Vision therapy is a type of treatment that helps improve various vision problems, such as lazy eye, double vision, and focusing difficulties.

• It was traditionally always done with a vision therapist.
• Nowadays, due to advancements in technology (Ai or, well, the Internet) it is also possible to do it at home

While in-office vision therapy is known to be very effective (more so than at-home exercises) [4] - often the high costs, distance and busy schedules make it impossible for most people.

So if given the chance, training at a local vision center is preferrable (Googling 'vision therapy near me', 'vision therapist near me', or 'vision center near me' might help), but for most of us not that realistic.

Who Should See A Vision Therapist?

There are certain forms of strabismus (eye misalignment) that are best treated in a vision center.

If you suffer from one of the following, it might be best to contact your local eye doctor first - and then do the following exercises at home with professional supervision:

1. Severe form of strabismus (large angle) that progressively worsens
2. Amblyopia (lack of eye strength in one eye) that progressively worsens. [5]

Who Benefits Most From Eye Exercises?

There are certain people who will benefit a lot from training their visual system in the comfort of their home. These are people who currently have very underdeveloped visual skills - or their lazy eye (strabismus) is not that advanced:

1. Small angle form of strabismus (slight lazy eye) that it doesn't make sense to operate upon.
2. Intermittent form of strabismus (where the 'eye wanders'). Meaning: Some control over eye muscles are there. [6]
3. Previous history of in-office vision therapy. Meaning: The person has already learned to 'control his eyes' to a certain degree.

‍

Having cleared the basics, here are 7 effective eye exercises for lazy eye that can be done at home:

1. Pencil Push-Ups

Which equipment do you need? One pencil.

How to do it? Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly move it towards your nose, focusing on the tip of the pencil. Then move it away, keeping your eyes focused on the tip.

The pencil should stay single/fused. The goal here is not to see two pencils, but one.

How many times should you do it? Repeat 10-15 times.

My personal experience? Simple and easy exercise to do. Works well for convergence insufficiency (treating of double vision). [7]

2. Eye Patching

Which equipment do you need? Rudimentary eye patch.

How to do it? Cover the good eye with a patch while performing daily activities or reading a book. This encourages the use of the lazy eye.

How long? For 30 minutes a day.

My personal experience? I needed to patch my eyes for 2 days because of the recommendation of an eye doctor. While it's effective (it helps improve visual skill/eye control) - it's incredibly awkward.

3. Balloon Volleyball:

Which equipment do you need? Balloon.

How to do it? Blow up a balloon and play a game of "volleyball" by hitting it back and forth with a partner. This helps improve eye coordination and depth perception.

How long? For 30 minutes a day.

My personal experience? It's a fun way to improve depth perception, reduce double vision at home. Also playing ping pong, or doing any ball sports such as 'Rugby' can help. While it's fun, it's not as effective as pencil push ups.

4. Near and far focus

Which equipment do you need? None.

How to do it? Hold a finger about 12 inches from your face and focus on it. Then quickly shift your focus to a distant object and back to your finger. The goal is to see the distant object single and your finger double - then see the finger single - and the distant object double.

How many times? Repeat 10-15 times.

My personal experience? Effective exercise similar to pencil push ups. Works well for improving convergence insufficiency and reducing potential double vision.

5. Eye Tracking:

Which equipment do you need? None.

How to do it? Move your eyes in a figure-eight pattern, tracing the shape with your gaze.

How many times? Repeat 10-15 times in each direction.

My personal experience? Very much a beginner exercise that improves the working together of both eyes in unison. I've needed to do this exercise as a kid (with a ball in front of me). It helped somewhat, but naturally, wasn't a gamechanger.

6. Follow the Leader:

Which equipment do you need? None.

How to do it? Have a partner hold up their index finger and move it slowly in different directions. Follow the finger with your eyes, keeping your focus on the tip.

How many times? Repeat 10-15 times.

My personal experience? Same as the previous exercise, this is very much a beginner eye exercise as well. While I've personally never tried this one, it works similarly to the one eye exercise before.

7. Lazyeyefix AI:

Which equipment do you need? Mac or Windows computer, webcam.

How to do it? Download the Lazyeyefix Ai software from lazyeyefix.com. You can start a free trial without needing any credit card.

The software will access your webcam, and track your eye movement. It will then always show you when your eye slips off - or when it wanders. It's a wonderful tool you can use additionally to any vision therapy exercises you're doing - to track your progress and make sure you're moving in the right direction.

How long? You can use the software passively without any need for training time. Whenever you work, start up the software - and let it run at the back so it reminds you of your eye angle throughout the day.

My personal experience? I'm the founder of Lazyeyefix.com and I've created the software with the help of a leading Ai developer to scratch my own itch. I wanted an easy, simple vision therapy exercise in the comfort of my home that does not break the bank.

While it (almost) broke the bank for me - turns out software is quite expensive! - it will not break the bank for you. You can start the free trial on the website and then the lifetime option will cost you less than one single vision therapy appointment.