Difference between revisions of Active Focus

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'''Active focus''' is the principle that vision improves in the long term when eyes are given a small [[blur]] challenge that they successfully resolve. Active focus is a habit, not an exercise routine.
[[File:AF car visual aid.png|right|thumb|450x700px|Active Focus lets you break the limitations of the glasses you are wearing. Without AF, blur is static and does not change. With AF, blur becomes malleable, more like a spectrum that you can shift up and down along at will. You aim for maximum clarity and as little blur as possible.]]
'''Active Focus''' is a very important part of the [[reduced lens method]]. It can be described as a negative accommodation of the eye in response to clearing small amounts of myopic blur. It results in temporarily clearer vision, and provides a [[stimulus]] to improve eyesight in the long-term. Figuring it out is probably the biggest stumbling block at the beginning of your vision improvement journey.


Resolvable blur is the stimulus that decreases the [[axial length]] of the eye, reversing [[myopia]]. Conversely, excessive sharpness is the stimulus that increases the axial length of the eye, leading to myopia. These axial length changes take place slowly, over years. It took years for [[myope]]s to become as nearsighted as they are today, so it takes years to completely reverse it. In order to achieve results, active focus must be a habit, something that myopes are always doing without thinking much about it.
Active Focus tends to elude newcomers trying to find it for the first time. You should expect to spend a [[Explainer:There's a learning curve|considerable amount of time]] trying to find it on your own. People with experience are likely to tell the newcomer with delight that it works, how it clears up their vision and the long-term [[gains]] they have made. The newcomer will listen, perhaps intrigued, but will still be completely skeptical of its existence until they experience it for themselves. In this sense, finding Active Focus is a bit like taking the [[Wikipedia:Red_pill_and_blue_pill|red pill]].
==How it works==
Active Focus resolves a small amount of [[myopic defocus]]. Performing Active Focus provides the necessary stimulus to reverse the effects of [[myopia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://endmyopia.org/faq-items/what-is-active-focus |title=What is Active Focus |last=Steiner |first=Jake |website=Endmyopia |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vasudevan |first1=Balamurali |last2=Ciuffreda |first2=Kenneth |date=2009 |title=Accommodative Training to Reduce Nearwork-Induced Transient Myopia |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19786929 |journal=Optometry and Vision Science |volume=86 |issue=11 |pages=1287-1294 |doi=10.1097/OPX.0b013e3181bb44cf |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref> It is also important in managing eyestrain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://endmyopia.org/active-focus-links/ |title=Active Focus: The Link List (+ Video Explainer) |last=Steiner |first=Jake |website=Endmyopia |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref>


Active focus is a balancing act. Too much blur, and the eyes will not be able to resolve the blur challenge. When the challenge is unresolved, there is no long term vision improvement. If the object in focus is too sharp, then [[myopic]] eyes are not getting the necessary stimulus to improve. Wearing a [[full prescription]] will result in a [[blur horizon]] of infinity, meaning that the eyes will never get the necessary blur, even if looking as far away as possible. It's best to never wear the full prescription, and instead wear a [[differential prescription]] and a [[normalized prescription]] depending on the situation.
Active Focus attempts to push the distant vision of the eyes slightly further. However, as [[accommodation]] is an involuntary process, achieving Active Focus is not straight forward. While it is easy to move the skeletal muscles of your body, it is not possible to control the [[ciliary muscle]]s in the same way. However, by careful manipulation of the [[blur horizon]], it is possible to encourage the eyes to push slightly harder to achieve focus. This extra push is what Active Focus is about.


==Just how ''active'' is active focus?==
In order to do this successfully, it is important to introduce appropriate amount of [[blur]] challenge to the eyes. This should be accomplished under suitably bright lighting conditions. The most favourable and conducive lighting environment happens to be outdoor daylight. This can be accomplished by the use of [[normalized]] and [[differential]] glasses. As opposed to full correction glasses where everything is always sharp, normalized and differential glasses provide convenient access to a blur horizon. This blur horizon allows for the practice of Active Focus. Again, the blur challenge should not be so much that it is too difficult for the eyes and not so little that it is unnoticeable.
With active focus, the myopia sufferer must ''actively'' adjust '''the distance to objects''' and '''what glasses they are wearing''', to habitually create the optimal challenge. It's really that simple! The eyes take care of the rest. Focus is an ''automatic'' process that the eyes and the visual cortex do on their own.


==What am I doing wrong?==
==Finding Active Focus==
'''My vision doesn't clear up when I look at blurry objects!'''


The blur challenge is too strong. Look at objects that are closer to you, or wear stronger eyeglasses. The blur challenge should be easy to overcome. You will know that your eyes have overcome the blur challenge when an object that at first appears blurry becomes sharp.
Many have described their experience with Active Focus not as a voluntary action but rather as an physiologic response, much like a heartbeat. For struggling newcomers, it is better to focus on habits rather than on trying to “find” Active Focus as if it were a literal muscle. Some potential triggers for Active Focus include spending sufficient daily time outdoors, looking around at different objects with varying distances, and being consciously aware of one’s vision and amount of blur.


'''The thing I'm looking at clears up instantly. This is great!'''
==Implementing Active Focus==
Active focus is a [[distance vision]] activity. Practicing active focus should not be viewed as an exercise activity. It should be incorporated to your daily lives so that it becomes habitual.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steiner |first=Jake |title=Minimum Daily Active Focus Time? (PRO TOPIC) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQXqHXtpDp4 |access-date=11 June 2020 |publisher=YouTube}}</ref> With proper use of normalized and differential glasses, opportunities to do active focus throughout your day are everywhere. By turning it into a habit, blur challenges are automatically cleared, thus eliminating the need to “put in effort” to improve. Taking frequent breaks from near visual work to do active focus is critical in preventing ciliary spasm and the worsening of myopia. With consistent practice of active focus, it is estimated that myopia will reverse at a rate of 0.25 diopters every 3 months.


