Vision Therapy Training

• Vision therapy takes place in a doctor's office, usually in half-hour or hourly increments, once or twice a week. Crossed eyes, lazy eyes and eyes that don't work together can benefit from vision therapy. Regulated treatment devices, like corrective or prism lenses, eye patches, optical filters and visual-motor-sensory integration training devices, improve depth perception and focusing ability. Exercises to do at home are part of the treatment plan.
  
  

Preparation

• To receive the greatest benefit from eye exercises, find a place in your home that is quiet and where you won't be disturbed. Mornings work well, before your busy day starts. Remove your eyeglasses or contacts and settle into a comfortable chair. Perform all the steps for each exercise, with a short rest in between. A cold face cloth applied to the eyes feels very soothing.
  
  

Exercises

• Palming: Sit in a comfortable chair. Rub your hands together for warmth, and place cupped palms over your closed eyes. Fingers should be together, letting no light in. Breathing deeply, imagine you are in total darkness. Focus on how dark it is. Continue to take deep breaths, and visualize a scene from your life that made you smile. Repeat palming for a few more minutes, and see how refreshed you feel.
  
  Range of motion: In a sitting or standing position, look to the right as far as you can, without turning your head. Hold your gaze for a few seconds, and switch to the left side. Repeat steps by looking up, then down. Range of motion exercises, done on a regular basis, promote optimal blood flow to the eyes and keep the nerves healthy.
  
  Zooming: Stretching an arm out in front of you, place your thumb in a hitchhiker position. Focus intently on your thumb. Continue to focus as you bring your thumb toward you, stopping about three inches from your face. Repeat for a few minutes throughout the day. This exercise works well for strengthening the eye muscles.
  
  Nodding: Nod your head up and down. Look up at the ceiling, then down at your toes. Repeat five to 10 times. Nodding exercises strengthen the muscles in your neck, resulting in improved blood circulation to the head and eyes.
  
  Rolling: Stand or sit in a comfortable chair. Roll your eyes in clockwise circles for 10 or 15 repetitions, and then repeat with counterclockwise circles. Start slowly and build up speed, rolling your eyes as wide as you can.