Everyone is born with a set of primitive reflexes in order to go through the early years of life, particularly the first year. Primitive reflexes navigate a newborn to look for food (rooting and suck reflexes) or to change the position of the body in order to avoid a danger or to prevent suffocation (Moro & ATNR reflexes). The list of reasons why the primitive reflexes are necessary and essential in the early development is long. You can find more information on the reflexes here. Vision, ability to see and to perceive, is very much connected to the other elements of the sensory systems such as the vestibular, proprioceptive and auditory. In day-to-day life, due to the modern lifestyle and prolonged use of of screens as well the lack of outdoor activities, we tend to over-stimulate our visual system. This in turn very often creates a mismatch between the visual and other sensory systems. We at Orthovision do not only look into a child’s/person’s ability to see objects at a distance (20/20 vision) but into all elements of dynamic vision and the connection between the visual and the other sensory systems. That’s why we believe that remediation of the visual dysfunctions and a well-connected and balanced sensory system is the way to work on visual issues. This will have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function in everyday life. #INPP #visionchallenges #sensorysystems #reflexes

We have written a blog the topic of Myopia in Asian children in Singapore vs Sydney. The results are compelling and support our lesson 10: Plan or encourage some daily outdoor play or sports activities that require focus beyond arm's length. Plan or encourage some daily outdoor play or sports activities that require focus beyond arm's length. When outdoors, look at distant objects at about eye level. At the same time, become aware of all the things that are in your peripheral vision. #school #computer #readingglasses #brain #children

Lesson 9: Avoid reading or near activity by all means while in a moving vehicle. You are highly encouraged to look at sights in the distance - your eyes, your brain and your mind will be thankful. What, we should not read while in the car or train? Why is that, you may ask. There is not just one answer to that question, and please take some time to think about each of them... Disadvantages of reading in a moving vehicle When you drive over a bump or over a whole in the road, when the car makes a turn, when it stops at the traffic light your body moves. So does your hand that holds the screen/newspaper/book. Your eyes need to re-focus and move hundreds of times per second. This is extremely tiring for the eyes and strains them a lot. You can compare this to your eyes running a marathon-parkour! As you will not have the proper sitting position your back and neck will hurt after a while. Instead of arriving at work full of energy, you will be tired for the first time already as you have already taxed your eyes and body so much even while you were seated! Advantages of looking outside Give your brain a break! It is absolutely ok to be 'bored' or 'zoned out' for a while. It allows your mind to be creative. Be in contact with the world around you! Notice what is going on in your neighborhood, on the street, in the bus. Why put on a video on your screen if a movie is being played outside? Build relationships. When you are not working with a book or screen you are more open to people around you. Warning: Maybe you even engage in a conversation and make someone smile! Many people tell me that some of their best talks with their kids happen while driving them in the car. You would not want to miss this opportunity by putting on a video for them! Your horizon widens not just physically of what you are seeing. It has an effect on your thinking processes, too. So next time you want to take out the phone/book/paper/DVD/game while you are on your way, resist the urge to do so and change that habit. Your body, mind and spirit as well as your environment will be grateful! #readingglasses #school #computer

Great to see that you are still here with me and haven't turned me off yet! Today's lesson is very important especially for the the little ones who like to sit right in front of the television screen: Lesson 8: Keep an optimal distance to the TV: A general guideline is to sit between 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal screen measurement away, and be sure to sit upright. Maintain good posture. So, for example, if you have a 40" television, try to sit anywhere between 5 and 8.3 feet from the screen. Here is a nice image of how such a set-up would look like. It is important that you do not sit too close as otherwise you might strain your eyes or get fatigued. When watching TV, try to be aware of the periphery as well so that you will strain your eyes less. I hope this guideline will help you to support your eyes and TV-viewing pleasure. #children #screens

Congratulations, we are halfway through our 'course' already! How do you feel? Today, we are focusing on the position of your reading material (and subsequently your posture). Lesson 7: Tilt your book up about 20 degrees (this slopes up about 4 inches in 12). By doing this, you can usually work farther away than when you place the book flat on the desk. I found this picture when I searched for book stands and I think it shows very nicely how your posture changes completely when you work with a sloped book. As they say - a picture speaks more than a thousand words.... so I keep quiet now and let you decide for yourself if it is worth while investing in a book stand. PS: Did you notice how she is working at sub-optimal lighting conditions, if yes, then you did really internalize lesson 6, hahaha. #school #computer #reading

