Visual Victory Training Center

All of the symptoms below may indicate a serious eye condition

1. Frequent loss of place while reading:

Have you ever been frustrated by losing your place when reading, skipping words, or having to reread something because you did not grasp the meaning the first time through? Try cutting a one- or two- sentence sized slot in a piece of blank paper or light cardboard. Use this “mask” to block off text above and below what you are reading to help keep your place, and reduce visual confusion!

2. Eyestrain on the computer:

The American Optometric Association tells us that many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use. The most common symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) are.

• eyestrain
• headaches
• blurred vision
• dry eyes
• neck and shoulder pain

These symptoms may be caused by:

• poor lighting
• glare on the computer screen
• improper viewing distances
• poor seating posture
• uncorrected vision problems
• a combination of these factors

In addition, you might be sensitive to the flicker of the computer monitor, despite not being able to “see” it flicker! Try decreasing the brightness to decrease your sensitivity to the flicker. Alternatively, you might include a very faint grey tint to your glasses if you wear them. The tinted glasses may also help with sensitivity to fluorescent light flicker in large stores.

3. Occasional blurry vision while reading, or changing from reading to across the room:

If your vision is blurry when looking up from reading, your focusing system is in spasm, or cramping, and can not change the focus right away. One way to improve your focusing stamina and flexibility is to get in the habit of alternating focusing far and near whenever you have to wait for things, such as at the bank or grocery store. If you do this frequently, you may find that the vision is more consistent for you when you have been reading for a while. It is also good for your eyes to glance away, at something across the room for about 20 seconds every fifteen to twenty minutes when reading to relax the muscles periodically.