According to medical research, the most common causes of visual impairment are functional disorders, which in most cases can be eliminated with simple and natural treatments without the need for surgery, glasses and contact lenses.
This article will discuss the most effective ways to restore self-evident vision in the treatment of myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism and other visual defects. The effectiveness and speed of treatment directly depends on the complexity of the violation, its duration and the fulfillment of prescriptions.
Ignoring advice and recommendations, eye fatigue from overwork, physical and mental stress, as well as improper nutrition can significantly slow down the course of treatment, and in some cases can completely stop it. To prevent this from happening, you should carefully follow all the instructions during the entire course of treatment, as well as after its completion.
Causes of visual impairment
According to Dr. Bates' research, the main cause of vision loss is psychological and physical overstrain that leads to impaired accommodation - the ability to see distant and near objects equally clearly.
Contrary to the current stereotype, visual focusing occurs not only due to the change in the curvature of the lens, but also due to the change in the shape of the eye as a result of the movement of the external muscles of the eyeball. are responsible for the movement of the eyes in all directions.
Due to the contraction of a certain group of eye muscles, the back wall of the eye moves closer or farther away depending on whether you focus on a distant or near object. Thus, many visual impairments are nothing more than a result of accommodation disorders due to improper functioning of the external muscles of the eye.
In nearsightedness (myopia), the eye has a constantly elongated shape, which does not allow focusing on distant objects, while in farsightedness (hypermetropia), on the contrary, the eyeball has a compressed shape, and thus the eyelids are compressed. to see close objects clearly.
Correcting vision with the help of lenses aggravates the situation, because it straightens the muscles in one position, disrupting the natural alignment. As a result, muscle tension increases and the disease progresses.
Thus, glasses and contact lenses are the main cause of the ongoing deterioration of vision and are aimed at combating it.
Exercises to restore eyesight
By using special methods to relieve tension from the eye muscles, along with improving diet and general health of the body, vision can be significantly improved and, in some cases, many vision defects including myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism can be completely eliminated.
To get the maximum result, you need to be aware of the treatment and carefully follow all the instructions. The main task is to learn how to relieve tension and achieve the desired level of relaxation of the eye muscles. Deep rest and relaxation are the keys to successful vision recovery.
Gymnastics for the eyes
Gymnastics for the eyes is an important step to improve vision. The main task of eye exercises is to relieve eye muscle tension and tone them. This will significantly speed up the treatment process and restore normal vision.
Gymnastics for eyes with myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism consists of four basic exercises that should be performed in the most comfortable position. This is best done while sitting on a sofa or chair.
- Exercise #1. Move your eyes up and down 6 times in each direction as gently and with minimal effort as possible. Movements should be as slow and evenly spaced as possible. As you relax, the range of eye movements will increase. Keep it as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with 1-2 second breaks between repetitions.
- Exercise #2. Move your eyes smoothly from side to side 6 times in each direction. No tension. The main task is not to increase tension, to relax overworked muscles, so eye movement requires minimal effort. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with a 1-2 second break between sets. Increase the amplitude while relaxing, maintaining comfort and relaxation.
- Exercise # 3. Bring your index finger to your eyes about 20 cm away, focus on it, and then look at a large object 3 meters or more away. Then look at your finger, then again at a distant object. Move your eyes back and forth 10 times at a fairly fast pace. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with a break of 1-2 seconds. This is one of the best positioning exercises to do as often as possible.
- Exercise # 4. Move your eyes in a circle as gently and slowly as possible, first in one direction and then in the other direction. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times for 4 circles in each direction with minimal effort, with a 1-2 second break between cycles.
Before each exercise, you should relax your eyes by covering them with your palms for a few seconds. If you wear glasses, you should take them off while exercising. If your eyes hurt during the process, stop the exercise and rest. Wash your face with cold water and palm.
Health exercises for the neck
Gymnastics for the neck is an important step to restore vision. Due to overloading of the neck muscles, the nerves are affected and there are problems with the blood supply. Thus, for the treatment to be successful, it is important to exclude disorders in the spinal system and to achieve complete relaxation of the muscles of the back of the neck.
- Exercise #1. Stand freely, relax and lower your arms. Raise your shoulders as high as possible, then pull them back as far as possible, then lower them and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 25 times, making fairly quick circular movements with your shoulders.
- Exercise #2. In the same way, make circular movements only in the opposite direction. Pull your shoulders back, then raise as high as possible, lower and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise continuously 25 times.
- Exercise # 3. Lower your chin to your chest as far as possible, relax your neck as much as possible, then gently raise your head and bend back as far as possible. Do not exert too much effort during the process. Repeat the exercise 12 times.
- Exercise # 4. Gently lower your chin to your chest, then turn your head to the left, lean back, turn to the right and return to the starting position. All movements should be slow, uniform and with the maximum possible amplitude, but without tension.
