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Asked the same question to an eye doctor. He said to look away for the screen periodically, at a different distance so your eyes must change focus. It is this focus change that keeps them exercised.

He said his patients with the healthiest, aged eyes are those who knit. They are constantly looking closely then away, closely then away, ad naseum.

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I too have seen eye doctors that extrapolate incorrect conclusions from anecdotes. I'd consider looking for a different eye doctor.

Reducing focus in peripheral vision may help slow the progression of myopia (nothing can reverse it), so the advice might be ironically helpful even though it's based on complete misunderstanding of how the eye works. Again, it has nothing to do with muscle use nor the action of your lens changing focus.

Could you please explain, what your original comment means. Holding objects close to our face would cause an increase in our eye power? But again you also mention should reduce focus on peripheral vision which would be achieved by holding close to eye. What is the suggestion here pls? Sorry I am ignorant and really want to know.

Something I've heard in this vein was the 20/20/20 rule. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

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