I've been blind in my left eye since I was 5 and I drive :) I think that at the start driving in general can be kind of scary because you are nervous (so you're more jumpy) and you're trying to pay attention to absolutely everything... I think maybe being blind in one eye adds to that a bit, because it's just one more thing, but it is not something to be scared of.

I would say to think about your limitations, if you're buying a car look for one that has nice visibility on your left side... Also train yourself to keep the car steady when you're checking your blind spot, as it's easy to jerk the car one way or the other when you're turning your head so far or when you check and there's a car there that you weren't expecting. Train yourself to have good awareness of the cars around you by using your mirrors (when they are coming up behind you and then passing you) so that you almost always know what's in your blind spot anyways.

If you're like me, being blind in one eye doesn't prevent you from living a normal life in almost any way, and this is the same! Don't make it bigger in your head than it needs to be - try to be a safe and cautious driver in general, and be aware of the ways your vision can affect you and take steps to mitigate those. You can get blind spot mirrors for your side mirrors, and many new cars have blind spot sensors... Those are tools that can help you to mitigate any difficulties, although be careful not to rely on those tools solely - do your checks and monitor your environment.

I would suggest a wide angle rear view and side mirror that will let you see more of the road without turning your head as much.

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I drive with a camper on my truck that blocks that view and those big wide angle mirrors really help.

Please don't drive. You're putting the safety of both you and other drivers/passengers at risk.

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I’m in the same situation. I suggest driving a sedan if possible, but I understand that in Kansas, that’s not always an option. Just keep your head on a swivel and maybe invest in a wider mirror (drift mirrors are helpful).

My vision loss started with my left eye. I drove for about 8 months with vision in only my right eye (after driving for 20+ years with both eyes). I especially missed being able to glance in my side view mirror using my left eye. I also had to turn my head to look left just like you mentioned. It was more difficult in certain situations like a few places on the interstate have traffic merging from the left and right simultaneously at exchanges. Other than that, it wasn’t too much different than driving with both eyes. Just do what you need to do to keep aware of the flow of traffic, but never take you eyes off straight ahead for too long. Start slowly and get some experience on easier exchanges. You can do it!

I think these articles will help you increase your ability to drive with only one eye. (Do you still have a full field of vision in that one eye?)

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