How to Exercise Your Eyes

Do your eyes strain easily? In today’s culture, we all look at the computer screen for long amounts of time, sometimes even all day long. We need to learn how to exercise our eyes to make them stronger and reduce the strain we cause them. Follow the steps below to exercise your eyes, and improve the overall health of your eyes in the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pencil
• Erasable marker

1. Place a mark on a window at eye level. Sit about 6 inches away from it. Look at the mark, and then focus on something in the distance. Look at that spot in the distance for 10 seconds, and then look at your spot on the window for 10 seconds.
2. Hold a pencil at arm’s length in front of you. Move the pencil in towards your nose. Keep your eyes focused on the pencil the whole time. Repeat 10 times.
3. Close your eyes for 5 seconds. Open them for 5 seconds. Repeat this seven times.
4. Roll your eyes clockwise and then blink. Roll your eyes counterclockwise and then blink. Repeat this cycle five times.
5. Find an object that is 150 or more feet away. Focus on the object for several seconds. Find an object that is closer than 30 feet away. Focus on the new object for several seconds. Look at the far away object again and focus. Look at each object five times.
6. Focus on a wall that is opposite where you are sitting. Pretend that you are writing on the wall with your eyes. Do not move your head to do so, use just your eyes.
7. Pretend that you are looking at a large clock. Find the middle of the clock. Look at where 1 o’clock would be. Look back to the center. Continue until you have gone through all of the hours. Do this without moving your head.
8. Focus on any object in the distance. This is easy to do every 30 minutes or so.

Tips & Warnings

• Taking breaks periodically can help relieve eye strain. Looking at anything that is close to you for lengths of time (looking at the computer, reading, etc.) will cause strain on your eyes.
• Try to do the exercises regularly. You will start to notice a difference, and your eyes will not strain as easily.
• Do not apply pressure to your eyes. It may feel better at the time, but you could hurt yourself.
• Do not try these exercises while wearing contacts. They could cause the contact to fold or dislodge.
• Discontinue any of these exercises give you motion sickness.