6 Easy Eye Exercises for Focus, Eye Strain & More | Eye Health
Quick! What's the strongest and fastest muscle in the human body?
No, it's not your legs. It's your eyes1,2. In simple terms, six eye muscles are constantly moving to readjust your eyeball so you can see. In just one hour of reading, the eye makes almost 10,000 coordinated movements2. So, it's no surprise they need some rest.
And just like every other muscle in the body, it’s important to keep the eye muscles strong. While you can’t treat myopia or hyperopia with eye exercises, they may help reduce eye strain and fatigue, which do affect the quality of your vision.
Here are six ways to exercise your eyes at home or work:
1. Warm Up Your Eyes
Trust us on this. Rub your hands together until they are warm and place them over your eyes, blocking out all light. Think about a relaxing place like an exotic beach or a stunning mountain until you see nothing but blackness. Doing this reduces the stimuli to your eyes and brain, giving them a chance to relax.2. Flex Your Focus, Near and Far
Facing a blank wall, hold your thumb at arm's length and focus on it for 10-15 seconds. Then focus on an object 20 feet away for 10-15 seconds.3. Roll Your Eyes
Slowly roll your eyes counterclockwise and clockwise. It's best to do this exercise when you aren't looking at a person (wink).4. Make a Figure Eight
Imagine a giant figure eight on the floor about 12 feet in front of you, then trace it with your eyes. This exercise helps with eye control.5. Give Your Eyes A Break
If you’re reading this right now, chances are you spend a lot of time in front of a screen. Whether you’re working, watching TV, or peeping the Eyeconic Instagram account on your smartphone, all of this screen time can cause digital eye strain. Whenever you find yourself spending time looking at a digital device, be sure to take frequent breaks. Get up, stretch, and give your eyes a rest.6. Blink
You blink about 12 times per minute3. This lubricates your eyes and helps keep them clean. Not blinking enough can cause dryness and irritation. It may sound obvious, but make sure you’re blinking frequently, including when using the computer for work or gaming.Note: If you're experiencing blurry or double vision, more headaches than usual, or it's been more than a year since your last eye appointment, visit your optometrist. Don't have one? We can help you find an eye doctor. FIND A DOCTOR SHOP EYECONIC
Information received through VSP Vision Care's social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Sources
- https://www.novartis.com/stories/education-awareness/eye-fastest-muscle-human-body
- https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/muscles.html
- https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/eye-facts