By now we have talked about distance to a book/computer, how to sit and when to take breaks. Today's 'lesson' is on lights. Lesson 6 Take a look at these two pictures - where would you prefer to read or study? Provide for adequate general lighting as well as good lighting on the task. The light on the task should be about three times that of the surrounding background. Just last night, my daughter was studying French vocabulary.... in the dark (well, at least for me!). The room looked and felt so cozy and beautiful, but definitely more suitable for a nice chat than for studying. So turn on those desk lamps and don't forget that the rest of the room should also be reasonably well lit. You will notice that your eyes and also your brain will not get so easily tired. Reading will be much easier and less straining for the eyes. Needless to say that this is also very important when you use the computer. Don't just rely on the light from the screen but turn on the desk and room lamps as well. If you would like to understand the deeper connection between the lighting and concentration/alertness read our blog on hormones and it's influence conversation and circadian rhythm. #computer #reading

Hello, welcome back! How are you doing with the 'rules' I wrote about in the last few blogs? I guess, some of you might say 'this is all stuff I knew before', and I agree with you. My personal experience is that although I am aware of these rules, the rebel in me (or rather the lazy person in me) disregards them more often than I would like to admit. So, if you have been following these guidelines, then kudos to you! Lesson 5 also deals with such a 'no-brainer', which unfortunately I see broken over and over again, so we want to put it back into your awareness: Sit upright. Practice holding your back slightly arched while you read, write and work on the computer. Avoid reading while lying on your stomach. Avoid reading in bed, unless sitting reasonably upright. Sit upright This is surely one that you have heard from your parents, your teachers and maybe your Osteopath, haha. If you feel tense shoulders, or back-pain, then maybe this is a guideline that you should follow more (plus the stretching part of lesson 3). If you are seated for a prolonged period of time every day, maybe it might make sense to invest in a good chair or cushion to sit on. Do your back that favor! Don't read on your stomach My kids love doing that and so when I first heard about this 'rule' I was really astonished. So I found out that when you are lying on your stomach to read, your eye muscles need to work much harder. Gravity causes the eye balls to move forward, which in turn stretches the muscles controlling them. Also the inside of your eyes are affected by gravity when you read on your stomach, and the muscles controlling the lens to focus also need to work more. Enough reasons to convince you to better sit upright to read? I hope so... If you read in bed... do it right! This one surely strikes a chord in me as I love reading in bed. My neck can tell you a thing or two about it. Ouch! It is also not good to lie while reading for the same 'gravitational reasons' as why you should not read on your stomach. Since I have read this 'rule', I try to sit more upright in bed when I read. Or read on the sofa (upright) and then go to bed to sleep and not to read. You will hear more about that in one of the following 'lessons'... Did I give you enough to think about this time? Enjoy implementing it in your daily life. #school #computer #reading

How did it go with following lesson 3 about taking frequent 'eye-breaks'? Very tough, right? It does take time to break old routines and habits, so please do keep it up! Lesson 4 is also about taking regular breaks, but this 'rule' deals with studying: While studying, place a bookmark 3 or 4 pages ahead. Once you reach this point, get up and move around for at least one minute - then move the bookmark to the next stop. So, when you are studying it is not just every 20 minutes that you should take a break, but but every 3-4 pages. I know, I am repeating myself. But it is quite important. 'Why is that?', you might ask. Well, your brain can only take in so much at a time. After a few pages of studying, all your brain wants to do is take a break. It cannot take up more information and starts to shut down. You just stare at the page and new information does not come in - and your eyes are strained as well. So therefore, you are better off doing some exercise, refresh your brain by letting all the stuff that you have just learned sink in, stretch your body and drink a glass of water. And then you are good to go for the next round: place your book-mark three to four pages forward and repeat the process. Oh - nearly forgot to mention: don't forget rules 1-3 while studying, either. Keep your distance to the book, and be aware of the periphery and space next to your book and follow the 20-20-20 rule. #school #learning #eyeexercises

