Four Effective Eye Exercises You Should Learn

You don’t need a gym membership to keep your eyes in superb shape.

When we think of muscles, we often imagine swollen pecs, broad shoulders, bulging biceps, and chiseled abs. That’s why it’s so easy to forget that our eyes are supported by a muscle group of their own, and – like the rest of our body – these muscles can benefit from targeted exercise.

Here are four eye exercises for you to incorporate into your daily routine.

Blinking
That’s right – blinking, the semi-automatic function that we hardly notice, can strengthen our eye muscles. This exercise is best utilized during times of prolonged digital screen usage, as the rate in which you blink tends to slow down at this time, drying out your eyes due to a lack of lubrication. Making a conscious effort to blink will help generate more tear film to moisturize your eyes, increasing focus and preventing headaches.

Eye Rolling
Rolling your eyes is another great exercise for this muscle group. No, we don’t mean that gesture you do when you’re exasperated or annoyed, but something similar. Keeping your head still, move your eyes from left to right a few times, then move them up and down a few times, too. This particular eye rolling technique helps relieve eye strain, which also may be a result of digital screen usage.

Palming
If you need an exercise specifically to counter eye fatigue, then look no further than palming. A yoga technique, palming is performed by closing your eyes and covering them with each hand. Breathe steadily and avoid applying pressure to your face as you keep your eyes covered for any length of time between 30 seconds and a few minutes. Consider this exercise a great way to reset your eyes after an extended length of time.

The 20-20-20 Technique
The 20-20-20 technique is a popular and easy-to-remember method of incorporating breaks into periods of prolonged screen time. The system works like this: for every 20 minutes of screen usage, you should turn away from the screen and look at an object roughly 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This affords your eyes a much-needed opportunity to refresh, refocus, and reset. Anyone can benefit from the 20-20-20 technique, but it is especially helpful for students and employees who spend countless hours toiling in front of a screen.

Although these exercises are highly effective at treating minor bouts of strain and fatigue, they are by no means substitutes for comprehensive vision care. The experienced opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists of Sterling Vision are here to provide best-in-class services whenever these exercises are no longer sufficient. To schedule an appointment with us, call 541-262-0597 or schedule online.