Read the full transcript of optometrist and internationally recognized expert in dry eye disease Dr. Pam Theriot’s eye-opening talk titled “3 Tips To Preserve Your Vision”, at TEDxGrandviewHeights [April 4, 2025].
Listen to the audio version here:
Dr. Pam Theriot: Which would you rather lose? Your teeth or your eyes? Seven out of ten people say they fear the loss of their vision more so than their hearing, sense of smell, or taste. We all have a habit of brushing our teeth. Yet we often neglect to give our eyes the care they deserve despite the importance we place on our eyesight.
As an optometrist, my patients have asked me, “What can I do to improve my vision?” at least 120,642 times in my career. It’s been through these conversations that have led me to develop simple, practical ways to care for the eyes. And my promise to you tonight is that you will leave with at least one practical tip that you can put into place to improve your vision.
A Life-Changing Moment That Sparked My Purpose
My fascination with vision goes all the way back to high school. It was at the end of our cross-country season when our coach challenged us to run up Stunt Road. When I reached the peak, I was struck with awe at the sight. I felt like I was on top of the world. The view stretched out endlessly around me. I could even see the Pacific Ocean. And it took my breath away and rooted me to that moment like nothing else could.
That day, I was also struck with my life’s purpose to help others see clearly by caring for their eyes so that their vision would last them a lifetime. Through our eyes, we experience life’s most treasured moments. A baby’s first smile, locking eyes with a loved one, or even a beautiful sunset. Clear vision isn’t just about seeing. It’s about truly engaging with life. And yet, one in ten adults hasn’t had an eye exam in the last five years.
Maria’s Story: When Digital Life Takes Its Toll
It was my patient, Maria, that transformed the way I treated vision. She was a leader in the tech industry, and she spends 14 hours a day on a digital device, between her phone and the array of monitors at her work. Her eyes were red and irritated. Her vision fluctuated so much that she was falling behind on her deadlines. And even on the weekends, she was too embarrassed to enjoy her daughter’s soccer games without wearing dark glasses to hide her red eyes that watered outdoors. She was frustrated and scared that she’d have to find a new career.
It was Maria’s struggles that led me to realize that by taking a proactive approach, we could have supported her eyes while she was at work. A few daily habits could have ended her struggles for her. It was at that time that I started to develop the EYES method as a framework for maintaining healthy vision.
The Hidden Damage of Digital Devices
You see, Maria wasn’t the only one in my clinic that was struggling with these problems. It’s so easy for too many of us to play these problems down as just having tired eyes that need a little rest. But the truth is that these symptoms are signs of damage to our eyes.
When we use a digital device, we blink our eyes only seven times a minute compared to 22 times when we’re relaxed. And blinking is crucial to spread a thin layer of tears over our eyes, keeping them smooth and our vision clear. Without proper blinking, the oil glands in our eyelids can clog, leaving our eyes to feel dry and our vision blurred.
I was curious to see the scope of this problem. Searching the literature, I found a 2024 Vision Health Report. It surveyed 800 full-time employees and found that half suffered from at least one eye health issue. And two-thirds of those issues had a negative impact on their productivity.
There’s an urgent need to prioritize eye care. Just as we don’t wait for our teeth to fall out to start brushing, we shouldn’t wait until we have serious eye problems to take care of our eyes. Let’s give them the same daily attention.
The Blink Test: Discovering Your Eye Health
Now, before we move on to the techniques that I’ve promised you’ll want to put into place right away, let’s do an exercise together. What I’m going to have you do is hold your eyes open without blinking while I count. Now, I know what you’re thinking. She’s an optometrist. She can only count to two. This is going to be easy, right? But really, let’s prepare by blinking our eyes a couple of times, giving some good heart blinks, and now hold them open. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
All right, what did you feel? Were your eyes stinging and burning? Did you hold them open for a few more seconds and feel them start to water? What number did you get to before you had to blink your eyes? Well, normal is ten seconds. So if you had to blink before then, your eyes are dry, and the time to take action is now.
The EYES Method: Three Simple Steps to Protect Your Vision
Luckily, there are a few simple habits that you can put into place to support your eyes. I use the eye method for both my patients in the clinic and in my online community, which is filled with science-backed, evidence-based techniques to support your eyes. Let’s go over just three ways to protect your eyes within the digital environment.
The first is prepare. Before you get ready to work, prepare your workspace. You’ll want to eliminate glare from your digital device by moving the lighting around your workstation. Second, enhance the contrast on your screen by changing the illumination. And third, set the digital device in a downward gaze.
The second step is perform.