By Sarka-Jonae Miller – Livestrong.com
It may seem like worsening vision is unavoidable as we age, but eye exercises can help improve vision for patients young and old.
Vision therapy uses eye exercises to improve vision problems, problems that vision aides like glasses only help temporarily. The exercises might not work for every condition, but they can reduce double vision, blurry vision, headaches and eyestrain.
These exercises will only work if you do them regularly, just like exercise for other parts of your body.
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PALMING
Palming is a calming exercise for the optic nerve. The exercise was invented by Tibetan yogis. To do this exercise, sit comfortably in front of a table with the lights off. Place your elbows on the table and relax your shoulders and back. Rub your hands together until they are warm. Close your eyes and cup your hands over your eye sockets without pushing against your eyes. Take deep breaths in and out through your nose to relax you. If you see colors or light, this means that your optic nerve is irritated. Visualize seeing only darkness and practice palming until the lights go away. This may take several sessions over the course of a few days.
BLINKING
Blinking is an important function of the eyes. Blinking moistens your eyes and reduces eye tension. Practice blinking by making your eyes open and close slowly. Look at an object and blink gently. Take deep breaths in and out of your nose and think about your eyelashes controlling the blinking.
FOCUSING ON A PENCIL
The pencil exercise works your eyes’ ability to focus on one object—in this case a letter—and keep it in focus as the object moves toward you. To do this exercise, sit or stand and hold a pencil in one hand. Extend your arm in front of you at eye level. Look at one letter on the side of the pencil. Slowly move the pencil toward you by bending your elbow. You should be able to see the letter clearly without any blurriness or double vision until the pencil reaches your nose. Bring the pencil as close to your nose as you can without the letter blurring.
SHIFTING
When your eyes are healthy they tend to glance around, shifting their focus among various objects. Consciously doing this as an exercise works the macula, a part of the eye’s retina. The macula helps you see things clearly. Shifting your eyes around increase the efficiency of the macula and increases the amount of visual information you are picking up from the environment around you. Practice shifting by softening your gaze and moving your eyes to look at objects near and far to you. Look at an object for just a second and then quickly move your eyes to look at something else. Your eyes should never feel strained or tense during this exercise.
Article References
- “Yoga Journal”: 20/20 Vision Quest
- Science Daily: Eye Exercises Help Patients Work Out Vision Problems, Optometrist Says
About the Author
Sarka-Jonae Miller has been a freelance writer and editor since graduating cum laude from Syracuse University in 2003. She was a personal trainer for four years with certifications from AFAA and NASM. Miller also worked at 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness and as a mobile trainer. Her career in the fitness industry begin in 2000 as a martial arts, yoga and group exercise instructor.
Article Source – livestrong.com
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