So by now we have practiced some distance to the book as well as being aware of the space and periphery. We are ready for the next step. Lesson 3 When reading or doing near point activities, look away from time to time. Maintain awareness of the objects and details surrounding your work. Do it at the end of every page when you are reading a book. So when you are working by a window (as seen here), make sure to look up and focus at something outside from time to time. I know this is super difficult and it is not so easy to remember but we have to change our habits. As with any habit change, it is very difficult at the beginning as we are breaking the circuit of certain modes of behavior and the only way out is to keep going and not giving in to the doubtful thoughts . This is important as your eyes are calling for a break at least every 20 minutes (more ideal would be as stated above at the end of every page). The 20-20-20 rule: 20 minutes, 20 seconds, 20 feet (6m) So please, give your eyes this short focusing break and yourself some time to reflect on what you have just read or worked on. Take a glass of water, look out the window, focus on the leaves outside (or whatever you see approx 6m away), wait for the focus to be totally clear and then count to 20. Maybe even combine this with getting up and stretching the rest of your body, too?! This surely is a habit which your body will appreciate! In order to not forget my eye-break when I'm immersed in work at the computer (I always lose track of time), I started using this very convenient tool on my PC: Ok, now I have to go and stretch - my eyes and my legs! See you next week! #accommodation #readingglasses #eyeexercises

I hope you have followed Lesson 1 for a week now - and that you have enjoyed a bit less eye strain! I know that I have been very busy telling my little (oh well, not so little anymore) girl to move the book away from her face... a never ending task, it seems. So let's go ahead with lesson 2, ready? Lesson 2 Be aware of the space between yourself and the page when you are reading. Also be aware of the objects and details around and beyond the book (ie observe periphery). For example with this man reading in a coffee shop, he should be aware of the couple sitting beside him, 'watch' them move even though he is focused on his book. Observing this lesson helps to lessen the strain on the eyes while reading. And you will not be scared to death if someone walks up to you from the side as you will notice the movement coming at you. So now, we have two 'rules' to follow: 33cm and periphery. See you soon with lesson 3!

Having just returned from an extended time away from the office, it is not just me who feels refreshed - my eyes were on a long holiday, too! We spent only a few minutes a day looking at screens and otherwise enjoyed the scenery and the outdoors of beautiful Switzerland. When I did read some of the books I brought along, I noticed how much difference following the 'rules' makes! Naturally, I did not follow all of them all the time, but my eyes said 'thank you' every time I was more aware of them. So, what are these rules that I am talking about? I figured that if I put them on a page all at the same time, it might be a bit overwhelming. Therefore, I am posting one every few days so that you can start to follow them slowly but surely as well. We can think of it as if you are going back to school and learning one lesson at a time, and implementing it immediately. I would be delighted (and so would your eyes) if you joined me on that journey. Ready? Here we go with Lesson 1: Do all near point activities (reading or working at PC or tablet) at least 33cm away. So, reading, writing, knitting, stitching, working at your computer, 'face-booking', scrap-booking, cooking, crafting, etc. etc. Make some distance between yourself and the object you are working on. This does not only help your posture (your back will be happier, too!), but your eyes will greatly benefit from this new practice. 33cm is a bit more than the length of a DIN-A4 sheet of paper (which is 29.7cm). Or a bit longer than the standard 30cm ruler. For me, 33cm is a bit less than two hands with the fingers stretched out. So, if I am not sure if I am far enough away, I just kind of measure it with my hands (and make a silly face to the book at the same time). Why 33cm? Well, when you look at something 33cm away, your eyes should be aligned and looking straight. Conversely, if you look at something in closer range (as the boy is doing in this picture above), your eyes will converge and therefore your muscles around the eyes need to work very hard - if they slack, you will see double. This is super tiring for these muscles and eventually they give in. So if you go below 33cm, your muscles in and around the eyes get tired, you end up tilting your head, getting headaches or it will be increasingly difficult to keep things in focus. Will you join me in trying over the next week to follow this 'rule #1' that you have just learned (well, you have surely heard about this before, so the first 'lesson' must be really easy to follow.

Perceptual learning or using our senses to learn about the world around us. It is usually taken for granted that everyone perceives common reality the same way we do. But how many people ask themselves when a child is having problems at school or when they have an argument with someone, that they might just be having a different perspective? Or if they were able to perceive everything that was presented to them? The good news is that the perception is a learned skill and therefore it can be altered. Instead of labeling a child with ADD/AHD or Dyslexia it's important to know how the child perceives the world around and how the child orientates himself or herself in it... If you want, here is an interesting research article on the topic. #brain #dyslexia