While it's great that you are seeing that object clearly, the blur challenge is too weak. Look at objects that are farther away, or wear weaker eyeglasses.
If you feel strained by doing active focus, you can and should take a break.
<youtube>7BvHDvrk0dQ</youtube>


'''My vision is only clear after I blink!'''
==Active Focus in small words==


Extra forced blinking is not part of active focus. If you find that blinking helps, you may have [[dry eye syndrome]]. Blinking is depositing a fresh tear film on the surface of the eye, creating a perfectly smooth, polished surface that improves vision.
* Look at something that is [https://wiki.endmyopia.org/wiki/Blur_horizon only a little blurry].  Make it not blurry.
* Active Focus = Paying attention, that's all. Active Focus ≠ Change from Blur to clarity. The latter is a possible but likely outcome of the former.


'''My vision is only clear in sunlight!'''
==See also==
* [[Print Pushing]]
* [[Guide:How to find Active Focus]]


Sunlight causes your pupils to constrict, creating a [[pinhole effect]] that temporarily improves vision. There is nothing bad about the sunlight-induced pinhole effect, and being in the sunlight is encouraged. In order to practice active focus indoors, wear a slightly stronger prescription.
* [[Community:A Million Ways to Find Active Focus|A Million Ways to Find Active Focus]]
* [https://endmyopia.org/active-focus-links Active Focus: The Link List (+ Video Explainer)]


'''I'm not improving!'''
==References==


This is a slow process. Keep at it! Make certain that you are getting the necessary blur challenge as often as possible.
{{reflist}}


==References==
[[Category:Articles]]
* [https://endmyopia.org/faq-items/what-is-active-focus/ What is Active Focus? - EndMyopia]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 14 January 2024

Active Focus lets you break the limitations of the glasses you are wearing. Without AF, blur is static and does not change. With AF, blur becomes malleable, more like a spectrum that you can shift up and down along at will. You aim for maximum clarity and as little blur as possible.

Active Focus is a very important part of the reduced lens method. It can be described as a negative accommodation of the eye in response to clearing small amounts of myopic blur. It results in temporarily clearer vision, and provides a stimulus to improve eyesight in the long-term. Figuring it out is probably the biggest stumbling block at the beginning of your vision improvement journey.

Active Focus tends to elude newcomers trying to find it for the first time. You should expect to spend a considerable amount of time trying to find it on your own. People with experience are likely to tell the newcomer with delight that it works, how it clears up their vision and the long-term gains they have made. The newcomer will listen, perhaps intrigued, but will still be completely skeptical of its existence until they experience it for themselves. In this sense, finding Active Focus is a bit like taking the red pill.

How it works

Active Focus resolves a small amount of myopic defocus. Performing Active Focus provides the necessary stimulus to reverse the effects of myopia.[1][2] It is also important in managing eyestrain.[3]

Active Focus attempts to push the distant vision of the eyes slightly further. However, as accommodation is an involuntary process, achieving Active Focus is not straight forward. While it is easy to move the skeletal muscles of your body, it is not possible to control the ciliary muscles in the same way. However, by careful manipulation of the blur horizon, it is possible to encourage the eyes to push slightly harder to achieve focus. This extra push is what Active Focus is about.

In order to do this successfully, it is important to introduce appropriate amount of blur challenge to the eyes. This should be accomplished under suitably bright lighting conditions. The most favourable and conducive lighting environment happens to be outdoor daylight. This can be accomplished by the use of normalized and differential glasses. As opposed to full correction glasses where everything is always sharp, normalized and differential glasses provide convenient access to a blur horizon. This blur horizon allows for the practice of Active Focus. Again, the blur challenge should not be so much that it is too difficult for the eyes and not so little that it is unnoticeable.

Finding Active Focus

Many have described their experience with Active Focus not as a voluntary action but rather as an physiologic response, much like a heartbeat. For struggling newcomers, it is better to focus on habits rather than on trying to “find” Active Focus as if it were a literal muscle. Some potential triggers for Active Focus include spending sufficient daily time outdoors, looking around at different objects with varying distances, and being consciously aware of one’s vision and amount of blur.

Implementing Active Focus

Active focus is a distance vision activity. Practicing active focus should not be viewed as an exercise activity. It should be incorporated to your daily lives so that it becomes habitual.[4] With proper use of normalized and differential glasses, opportunities to do active focus throughout your day are everywhere. By turning it into a habit, blur challenges are automatically cleared, thus eliminating the need to “put in effort” to improve. Taking frequent breaks from near visual work to do active focus is critical in preventing ciliary spasm and the worsening of myopia. With consistent practice of active focus, it is estimated that myopia will reverse at a rate of 0.25 diopters every 3 months.

If you feel strained by doing active focus, you can and should take a break.

Load video
YouTube

Active Focus in small words

  • Look at something that is only a little blurry. Make it not blurry.
  • Active Focus = Paying attention, that's all. Active Focus ≠ Change from Blur to clarity. The latter is a possible but likely outcome of the former.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Steiner, Jake. "What is Active Focus". Endmyopia. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Vasudevan, Balamurali; Ciuffreda, Kenneth (2009). "Accommodative Training to Reduce Nearwork-Induced Transient Myopia". Optometry and Vision Science. 86 (11): 1287–1294. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e3181bb44cf. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Steiner, Jake. "Active Focus: The Link List (+ Video Explainer)". Endmyopia. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Steiner, Jake. "Minimum Daily Active Focus Time? (PRO TOPIC)". YouTube. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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