Binocular fusion, or just “fusion”, is a term used to describe the brain’s ability to “fuse” pictures both our eyes receive at one moment into a single, unified image. It is common that when eyes aren’t perfectly aligned, people have blurred vision, experience discomfort, or even double vision.
The good thing is that there are different eye exercises that can help you treat discomfort caused by bad fusion. In fact, vision therapy has been demonstrated to treat some eye alignment issues, digital eye strain, and even focusing issues. But, you shouldn’t expect overnight miracles that improve your vision, only gradual improvement in eyestrain and overall well-being.
The Benefits of Eye Exercises
Eye exercises, generally in the form of vision treatment, can assist in ensuring that the two eyes perform well together. Skipping lines or words while reading, shutting an eye, eyestrain, and headaches are some of the typical signs that you may benefit from strengthening your eye muscles.
Vision therapy can help with issues including eye turn (strabismus) and lazy eye (amblyopia), as well as eye tracking (saccadic dysfunction) and eye teaming (convergence insufficiency).
While being under the supervision of an eye doctor might give additional assistance on how to do specific exercises, certain ones can be done at home.
Easy Eye Fusion Exercises You Can Do By Yourself
Eye muscle exercises can be helpful for the following conditions:
- nystagmus and strabismus, eye movement conditions
- amblyopia or lazy eye;
- myopia;
- dyslexia;
- vergence problems;
- convergence insufficiency;
- motion sickness;
- and/or learning difficulties.
Here are seven easy exercises that can be performed anywhere and positively impact on any eye conditions mentioned above.
1. The 20-20-20 Rule
People who must concentrate on a computer screen all day at work may have digital eye strain. The 20-20-20 rule is useful for reducing it.
The guidelines are simple: when working on a computer, focus on any object or point 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
This way, the muscles around your eyes will relax, refreshing your concentration and relieving you from any discomfort caused by blue lights.
2. Focus change
As its name states, this exercise is designed to challenge your focus. It should be done in a seated position, following these steps:
- Keep your pointer finger about an inch away from your eye.
- Concentrate on your finger.
- Hold your attention while you slowly pull your finger away from your face.
- For a short period, look away into the distance.
- Concentrate on your extended finger and gently return it to your eye.
- Turn aside and concentrate on anything in the distance.
- Repeat this process three times.
3. Barrel cards
The barrel card encourages the eyes to converge, or turn in together, while looking at a close object.
- To start, hold the barrel card leveled with your nose so that the circles are horizontally aligned and the largest spheres are furthest away from your nose.
- Close one eye.
- One eye will see red circles and the other will see green circles. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure that each eye sees the same amount of the card and that there is no tilt.
- Concentrate your attention on the circles that are the furthest away from you. The two pictures should merge to form a single red-green circle.
- After 5 seconds, move your eyes to the center circle.
- Finally, focus your attention on the tiniest, nearest circle.
- It’s vital to remember that the circles you’re not focusing on will look doubled; this is typical.
- Relax your eyes once you’ve finished one cycle. Work your way up to 10 cycles, holding for 10 seconds on each of the three circles.
4. Figure 8
Some people find it difficult to track an object with their eyes. Figure eights are a good way to practice this.
Choose a spot on the ground in front of you that is at least 10 feet away. Trace an imagined figure eight with your eyes. Continue for 30 seconds before changing directions.
5. Brock String
Developed and named by Frederick Brock of Switzerland, a vision therapy pioneer, this exercise involves a string and three beads.
A long thread and some colorful beads are required to perform this exercise. It can be done while sitting or standing.
- Attach one end of the string to a stationary item, or have another person hold it.
- The other end of the string should be held slightly below the nose.
- Thread the beads onto the string, the nearest six inches away from the nose, the middle one 2-5 feet away from you, and the farthest at the other end of the string.
- With both eyes open, look at the beads directly.
- If your eyes are operating properly, the beads and two strings in the shape of an X should be visible.
One of the threads will vanish if one eye is closed, indicating that the eye is suppressed.
6. Pencil Push-ups
One of the most famous eye exercises would definitely be the pencil push-ups. They are frequently used to train the eyes to move in closer together or to converge while staring at a close object.
The process is simple:
- Wear your finest near vision correction and hold a pencil at arm’s length.
- Concentrate on the eraser’s tip. If there is a letter on the eraser, bring it into focus so that it can be read.
- Move the pencil slowly towards your nose while maintaining the eraser or letter single and focused.
- Draw it away from the eyes again after it has doubled.
- Repeat as needed.
7. Try out the VR Synoptophore app
Our VR Synoptophore app was designed with everyone in mind: from the busiest people who are constantly on the go, all the way to our little ones who hate going to doctors. With simple exercises powered by VR technology, exercising is not only effective – it’s fun. Sounds great, right? Find out more about it now, and download the app to start training today.
Is Exercising Your Eyes Enough?
There is currently little credible evidence to demonstrate that eye exercises do serve to enhance eyesight. Aside from a few study examples, researchers have yet to demonstrate that eye workouts are an effective therapy for visual or cognitive disorders.
Certain symptoms might point to a more serious problem. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor:
- vision loss due to inflamed eyes
- vision impairment
- double vision due to eye discomfort
- eyelid swelling, light sensitivity, and headaches related with eye discomfort
These symptoms indicate more serious conditions that should be checked by a professional. But, if you suffer from more regular conditions such as eye strain, concentration loss, or lack of focus, performing the 6 exercises described in this article will help you to finally release all the stress around your eyes.
Although you shouldn’t wait for some pain or discomfort to occur, try them right now! But be warned: a few happy tears may appear in your eyes when you realize that these simple movements were something that you didn’t know your eyes needed.
