Your Eyes and Ears in Balance
Have you ever wondered why you might feel dizzy when you close your eyes and spin around, or why an ear infection can throw off your sense of balance? The reason is that your eyes and ears play a crucial role in keeping you upright and steady as you go through your daily life. Your eyes provide constant visual information about your surroundings, letting your brain know where your body is in relation to the space around you. When you move or stand still, your eyes send signals about the horizon, nearby objects, and movement, helping your brain make quick adjustments to keep you from falling.
“Understanding the partnership between your eyes and ears in keeping you steady and stable can help you to maintain your balance throughout life.”
Meanwhile, your ears do much more than just help you hear. Deep within the inner ear is the vestibular system, a group of tiny structures filled with fluid and sensory cells. As your head moves, this system detects changes in position and motion, relaying information to the brain about which way is up and how fast you’re moving. When these signals are disrupted (like during an ear infection or after a rollercoaster ride), you might feel dizzy or off-balance. The brain takes all the data from your eyes and ears and combines it with information from your muscles and joints to create a complete picture of where you are in space. If any part of this system is compromised, such as closing your eyes while standing on one foot or experiencing a blockage in the ear, it becomes much more challenging to remain balanced.
Understanding the partnership between your eyes and ears in keeping you steady and stable can help you to maintain your balance throughout life. The tips and exercises below can help improve senses, special awareness, and keep your eyes and ears working optimally to keep you on your feet. Next time you find yourself feeling a bit unsteady, remember: your senses are working overtime to keep you upright!
Make sure to do the following to maintain proper eye and ear health:
Schedule regular eye and ear exams to detect changes in vision or hearing early, as age-related issues can impact balance.
Keep prescription glasses and hearing aids updated to ensure your senses are functioning optimally.
Protect your ears from loud noises and avoid inserting objects, which can damage the vestibular system responsible for balance.
Manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, as they can affect both eye and ear health.
Maintain good lighting at home to help your eyes provide reliable visual information for balance.
Be mindful of medications that may cause dizziness or affect sensory function and consult your healthcare provider if you notice changes.
At home practices to improve your eye and ear health, and maintain your balance:
Practice standing on one foot with your eyes open, then slowly try closing your eyes to challenge both your vision and vestibular system. It is important to have a wall or chair nearby to hold on to or grab in case you begin to fall. Begin with 20 seconds and work into 60 seconds for each foot.
Perform gentle head turns or nods while keeping your eyes focused on a stationary object to train coordination between your eyes and inner ear. Start with 30 seconds and work into 60 seconds or more.
Walk heel-to-toe in a straight line, focusing on a target ahead of you to engage your visual and balance senses. Perform 3-10 times.
Try balance exercises on an unstable surface, like a foam pad or balance board, to stimulate sensory input from your eyes, ears, muscles, and joints. Begin with 20 seconds and work up to 60 seconds for each foot.
Walk across a room, turning your head side to side. Complete 4-10 passes across a room.
Join Karen for the 8-week online series “Solidly Planted” to get expert guidance on strengthening your core and balance: