Eye Yoga: Benefits, Effects, And Does it Work?

Who Should Not Do Eye Yoga?

Eye yoga can mostly be performed by anyone as, while there may not be much evidence that supports its benefits, there are minimal risks associated with performing these eye exercises. Eye yoga requires very little from the eyes, rather it involves repeated eye movements in specific directions which will most likely not cause any harm or injure the eyes. Having said that, it is advised that you are careful in performing these exercises so you do not over-tax or strain the eyes with rigorous or excessive movements. Eye yoga should also not be done as an alternative to proper eye care treatment. To maintain your eyesight and eye health, it is important to book a regular eye test with an optometrist.

How Effective is Eye Yoga?

Eye yoga is effective in certain areas such as helping to relax the mind and connect with the body. There is not an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests it is effective at reducing eye fatigue and eye strain or helping with vision issues. According to Harvard Health Publishing, eye exercises will not prevent or improve refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. However, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine titled, Effect of Yoga Ocular Exercises on Eye Fatigue, there are signs that eye yoga may be used to reduce eye fatigue.

1. Relax the Mind

Eye yoga exercises can be performed to help relax the mind as you are focusing on your body and connecting with it. Yoga is a relaxing and meditative activity and eye yoga is assumed to have similar effects. Eye yoga exercises allow the eyes to rest, giving the mind and body a moment to relax. Eye yoga also has an intentional focus on breathing which has been proven to help with relaxation and stress reduction. According to Better Health Victoria, controlled breathing can help reduce levels of stress hormones in the blood, lower a person’s heart rate and increase feelings of wellbeing and calm.

2. Reduce Eye Fatigue

Eye yoga may potentially help reduce eye fatigue by performing certain exercises that allow the eyes to rest and also work strained eye muscles. Eye fatigue, also known as eye strain, is an eye condition caused by the eyes concentrating intensely on certain tasks for long periods of time, leading to eye discomfort. Tasks that may cause eye fatigue include working on a computer, tablet or phone, writing and typing and driving long distances. Some of the eye yoga exercises used to potentially reduce eye fatigue and strain include palming and blinking.

Does Eye Yoga Help Relieve Eye Strain?

Eye yoga may potentially relieve eye strain as the exercises performed may strengthen the muscles in the eye and improve blood circulation. Eye yoga may also help with digital eye strain, which is a type of eye strain caused by the use of digital screens such as a computer, tablet or smartphone. Digital eye strain is becoming more common with the pervasive use of technology and digital screens in our daily lives. Other ways to relieve eye strain include taking frequent breaks and remembering to blink as this adds moisture to the surface of the eye, preventing them from becoming dry.

Does Eye Yoga Enhance Vision?

No, eye yoga does not enhance vision rather it can provide benefits such as relaxing the mind and may potentially relieve eye strain and fatigue. If a person has visual issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, they will require corrective devices such as prescription glasses to enhance their vision. Other ways to improve or enhance a person’s vision include contact lenses or eye surgery such as LASIK.

What are the Common Eye Yoga Exercises?

Common eye yoga exercises include palming, blinking, changing focus and rotational viewing. These eye yoga exercises can be performed by both beginners and those experienced in the exercises as they are not complicated and the instructions are easy to follow. Palming is an exercise that requires resting the palm of the hands gently over the eyes. This breaks eye concentration and may potentially reduce eye fatigue and strain. Blinking often helps to add moisture to the surface of the eye, preventing eye irritation and discomfort. Changing focus involves changing the eyes' focus from near to far distances using your index finger as a focus point. Rotational viewing involves staring at your thumb an arm's length away and tracking the finger as it moves in a circular motion.

How Often Should Eye Yoga Be Performed?

Eye yoga exercises should typically be performed depending on the person and their preferences. Some people may prefer to perform eye yoga exercises when they feel they need relief from eye strain and discomfort or wish to relax the eyes. Others may prefer to perform the exercises regularly such as a few times a week or fortnightly.

What are the Dos and Don'ts of Eye Yoga?

There are several do’s and don’ts when it comes to performing eye yoga exercises such as do perform eye yoga exercises in a quiet place, do follow instructions for performing the exercises, don’t touch the eye directly when doing eye yoga and don’t use eye yoga as an excuse to not go to an optometrist. Eye yoga should not be done as an alternative to proper eye care treatment. To maintain your eyesight and eye health, it is important to book a regular eye test with an optometrist. It is also important to note that the eyes are a delicate part of the body, therefore certain precautions should be taken to ensure you do not injure or irritate your eyes. The dos and don’ts of eye yoga are listed below.

• Do perform eye yoga exercises in a quiet place where you can dedicate your time and energy to perform them properly.
• Do follow instructions on how to perform eye yoga exercises. Certain exercises such as changing focus and rotational viewing have specific instructions that should be followed in order to experience the potential benefits.
• Don’t touch the eye directly when performing eye yoga exercises as this can be unhygienic and also cause irritation in the eye.
• Don’t use eye yoga as an excuse to not go to an optometrist. It is recommended to book an eye test once every two years. For people over the age of 65, a yearly checkup is advised.
• Don’t overtax the eyes when doing eye yoga such as performing overly excessive or aggressive eye movements. This may strain the eye muscles and cause more discomfort.

What are the Tips for Doing Eye Yoga?

Some of the tips people should follow when doing eye yoga are to perform the exercises mindfully. Yoga helps to connect the mind and body, therefore, you should try and stay present and in the moment. Another tip is to follow the instructions as they will help you perform the eye exercise correctly. Finally, as mentioned before, eye yoga is not a substitute for proper and professional eye care provided by an optometrist. If you notice any changes in your vision, book an eye test to have your vision and eye health assessed.

When is the Best Time to do Eye Yoga?

The best time to do eye yoga is when the eyes are feeling tired, strained or uncomfortable as eye yoga can be performed to give them a rest and provide relief. There is no particular time of day such as in the morning or at night that will reap the most benefits. Eye yoga should be done when you have enough time to dedicate to it and when you feel it is necessary. For some people, it may be at the end of the work day as the eyes may feel fatigued after looking at a computer screen for many hours. Others may choose to do it in the morning as part of a mindful routine that involves body yoga as well as eye yoga.