Fitness for your eyes? Really?
Really! Eye strain is a everyday problem for many people, especially those that work in an office and/or work on a computer – just the simple act of staring at your computer screen for several hours can damage your eyes. Long stressful days demand some rest and restorative care.
Most people are aware that exercising is good for the body, but it rarely occurs to most that eyes need exercise, too. A few quick daily exercises can help keep them fit, as well as disease-free. Some exercises have also been scientifically proven to improve eyesight and also prevent future eye problems and tension headaches.
A doctor may recommend eye exercises for patients who:
• Can’t focus their eyes to read
• Have one eye that drifts outward or inward
• Need to strengthen muscle control
• Have strabismus, or crossed eyes
• Have amblyopia, or lazy eye
• Have double vision
Do I Need Eye Exercises?
This should begin with a conversation with your doctor. If you regularly suffer from eyestrain, blurred vision, headaches, and/or increased sensitivity to bright light, your doctor may prescribe eye exercises.
It’s important to note that eye exercises may not be as effective for certain conditions, including nearsightedness or dyslexia. Also, these exercises are usually not effective for paralysis of an eye muscle, or eye muscle spasms.
What Eye Exercises Will My Doctor Prescribe?
Eye exercises strengthen the eye muscles, improve focusing, eye movements, and stimulate the vision center of the brain. Through a series of progressive therapeutic exercises, you can be instructed on how to control your eye muscles and to see properly.
The eye exercises prescribed are usually unique to the patient.
Examples include:
- Changing focus of both eyes from near to far and back to near, and then switching as each distance becomes clear
- Covering one eye with one hand and looking at different objects continuously instead of staring at just one object
- Concentrating the eye on a solitary object
- Having the eye follow a pattern in order to build vision muscles