When you look at details, you don’t just glance. You involve interest and curiosity in the way you look. You look for real. Such a way of looking promotes better focus and demands greater involvement of the brain.
Looking at details is an effective technique for regaining clear vision at new distances.
The technique can be practiced from up close, or from far away. If you are nearsighted, spend more time practicing looking at details of faraway objects. If you are presbyopic, look at objects that are close. If your vision is impacted by farsightedness, you may have to do both.
Before you begin, embrace the blur, make it be your friend. Simply be engaged, be present for this technique and practice is with ease. Accepting the blur does not mean that you accept not seeing. It does, however, allow you to stop fighting it, it allows you to be relaxed in its presence. And being relaxed increases your likelihood of seeing better.
Instead of despising your blurry vision, keep asking yourself “why are you here?”. Think of the blur as if it was fog. Ask the fog: “What are you covering?”, or ask yourself “What will the world look like once the fog disappears?”, or “What is it that is covered by the fog?”.
LET’S PRACTICE
LOOKING AT DETAILS UP CLOSE
Find an object of interest. It can be a flower, a piece of fabric, a piece of art. Wear a mono shield.
Look at the chosen object and move your gaze from one detail to the next. Explore the texture, the imperfection of edges, the details of the artist’s brush strokes, look for the veins in the petals of flowers. Count the petals of a daisy. Study the skin of your hand.
Use a pointer if it helps you keep your gaze in the right place
If you see the details clearly, well that is great. If you do not, it is great as well. Relax. Enjoy whatever it is that you do see. Let the object have an impact on your eyes (one first, then another). This will engage the visual receptors in the retina and it will engage your brain.
Adjust the distance from which you are practicing gradually. Find the distance at which the details are just slightly blurry, then simply look from detail to detail from that distance.
If you start to strain, relax your eyes immediately
Wave your hand to the side of your face to ensure that your peripheral vision remains engaged. Do not lock yourself into tunnel-like vision
Remember to breathe. Moment of focus is often a moment when we hold our breath. Breathe regularly and slowly to provide oxygen to your eyes.
Practice Lenses: L and R
Tips & Watchouts:
Practice with your dominant eye first
Engage with the object. Look with interest. Study in a relaxed way. Blink often.
Be in peace with what you see.
If you do not see much of anything, notice the contrast instead. If you can’t see the contrast either, then imagine what the object looks like while you look at it. Seeing is done by our brains, so knowing what you are looking at, or imagining what you are looking at will only help you see it
LOOKING AT DETAILS FAR AWAY
Go outdoors or look outside the window. Wear a mono shield.
Look at trees, houses, fences, anything that catches your interest
Look at large objects first, then smaller and smaller objects as you progress
Practice with objects just outside of your field of clarity, but also objects that are way out of reach. Do not worry about not seeing the faraway objects, just look for them
If you start to strain, relax your eyes immediately
Wave your hand to the side of your face to ensure that your peripheral vision remains engaged. Do not lock yourself into tunnel-like vision
Remember to breathe. Moment of focus is often a moment when we hold our breath. Breathe regularly and slowly to provide oxygen to your eyes.
Practice Lenses: L and R
Tips & Watchouts:
Practice with your dominant eye first
Engage with the object. Look with interest. Blink often
Be in peace with what you see
If you do not see much of anything, notice the outlines or the contrast instead. If you can’t see the contrast either, then imagine what the object looks like while you look at it