As an avid skier and tennis player, I knew that my skill set in these sports would only develop if I practiced the basic foundational skills and properly learned the fundamentals from the start. I reasoned that if I could develop fitness for my heart in the form of aerobic type exercise, then why couldn’t my eyes benefit from specific eye exercises. Visual improvement exercises in the form of vision therapy is not new, but it is not mainstream either in our Western culture.

Everything in the West seems to hinge on symptoms and then treat the symptoms with drugs or in the case of the eyes, corrective lenses. In the East, there is much more emphasis on prevention and treating the whole person. Mind, body, and spirit are focused on with such activities as martial arts, tai chi, qi gong, yoga, meditation, etc.

I did some research and decided to give it a try and see if I could naturally improve my vision through my own efforts. Here are some things I started to do immediately.

1. Exercise – I did this frequently anyway, but I know if more oxygen gets to the heart and brain during exercise, it also goes to the eyes.

2. Diet – I decided to give up caffeine and eat more fruits and vegetables. I tried, not always successfully, to cut back on processed foods, fast foods, and sugery foods from my diet. Carrots, spinach, and broccoli really are good for your eyes.

3. Breathe, breathe, breathe – Several times a day, I would take several deep breaths, hold, and then slowly exhale. The goal was increased oxygen, but also relaxation. Most of us breath very shallow and need to be aware to breathe deeply.

4. Blink, blink, blink – Next time you are at a stop light at 6 PM at a busy intersection, look at the drivers next to you or in your rear view mirror. They are mostly staring vacantly straight ahead with their eyes wide open. Blinking keeps the eyes naturally lubricated and helps them from becoming fatigued. Most of us do not blink enough.

5. Light Therapy – Natural sunlight is wonderful for the eyes. The sun is a source of Vitamin D and it is good to get at least 1 hour if possible without wearing sunglasses and let the light in. Reclining, like sunbathing, with eyes closed toward the sun, even for a small amount of time is refreshing for the eyes.

6. Glasses, what glasses? – I started to not wear my contacts or glasses whenever I could without compromising safety of course. In my apartment, I would try to improve eyesight naturally by functioning without the crutches. It was not easy at first and it did take time. Little by little, I started to see small improvements in clarity.

I knew I was on to something and needed to know more. With more research, I discovered some simple techniques and exercises that facilitated better eyesight without glasses.