Clock face
A number on a clock face lights up; jump your eyes from the centre to it and back again.
The clock exercise shows a large clock face with the numbers 1 to 12 around its edge. One number at a time is highlighted, and the highlight jumps around the dial in an unpredictable order. Your task is to look from the centre of the clock to the highlighted number, then back to the centre, and wait for the next one. Your head stays still throughout.
This is a saccade exercise: it trains quick, precise jumps between two points rather than smooth gliding. Going back to the centre each time gives every movement the same starting point, so you practise jumps of the same size in twelve different directions. It is a structured version of the random saccade jumps exercise and is easier to follow for beginners and children, because the targets are familiar numbers in fixed positions.
The clock face is a classic exercise in many eye-break routines. It offers attention, coordination and a short pause from close work, but it does not improve sharpness of vision or replace corrective lenses. If you want to know where you stand with your vision, a quick visual acuity screening can give a rough idea, though it does not replace an eye exam.
How to do it
- Sit centred in front of the screen and look at the middle of the clock.
- Press start; one number lights up.
- Move your eyes quickly to the highlighted number without turning your head.
- Look back to the centre of the clock.
- Wait for the next number to light up and repeat.
- Blink when the reminder appears and rest your eyes at the end.
What it helps with
- Practises precise gaze jumps in twelve directions
- Easy, structured format that suits beginners and children
- Combines quick movement with steady fixation
- A short break that sharpens attention
Tips
- Say the number silently each time you land on it.
- Make sure you really return to the centre before the next jump.
- Keep sessions to one or two minutes.
Caution: Stop if you feel dizziness, headache, eye pain or double vision. If you have a squint, nystagmus or another eye-movement disorder, ask your eye care professional whether the exercise is suitable.
Frequently asked questions
Why go back to the centre every time?
It gives each jump the same starting point and length, which makes the movement more controlled and easier to compare between directions.
Can children do the clock exercise?
Yes, the numbers make it easy for children to follow. Supervise and keep it short.
How is it different from saccade jumps?
In saccade jumps the dot appears anywhere; in the clock exercise targets are fixed numbers and you always return to the centre.