Self-directed eye exercise programs to improve vision have been promoted since at least 1912, according to the "Eye Digest" published by the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. While critics maintain that exercises cannot improve or restore eyesight, the Internet is full of claims to the contrary.
Exercises Target Specific Eye Conditions
Most all websites that advertise exercises to improve vision are particularly targeting certain eye conditions. They do not make claims to improve vision impairment that is a result of eye conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration or retinopathy. Instead, these authors and website claim restoration of vision with presbyopia or aging vision, myopia or near-sightedness, hyeropia or far-sightedness, astigmatism and eyesight impairment related to computer strain.
Bates Method
1920s opthalmologist William Bates published his findings in Better Eyesight magazine and in the 1920 book,"Perfect Sight Without Glasses," when he witnessed patients with inconsistent patterns of astigmatism and vision problems. In other words, people's vision varied from day to day. His critics today claim these anomalies are a result of squinting and blur interpretation. Bates claimed his method could reverse refractive errors and other vision problems by using \eye exercises to restore the "natural habits" of seeing. His four basic exercises are called palming, sunning, swinging and vision shifting.
Palming requires you to close your eyes and cover them with warmed hands while you look at the dark twice a day for 5 to 15 minutes.
Sunning requires you to look directly at the sun or a strong lamp through closed eyes, rotating your head from side to side as far as you can while doing so. Bates recommended doing this exercise for 3 to 5 minutes once a day.
Swinging asks you to look out a window while shifting your weight to your right foot while swinging your upper body to the right and allowing your left heel come up off the floor. Your eyes should focus on watching your surroundings as you swing.
Vision shifting is simple, and forces you to purposely shift your vision to look at anything other than what you've been staring at for a long period of time.
Study Questions Exercise Validity
The Eye Digest article refers to a study conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which concluded that visual training or exercises had no effect on myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. Exercises also did nothing to improve vision lost through eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
