
The ability to improve one's vision with eye exercises remains a controversial area, with many eye care professionals continuing to argue that eye exercises provide no benefit. Researchers out of the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and Boston University, however, recently showed in a study published in the Journal of Vision that specific eye exercises can improve vision among those over 65.
The study showed that consistent practice of vision tasks that pushed the subject's visual limits, resulted in improved vision. "We found that just two days of training in one hour sessions with difficult stimuli resulted in older subjects seeing as well as younger college-age subjects," stated chief researcher G. John Andersen, professor of psychology at UCR.
The task that the participants used to train their eyes, is essentially a pattern recognition exercise. Typically, this process involved the participants viewing a pattern which is then masked in such a way to make it difficult to see the pattern. Participants were instructed to focus on a central point in the image and identify the pattern using peripheral vision. Here is an example of masked images:
Without specialized equipment to create a series, it it's hard to duplicate the exercise on your own. However, you can help train your eyes, your brain, and their ability to work together by trying your hand at visual puzzles. Here are a couple of good examples:
The study showed that consistent practice of vision tasks that pushed the subject's visual limits, resulted in improved vision. "We found that just two days of training in one hour sessions with difficult stimuli resulted in older subjects seeing as well as younger college-age subjects," stated chief researcher G. John Andersen, professor of psychology at UCR.
The task that the participants used to train their eyes, is essentially a pattern recognition exercise. Typically, this process involved the participants viewing a pattern which is then masked in such a way to make it difficult to see the pattern. Participants were instructed to focus on a central point in the image and identify the pattern using peripheral vision. Here is an example of masked images:
Without specialized equipment to create a series, it it's hard to duplicate the exercise on your own. However, you can help train your eyes, your brain, and their ability to work together by trying your hand at visual puzzles. Here are a couple of good examples:
Here's another hidden star puzzle....
The visual puzzle concept is a nice compliment to the eye workouts available in The 15 Minute Fix: VISION. Any type of visual puzzle that requires you to send a wide variety of detailed information to your brain for interpretation and analysis will help train you to make better use of your eyes on a day to day basis. (Reading can provide similar benefits.)
If you want to try to create an exercise that you can work into your 15 Minute Fix eye workout, try this: Find a variable textured surface (wood, stone, brick, etc) and over the course of 3 minutes, try to identify 3 shapes or patterns. Sort of like looking for a shape in the clouds. If you are struggling to find any sort of shape or pattern, try creating letters or shapes by "connecting the dots" using imperfections in the surface. Also, be sure to use a different surface each time you do this exercise.
Age well my friends!
The visual puzzle concept is a nice compliment to the eye workouts available in The 15 Minute Fix: VISION. Any type of visual puzzle that requires you to send a wide variety of detailed information to your brain for interpretation and analysis will help train you to make better use of your eyes on a day to day basis. (Reading can provide similar benefits.)
If you want to try to create an exercise that you can work into your 15 Minute Fix eye workout, try this: Find a variable textured surface (wood, stone, brick, etc) and over the course of 3 minutes, try to identify 3 shapes or patterns. Sort of like looking for a shape in the clouds. If you are struggling to find any sort of shape or pattern, try creating letters or shapes by "connecting the dots" using imperfections in the surface. Also, be sure to use a different surface each time you do this exercise.
Age well my friends!