This section is intentionally called the DISCOVERY, not the eye test. It does not matter what you will find out. What matters is that you will know your starting point. Understanding the status quo gives you the ability to track your progress. We promise, it will get better from here on.

GLASSES OFF!

In order to discover what your eyes can see, you need to let your eyes be free of any aids. So, read the instructions below, then remove your contact lenses, take off your glasses and begin. Write what you have learned about your eyes in the Eye Discovery pages of your Vision Journal. That way you can come back to it at a later date and be in awe about how much your vision has changed.

 

DISCOVER YOUR DISTANT VISION

 

It is well known that vision is considered to be normal when the eyes can see “20:20”. Without going to see an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, how do you know where you stand? To fully assess your distant vision, you will need to print a Snellen Chart that can be found here. Depending on how much space you have in your home, print the 10ft version or the 20ft version.

 

HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE?

  • Decide whether you will be standing or sitting

  • Place the Snellen Chart on a wall (door, side of a cabinet), at your eye level

  • Sit or stand 10 ft or 20ft away from the chart (using the 10ft or 20 ft chart respectively)

  • Look at the chart with both eyes, read the letters, starting from the top and ending as far down as you can see them. Write down the last line you read (you can write “some letters on line X” if you were able to read some letters on a particular line, but missed others)

  • Put on the lens L of the Eyesight Trainer and look at the chart with your right eye. Again, read it from the top to the bottom and note the last line you were able to read

  • Finally, do the same for your left eye, covering the right eye with the R mono lens

Practice Lenses: L and R

Tips & Watch outs:

  • If you can, ask someone to help you check that the letters you have read are correct. You can also record your answers on your phone, then go closer to the chart and check your answers.

  • If you cannot see any letters from the initial distance, then go closer until you can read the top line. Then, in your workbook, note the distance from which the top line could be read.

  • You may cover your eyes with your hands to test your vision. If you do, keep your hand flat to ensure that your peripheral vision remains uncovered. Do not cup your hand to prevent light from coming into the obstructed eye.

 

DISCOVER YOUR CLOSE IN VISION

 

Is reading fine print within your reach? Let’s have a look at your close in vision and the letters you can read without glasses or contacts. Before you begin, print the Near Acuity Discovery chart here.

 

IS READING FINE PRINT WITHIN YOUR REACH?

  • Hold the chart in your hands about 10 inches away from your face and at your eye level (do not place it on your desk and lean over, instead, keep your back and head straight)

  • Look at the chart with both eyes. Start reading from the top and end as far down as you can read the words. Write down the last line (font size) you were able to read

  • Put on the lens L of the Eyesight Trainer and look at the chart with your right eye. Again, read it from the top to the bottom and note the last line you were able to read

  • Finally, do the same for your left eye, covering the right eye with the R mono lens

Practice Lenses: L and R

Tips & Watch outs:

  • If you cannot read any letters from the initial distance, then move the chart closer or further away from your face until you can read the top paragraph (N48). Then, in your workbook, note the distance from which the top paragraph could be read.

 

IS WHAT YOU SEE DISTORTED IN ANY WAY?

 

In addition to any limits of your distant vision or close in vision (or both), is there any additional distortion? Is there astigmatism? Or perhaps double vision? Find and print the Astigmatism Assessment chart here before you begin.

 

DO ALL SPIKES LOOK THE SAME?

  • Hold the chart in your hands about 10 inches away from your face and at your eye level (do not place it on your desk and lean over, instead, keep your back and head straight)

  • Put on the lens L of the Eyesight Trainer and look at the chart with your right eye. Look at the circle in the middle of the chart. Notice whether any of the spikes look different from the other spikes. They can be lighter color, fuzzy, have shadows. In your journal, circle the axes associated with such spikes for the right eye. It can be more than one axis.

  • Do the same with your left eye, covering the right eye with the R mono lens

Practice Lenses: L and R

Tips & Watch outs:

  • If looking at objects that are close to your face brings you pain/strain (this is common for people who need strong reading glasses or people with the “+” sign prescription lenses), your evaluation may be faulty. Move the chart into a further distance to see if any difference in the appearance of the spikes shows. Do not worry if this assessment cannot be completed, there will be a way to address this in later modules.

 

DISCOVER YOUR FIELD OF VIEW

 

What lies inside your field of view and what is hidden from your eyes? How widely can you see? Find out and record it in your Vision Journal.

 

  • Position yourself in a room.

  • While looking forward (without moving your eyes to either side), what objects to your left and your right are you aware of?

  • Without moving your eyes up or down, what objects above and below your eye level are you aware of?

    Make sure you can replicate this at a later date, so be specific in describing where you are positioned and in describing what you can see. Take pictures if it helps.

Tips & Watch outs:

Here is an example of what to write down:

“I am sitting at the desk in my office with my head high and I am looking at the wall in front of me. On the left side I am aware of the edge of the window frame, but I do not see the glass of the window or anything outside. On the right side I am aware of the very edge of the closet door (where the door meets the wall, but I do not see anything that is inside the closet. On the wall in front of me, I am aware of the bottom part of the painting, but I register no ceiling. Below my chin I register the edge of my keyboard, but I do not see the desk between the keyboard and my body.”

 

OTHER VISUAL QUALITIES

 

Think about other aspects of your vision.

  • How do you perceive colors?

  • Do you feel safe walking down the stairs?

  • Do you feel safe while driving?

  • Is it easy for you to see how far things are?

  • Anything else that describes the way you see?

 

CURRENT VISION PRESCRIPTION

 

This is not critical, but if you have it, write it down. It may be helpful if you decide to order training glasses.

 

OTHER VISION DIFFICULTIES

 

Please note in your journal any other conditions that trouble your seeing, such as:

  • double vision,

  • turned eye (strabismus),

  • floaters,

  • cataracts,

  • glaucoma, etc.

While this program does not specifically address eyesight diseases, much of what you will learn here may provide relief of your symptoms.

 

DETERMINE YOUR DOMINANT EYE

 

Now, let’s finish this section with something a little more fun.

Minus rare exceptions, each person has one eye that leads and one that follows. The leading eye is called the Dominant Eye.

Dominant eye does not necessarily mean one that sees better, but it often does determine the way the two eyes work together. Knowing which eye is your dominant eye is useful for single-eye practice, as it is often easier to practice with the dominant eye first, and only then practice with the other eye. The dominant eye may be able to grasp the practice faster and through the use of imagination show the other eye the way to improvement.

 

WHICH OF YOUR EYES IS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT?

  • Stand with your arms stretched in front of you and your hands overlapping, creating a small triangle between the thumbs and second fingers

  • With both eyes open, find a small object in the distance and see it through the triangle

  • Then, without moving your arms, hands or head, close one eye and notice whether the eye that remained open can still see the object as before

  • Switch eyes and and notice whether the eye that remained open can still see the object as before

  • Most likely one of the eyes saw the object and the other lost it. The eye that was able to see the object is your dominant eye

Practice Lenses: no lenses needed

Tips & Watch outs:

  • You must not move while determining your dominant eye

  • The only movement that happens is your left eye closing, then your right eye closing

  • If you move your head or your arms/hands, you will not be able to tell whether the object stayed or disappeared

 

WELL DONE!

Without further ado, let’s push off of this starting block and take the first steps towards the finish line. Ready - Set - Go!