Eye Exercises

Do simple eye exercises really make your eyes healthier?

Many studies have claimed that eye exercises improve your visual acuity, allowing you to see without glasses or contacts for the first time in your life. However, this is a myth. While you can strengthen your eye muscles, your visual acuity will not improve to the point where you can no longer wear glasses or contacts. This is because your visual acuity is determined by your eye shape, pupil size, and your ability to focus.

Strengthening weak eye muscles will improve blood circulation and improve muscle tone. Toning your eye muscles is important for achieving the best possible vision, with the help of glasses and contacts if necessary. Toning reduces eye strain and helps your eyes work more effectively.

The following are a few eye exercises that can help improve your eyes’ muscle tone:

• Figure Eight: According to Dailey, tracing an imaginary horizontal figure eight with your eyes can slow the progression of myopia, or near sightedness.
  
• Eye Circles: While sitting or standing, move your eyes in a clockwise direction 20 times, making the circle as wide as you can. Relax for 10 seconds, then repeat in the opposite direction. Doing this three times daily will help to stretch your eye muscles.
  
• Focus Shift: Change the focus of both of your eyes by looking at a far-away object for 6 seconds, until it becomes clear. Then, shift your gaze to a close object for 6 seconds, until it becomes clear. Do this exercise repeatedly until your eyes feel slightly tired.

Some of these exercises are specifically designed for patients who have astigmatism on one or both sides of their cornea. Wrong curvature of the front surface of the cornea: typically one side of the cornea will be more flattened than the other side. Light is trying to pass through your cornea, but due to the incorrect curvature of the cornea, the light won’t pass through evenly, resulting in blurry vision.

• A simple exercise to combat your astigmatism involves your head, that’s it! Many people with astigmatism will tilt their head to one side, compensating for one of their eyes.  Instead of tilting your head in one direction, try tilting it opposite of what feels comfortable or keep it straight. This exercise will help your brain understand what “straight ahead” truly is.
  
• Another exercise to help your eyes focus and work together involves a type of focus shift.  Without glasses, begin reading text (a book, article, etc.) and then shift your gaze to a different object on the desk (anything other than a line of text). Continue back to the text and keep reading. Switch back and forth until your eyes feel tired, but not strained.

Eye exercises focus on strengthening your eye muscles, helping you focus, reducing eye movement, and stimulating your brain’s visual cortex. As you practice and add new exercises, you’ll learn how to see and control your eye muscles.