The first step to compensating for eye loss is to determine what exactly has changed and how that change affects perception. Here, Mr. Brady provides an accurate and understandable description of the visual system from the unique perspective of a scientist and a person who has experienced changes to this system firsthand.

"Three things have happened:

• Your horizontal field of vision has narrowed
• Your depth perception has been impaired.
• Your whole visual system, including brain and motor functions, is in disarray and needs reprogramming so the two can be able to work together in an integrated fashion." (pg. 25)

Many of these losses can be compensated for with increased attention; and they soon become merely "a nuisance."

"Actually, there's more nuisance than danger, once you've made adjustments to your new limitation. If the loss of lateral vision seems enormous to you (10 to 20 %)--as it usually does at first--keep in mind that it's really less than many persons with two good eyes inflict on themselves voluntarily by wearing heavy rimmed glasses." (p. 27)

(Click on chapter title to see excerpt)