Exercising your eyes can offer many benefits, including improving your vision, alleviating pain from headaches, and promoting overall eye strength. There are many different methods of eye exercise that you can use, and all can be done in the comfort of your own home. Before starting any new eye exercise, however, be sure to speak to a medical professional for more information on how these exercises can benefit your condition.
Bates Method
Based on the research from William H. Bates, a licensed optimologist, the Bates Method of eye exercise can be helpful in promoting improved vision and vision correction. According to the Seeing.org website, this method focuses primarily on relaxing the eyes via the use of different muscle movements and eyelid positions. One Bates technique you can try is referred to as palming. Using your hands, cover your eyes with your palms while focusing on not putting any pressure on your eyes in the process. Your palms should be cupped slightly while over your eyes, and your fingers are interlaced to create a tight seal between your hands. Focus on not allowing any light to enter through your hands. Next, open your eyes in your hands and look around, allowing your eyes to relax focus as if you were sleeping.
Sunning Method
Another aspect of the Bates Method involves sunning your eyes. According to the Seeing.org website, work with a constant source of light during this exercise, such as a small desk lamp. Another appropriate light source you can use during this exercise is the sun, hence the method's name. While your eyes are closed, face the light source directly, focusing on the level of strain your eyes are feeling under your eyelids. Hold this position for a brief period of time, and then go directly into palming your eyes. Repeating this process while trying different head positions, always returning to palming, will offer you the most benefit, according to the Seeing.org website.
Beware of False Claims
According to AllAboutVision.com, some exercise methods are too good to be true. For example, the See Clearly Method is a popular vision correction exercise method that promises you will no longer need corrective lenses of any kind after using this exercise. Simply put, this method promotes improved focusing and depth perception on certain objects by asking you to use your fine optical muscles only. However, no research has been conducted that suggests that this exercise method, although relaxing, can actually improve your vision enough to reverse the need for corrective lenses. As a result, be sure to speak to a medical professional before using this exercise.
