Strengthening upper eyelid muscles: Five exercises
What's the story
Strong upper eyelid muscles are key to eye health, and may even lower the risk of conditions like eyelid drooping. The muscles around your eyes need exercises too. This article lists five exercises to strengthen your eyelid muscles. You can do them as part of your daily routine, and they'll help improve muscle tone and eye function.
Blink-hold
Blink and hold for stronger lids
Blinking exercise is not only beneficial for keeping the eyes moist but also for strengthening the eyelid muscles. Simply close your eyes as if you are blinking, then hold them closed tightly for five seconds before opening them again. Repeat this exercise 10 times. It aids in enhancing muscle tone and fostering blood circulation around your eyes.
Lift-challenge
The eyelid lift challenge
This one is super tough! Try raising your eyebrows with your eyes wide open, but without moving your forehead. Put a finger under each eyebrow to create a little resistance, then try to lift your eyebrows by opening your eyes really wide. Hold for five seconds, then relax. Doing it 10 times a day will noticeably strengthen your upper eyelid muscles.
Focus-shift
Focus shift for eye muscle coordination
Enhancing the coordination between different eye muscles can also help in indirectly strengthening them. Sit in a comfortable position and hold a pen at arm's length, focusing on its tip. Slowly move the pen toward your nose while maintaining focus until you can no longer keep it in focus, then extend it back out again. Repeat this exercise 10 times to improve coordination and strength.
Palming-relaxation
Palming for relaxation and strength
While its main purpose is to relax the eyes, palming can indirectly assist in fortifying the eyelid muscles by promoting relaxation. Rub your hands together to generate warmth, then gently cup them over your closed eyes without exerting pressure on the lids. Hold this position for a minute. The warmth helps to relax the muscles around the eyes, including the upper lids muscles, crucial for their optimal performance.
Rapid-Blink
The rapid blinking exercise
This exercise also improves both strength and flexibility of upper eyelid muscles. Simply blink rapidly 20 times in a row without straining your eyes too much; rest for 15 seconds then do two more sets. This exercise has the added benefit of helping maintain healthy eye moisture levels.