Yoga can prevent eyesight issues as you age: An expert’s guide on how to go about it

Like everything else, your vision also weakens with time. If you do not take care of your eyes through healthy habits, you are sure to end up with vision issues. First and foremost, get yourself tested through eye exams periodically and take some necessary precautions.

Ways to actively improve your eyesight

Yogic methods of asanas, breathwork and meditation can help you improve your eyesight. Start a regular practice of asanas like Padahasthasana, Kakasana, and Vrikshasana. In addition, you can also add pranayama techniques like Anulom Vilom, Brahmari Pranayama and mudras such as Surya Mudra and Vayu Mudra to your regular routine.

Asanas that can improve your eyesight

1. Padahastasana

• Begin in Samasthiti ( feet together and the body upright)
• Exhale and gently bend your upper body, dropping your head and keeping your shoulders and neck relaxed
• Place the palms on either side of your feet
• Hold this asana for a while

2. Kakasana (Crow pose)

• Begin in Samasthiti
• Lean forward and place your palms flat in front of your feet but slightly away from them
• Your fingers should point forward and they should be spread apart
• Bend your elbows slightly and place your knees outside
• Keep your back parallel to the floor
• Look up and ahead
• Lean forward in such a way that all your body weight shifts to your arms
• Find your balance and slowly lift both your feet off the ground
• Now, bring your feet together

3. Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)

• Begin in Samasthiti
• Lift your right leg off the floor and place it on your lift inner thigh
• Raise your hands up and join your palms
• Keep your head in between your arms
• Repeat the same with the other leg

Pranayama for better eyesight

Kapal Bhati

In Sanskrit, ‘kapal’ means skull and ‘bhati’ means ‘shining/illuminating’. Therefore, Kapalbhati Pranayam is also known as Skull Shining Breathing Technique.

Here’s how to practice it:

• Sit in any comfortable pose (such as Sukhasan, Ardhapadmasan or Padmasana)
• Inhale normally and focus on exhaling with a short, rhythmic and forceful breath
• You can use your stomach to forcefully expel all the air from the diaphragm and lungs by compressing it
• Inhalation should happen automatically while you decompress your stomach

Some simple tips to protect the eyes:

i) Avoid sitting for long periods of time in front of a computer.
ii) Wear swimming goggles when you visit the pool because chlorine present in the pool water is bad for your eyes.
iii) Stop using dim lighting while reading.
iv) Avoid the use of fluorescent lights as they can weaken your vision.
v) Stay updated on your eye health with timely eye exams with your ophthalmologist as an early diagnosis can prevent problems before they become severe.

In yoga, you can also apply Tratak meditation regularly. The Tratak technique is known to improve eyesight. Moreover, it is useful for enhancing concentration and memory. Tratak can be done by focusing on a particular object such as the flame of a lamp, the moon, and even the sun. Tratak is a powerful method to prevent conditions like Cataract, Glaucoma, and other related vision problems.
Regularly practise yoga to keep your eye health in order.