Eye Matters
November 28, 2008

Hand-Eye Coordination

Dear Readers,

Here we are again with another exercise. I hope you enjoyed last week’s exercise. This week we’ll be doing what we call Monocular Fixations. Monocular means one eyed. This technique is designed to improve what we call hand/eye coordination. It is good for those people who have to hit a target or in situations where you have to fixate on a target (tennis, squash, golf etc.){{more}}

You are going to need a string, a small ring, maybe a wedding ring or a key ring and a knitting needle or a long pencil. This is how it’s done;

(1) You tie the string to the ring and hang the string, from a doorway, so that the ring is at eye level. Stand about two feet away from that ring.

(2) You have to hold the knitting needle or the pencil in your right hand and cover your left eye at the same time. Step forward on your right foot and try to put the knitting needle or pencil through the ring without touching it. Try this several times.

(3) Move the knitting needle or pencil to your left hand, cover your right eye, step forward on your left foot and try putting the knitting needle or pencil through the ring again without touching it.

(4) After mastering the technique, use a stationery ring, repeat the first two steps; which is the right hand with the left eye covered, step forward on your right foot and try to put the knitting needle or pencil through the ring without touching it. Then do it the other way, which is: the left hand with your right eye covered, step forward on your left foot and try to put the knitting needle or pencil through the ring again without touching it.

This is a great practice for many kinds of sporting activities. Do this technique for five minutes with each eye once per day. Let me know how these exercises have been working for you. I would love to hear your comments. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

Dr Kenneth Onu is a resident Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Beachmont Eye Institute/Eyes R Us.
Send questions to: Beachmont@gmail.com
Tel: 784 456-1210