Are there eye exercises for improved vision?

Dear Worried About Vision,  

It appears that you’re looking to clear up the facts on eye exercises. Your short-sightedness, or nearsightedness, is a common condition called myopia. It causes far-away objects to appear blurry, while things up close remain clear. You’re correct that some people do eye exercises hoping that they’ll improve their vision. However, eye exercises can’t prevent myopic progression or reverse vision loss. It may provide some comfort to know that myopia stops progressing for most people in their late teens or early twenties. Keep reading to gain insight about myopia, digital eye strain, eye exercises, and more! 

Why might someone do eye exercises?  

Eye exercises are unlikely to improve vision, but they might be able to help with a common condition known as digital eye strain. It’s caused by intense use (and often close-up use) of electronic devices. Symptoms of digital eye strain include tired or dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches. Eye exercises can strengthen the muscles in the eyes and give them a much-needed break from extended screen time.  

Some of the most common exercises include: 

• 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes of screen time, take a 20-second break to look at something that is 20 feet away from you.  
• Quick blinks. If you’re spending a long time looking at a screen, take a short break and blink rapidly! This can help re-lubricate your eyes. 
• Palming. Rub your hands together to create friction and warmth. Close your eyes and gently place your warm palms on your eyelids without applying pressure. Rest them there for a minute or so.  
• Eye rolls. Close your eyes and gently roll your eyes in one direction. Repeat up to 5 times in each direction.   
• Near and far focus. Hold your finger (or an object) about 10 inches from your face. Focus on it for a few seconds and then change your focus to something in the distance for a few seconds. Repeat 3 to 5 times!  
• Zooming in and out. Hold an object that has text on it at arm’s length and focus on the text. Slowly bring it closer to you until the letters get blurry. Move the object away again and focus on the text. Repeat this process a couple of times.  
• Figure 8s. Find a point on the wall or floor about 10 feet in front of you. Trace the shape of a figure 8 with your eyes. Go one way for 30 seconds and then switch directions and go the other way!  

List adapted from Healthline, University of Pittsburgh Department of Eye Surgery, and WebMD

Are there ways to restore vision without undergoing surgery? 

The most common treatments for nearsightedness are prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. These allow you to have clear distance vision. Wearing glasses or contacts doesn’t weaken your eyes or increase vision loss, so it’s recommended to wear your glasses (or contacts) as much as needed. It’s okay to wear your glasses all the time! 

Currently, surgery is the primary method to restore vision or reverse vision loss associated with myopia. However, there may be ways to slow the progression of myopia. Some possible treatment methods include: 

• Medicated eye drops. Research suggests that atropine eye drops may be effective at slowing vision loss associated with myopia.  
• Special glasses or contact lenses. There are types of prescription glasses and contact lenses that are designed for myopia control. 
• Orthokeratology. This involves specific contact lenses that are worn only at night, which are intended to change the shape of the cornea and slow myopia progression.  
• Red light therapy. A new, non-invasive treatment method called repeated low-level red-light therapy (or RLRL) has shown promise in recent studies for controlling myopia.  
• Spending time outdoors. Some studies suggest that spending time outdoors may also be an effective way to slow myopic vision loss. 

 List adapted from The British Journal of Ophthalmology and Mayo Clinic

The best way to take care of your eyesight is to get regular eye exams. Eye care specialists, such as ophthalmologists or optometrists, can help come up with a treatment plan that is right for you.  

What else can I do to keep my eyes healthy? 

Experts often recommend certain techniques to take care of your eyes and keep them feeling good and healthy. You might:  

• Limit screen time to prevent digital eye strain.  
• Wear sunglasses to protect from harmful UV rays.  
• Eat a healthy diet to get the proper dose of vitamins for eye health. 
• Get regular eye exams to check for progression of any eye issues. 

List adapted from Cleveland Clinic  

It’s clear that you want to take care of your eyes, and hopefully this provided some eye-opening information about eye exercises. While they may not improve your vision, eye exercises can be a way to strengthen your eyes and prevent symptoms of eye strain. Looking ahead, consider speaking with an ophthalmologist to come up with a treatment plan that works best for you.