Protect Your Vision: Discipline Is the Best Defense!

Our eyes allow us to experience and interpret the world—whether that’s reading a good book, admiring a beautiful sunset, or simply navigating safely through daily life. Without healthy vision (Visual Perceptual Skills), even routine tasks can become far more challenging. This is why it is worth putting consistent effort into caring for them. One of the most effective ways to do this is through self-discipline, especially in the areas of moderation and persistence.

Moderation: Avoiding Overuse

There is truth to the saying “too much of a good thing can be bad,” and this applies to vision as well. While reading a printed book may be gentler on the eyes than staring at a phone or computer screen, focusing on close-up tasks for extended periods still causes muscle strain in the eyes. This is when fatigue, dryness, or headaches can start to appear.

The solution is straightforward—develop the habit of stepping away periodically to allow your eyes to rest. One of the most effective methods is to stand up, move around, and focus on objects in the distance, such as trees, buildings, or the horizon. Shifting your gaze to faraway points helps relax the eye muscles and alleviates strain. Whether you are reading, using a digital device, or engaging in close-up crafts, it is important to set boundaries and provide your eyes with regular periods of rest.

Persistence: Staying Consistent with Good Habits

Moderation is only part of the equation—persistence is equally important. Protecting your vision is not only about avoiding strain but also about building and maintaining strength in the muscles around your eyes. Simple practices such as following the “20-20-20 rule” (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds), completing basic focusing exercises, or making a conscious effort to blink more during screen time can all be beneficial.

The real impact comes from consistency. Just as with physical fitness, the benefits of caring for your eyes accumulate over time when habits are followed regularly, not sporadically. Persistent practice helps keep your eyes functioning efficiently and supports the brain’s ability to process visual information with clarity.

A Lifelong Payoff

Discipline might sound like a big word, but here it just means being consistent with the little things—taking breaks when you need them and showing up for your eye-care routine. Moderation keeps your eyes from burning out, persistence keeps them in good shape, and together they help your vision stay clear and comfortable for years to come.

If you're not sure how to do so, send us a message and we’d be happy to help. Take care of your eyesight to help preserve it, once it's gone it won’t come back!