As the new year kicks off, many of us focus on fitness resolutions, signing up for gym memberships to get our bodies in shape. But have you ever thought about the fitness of your eyes? In day-to-day life, our vision is one of the most relied upon senses, far more essential than toned muscles or a six-pack.
Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD, a behavioral optometrist based in Versailles, KY, encourages everyone to make an eye health resolution this year. Taking inventory of your visual environment, visual ergonomics, and overall eye health can help ensure that your eyes stay in top condition. Here’s how you can start:
Visual Environment: Protect Your Eyes from Daily Strain
Modern life constantly exposes our eyes to blue light from devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets. This light can contribute to macular degeneration and increase the risk of blindness. Even the lighting in our offices, especially fluorescent bulbs, emit harmful blue spectrum light. While incandescent bulbs are now rare due to energy conservation regulations, natural daylight can help reduce eye strain.
Dr. Graebe recommends making adjustments to your environment, such as using LED lights, and making sure your workspace has plenty of natural light. These small changes can greatly reduce the stress on your visual system and protect your eyes from long-term damage.
Visual Ergonomics: Adopt the 20-20-20 Rule
Do you often find yourself staring at a computer screen for hours on end? Prolonged focus on screens can tire your eyes, just like any muscle group in the body. Dr. Graebe suggests using the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This helps prevent eye strain and refreshes your focus.
Even simple eye movements can help. By shifting your gaze up and down or side to side, you allow your eyes to relax and recover. In fact, Paul McCartney, of Beatles fame, advocates for eye yoga to keep your eyes in good health. Keeping up with visual ergonomics is key to maintaining eye fitness.
Eye Health: Visual Efficiency and Sensory Integration
At his practice, Dr. Graebe assesses patients across three key areas: visual efficiency, visual processing, and sensory integration. Visual efficiency focuses on the physical aspects, like how well your eyes can track and focus. Processing, on the other hand, deals with how your brain interprets the information your eyes see.
For example, many people struggle with balancing visual information with physical movement, such as in sports or everyday tasks that require coordination. By addressing these issues, Dr. Graebe helps patients develop stronger visual skills, much like working out the body to build muscle.
“If you want good visual skills, you can do it,” Dr. Graebe says. “Just like if you want to lose weight, it’s up to you to put in the effort.”
Prioritize Your Vision in the New Year
This year, make sure your eyes are in good shape. With locations in Versailles serving the greater Lexington area and Somerset, we’re one of the few practices specializing in pediatric and neuro-optometric care in Central and Southern Kentucky. To schedule an appointment and take the first step toward better vision, call us at 859-879-0089 today.
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This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.