Part 1: External Factors
Are there factors that can cause vision problems without something being inherently wrong with a person’s visual system? Yes! These are a few simple ideas to take into consideration that may produce good results for little to no money.
Slant Boards
- When you see a picture of a school desk from the turn of the century, a few details may catch your eye. Many desks had bench seats attached, there was often an inkwell, a groove to set your pencil in, and a slight slant of the desktop. It makes sense that the desks of today don’t require most of those features, however one that students could still benefit from is the slanted desktop. This part of the ergonomic design was actually really good for a person’s overall posture and school performance. The eyes have an easier time focusing when the object of their attention is parallel to the face. A 22° slope seems to be the most comfortable slope to reduce visual and postural stress in the body. This can help with reading and writing too so that the eyes have an easier time focusing and a person can better track the lines of text/paper. The slant boards we use here in the office are from Visual Edge.
Reading Distance
- There is no “one size fits all” distance a book should be from someone to read comfortably. What is recommended though is known as the Harmon Distance. To determine this for yourself, place the knuckles of one hand under your chin and lift your arm out in front of you. Wherever your elbow ends is where your reading/writing material should be placed. If you find yourself holding the book closer or further from that distance consistently you may need an update on your glasses prescription or possibly a visit with a developmental optometrist to assess other possible visual issues.
Lighting
- Don’t underestimate the power of proper lighting. I don’t know how many times I was told growing up to turn the light on when I was reading so I wouldn’t ruin my eyes. I grumbled about it then, but now I know lighting really can affect your vision. Your eyes need enough brightness to not strain when looking at text, but avoid sitting in an area with a glare as that can also disrupt visual processing. Try to utilize natural sunlight as much as possible and reduce reliance on fluorescent lights as that can also minimize head/eye pain.
Sometimes little changes are all you need to notice improvement in how you see, feel and learn. We hope these simple suggestions will help you on your way to better vision. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment reach out to us by phone 402-502-0043 or email us at [email protected]
