Eye Exercises for Fighter Pilots

Eye exercises with the aim of improving unaided vision have been around since at least the 19th century, with new "methods" appearing regularly since then. While these exercises have had wide popular appeal, with their promises of negating the need for glasses without corrective surgery, they are often marketed specifically at people whose visual problems debar them from a desired career path. That includes military aviation, in which perfect vision may be required. The actual effectiveness of many of these exercises is scientifically questionable, however.

The Bates Method and Derivatives

• In 1920, William Bates began producing literature which argued that defects in vision were caused by fatigue and strain in the muscles responsible for the movement of the eye and expansion and contraction of the lens. He advocated various techniques of eye relaxation, visualization and movement of the eye to rectify problems with the muscles. There are numerous similar methods available, mostly advocating some form of "eye workout" involving focusing on near and far objects, following a moving object and exposure to complete darkness to relax the eye. Anecdotal claims are often made of complete restoration to normal vision after a month or two of regularly completing the exercises.

Evidence for Effectiveness of Bates Method and Derivatives

• There is a distinct lack of clinically proven evidence to support the claims made by advocates of these approaches. Certain companies offering these types of "methods" to pilots or potential pilots have found themselves facing charges of false advertising. Promises to cure nearsightedness by exercise of the relevant muscle seem to stand contrary to scientific evidence showing that these conditions are caused by deformation of the eyeball and lens. No amount of muscular exercise will rectify such problems. Some conditions unrelated to the deformation of the eyeball, however, can be treated by eye exercises.

Convergence Insufficiency

• When focusing on an object, particularly as it approaches from distant to near, the eyes must turn inward and be directed at the same point. People suffering from convergence insufficiency find that their eyes are unable to adequately turn inward or do not do so equally. This results in double or blurred vision to an extent that would exclude a person from training or working as a fighter pilot.

Exercises to Reduce Convergence Insufficiency

• The sufferer holds a pencil at arm's length and focuses on it. Holding the focus on the pencil, it is brought slowly inward between the eyes to the point just before the sufferer's vision begins to blur. At this point the sufferer should hold her focus for 10 seconds and then repeat the exercise 10 more times. This regime should be followed two to four times every day until the patient is able to comfortably focus on something within three inches from the face. Practice should be maintained, though only once every day or two days. Return to the more vigorous regime if problems return.

Relieving Eye Strain

• Though exercises similar to the Bates method do not seem to help with long-standing problems with eyesight, they can relieve sensations of fatigue in the eyes of fighter pilots. On long missions, pilots may experience eye muscle strain due to constant focus on a point at a set distance. This can be relived by switching focus between near and far objects and turning the eyes to focus on objects at the extreme edges of vision. Finally, though it's not recommended while flying, eye strain can be relived by placing the palms over the eyes and allowing the vision to rest in the darkness. Do not be alarmed by patterns of color or light as this a result of natural firing of the visual neurons.