Airplane pilots depend on quality vision. You can perform some eye exercises that may improve the quality of your vision and potentially reduce the need for glasses or contacts. However, if you depend on a corrective prescription, you should consult with your eye doctor before you abandon eye wear altogether.
Popping the Eyes
This exercise comes from Dr. David Cook, an optometrist whose work often focuses on pilot vision, including his 1990 book, "Vision: What Every Pilot Needs To Know." Dr. Cook specializes in vision therapy for pilots and aims to improve vision without glasses.
First, print out a standard eye chart. One is available on Dr. Cook's website; find a link in the References section. Place the chart on a wall at eye level and stand 10 feet away. Determine the line on the chart that is barely visible for you, then briefly move closer to identify what letter begins this line. In Dr. Cook's chart, all lines start with "E."
At the 10-foot distance, close your eyes gently and visualize this starting letter in your mind. Then, "pop" your eyes open. This means opening them suddenly and as widely as possible, while staring at this letter on the chart. Do not blink and hold the stare for approximately 15 seconds. The letter may eventually come into focus.
Close your eyes and repeat the visualization and popping of the eyes. Repeat as many times as necessary until the letter is clear, then do the same for the other letters on the same row, and the rows beneath.
Palming
Relaxing your eyes can improve their function when they are in use. "Palming" is an exercise created by Dr. William Horatio Bates, a pioneering eye doctor of the late 19th Century. The "Bates Method" consists of many exercises that have reportedly helped pilots improve their vision.
Relax and close your eyes. Cup both hands over the eyes so that no light can reach the eye lids. Open your eyes behind the cupped palms to verify there is no light. Stay in this position for as long as comfortable.
Sunning
"Sunning" is another Bates exercise that aims to relax the eyes. Sit in front of a bright lamp and close your eyes. The lamp should be bright enough that it would cause discomfort to stare at with your eyes open. However, if your eyes are closed and it still causes discomfort, the light is too bright or you are too close to the lamp.
Visualize where your nose points and keep "focused" on that spot as you slowly turn your head from side to side. With each turn, one of the eyes falls into shade.
Continue the slow turns of the head for three minutes. Then, move away from the light and, optionally, start the "palming" exercise to relieve the eyes further.
