Skydiving with one eye pt2

[billvon 2,991]

So this weekend I tried the one-eye experiment again. This time I taped over the other half of my goggles (the left side) and went up with an 8-way. I put the goggles on about 5 min before exit to get used to the 'picture.' One of the cameramen filming a tandem saw me and got a very puzzled look on his face. He kept pointing to my goggles - I kept saying "Yeah, I know, it's OK."

We pulled an 8-way chunk out with no problems. The second point built (I had to backslide and pick someone up) and we turned pieces to the third point. Our piece funnelled when the 'big guy in the floppy jumpsuit' went low and took someone with him. I waited for a few seconds to see what would happen, then dove down to him (now 50ft below) and started building a round on him. My biggest problem with having only one eye wasn't depth perception, it was having to move my head a lot more to see everything. Because of that it was harder to see the picture - the state of the dive, where everyone was, what the fall rate was doing etc.

Then we broke off. No problems there. I opened around 2200 and set up a pretty normal landing, which for me is a front riser 90 deg turn to final, a little bit of double fronts to extend the dive, and maybe a 30 foot planeout. Landed with no problem under a Safire loaded at 1.75. Only problem under canopy was again not being able to see as much as I was used to - I kept 'losing' people when I looked away from them.

Another bit of data to file away. At least if I get smacked in the eye or get my goggles covered with blood or dirt someday I'll know I can fly and land with one eye. I think I had normal depth perception - it definitely felt different but there was no "2D" feeling, as if I was looking at a picture.

[BlindBrick 0]

Quote

it definitely felt different but there was no "2D" feeling, as if I was looking at a picture.

This is because your body has an instinctive countermeasure for such situations. In a nutshell, you end up making a lot of small head movements in a short time. Your mind then compares the view from the different positions to give a sense of depth.

-Blind

"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

[mikeat10500 12]

Also you (Bill) have seen the picture so many times
that your brain will fill in the blanks(guess work). Thats why it's called perception.
...mike

-----------------------------------
Mike Wheadon B-3715,HEMP#1
Higher Expectations for Modern Parachutists.

[TheBile 0]

Interesting experiment. I jump with only one good eye. The other is only good enough for peripheral vision. My depth perception has been disabled my entire life because of this. I always wondered if it was the main problem for me judging how far up from the ground I was when it came to flaring. Sounds to me like your experience alleviated your apparant lack of depth perception during the dive.

Next time try and borrow a friends pair of glasses to blurr your vision under canopy. I'd like to know how much your affected if, say, a contact lens popped out after a hard opening.

Gerb

I stir feelings in others they themselves don't understand. KA'CHOW !

[Geoff 0]

I've had one contact lens come out in freefall and then had to fly the canopy and land with one good eye and one blurred eye (my prescription is about -4.75 dioptre). This has happened maybe 3 or 4 times. It's really not that big a deal. A bit disturbing, but no real problems with depth perception or landing - that's with a Cobalt loaded at 1.8.

Geoff

[johnnyoneeye 0]

I to am blind in one eye (Hence the username- nickname from a friend), and have a hard time getting the timing down on my flare. However, I am still rather new to the sport and think my problem has more to do with getting fixated on the ground than my depth perception. I was wondering if anyone else who is visually impaired had similar problems and if you came up with anything that helped besides more practice which I know I need.


John

[Squeak 17]

I also have a very strong script for my eyes.
I don't have stereoscopic vision, I focus almost totally out of my right eye and the left is used for minor peripheral vision (if somethinbg moves I MAY notice it).
However I have had this condition for 37 years so my sight works out depth by using refernece points, when I'm flaring I try and use a standard height for a refernce, e.g. people on the target, planes on the runway, the trees on the periphery. I only have 82 jumps so far and have only jumped at ONE DZ so it will be interesting to see what happens when I visit a new place.

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?