For many years, people have wanted to improve their eyesight without wearing glasses. Some health gurus have suggested that doing eye exercises can help. These exercises have been around since the 1920s, with claims that they can make you throw away your glasses forever. However, scientific studies do not support these claims. Experts say the only sure way to remove glasses is through surgery. But, doing eye exercises under supervision is not harmful and might help reduce eye strain. It’s up to the individual to try these exercises, keeping in mind that they may not work.

These eye exercises are not the same as those prescribed by doctors for specific eye problems like convergence insufficiency, where eyes have trouble working together. They are aimed at correcting refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, which are due to the shape of the eye.

Understanding Refractive Errors

1. Myopia or Nearsightedness: When the eyeball is too long, light focuses before the retina, making distant objects look blurry. This is corrected with concave lenses.
2. Hypermetropia or Farsightedness: When the eyeball is too short, light focuses behind the retina, making near objects look blurry. This is corrected with convex lenses.
3. Astigmatism: When the cornea or lens has an irregular shape, light focuses at different points, causing a blur. This is corrected with cylindrical lenses.
4. Presbyopia: With age, usually after 40, the lens loses its elasticity and can’t focus on close objects. This requires reading glasses.

Remedies for Refractive Errors

1. Lenses: Glasses or contact lenses correct the focus of light on the retina. These are temporary fixes.
2. Surgery: LASIK and other laser surgeries change the shape of the cornea for a permanent solution.
3. Implantable Contact Lenses: These are surgically placed inside the eye.
4. Refractive Lens Exchange: This involves replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial one.

Can Eye Exercises Replace Lenses and Surgery?

No, eye exercises cannot change the shape of the eyeball or cornea to correct refractive errors. They can’t restore the elasticity of the lens lost due to aging either. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has found no evidence that these exercises can improve vision for myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy.

Eye exercises might help reduce eye strain from prolonged screen use or other near work but cannot replace glasses or surgery.

Basic Eye Exercises

1. Blinking: Helps lubricate the eyes and reduce strain. Blink slowly every 30 seconds for 2 minutes and quickly every 4 seconds for another 2 minutes.
2. Palming: Cover your eyes with your palms to relax them. Do this several times a day.
3. Figure of Eight: Trace the shape of an 8 with your eyes. Do this in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions for 3-5 minutes each.
4. Convergence and Zooming: Focus on a pencil tip held at arm’s length, then slowly bring it closer and focus. Repeat for 10 minutes.
5. Side to Side Movement: Move your eyes from one side to the other, holding each position for a few seconds. Repeat for 3-5 minutes.

What About Eye Yoga?

Eye yoga combines eye exercises with breathing and relaxation techniques. It promotes relaxation but doesn’t scientifically prove to correct refractive errors. Yoga teachers may encourage positive thinking and visualization of clear vision, but this does not replace glasses or surgery.

Primary Techniques of Eye Yoga

1. Blinking and Palming: Same as in eye exercises.
2. Eye Movements with Breathing: Inhale when looking up, exhale when looking down, and vice versa.
3. Relaxation Postures: Relax in the shava-asan (dead pose) after exercises.
4. Conscious Breathing: Exhale to the sound of “Om” to harness positive energy.

Before starting any exercise or yoga, especially if you have conditions like glaucoma, consult your eye doctor.

If Exercises Don’t Improve Vision

If eye exercises don’t work, other options are available:

1. Contact Lenses: Provide vision correction without glasses.
2. Orthokeratology: Specialized contact lenses that reshape the cornea.
3. Surgical Options: LASIK, Implantable Collamer Lenses, Refractive Lens Exchange, or cataract surgery.

Better Vision Without Glasses

Yes, better vision without glasses is possible with today’s advanced technology. However, eye exercises alone won’t achieve this. A comprehensive eye exam by a skilled professional is necessary to determine the best solution for you.

Visitech Eye Centres can cater to all your visual needs, including orthoptic exercises for fusion errors. If you want freedom from glasses, consult with doctors who will guide you to the best treatment options.