The start of a new year is the perfect time for a resolution. There are many appealing options, such as fitness or finances, but here’s one that will enrich your mind – resolve to learn a few new, interesting facts every day. Why? Because the world is full of amazing information, and learning keeps your brain sharp, which is a crucial component of your vision! To help you get started on your quest for knowledge, here are some little-known facts about your eyes, vision therapy, and the incredible connection between your eyes and brain.
General Vision and Eye Care Facts
These facts show just how remarkable your visual system truly is:
- The orbicularis oculi in the eye is the fastest reacting muscle in the human body. This muscle controls your blinking movement, and closes your eye in under one-tenth of a second!
- The cornea is the only tissue without blood vessels. The cornea (the clear front window of the eye) is the only tissue in the entire human body that receives its oxygen directly from the air, not from the bloodstream.
- We see upside down. The image focused onto your retina is actually upside down and backward. It is your amazing brain that flips the image and correctly orients it for you.
- You see more shades of green than any other color.
- Blinking is a helpful break. On average, you blink 15 to 20 times per minute, but when you are concentrating on a screen or reading, this rate can drop dramatically, leading to eye strain and dry eyes.
- 20/20 is not “Perfect”. Having 20/20 vision simply means you can see clearly at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 20 feet. It is only a measure of central clarity and does not account for crucial skills like eye teaming, depth perception, or visual processing.
Vision Therapy Facts
Vision therapy is often misunderstood. It’s not just “eye exercises”. It’s a customized, specialized program to retrain the brain and eyes to work together effectively. Vision therapy is often compared to physical therapy for your eyes. Through guided exercises, patients can improve skills such as eye teaming, focusing, depth perception, and tracking.
- The retina in the human eye can transmit data at about 10 million bits per second, and your brain instantly interprets those signals to help you understand what you see.
- Undiagnosed vision problems can sometimes mimic symptoms of ADHD (like difficulty maintaining attention or fidgeting) because the visual effort required to read or focus is exhausting. Vision therapy can alleviate this strain.
- Vision therapy can benefit both children and adults with reading or learning difficulties tied to visual processing.
- Vision therapy can enhance sports performance, reading fluency and even concentration.
Facts About Post-Concussive Vision Care
After a concussion or brain injury, many people experience frustrating visual issues. These might include trouble focusing, dizziness while reading, blurred or double vision, or light sensitivity, which are all signs of visual system disruption.
Some eye-opening facts about post-concussive vision care:
- As many as 90% of concussion patients will experience visual symptoms during recovery
- Common symptoms are not always obvious. Post-concussion vision issues aren’t limited to blurred vision. They often manifest as headaches or nausea during visual tasks (like reading or screen time), sensitivity to light, or feeling overwhelmed in visually busy environments (like grocery stores).
- If visual symptoms persist for more than a few weeks after the injury, they are unlikely to resolve on their own. Specialized neuro-optometric rehabilitation is often the key to recovering skills like focusing, eye teaming, and visual processing to restore comfort and function.
Make 2026 a Year of Clearer Vision with Family Vision Development Center
As you commit to a year of learning new and amazing facts, remember to prioritize the health of the very organs that bring 80% of that information to you – your eyes! Regular comprehensive eye exams are vital for detecting diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in their earliest, most treatable stages, often before you notice any symptoms. Whether you’re due for a routine check-up, need to discuss ongoing visual challenges, or are curious about vision therapy for yourself or a loved one, take the proactive step now. Contact us at 630-862-2020 for information or to schedule an appointment.
Family Vision Development Center is a full-service vision center offering innovative vision therapy services, sports vision therapy services, post-concussive vision rehabilitation, comprehensive vision exams for eyeglasses and contact lenses, management of ocular diseases including glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration and cataracts, and a state-of-the-art optical center offering the latest designs in eyewear.