Do Eye Exercises Really Improve Eyesight?

If​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ you are using your phone or laptop for a long time, maybe you have searched for "eye exercises to improve eyesight" at least once. Many​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ people will tell you that simply by doing eye yoga for a few minutes daily, you will be able to get rid of your glasses. It sounds so good. But, is it true?

The vision exercises will not permanently change the shape of the eye or correct the defects like myopia or astigmatism, totally. However, it is possible to say that they can assist you to relax eye muscles, decrease eye strain due to the use of the computer, increase concentration, and feel comfortable in your eyes.

Eye Exercise To Improve Eyesight

What Can Eye Exercises Help With?

Before​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ we look at the "top 5," it is beneficial to understand what you can actually expect:

  • After a long time of reading or working with a screen, there will be less eye strain.
  • By doing a conscious blink and relaxation, the dry, tired eyes will become more comfortable.
  • Some people may improve their eye focusing and coordination by doing simple near–far focus exercises.

1. Blinking Exercise – For Dry, Tired Eyes

When​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ you look at a screen, your blinking rate goes down significantly. This is the reason your eyes become dry, feel like they have sand in them, or become heavy towards the end of the day. If dry eyes get serious, you can consult a specialist, but you can do this exercise at home if it is not that serious. Doing a conscious blink is an easy method to bring the tear film back and to relax the eye ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌surface.

How to do it:

  • Sit comfortably and look straight ahead.
  • Close your eyes gently and hold for 2 seconds, then open slowly.
  • Repeat slow blinks for about 1–2 minutes.
  • You can then try quick blinks – blink every 3–4 seconds for another minute.
Blinking Exercise

Do this every few hours when you are on screens. It won’t change your glasses number, but it will help your eyes feel less dry and strained.


2. Palming – Instant Relax Mode for Your Eyes

Palming​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is an old method of relaxation taken from eye exercises and eye yoga. It is not a method to “fix” your eye power, but a way to give your eye muscles some rest.

Eye Palming Technique

How to do it:

  • Warm your hands together.
  • Over your eyes, put your warm hands.
  • Keep breathing gradually, roll your shoulders and your neck and stay there between 30-60 seconds.

After several rounds of palming, most of the individuals experience instant relief of the heaviness and a slight amount of headache around the eye area.


3. Pencil Push-Ups (Convergence Exercise)

Pencil​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ push-ups are largely regarded as a good exercise for the eyes when aiming at a nearby object. This exercise is frequently used in the treatment of problems such as nearsightedness ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌fatigue.

Pencil Push Ups Eye Exercise

How to do it:

  • Hold a pencil or pen at arm’s length, at eye level.
  • Focus on a small letter or mark on the tip.
  • Slowly move the pencil towards your nose, keeping the tip single and clear for as long as possible.
  • Once it doubles or becomes too blurry, stop, move it back to arm’s length and refocus.
  • Repeat this in sets of 10–20 repetitions, once or twice a day.

4. Near–Far Focus – Flexibility for Your Focusing System

In​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ today's life, our eyes are almost "locked" at one distance, due to which they hardly get any change in focus. This distance is generally that of a phone or a laptop.

Near Far Focus Eye Exercisee

How to do it:

  • Put​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ your thumb (or a small object) approximately 10–15 cm in front of your face.
  • Look at your thumb for 10–15 seconds.
  • After that, look at something far away (around 20 feet / 6 meters), like a tree or a building, and focus there for another 10–15 seconds.
  • Continue switching your sight from the nearest to the farthest thing for 2–3 minutes.

This simple drill trains your ciliary muscles (the tiny muscles that change your lens shape) to stay flexible and can ease eye strain linked to prolonged near work.


5. Figure-of-Eight / Eye Movement Exercise

Figure-of-eight​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ or circular eye movements are frequently mentioned in eye exercises as well as eye yoga practices to enhance the coordination and relieve the eye muscles that change the direction of your eyes.

Figure Of 8 Eye Exercise

How to do it:

  • Imagine a large “8” lying on its side (like an infinity symbol) about 8–10 feet in front of you.
  • Slowly trace the shape of this “8” with your eyes, without moving your head.
  • Do this in one direction for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Reverse the direction and repeat for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Besides this, you may also slowly direct your eyes from one side to another and from top to bottom in a controlled manner so that the muscles and the rest of the eyes that have been subjected to a long period of staring can be ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌relaxed.


Bonus: The 20-20-20 Rule for Screen Users

Strictly speaking, this is more of a habit than an “exercise,” but it is one of the most powerful tools against digital eye strain.

20 20 20 Rule

The rule is simple:

  • Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

This short reset relaxes your focusing system and reduces fatigue, especially if you pair it with a few slow blinks or a quick palming round.


FAQs About Eye Exercises

  • 01.Will eye exercises help me to see better or eliminate my eyewear?

    The response is usually no. Exercises are superb to get the muscles that enclose your eyes to draw tight, thereby enhancing coordination and focus, and they are superb to relieve eye tension.

  • 02.What are the exercises that are effective for a person who spends the whole day staring at a screen?

    Simple eye movement exercises are safe and effective for a very large majority of the population. They are soft exercises for the eye muscles. But in case you have a serious eye problem, then you need to discuss this with your ophthalmologist.

  • 03.Is eye exercise safe for all, and more so for children?

    The eye is stretching longer is a physical change, and this can not be reversed. Sight, however, may be repaired by the use of a pair of glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery in the case of adults.

  • 04.How frequently and when will I accomplish results?

    Regularity is important here, not rigorous, extended sessions. Instead of the single session, it is preferable to engage in a few minutes of exercises (such as simple up-and-down or side-to-side glances) two or three times a day. The results of better muscle coordination may be immediate relief of strain, but the lasting results are normally attained over a span of several weeks with regular practice.

  • 05.Do I need to possess any special equipment or instruments to do eye exercises?

    Absolutely not. The best eye exercises, such as the 20-20-20 rule, basic practising of focusing (peering near and far) and moving your eyes following an imaginary figure of eight, do not require a lot besides having your eyes and time free of distraction.


What Our Experts Have to Say

Specialists at Save Sight Centre advise you to practice these eye exercises to improve eyesight at home. Consider​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ these 5 main eye workout methods as daily stretching for your eyes: they are wonderful for eye comfort, focus, and relief of eye strain caused by the use of digital devices, but still, they are not a substitute for correct vision or medical treatment.

In case you have any discomfort that lasts, a sudden change in vision, or if you want to decrease your dependence on glasses, consult an eye specialist along with these ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌exercises.