The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-08-30
IS EYE EXERCISE BENEFICIAL TO THE EYESIGHT OR THE APPEARANCE?

Several readers have told me, all of them firmly, some of them gently, that my opih- ion, recently given here in reference to eye ex- ercise is wrong referred to eye exercise as "eye water" and asserted that the best exer- else for the eyes is looking off at distant scen- erv particularly forest, field, hill and valley natural scenery It is an excellent habit for all who do much close work with the eyes 10 look up and away from the work for few moments at regular intervals--If said look up' and throw the head back to do so. 4 An optometrist who calls himself doctor hut does not reveal by what right he uses the title, writes to say he had believed that regarding things at a distance is rest Tor the eyes, and he would thank me to inform him what muscles such use or the eyes eAeTCscS'
 Maybe he would.
 Did I say anything about muscles?
 Exercise has a broader meaning than many suppose. One may exercise the nina Wnere there is no question of any muscular actioh. One may exercise practice relaxation or muscles for steadiness, calm, boise, etc, as well as contraction of muscles for movement.
 An oculist that is, a real doctor or meoiclns who is an eye physician, finds that the bowed posture in which many persons work, study or use their eyes is a factor of near-sightedness from actual elongation of the shape of the eye ball from prolonged dependency or the eyes. This is the reason why every one who ooes close or fine work with the eyes should make it a habit tolook UP and away from the WorK for a few moments every five ten minutes. Gives a chance for the hanging or sagging eye ball to fatten out again to something like It's normal shape.
 This observation lends more weight to the belief of some persons that gentle massage or the eyes with finger or thumb, through the closed lids, for a few moments two or three times q day, relieves fatigue and strain ana helps to maintain good eyesight. They simply rest the thumbs on the temples while they stroke the upper lids in outward direction a few times with middle fingers on brow while they stroke the lower lids inward with the thumbs This is more or less an instinctve rubbing of tired eyes.
 student aged "A years had considerable trouble with his eyes, frequent changes or glasses for far sghtedness and eye strain, he says Neverthless his eyes ached and he felt tired out after a three four hour period of close reading. (Most normal eyes do, for that mattcr). More to please the whm of a class nfate than in any hope of getting relief he be- gan doing an eye exercise consisting of rolling the eyes slowly around in their sockets as though following ball revolving around the extreme outer circumference of the field of vi- sion with the head .held erect and not turned with the eyes. Three times around one way; then three times around the other way, then repeat once or twice, but never enough to tire the muscles At first he said this caused snap- ping and cracking of the muscles, or some such sensation. He performed this exercise two or three times in the course of an evening study His eyes soon ceased to trouble him.
 Take 1t or leave it, folks. All know IS that it will do no harm. 4