Photoreceptive nerve cells called rods are found primarily in our peripheral vision. Rods are particularly sensitive to movement and also become much more active in the dark when the cones of our central vision no longer function. In our primitive past, human beings used the rods of their peripheral vision extensively for avoiding predators and for navigating at night in almost complete darkness.

However, living in our modern world without predators and with electric lighting, we strongly favor our central vision over our peripheral vision. We use our central vision to read and watch television and we rarely spend time in darkness. Our rods are not used much and as a result our eyes become unbalanced, putting extra strain on our central vision. This exercise is meant to re-balance our eyes by stimulating our peripheral vision.

Peripheral Vision Eye Exercise Step-By-Step
Eye Exercise 1 – Peripheral Vision in the Light:

1) Cut black construction paper into three different sized pieces:  Small (2 in. x 2 in)., medium (2 in. x 4 in.) and large (2 x 6 in.).
2) Use masking tape to create loops of tape and stick them to the middle of each piece of paper.
3) Remove any corrective lenses i.e glasses and contact lenses.
4) Stick the small piece of paper on the bridge of your nose so that it blocks your innermost central vision.
5) Wave your hands at the sides of your head.
6) Move your waving hands all around the periphery for a few minutes while you eyes are focused forward towards the black paper on your nose.
7) Now remove the small paper and replace it with the medium sized piece of paper, laying it horizontally across your eyes taped to the bridge of your nose.
Resume waving your hands for another few minutes.
9) Replace the medium size paper with the largest paper, again stretched horizontally across your eyes so that you can now only see the extreme periphery.
10) Resume waving your hands for a few minutes.
11) Perform the eye exercise palming while  leaving the large black paper on your nose, for 5 deep breaths.
12) Take your hands away from your face and begin waving in the periphery again.
13) Switch from the large paper back to the medium sized, finishing with the small waving for a few minutes with each size.
14) Aim to spend a minimum of 10 minutes with this exercise.
15) Remove all paper from your face and notice any increase in peripheral vision.
16) To add even more visual movement to your periphery bend forward at the waist, bowing rapidly while at the same time you continue to wave your hands.

To know more about Eye Exercise 2 – Peripheral Vision in the Dark and Peripheral Vision Eye Exercise in the Dark Step-By-Step process visit, http://www.envisionselfhealing.com/exercises/peripheral-vision-eye-exercise