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Easy To Use Eye Exercises

By: Spencer Hunt Eye Problems can include macular degeneration, amblyopia (Lazy Eye), astigmatism, blepharitis, cataracts, conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), color blindness, glaucoma, keratoconus, myopia (Nearsightedness), or simply eye fatigue. You go to the gym to engage in regular physical activity to exercise your body and to promote overall health, right? Well, it makes sense that you would do the same for your eyes to keep them fit and possibly even improve your vision. Patients and doctors seem to both agree that eye exercises are often effective in relieving eye strain and stress. Eye problems such as esotropia (the eye turns in) or exotroia (the eye turns out) may also improve through exercises.

Just as you would do when starting physical exercise, you may want to discuss with your eye doctor before doing any eye exercises. There are some rare conditions that could cause your eyes to be strained even further or quite possibly incur further permanent damage to your eyes. When doing the exercises explained here you will need a pencil. Also, if you are wearing contacts, you may want to remove them. You could possibly have problems with your contacts if you wear them during the exercises, they could fold, become dislodged or even suction to the eyeball. Whatever you do, do not apply pressure to your eyeballs and you may want to do the exercises in private (or at least tell those around you what you are doing - you will see why in a second.).

Beginning Your Eye Exercises:

Find a comfortable position in a chair. Rub your hands together quickly until they are warm. With your palms slightly cupped, close your eyes and cover them gently with your warmed hands. Do not apply pressure to your eyeballs. Relax and practice some deep breathing as you de-stress your body as well as your eyes. Repeat this process for several minutes.

Next, squeeze your eyes shut for several seconds (about 5), then open them wide for several seconds. Repeat this about 7 to 8 times, then using the tips of your fingers, close your eyes and gently massage your eyes. Use a circular motion and remember to not press too hard. Do this for a minute or two. The next step is to gently press three fingers against the upper eyelid of each eye and hold for 1-2 seconds then release. Repeat this process five times.

Now sit in a relaxed posture. Roll your eyes in a clockwise direction, then in a counter-clockwise direction. Repeat this motion five times, making sure that you blink between each rep. Now sit near a window, about six inches from the glass, and make a mark on the glass at eye level. Make sure that the mark is large enough and dark enough for you to see. A red or black sticker would work well in this instance. Direct your eyes toward the mark and focus on something beyond it for 10 to 15 seconds. Return your focus to the mark for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat this several times. (This will allow your eyes to focus on something in the distance, and then to focus on a close up object.) You can do different personalized variations of this. But you get the general idea.

Now here is where you will use your pencil. Hold your pencil at arm's length in front of you. Slowly move the pencil toward your nose, keeping your eyes on the pencil until you can no longer focus on it. Repeat this about ten times. This is an easy exercise you can do at any time.

Find time to do these exercises on a regular basis. You can even do one or two exercises each hour or so to give your eyes a break. You should also take breaks from your computer. If you work on the computer on a regular basis, take some time to look away from the monitor every 20 to 30 minutes and even do a few eye exercises. This will help relieve some of the eyestrain that can occur with frequent use of a computer and monitor. (Also, getting a flat screen may reduce eye strain if you are using a regular old-style Cathode Ray Tube monitor.)

Eating right and using the right health supplements may also help your vision. Glyconutrients have shown to help vision in many ways.