FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- De'Vondre Campbell clearly sees the difference.

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons linebacker had trouble making out letters while reading without his glasses. Those issues translated to the football field.

"Like when I was looking at the scoreboard, I couldn’t even read it, really," Campbell said. "I had terrible vision."

Campbell didn’t wear contact lenses while playing, yet strolled through the locker room wearing glasses on a regular basis. So he decided to address his vision problems by having Lasik eye surgery this offseason.

"A lot kind of went into it ... really just the fact that I needed it," Campbell said. "It's a tremendous difference. I can notice it. On the scoreboard, I can see everything clearly on it now. That's how I knew my vision was better."

Campbell, last year's fourth-round draft pick out of Minnesota, went through the typical growing pains of a rookie after being thrust into a starting role. He was set back by a severe ankle sprain that caused him to miss four games and missed another game because of a concussion. But in regards to his vision problems, Campbell refused to use that as a crutch for any bad plays throughout last season.

"I wouldn't say it affected me," Campbell said. "I would say, though, (having the surgery earlier) definitely could have helped me."

Having clearer vision certainly can help when you’re trying to see the ball, react to plays, and dissect hand signals from teammates. Falcons coach Dan Quinn offered his thoughts on Campbell deciding to have the Lasik surgery.

"I think it will help, because he didn't use his corrective lenses when he played," Quinn said. "He played for years without them, but wore glasses full time. So I was glad he thought (the surgery) would be an edge for him. We supported that decision to get the vision corrected, for sure. When you wear them all the time and don't wear them just for when you play, I think that's a difference, for sure. ... I am excited for him."

Campbell consulted with others before having the procedure.

"It was something I kind of looked into myself, because I heard some guys talk about how they got it and how it helped them out tremendously," Campbell said. "Not anybody here, but just some people I know, personally. They said it could help. You don't have to wear contacts. You won't need glasses anymore. They say it last for like 10 years, so I was like, 'Yeah, I’ll check it out.'"

The Falcons are counting on Campbell to take another step in his second season. He played weakside linebacker last season next to fellow rookie and middle linebacker Deion Jones, who finished third in the balloting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Falcons drafted inside linebacker Duke Riley, a former teammate of Jones at LSU, in the second round this year, which could lead to more time at strongside linebacker for Campbell.

"Is there a big adjustment? Not really," Campbell said. "There are a couple different wrinkles that the strong side has that the weak side doesn't, but it's not a huge adjustment. They're both interchangeable positions. I think the biggest difference is, playing on the strong side, you're more up closer to the line of scrimmage, which is a little bit different, but it's not a huge adjustment. So I'm kind of glad that I'm making the transition now in OTAs so that way, by the time we get to training camp, it will kind of just start flowing."

The Falcons count on Campbell to cover tight ends because of his speed and length. As part of the transition to strongside linebacker, Quinn wants Campbell to develop into a better blitzer.

"I think I have all the tools it takes to be a really good blitzer," Campbell said. "I think it just starts with a mentality and us doing it more and getting more reps at it. The more you do it, the better you get at it."

Having clear vision of the quarterback should help Campbell's cause as well.