Peripheral vision involves the images of the word you see on both sides of your center of vision.
As a result, peripheral vision is lower resolution. Nonetheless, it can be very helpful in brain training if used wisely. This article will show you how.
Why should I improve my peripheral vision?
By expanding your peripheral vision, you will be more aware of your surroundings. This means that you will be able to detect threads more easily.
Also your night vision might improve.
And on top of all that, exercising your eyes can help prevent narrowing peripheral vision that comes with ageing.
However, the most interesting point is that, by improving your peripheral vision, you stand the chance to increase your reading speed.
The visual span, is the space that you can perceive with your eyes. By improving your peripheral vision, your visual span will increase, and hence, the amount of words that you will be able to read per each fixation will also increase. The result is that your reading speed will increase.
You should increase your peripheral vision in both directions: vertical and lateral. This article describes how to train both of them.
The Technique
Hold your two pointer fingers out in front of you.
Gradually move them to the sides.
Keep focused forward but concentrate on seeing the movement of your fingers through the air.
The Workout
Depending on your requirements, perform the following workouts. Do it for 10 minutes every day.
- Start the exercise
- Rest
- Do another round
- Reflect on the results, ideally in a journal
Conclusion
Peripheral vision is very important for reading, but also to prevent the negative effects of ageing. Please do not forget to train your eyes from time to time.
