If you are over 35, you may have noticed changes in your ability to see objects close up. This is a result of normal aging changes in the lens and strength of the eye muscles that result in difficulty focusing on up close objects. This visual change is called presbyopia. Certain eye exercises may help strengthen eye muscles during the early stages of presbyopia.
20-20-20 Eye Exercise
The National Eye Institute suggest an exercise called 20-20-20. This exercise is important if you spend a lot of time reading, working at the computer or focusing on close-up details. Do this exercise to reduce eye fatigue. After 20 minutes of detail focus, look away to an object that is about 20 feet away. Gaze this way for 20 seconds then return to your work.
Exercises to Strengthen Muscles
There are several types of exercises that focus on building muscle strength which can help manage early presbyopia. Some involve looking at a moving object, others require you to alternately focus your vision from an outside target to the center, rolling you eyes, slow and fast blinking, squeezing the eyelids shut, looking at the end of your nose, reading blurred text and reading lines on a chart that gradually get smaller and smaller. Contact an eye health provider to learn which specific exercises may benefit your particular case of presbyopia.
Stress Reduction Exercises
The American Vision Institute recommends using acupressure exercises help reduce visual stress. The exercises are said to increase your chi, or energy, flow to the surrounding eye area. Another exercise called palming involves placing the palms of the hands over the eyes. By blocking the light, the eyes relax, and this is believed to increase the nutrients available to the eye tissue.
