Tinnitus is indicated by the perception of sound or a ringing noise in the ear even though there is no external sound. Though there is no direct connection between tinnitus and the condition of the ear, several eye exercises are known to modulate the frequency of sounds and thus mitigate tinnitus. Though eye exercises cannot cure the condition, experimental evidence shows that certain repetitive exercises of the eyes, definitely alleviate the condition. The major exercises involve shifting the focus of the eye, moving the eyes up, down and to the sides and also palming and massaging them. Rolling the eyes and tracking a randomly moving object also seems to help. These exercises help gain better control over the eye muscles and in some way modulate tinnitus. Read on for a few such exercises.
Focus shift exercise
The focus shift exercise involves stretching the lens located in the eye to focus on an object that is far away and then on a nearby object. This helps to modulate tinnitus. To do this, sit comfortably on a chair with your head held high and the back erect. The chair should be near a window or a door which provides a distant line of sight. Take a couple of deep breaths and first relax for a minute. Now, focus your eyes on a tree, a pole, a light or some object as far as possible from you. From there, shift the focus to the tip of your nose immediately. Shift back the focus to the same distant object. Repeat this cycle for about five times. Even as you complete it, you will be feeling better. Remember however that in case you make use of spectacles, do the exercise with them on. The same holds true for contact lenses.
Gaze shifting
Sometimes tinnitus is experienced only while gazing in a particular direction. This is known as GIT or gaze induced tinnitus. Exercising the muscles of orbit located in the eye, which assist lateral and vertical movement of the eyeballs, helps in overcoming this kind of tinnitus. To do this, stand with both your feet about a few inches apart from each other. Let your arms drop by your side. Now move your eyeballs up to look at a spot that is directly above you, maybe on the roof. Hold them there for a few seconds and then drop your gaze to a spot on the floor directly below you. Having done that, look towards the extreme left and hold that for a few seconds. From there, move your eyes to look at the extreme right. Repeat the whole cycle about five times. A variant of this exercise can be done by focusing on the index finger of your outstretched arm and slowly bringing the finger close to your face.
Rolling the eyes
Rolling the eyes is another way of exercising the eyes to prevent gaze induced tinnitus. You could do this exercise either while sitting or standing. Whatever be the position, it helps to be erect and keep the head and shoulders perfectly steady. Now, slowly move your eyes in a rolling motion. Move clockwise to the top, left side, bottom and right side. Roll them at a gentle pace. After one complete circle, roll the eyes in the anti-clockwise direction. Take a break in between the cycles. In some people, such eye rolling induces a pain in the eye and at times, even a headache. If you notice that it is happening to you, avoid this exercise altogether and stick to moving your eyes up and down and to the sides.
Tracking
Tracking a rapidly moving object with your eyes is also another good exercise to overcome tinnitus. To do this, you will need a laser pointer and an assistant. You can either sit or stand erect in a comfortable posture. Tell the assistant to move the laser pointer on the wall and the ground in your vicinity in a random manner. Keep tracking the laser pointer with your eyes. The assistant is necessary because moving the pointer by yourself will make it predictable and will not be exercise enough for the eyes. The rapidity of movement can be varied as per the need. The speed should be comfortable, without placing additional strain on the eyes.
Clenching and pressing
Just closing your eyes and blacking out everything will also reduce tinnitus. Close your eyes and then clench them with force. Close them as tight as you can without pain for about 3-4 seconds. Then open them for 3-4 seconds before moving into the next clench. Repeat the whole cycle for about 7-8 times. Having done that, close your eyes gently. With your fingertips, massage the eyes with circular movements. Make sure that you do not press the eyes tightly with the fingers lest you cause injury. It is also important to wash your hands before attempting this exercise. Massage your eyes this way with your fingers for about two minutes whenever you feel your ears are ringing. In case you wear contact lens, it is important to ensure that you take them out before doing this exercise.
Palming
Palming is an exercise for resting the eyes. It is not specific for tinnitus alone. It is good if done on a daily basis for a few minutes. Sit comfortably on a chair. Rub your palms gently and warm them. Cover your eyes and gently close them with your cupped palms. Do not cover the nose and hinder breathing in any way. Also, do not apply pressure on the eyes. Pack your fingers close to each other so that no light filters through the gaps between them. Take deep breaths slowly. It also helps to visualize some happy episodes or incidents and get into a positive frame of mind. This is less of an exercise and more of a complete relaxation method. However, even while doing this, please take out your contact lenses.
