Mike Gartner ended his 19-year NHL career as one of the most prolific goal-scorers and fastest skaters in league history, but what made his feats even more remarkable is that he played while essentially blind in one eye.
Gartner struggled his entire career with amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, but largely kept it to himself.
"My left eye is my dominant eye, I have 20-20 vision in my left eye and 20/200 vision in my right eye," Gartner told The Athletic's Eric Duhatschek. "If I cover my left eye and look out of my right eye, I couldn't even drive my car. It didn't really come into play until I turned pro, at which point I had to take an eye test.
"The doctor said, 'Cover one eye, and then cover the other' - and I said, 'I can't see out of that eye.' For years, the doctors just kinda looked the other way - I would take the black thing they use to cover your eye and move it a little so I could read the eye charts. They didn't care if I could see out of both eyes, as long as I could pass the eye test - and score goals."
Gartner's lack of vision didn't seem to hold him back, as his 708 career tallies rank seventh in NHL history. He also holds the record for most consecutive 30-goal seasons with 15.
However, he did face several obstacles while keeping his condition secret, particularly when coaches asked him to play on the left wing.
"I was pretty limited that way. I was a right-winger, I really couldn't play anywhere else," said Gartner. "I remember, one time, they tried to put me on left wing and I told them, 'I can't play over there. I don't feel comfortable.' I really think it was because I couldn’t see the ice the same way - whereas playing right wing, I could see the entire ice surface, because my left eye was dominant. When I went on the off wing, I couldn't see as well. I told them, 'I'm not a very good left-winger. You're better off just keeping me on the right side.'"
Gartner played 1,432 NHL games split between the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Phoenix Coyotes. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
