Myopia or nearsightedness is a vision problem that enables you to see things near your eyes clearly but objects far from your eyes appear blurred. It is a fairly normal condition that is usually treated with the use of eye glasses or contact lenses.

Some people advocate do-it-yourself eye exercises as means to reduce or treat myopia. This theory leads some nearsighted people to believe that by merely performing these exercises, their vision will improve without having to resort to eye glasses or lenses. On the contrary, however, studies show that there is actually no evidence that these exercises have any effect on reducing myopia. Experts recommend that your vision problem can be best addressed if you visit your eye doctor so he can advise you of your options in treating your nearsightedness.

Here are some of the eye exercises which were found to be ineffective in reducing myopia:

Bates Exercises

Dr. William Bates was the pioneer in developing eye exercises for myopia. He started as early as the beginning of the 20th century. He introduced the Bates Method which is an alternative therapy anchored on his theory that the mind played a huge part in improving nearsightedness. This method includes the following exercises:

•    Palming. The palms of the hands are placed against the cheekbones. This is done to relax the eyes by shutting out all light.

•    Sunning. Closed eyes are turned toward the sun’s light while simultaneously rocking the head back and forth.

•    Swinging. The body is gently swayed back and forth while the eyes focus on a finger placed in front of the face.

•    Simple blinking.

Experts, however, note that this method operates on the fallacy that the eye’s focus is controlled by external muscles. On the contrary, the eye has an internal mechanism for focusing.

Eye Movement Routines

Some people also believe that eye movement routines can help reduce myopia. These routines include the following:

•    Rotating the eyes in a circle.
•    Focusing on moving objects.
•    Focusing on blinking lights.
•    Eye-hand coordination drills.

Studies show, however, that these exercises are ineffective in reducing nearsightedness. These routines are only helpful if you are suffering from problems of double vision, eye convergence or focus.

Visual Training Exercises

Others also recommend visual training exercises to help reduce myopia. Indeed, there are legitimate forms of visual training that are designed to help focus eyes that cannot converge on objects or to enhance sports vision. These exercises are also useful in the vision training of persons who suffered brain injuries to help them learn how to reconnect the eyes and the brain.

However, these exercises are ineffective in reducing nearsightedness. While you may experience some improvement in your visual acuity after undergoing visual training, this is only because your eyes have learned to interpret blurred images. The improvement is also due to mood changes or to the modifications tearing temporarily works upon the eye. This is not caused by some physiological change for the better.

So what can help Myopia?

Myopia seems to be linked with lack of outdoor activity, which in turn creates Vitamin D deficiency and promotes obesity as well.

It seems that in today’s society we are obsessed with keeping children within our eyesight, which normally will mean keep them in doors.  It seems that many parents want their children to get the best possible education they can so indoors studying is promoted.  It is true that our children today are more educated than their parents at the same age but… does this actually help them in the long term?  It certainly does not help their long-term general health.

A patient of mine once said: “ Your health is your wealth”.

NO TRUER WORDS HAVE BEEN SAID!