I became interested in Natural Vision Improvement in 2020, after hearing about it on a yoga podcast.

I had progressive myopia (inability to see far) with astigmatism (distorted vision) and suffered from eye fatigue, infection and extremely dry eyes. Every year, my eyesight was getting worse, and I knew there was also a high chance of getting presbyopia (inability to see close by) as I got older. This prompted me to explore ways of looking after my vision.

I wondered why I never questioned the established orthodoxy that eyes cannot heal. I’ve had personal experience of healing my body naturally and understood the concept of neuroplasticity, so if my body and mind can heal, why can’t my eyes?

I read many books and attended classes and courses on Natural Vision Improvement and Somatic Movement. I learned how deeply eyes and mind are intwined, and the importance of relaxation and mindfulness. My in-depth understanding of yoga became essential in healing.

After several years of experimentation, I managed to improve my eyesight and got rid of my eye problems. I also prevented presbyopia and found my overall mental and physical wellbeing improved. My years of upper body tension started to disappear, and my memory and imagination became better.

I’m currently doing a Teacher Training with Bates Method International and I am excited to share my unique holistic approach.

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be starting a weekly Friday lunchtime Vision Yoga class and Intro to Vision Yoga: Clarity for the Eyes and Mind at the beginning of this year.

You can read more about Vision Yoga on my new website.

Many people experience dry eyes, I used to get them frequently when I wore contact lenses and glasses. There are many potential causes of dry eyes, which can be found on the NHS website.

Instead of opting for expensive solutions like eye drops or laser treatments, why don’t you give these suggestions a go first? These tips are easy to follow and best of all, they’re free! I recommend that you try them without your glasses or contact lenses.

1. Palming

Palming is great for relaxing the eyes and calming the mind. It’s wonderful if you’ve been starring at a screen all day, almost like savasana (full relaxation) for the eyes. Simply cover your eyes with your open palms. You can look at my previous post on palming for more information and details on how to do palming.

2. Face Massage

Give your face a lovely face massage regularly. It’s also great for improving your skin and reducing lines. You can also gently tap and stroke around the eyes, and even your eye lids. Your eyes are sensitive so be soft and gentle.

3. Blink

When we spend a long time on screen, our blink rate is reduced which can explain why dry eyes are common for people who work on computers all day. You can try blinking as much as you can in a minute by fluttering your eyelids very quickly like the wings of a butterfly. It's also very effective to squeeze your eyelids closed for couple of seconds to encourage the tear ducts.

4. Spend time outside

It’s now common knowledge that spending time outside is great for your overall health and wellbeing. Exposing your eyes to the air and wind can get your tear ducts working and help to lubricate your eyes. Perhaps you can even do butterfly blinks or squeezy blinks outside to get double the effect.

5. Eye focused meditation

Have a go at the following eye focused meditation. Close your eyes and soften your facial muscles. You can optionally do palming or use an eye pillow to help settle the mind and relax the eyes. Notice your breathing and start to encourage your breath to become slow and smooth. Relax your forehead and muscles around your eyes. Feel your eyes resting quietly in its sockets and imagine two round balls gently floating in water. Allow your eyes to soften, feeling into them as you continue to breathe slowly and easily. Imagine breathing into your eyes with the rhythm of your breath as the two balls gently move. Try doing this meditation for 5 - 10 minutes regularly.

A bonus tip would be to try using a heated or cold compress or an eye mask. These can be really soothing and nice when your eyes are feeling irritated. It’ll also helps to keep yourself hydrated and take regular breaks from the computer or devices.

Having a holistic approach is often very effective so have a go at these suggestions and see what works for you. If the problems persist or becomes worse, do visit your GP.

You may find that your eyes will become waterier than you’re used to through doing these practices but I’ve found that this will balance out over time.