you get anywhere

[Grant]

But to see anything with my right eye, I seem to have to have the eyepiece pushed right into the eye socket, right up against the eye.

The ratchet mechanism moves the outer lens towards or away from the eye, with some butchering and experimenting you might be able to make the ratchet move the lens right up to your eye socket?

[Stace234]

For the first time in years I was able to look at a light source and only see a single light bulb rather than loads of the buggers! Quite emotional tbh, please update this thread if you get anywhere

I need to try this!!! One light source :0

[CrippsCorner]

It's amazing to see, but it feels cruel really I want it all the time...

[KCrunner]

And,

It occurred to me, as a last resort, that you could try getting a bespoke design 3D printed and putting the lenses into it. There are lots of 3D printing forums maybe you could ask someone to design it for you then there are companies that will 3D print a one off design. But I guess a friendly optician would need to make the lenses for it.

[And]

I have decided not to pursue this project for the time being. When testing with binoculars, the glass of the eyepiece must be very close to the cornea, sometimes touching, and this makes me conclude that there may be hygiene issues involved in regular use of the hypothetical wearable monocular. I'm not competent to design an appropriate hygiene regime for its use. I haven't yet sought the Moorfields referral, but I did go to the RNIB shop In Judd Street (London) and discussions with staff there seemed to indicate that the wearable monocular doesn't currently exist. I still think the project would be worth pursuing, but my lack of time and the apparent difficulty of the project mean it won't be me pursuing it for the time being.

For my occasional distance-viewing needs, I currently use a small monocular with my good(ish) eye. The loupe I mentioned in an earlier message is completely useless (for my purposes). The glasses that Grant recommended are more useful; they do make TV subtitles easier to read (using the goodish eye), tho they're uncomfortably heavy and narrow the field of view to less than the full TV screen.