“Dr. Graebe’s eye therapy has completely changed my daughter’s ability to read. Before, she complained of letters ‘going double.’ Now, she no longer has any trouble seeing the letters,” shared Holly M. This testimonial from a grateful parent highlights how eye dominance can significantly impact daily tasks like reading. But what exactly is eye dominance, and does it truly matter for most of us?
Much like how everyone has a dominant hand, we also have a dominant eye. But does this dominance play a role in how we navigate everyday life? For professional athletes like Andres Galarraga, understanding and addressing his right-eye dominance transformed his baseball career.
Eye Dominance in Sports: A Game-Changer
Galarraga, a former Major League Baseball player, struggled with his batting performance early in his career, achieving a batting average of just .243. However, after joining the Colorado Rockies, team doctors discovered that his right eye was much more dominant than his left. They suggested a change in his batting stance to allow his dominant eye to follow the pitch more effectively. The result? In the 1993 season, he batted an incredible .370, leading the league and becoming an All-Star for six of the next seven seasons.
This remarkable improvement illustrates how eye dominance can directly affect performance in sports and other activities requiring quick reflexes and precision.
Eye Dominance and Everyday Life
According to Dr. Rick Graebe, a pediatric specialist and neuro optometrist in Versailles, Kentucky, “Eyes should be balanced. If one eye is too dominant, a person might lose depth perception and have issues seeing in 3D.” For those with an imbalance in eye dominance, activities that require depth perception, like driving or even reading, can become more challenging.
Cross-dominance, where a person’s dominant eye is opposite to their dominant hand, can make tasks like writing or judging distances difficult. “People with cross-dominance can easily get letters like ‘d’ and ‘b’ confused,” Dr. Graebe explained. This is a common issue in children who may struggle with learning, often getting misdiagnosed with conditions such as dyslexia or ADHD.
Vision Therapy: A Solution for Balance
Vision therapy, a specialized treatment offered at the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute, helps correct visual imbalances by training the eyes and brain to work together more efficiently. This type of therapy is effective not just for athletes or children with learning difficulties but for anyone whose performance is hindered by eye dominance.
Dr. Graebe recently treated a bright doctoral student who had been struggling with reversing letters and numbers for years. “I still do,” she admitted when asked if she had difficulties as a child. After implementing a few sequenced activities, Dr. Graebe helped her find visual balance, making reading and writing far easier.
Should You Be Concerned About Eye Dominance?
Eye dominance may not seem critical for everyone, but as Dr. Graebe puts it, “If one stereo speaker is louder than the other, you can still enjoy the music.” However, when eye dominance affects activities like reading, sports, or even general coordination, it’s worth addressing. Finding balance through vision therapy can improve not only academic performance but also overall quality of life.
Schedule an Eye Exam Today!
If you or a loved one are experiencing difficulties with reading, depth perception, or hand-eye coordination, eye dominance could be a contributing factor. Dr. Rick Graebe FCOVD and his team at the Neuro-Visual Performance Institute are here to help. With locations in Versailles, serving the greater Lexington area, and Somerset, we are one of the few pediatric specialty practices serving Central and Southern Kentucky.
Call us today at 859-879-0089 to schedule an appointment!
Credit:
This blog is based on information from Dr. Rick Graebe as compiled and written by John Lynch.