Figure 8
The figure 8 exercise can also help ease digital eye strain.
Focus on an area on the floor around 8 feet away.
Move the eyes in the shape of a figure 8.
Trace the imaginary figure 8 for 30 seconds, then switch direction.
Pencil pushups
Pencil pushups can help people with convergence insufficiency. A doctor might recommend this exercise as part of vision therapy.
Hold a pencil at arm’s length, situated between the eyes.
Look at the pencil and try to keep a single image of it while slowly moving it toward the nose.
Move the pencil toward the nose until the pencil is no longer a single image.
Position the pencil at the closest point where it is still a single image.
Repeat 20 times.
Brock string
The Brock string exercise helps improve eye coordination.
To complete this exercise, a person will need a long string and some colored beads. They can complete this exercise either sitting or standing.
Secure one end of the string to a motionless object, or another person can hold it.
Hold the other end of the string just below the nose.
Place one bead on the string.
Look straight at the bead with both eyes open.
If the eyes are working correctly, a person should see the bead and two strings in the shape of an X.
If one eye is closed, one of the strings will disappear, which means that the eye is suppressing. If the person sees two beads and two strings, the eyes are not converged at the bead.
Barrel cards
Barrel cards is a good exercise for exotropia, which is a type of strabismus.
Draw three red barrels of increasing sizes on one side of a card.
Repeat in green on the other side of the card.
Hold the card against the nose so that the largest barrel is farthest away.
Stare at the far barrel until it becomes one image with both colors and the other two images have doubled.
Maintain the gaze for about 5 seconds.
Repeat the exercise with the middle and smallest images.
This post originally appeared on Medical News Today.