While aerobics and weight lifting may help improve your body strength and physique, eye exercises may help correct certain eye conditions and minimize eye fatigue. Individuals who perform close work commonly experience eyestrain and vision problems. In addition to performing eye exercises, take care of your vision by scheduling routine eye exams with your optometrist.
Eye Strain
Eyestrain is a common condition that affects many individuals who must constantly focus on fixed distances such as computer screens. Eye fatigue can lead to physical fatigue, a decrease in work production and an increase in work errors. Individuals with eyestrain may experience foggy vision and headaches.
Purpose
Eye exercises can help reduce your risk of common eyestrain and focusing fatigue. Certain eye exercises may also help with depth perception, lazy eye conditions and convergence insufficiency, a condition that makes it difficult for your eyes to turn inward as they try to focus on close objects.
Exercise Techniques
Blinking helps to lubricate your eyes and prevent irritation due to dryness. Help to keep your eyes lubricated by slowly closing and opening your eyes about 10 times after every 20 minutes of close-up work such as reading, sewing or working at your computer. An exercise that may help reduce your risk of eyestrain involves alternating your field of focus. Gaze at a distant object for about 10 seconds, and then look at a close object for about 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise about 10 times to help stave off eye fatigue. An exercise that may help strengthen the muscles behind your eyes involves focusing on a mark on a pencil, while holding the pencil at arm's-length and slowly bringing the pencil close to your nose.
Prevention
While eye exercises may help reduce eye fatigue, taking precautions to make your desk or work station eye friendly can help you avoid eyestrain. Use a bright light to brighten your area and place your computer screen about 22 inches away from your eyes. Center your screen about 12 degrees below the level of your eyes. Talk to your eye-care professional about computer glasses, a type of eyewear designed for individuals who spend large quantities of time focusing on computer screens.
