Does closing eyes help motion sickness?

Combatting Motion Sickness? Open Your Eyes to the Solution

Motion sickness. That queasy, nauseous feeling that can turn a road trip or boat ride into a nightmare. We’re often told to close our eyes and try to ignore the motion, but surprisingly, this might be the worst thing you can do. The key to conquering motion sickness may lie not in ignoring the motion, but in engaging with your visual surroundings.

Motion sickness arises from a sensory mismatch. Your inner ear senses movement, but your eyes, if closed or focused on a static point inside a moving vehicle, tell your brain you’re still. This conflict confuses the brain, leading to the unpleasant symptoms we associate with motion sickness. It’s like your brain is saying, “Am I moving or am I still? I don’t know!” and this uncertainty triggers the nausea.

So, instead of shutting down your visual input, try opening your eyes wide and focusing on the outside world. Look at the horizon, the trees passing by, the buildings in the distance. By engaging with the stationary environment, you provide your brain with visual confirmation of the movement your inner ear is detecting. This aligns your senses, resolving the conflict and reducing the likelihood of motion sickness.

Think about it: when you’re walking, you don’t get motion sick. Why? Because your eyes and inner ear are in perfect sync, both registering the movement. The same principle applies in a moving vehicle. By looking outside and focusing on the stable environment, you’re essentially replicating the sensory experience of walking, creating a more harmonious relationship between your senses.

Of course, other factors contribute to motion sickness, such as genetics and individual sensitivities. However, focusing on your visual input is a simple, readily available tool that can significantly mitigate the symptoms. Next time you’re feeling queasy on a winding road or a rocking boat, resist the urge to close your eyes. Instead, open them up, look at the horizon, and let your vision guide your brain to a smoother, more comfortable journey.

This doesn’t mean you need to stare fixedly at a single point. Allow your eyes to naturally scan the landscape, taking in the changing scenery. This further reinforces the sensation of movement and helps your brain accurately interpret the sensory information it’s receiving.

So, combatting motion sickness? Focus on the visual. Open your eyes and engage with the world around you. It’s a surprisingly effective strategy that can transform a nauseating experience into an enjoyable one.