Although there are no eye exercises that are capable of correcting or improving eye problems caused by refractive errors (these are due to anomalies in the shape of the eyes or irregularities in the cornea), they can prevent or alleviate minor problems such as eyestrain or dry eye .
7 exercises that will help you improve your eyesight
- Voluntary blinks: With your eyes closed and relaxed, gently lift the upper eyelid and close it again until you feel them close to your eye again. Repeat 5-10 times. Also, whenever you remember, try to blink quickly and vigorously, especially if you are working at a computer or using a screen.
- Eye patting: This exercise is performed sitting down and consists of covering the eyes with the palms of the hands slightly cupped, without actually pressing them. You have to place the fingers of one hand on top of the other, on the forehead. Then close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imagine that your own eyes are breathing. This type of exercise will not only help you relax your eyes, but also the rest of your body and mind.
- Look changes: With eyes open, gaze up and down, left and right, and circle to one side and the other. Then you repeat it 3 more times with your eyes closed.
- Close and open your eyes: Open and close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds and repeat the exercise 7 times.
- Eye massage: Close your eyes and give them a very gentle massage with your fingertips for 2-3 seconds. To do this you must press very gently with 3 fingers of each hand on the upper eyelids. It is recommended to repeat this operation 5 times.
- Focus exercises: Focus on a distant object for a few seconds, then very slowly refocus your view on a nearby object (within 12 inches) and in approximately the same line or direction. You must continue the exercise by keeping the focus on the near object for a few seconds and refocusing on the distant object. Repeat this operation about 20 times.
- Adapt the distances: Fix your eyes on an object that is a certain distance away and, at the same time, try to see everything around you. It is a good exercise to get used to seeing things that are at different distances in a natural way, without forcing the focus.
The benefits of visual exercises
It is advisable by the experts of God Service Eye Clinic to get used to performing visual exercises in order to take advantage of the following benefits:
- They are of great help to rest and relax both the eyes and the muscles located around these sensory organs.
- They prevent or minimize the effects of the dreaded visual fatigue , a very common discomfort caused, above all, by the abuse of electronic screens of computers, tablets, smartphones or video game consoles. Visual fatigue, in addition to excessively tiring our eyes, can cause red eyes and excessive tearing.
- Visual exercises also serve to alleviate some of the discomfort of dry eye .
- They help us mentally relax and control stress and anxiety.
- They improve eye mobility.
Can eye exercises cure myopia?
Myopia, like the rest of refractive errors, cannot be cured with exercises, nor is there any effective form of prevention. Myopia appears because the image is focused before reaching the retina and not on it, which would be the correct thing, causing blurred vision at medium and long distance, although nearby objects can still be seen well.
The cause of myopia is usually a defect in the shape of the eye, a circumstance that cannot be cured or corrected by performing visual exercises, no matter how disciplined and constant we are. Therefore, a myopic person in order to focus correctly will need glasses, contact lenses or undergo refractive surgery .
In short, visual exercises, also known as eye gymnastics, are based on performing a series of focusing movements or exercises with the aim of strengthening the muscles around the eyes and exercising sight at different distances.
Although these exercises are not effective for correcting refractive errors or serious vision pathologies, they can help us relax and prevent or mitigate eye fatigue. In addition, under the supervision of an ophthalmologist or other eye specialist, they can help or complement other treatments aimed at solving convergence problems.
In addition to these exercises, to promote a good state of health for our eyes, it is advisable to eat a balanced diet, rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E , along with other beneficial elements such as Omega 3. For this reason, you cannot miss foods such as: oranges, spinach and chard, peanuts, carrots, eggs, quinoa or salmon in your diet.
In order to have a better chance of having optimal vision for many years, we must add other positive habits to this type of healthy and balanced diet, such as: practicing physical exercise regularly, taking appropriate protective measures , avoiding the ingestion of harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol and submit to periodic check-ups of general health and visual health.
