Do-it-Yourself Eye Therapy

Our eyes need proper care on a daily basis for optimal function and health. Many of us neglect our eyes until something goes wrong; we start to notice changes in our ability to focus; or we experience tired, aching eyes. Preventive care and do-it-yourself eye therapy performed on a daily or weekly basis may help reduce future vision problems. Vision therapy is literally physical therapy for the eyes, which helps treat and prevent a multitude of vision problems.

Exercises

• Exercise is a vital component of eye health and function. We use our eyes every day, though many of us neglect to exercise them. Our eyes function with the use of muscles that attach the eye to the socket; these muscles allow upward, downward, and side to side movements. Weakened eye muscles can affect vision. Eye exercises should be performed once or twice a week, and should involve all muscle groups. Therefore, exercises that involve all directions of eye movement offer optimal benefits.

Focusing

• Focus on near and distant objects to help maintain the eye's adaptability to changing surroundings. Acuity, peripheral vision, and focus are the goals of these types of exercises that also help to improve vision. Eye patches or visual training graphics are aids that can be used in these exercises, and are available from your optometrist or can be found on the Internet.

Visual-Cognitive Training

• Visual training eye therapies are designed to identify and treat visual-motor deficiencies or those caused by perception or cognitive conditions. Visual training and therapy is designed to treat the eye, the brain, and coordination all at the same time. For example, a child or adult may be directed to look at pictures or drawings to determine what is different in each one. These exercises help the eye to seek differences and the brain to register those differences. Perception, classification, and tracking of objects sharpens the skill with which the eye observes and the brain records.