How the Entertainment Industry Embraces Health and Wellness: The Role of Eye Care in Performance

There are many elements that go into the creation of a film. From the sound design to the texture of the projected image, filmmakers have strived for decades to give audiences full-bodied sensory experiences. However, from the very birth of the medium up to 2025, one single element persists as the defining trait of a film: the visual of the moving image. After all, the term movie itself is just a long-standing abbreviation for the original moniker of ‘moving picture.’ 

To this end, eyesight is vital in the medium of film and the entertainment industry at large. Despite this, health and wellness (particularly regarding vision care) are often overlooked but critical aspects of maintaining peak performance in the entertainment industry. In this field, where precision, energy, and focus are paramount, maintaining good vision and eye health is a key element that performers, creators, and industry professionals can’t afford to overlook. This is why prescription glasses are so essential.

Focus: From Shallow to Deep

When the young and enigmatic creator Orson Welles came to Hollywood in 1939, following his controversial, zeitgeist-capturing radio success with the Mercury Theatre, he brought remarkable innovation with him. Unlike many filmmakers within the Hollywood studio system at that time, who operated within reasonably strict rules, regulations, and guidelines that adhered to previously established work methods, Welles had no interest in conducting himself that way.

He teamed with cinematographer Gregg Toland and sought to revolutionize how films looked in the early ‘40s, resulting in Welles’ first feature-length film, Citizen Kane. One of the most gargantuan shifts that the film brought to the visual vernacular of filmmaking was in the focus of its cameras. Whereas shallow-focus cameras had become the norm in Hollywood, Welles wanted every ounce of the frame, near or far, in focus at once. 

Since Citizen Kane’s release, deep-focus camerawork has become common practice. It acts like prescription glasses for the town of Hollywood itself: It sets everything in brand-new, startling clarity, making you realize how much of the frame had been obscured or fuzzed out previously. 

The Demands of the Entertainment Industry

The entertainment world requires constant focus and attention to detail, whether an actor memorizes lines, a musician reads sheet music or a director oversees a set. Clear vision is critical to maintaining peak performance and avoiding strain that can lead to burnout.
 

Prescription Glasses as a Professional Necessity

For many in the industry, prescription glasses or contact lenses are not just a convenience but a necessity. Clear vision helps maintain focus, confidence, and performance, whether on-screen or behind the scenes. Choosing the proper eyewear can also complement a professional look, ensuring that individuals feel at ease and ready to perform.
 

The Impact of Vision on Creativity

For those in creative fields, visual clarity is essential for fully engaging with projects. Good eyesight is necessary not only for reading scripts, editing footage, or navigating the stage but also for connecting deeply with the visual aspects of the craft, from lighting to set design.

For example, imagine what would have become of Citizen Kane if cinematographer Gregg Toland had not kept up with his eye care. With the deep-focus tactics that he and Welles employed in the film’s production, there was enormous room for error in everything from the staging to the production design to the lighting. Anything wrong would have been seen as clear as day, so, fortunately, Toland kept up with his vision and health. 

Long-Term Career Sustainability

Eye care is an investment in career longevity. Just as performers focus on physical fitness and mental well-being, maintaining eye health is essential for sustaining a long and successful career. Regular eye check-ups and proper vision care ensure that individuals can continue to perform at their best without the risk of developing vision-related issues that may interfere with their work.