Easy Eye Exercises to Boost Elderly Vision

May 15, 2023

Age-related vision loss is common among seniors, but it’s not necessarily normal. Encourage your senior loved one to take better care of his or her vision with the following exercises. Each exercise focuses on maintaining the strength of the eye muscles and promoting more effective vision. 

Blinking 

Moisture is key to maintaining eye health and strength. Blinking is an easy eye exercise that reduces dry eye. Encourage your loved one to blink slowly, keeping his or her eyes shut for at least five seconds. Have your loved one do this 10 times in a row, twice per day.  Aging adults can also boost their eye health by making healthy lifestyle choices. In Edmonton, respite care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Butterfly Dreams Respite Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.

Palming

If your loved one has been straining his or her eyes while reading or using a computer, palming can reduce stress in the facial and eye muscles. Have your loved one sit down and brace his or her elbows on the edge of a table. Your loved one should then put warm palms over his or her closed eyes and hold them there for a few seconds. Perform this exercise once per day for maximum benefits.  For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Edmonton Butterfly Dreams Respite Care is a trusted name in respite care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.

Following a Pattern

Your loved one can stretch his or her eye muscles by following a pattern with this exercise. Have your loved one close his or her eyes briefly before looking up to the ceiling and holding the position for five seconds. Your loved one can then move his or her eyes to the right, left and downward, holding each position for five seconds. Do this once or twice per day.

Focusing

This is a good exercise to do in the middle of the day before the eye muscles are strained. Have your loved one hold up one finger a few inches from his or her eye and slowly move the finger away. Your loved one should then look off to the distance and then focus back on the finger before bringing the finger closer to his or her eye again. Your loved one will then need to focus on an object close by and shift focus back to the finger one more time. Repeat this exercise three times.  If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for a high-quality Edmonton care home, Butterfly Dreams Respite Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years. Call us today at 587-800-4822 to learn about ways our experienced caregivers can help your loved one.