We all know the benefits of exercise. Just like you exercise your arms, stomach or calves, you can exercise your eyes as well. Most of us spend a lot of time in front of the computer or the television. Unfortunately, this leads to severe eyestrain which may even affect our productivity at the workplace.

Eye exercises will help keep your eyes younger and healthier. They are particularly helpful for people who work at a computer for long hours.  Note that eye exercises will reduce eyestrain and help maintain your eyesight. They are unlikely to improve your eyesight. For example, by exercising your eyes, you can’t treat a cataract problem.

In this article, we will take a look at some eye exercises.

Exercise 1

Sit comfortably on a mat or a chair. Rub your palms together until they get warm. Now close your eyes and place your palms over them. Don’t apply too much pressure on your eyeballs. Make sure that light does not enter your eyes. You may see lingering colors before your eyes. Imagine total blackness and then try to focus on it. Remove your palms when you can’t see anything but darkness.

Exercise 2

Keep your eyes tightly closed for about 3-5 seconds and then keep them open for about 3-5 seconds. Repeat this process 7-8 times.

Exercise 3

Soak a clean towel in cold water and another one in hot water. Take one towel and press it against your cheeks, eyelids and eyebrows. Alternate between the two. Make sure that you end with the cold compress.

Exercise 4

Gently press 3 fingers of each hand against the upper eyelids. Release after 1-2 seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Exercise 5

Focus on an object at a distance for about 15 seconds. And then focus on a nearby object for another 15 minutes. Do not move your head while shifting focus from one object to the other. Repeat five times.

Exercise 6

Hold a pen in front of your eyes at arm’s length. Bring the pen closer to your nose and follow it with your eyes till you can’t focus on it. Repeat 10 times.

Exercise 7

Make up and down movements with your eyes. Repeat 8 times. And then perform side to side eye movements. Start from left. Repeat 8 times. Don’t force your eyes to go further than they want in any direction.

Exercise 8

Sit comfortably. Roll your eyes clockwise and then roll them anti-clockwise. Repeat this process 5 times.