Vision therapy is physical therapy for the eye muscles and is a combination of eye exercises that are done at home and in your optometrist's office. Vision therapy is prescribed by eye doctors as a non-surgical treatment for common vision problems such as double vision, crossed eyes, lazy eye, convergence insufficiency and some learning and reading disabilities, according to the Optometrist Network. To find out if you need vision therapy, consult your eye doctor.
Watch the Letter
The Watch the Letter eye exercise is a focus exercise that engages the eye muscles by following a small object, notes Science Daily. Hold a number two pencil directly in front of your nose at arm's length. Relax your head, shoulders and neck and sit in a comfortable upright position. Gaze at one of the letters on the pencil and slowly bring the pencil toward your nose until you lose focus. Slowly extend the pencil back out keeping your focus on the letter. Repeat this movement five to eight times.
Follow the Dot
The Follow the Dot exercise is a peripheral vision exercise for the eye muscles. This exercise is often done in your optometrist's office but can be done at home. Make a black dot, the size of a standard button, on a white sheet of paper. Sit comfortably in proper posture, shoulders upright over your hips, relaxing your shoulders, neck and head. Hold the paper with the dot directly in front of your nose at arm's length. Slowly move the paper to your right side while staring at the dot without moving your eyes. Take the paper as far to your right as you can until you lose sight of the dot. Your eyes should not move at all--you are using your peripheral vision. Bring the paper back to center and repeat on the left side. Repeat this movement to the right and left five to eight times.
Flickering Flame Exercise
The Flickering Flame exercise is a yoga eye exercise that relieves eye strain and helps concentration, notes the Yoga Journal. Sit comfortably in proper posture, keeping your head in neutral alignment and relaxing your shoulders and neck. Place a lit candle at eye level, inhale and gaze directly at the flame. Hold your gaze without blinking until your eyes start to tear. When you feel like you need to blink, close your eyes quickly, place your palms over your eyelids and visualize the flame. Continue deep yoga breaths until you lose sight of the flame, then open your eyes and repeat the exercise. Repeat five to eight times.
