Eye Yoga Exercise: The Comprehensive Guide to Improved Vision
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Table of Contents
Keeping your eyes healthy is a must. It supports not just good eyesight but also overall health. In recent years, eye yoga exercises have come into the spotlight. They propose to make the muscles in our eyes stronger. They may also boost our vision and eye health.
In this article, we will delve into eye yoga. We’ll look at its roots, the potential benefits it might have, and what research says about it. We’ll also go through how to do different eye yoga exercises. Lastly, we will answer some frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Did you know?
Eye yoga is an old practice with new uses. It may help give your eye health a natural, gentle boost.
Eye yoga is about simple moves. We use them to work, build, and prepare the muscles in our eyes. The moves include focusing on things near and far. We also move our eyes in different ways, without moving our head or neck. This is proposed to help our eye muscles get stronger, and may relax us and aid focus.
Eye yoga is rooted in old Indian ways, like Hatha Yoga. It focuses on physical poses, breath work, and becoming calm.
In the modern, digital world, we spend more time staring at screens. As a result, eye yoga has seen a comeback. It’s because of an increase in problems like eye strain. The modern version often builds on the old ways. It has also undergone changes to help with new issues that come from using screens so often.
Eye yoga may have many benefits. They range from boosting eyesight to improvement in handling eye strain and helping relaxation.
People who do eye yoga think the moves may help improve eyesight. They think it does this by making our eye muscles stronger. It could also reduce how much we rely on glasses or contacts.
Doing eye yoga often may stop our vision from getting worse. It might do this by keeping our eye muscles flexible and strong. This could lead to fewer vision issues like being nearsighted, farsighted, or having astigmatism.
Eye yoga moves might improve how well our eyes focus naturally. This might make us less dependent on glasses or contacts. While scientists still aren’t sure and more research is needed regarding this, some people say doing eye yoga regularly helped them.
Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision. It’s often due to higher pressure inside the eye (Intraocular pressure or IOP). Eye yoga practitioners say that it may provide some relief. H
One small study hinted that eye yoga might lower IOP. If proven, this could lower the risk of getting glaucoma. It might also slow down how fast glaucoma gets worse.
As undetected glaucoma can cause loss of vision you should regularly get your IOP checked to keep track. More scientific studies are needed to corroborate the proposed benefits of eye yoga. Thus, eye yoga may be tried as an add-on to the management option recommended by your eye doctor which may be medical or surgical.
Dry eye happens when you don’t make enough tears, or they evaporate too fast. Eye yoga may help in several ways described below.
Eye yoga moves might help by making us blink and relax. This may keep our eyes moist, giving short-term relief from dryness.
There isn’t a lot of research on this. But some think doing eye yoga could stimulate tear glands. This may boost tear production and fight dry eye symptoms. Further research is necessary to corroborate this.
Eye yoga might help in restoration after cataract surgery. We need more studies to prove this, though.
Doing eye yoga moves after cataract surgery might make the muscles stronger. It may also tone them, aid stability, and provide comfort.
Some people think using eye yoga as part of cataract surgery recovery could speed up repair. But it’s crucial to ask an eye doctor before trying any new exercise after surgery. Do not do them if your doctor has advised you not to.
Eye yoga mainly works the eye muscles. But some people think they can also improve blood flow around the eyes. This may lower how much dark circles or under-eye bags appear.
Eye yoga moves that get us breathing deeply may help boost blood flow around our eyes. It might lower dark circles or bags caused by fluid or blood pooling.
Some people think doing eye yoga may lower inflammation and fluid collecting under the eyes.
All the above-mentioned benefits require more scientific backing though.
Eye strain is now a big problem because we use digital screens more. Eye yoga might help in several ways:
Eye yoga may push back on the effects of using screens too long. This is because it gets us to take breaks and move our eyes around often. Doing these moves often might reduce eye strain and discomfort from staring at screens too long.
Doing eye yoga moves with care and intent might help focus and relaxation. This balance could ease eye strain. It may also stop related problems like headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes.
Research on eye yoga is still limited. But there are some benefits for certain eye issues.
Studies have had mixed results on eye yoga and its impact on eye health. Some have found it may help manage eye strain, improve our focus, and help us relax. But there is no solid proof it can truly improve vision or other eye issues.
The above-mentioned research hints that eye yoga could manage eye strain but had only a small number of people in them. They also lacked control groups. So, we need more, larger, and better-designed studies to confirm this.
You can practice these eye yoga moves at home or in the office with ease.
This move may boost flexibility, balance, and teamwork of eye muscles. It may reduce eye tiredness and strain during close and middle-distance tasks.
This move may help ease tightness in the eye muscles. It may also relieve eye strain.
Palming may help create a calming and relaxing effect. It may also boost focus and ease eye strain.
Blinking may moisten the eyes. It might help reduce the discomfort of a dry eye.
The figure-eight move boosts the flexibility and teamwork of the eye muscles. It may be an excellent way to reduce eye strain.
This move is said to make eye muscles stronger and boost focusing ability. It can be helpful for close-up and long-distance tasks.
This eye move might improve the pinpoint accuracy of near and distant vision. It does this by training our eyes to focus more effectively.
Aside from eye yoga, there are more ways to keep your eyes healthy. They may also help with vision-related issues.
Eye exams done often can detect eye problems early. They make sure the right glasses or contacts are used. Ask an eye care expert about how often you should have an eye exam.
Protect your eyes from UV rays that can harm us. Do this by wearing sunglasses that block out all UVA and UVB rays. Always wear protective eyewear during risky activities or jobs.
Remember the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes, look at an object that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This can lower eye strain for long screen time or close tasks.
Smoking raises the chance of issues like age-linked macular degeneration and cataracts. Consider stopping smoking to lower your risks.
Eating a diet full of nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and omega-3 fats may help eye health. Stay well hydrated to keep your eyes working right and to maintain moisture levels.
Eye yoga moves might ease eye strain, improve focus, and promote relaxation. While we need more solid science, these moves are easy to make part of your day-to-day routine. This may help with various eye problems.
By adding eye yoga moves to normal eye exams, wearing sunglasses and protective gear, a good diet and staying hydrated, and not smoking, you can act early to maintain your eye health. Always remember to discuss with your eye doctor before incorporating these exercises.
How quickly you see changes with eye yoga differs from person to person. Some people might see changes in weeks, while others may need to do it often for months or more to see any change. Some may not see any changes, so then it is advisable to consult your eye doctor.
Eye yoga is generally safe and poses low risks. But if you have eye pain, worse visual symptoms, or other discomfort while doing eye yoga, stop the exercise. Ask an eye care expert for advice.
Doing eye yoga exercises daily may maximize any potential benefits. Begin by adding a few moves to your routine. Then slowly add more moves and do them for longer as they become easier.
Yes, kids and elderly people can do eye yoga. But they should be watched and guided while doing so. Eye yoga is a low-impact activity suited to most ages. But be sure to ask an eye care expert before starting any new eye exercises.
No, eye yoga exercises don’t replace medical care for eye issues. Eye yoga may support normal management methods. But always consult with an eye care expert for a full check-up and management of eye issues.
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