Exercising the eyes in the natural environment

 Computer based scanning exercises are great for retraining the eyes to scan.  However, the range of eye-movements they require is limited to the size of the computer monitor screen.  The visual field in the real world is much wider.  To view it and scan it properly the eyes need to practice in real world settings.

The Hemianopsia.net website points out that in treating hemianopsia...

"The first step is to train the patient to make large exploratory eye movements (saccades) into the field of loss... After the large saccades are developed, smaller more precise saccades can then be trained. The third step, we recommend is to improve speed in real world situations. The fourth step is to attempt to integrate the scanning into real world activities". (Click here for the whole page.)

Here are some exercises I did that I have found helpful:

1. To expand the scanning arc of my eyes (make larger saccades), I did slow eye rolls, up and down, left and right, and all around, while "looking" and "paying attention" to what I saw.
  

2. Every time I entered a room I scanned it from left to right and back again. This helped me become more aware of what was in front of me, as well as the areas that I could not see clearly. 

3. I put small bright balls at the corners of window sills across from my favorite chair and kept moving my eyes from one end to the other.

4. I practiced looking for and finding things that were in the blind side of my visual field.  I placed objects on the right hand side of then dining room table, of the kitchen counter, of my desk, and each time I entered the room I looked for them.

5. I also played lots of computer games and puzzles that aim to improve vision.

Resources

Website with eye exercises 

Livestgrong.com (Click here)
Stroke-Rehab.com (Click here)
Hemianopsia.com  (Click here)

Websites with games and puzzles for improving vision

Eyecanlearn.com (Click here)
Visionnorthwest.org (Click here)
Edhelper.com (Click here)