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Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg: How to Improve Your Eye Health & Offset Vision Loss

Huberman Lab

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Is there any real value to near far exercises and pencil pushups for vision improvement?

Near far exercises, such as pencil pushups or smooth pursuit tracking, can have real value for vision improvement. They are not harmful and can potentially slow down the progression of needing reading glasses. Pencil pushups are often prescribed for convergence insufficiency, a condition where the eyes have difficulty turning inward. These exercises can help exercise the eye muscles and improve eye coordination. Smooth pursuit exercises, like pencil pushups, can also aid in recovery from concussion by improving smooth eye movements. Anyone can do these exercises safely and they may feel more visually active after doing them. There is ongoing research to understand how to improve vision beyond normal levels, such as training athletes to have faster visual reflexes and higher visual acuity. Some athletes use special goggles that intermittently black out their vision to improve visual performance. Overall, there is evidence that near far exercises and other training methods can enhance vision performance.

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