- Exercise #5. Slowly turn your head to the right, return to the starting position, then turn your head to the left. Turns should be slow, without tension and of maximum amplitude. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Regular exercise helps to relax neck and upper back muscles, improves the flow of blood and nerve energy to the head, normalizes high and low blood pressure, and also has a positive effect on vision and general well-being. Gymnastics for the neck is best done in the morning or morning and evening, as well as during the day if necessary.
Exercises that relieve eye fatigue
To be successful in improving vision, it is necessary to give the eyes complete, consciously provided rest every day, lasting 30-60 minutes to relax all the muscles and tissues surrounding the eyes. There are special exercises for this:
Covering the eyes with the palms of the hands (palming) is one of the simplest and most effective exercises for vision correction, which can be done almost anywhere and at any time. The training technique is as follows:
- Sit in a comfortable position in a chair, armchair or sofa to feel free and comfortable. Relax as much as possible.
- Close your eyes and cover them with your palms so that the middle of the right and left palms are against the right and left eyes respectively and the fingers are crossed on the forehead. Relieve any pressure in the eyes.
- Take a comfortable position with your elbows on your knees or on a table. Eyes should be closed and covered with palms.
- Relax as much as possible, do not fix your mind on something important or serious, think about good and positive things. Try to see as much black as possible. The more black color appears in front of the eyes, the more comfort and relaxation they experience.
Schematically it will look like this:
To get a good effect, covering the eyes with palms should be done at least 2-3 times a day for at least 10-20 minutes. It is also recommended to do the exercises between work when your eyes are tired.
Rocking to the sides is a very effective exercise to relieve tension and relax the eyes. To do this, stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down along the body. Keeping yourself relaxed and comfortable, begin to sway slightly from side to side.
In the process of movement, you can imagine yourself as a pendulum and move evenly and slowly. The torso should remain straight and the legs should not be bent. If necessary, you can raise the heel a little without taking your feet off the ground.
It is best to swing while standing near the window. At the same time, the eyes should be relaxed and look at the objects outside the window "swaying" with you without strain. After a minute, close your eyes and visualize the "movement" of the window as clearly as possible. After a minute, open your eyes again and continue the movement, then repeat the exercise again.
Swinging should be done at least 3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. When performed correctly, it effectively removes stress from the eyes, and also has a very beneficial effect on the condition of the eyes and the nervous system as a whole. Of course, if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you should remove them before doing this exercise.
Blinking is a very simple and effective exercise that relieves eye fatigue. Unfortunately, in many people with visual impairment, the natural blinking process is disturbed: they blink less, their eyes are less mobile, and the blinking process itself occurs convulsively, tensely and regularly.
In order to improve the vision and the condition of the eyes in general, it is necessary to develop the habit of blinking frequently, regularly and comfortably, thus preventing tension. Regardless of the situation, it is recommended to blink at least 1-2 times every 10 seconds without any effort.
Sunlight is very important in the treatment of vision impairment and should be maximized by all patients. But it is worth using with caution so as not to harm yourself. For this, follow the basic rule - to avoid damaging the retina, never look at the sun with an unprotected eye.
There are many ways to restore vision with sunlight. The simplest and most effective is to face the sun, close your eyes and slowly turn your head from side to side so that the rays fall on your eyes. It is recommended to perform this exercise 2-3 times a day for 10 minutes. In terms of safety, it is better to do it in the morning and in the evening.
You can also sway from side to side facing the sun. Blindfolded, of course. Such sunbathing improves blood circulation in the eyes, relaxes muscles and nerves.
In addition, the following exercise is very useful for improving eyesight:
- Cross the four folded fingers of one hand and place them perpendicular to the other four fingers.
- Place your palms over your eyes so that one palm covers one eye and the other creates a point for the thin sunlight to pass to the other eye.
- Pass a small beam of light through your fingers and look at it. Adjust the thickness of the beam so that the reflection of sunlight is pleasant and does not cause discomfort.
- After 1-2 minutes, switch hands to look at the sun with the other eye.
Looking at the sun through the hole between your fingers is very attentive! Failure to observe safety measures can damage the retina of the eye!
Cold water is an effective tool to quickly relieve tension and improve the tone of the eyes, as well as the muscles and tissues surrounding them. For this, close your eyes while washing and do not splash too much water on them. Repeat the procedure 10-20 times, then gently wipe your closed eyes with a towel.
Repeat the procedure every time your eyes get tired, but at least 3 times a day. At the same time, let's note that the water should be cold, not cold.
Training memory and imagination is an important step towards good vision. It is very easy to check - because memory and imagination come to our aid, we recognize familiar objects faster than unfamiliar ones. Therefore, they must be developed in order for vision restoration to be successful.
You can use the following exercise to develop your memory and imagination. Carefully consider any small object, its size and shape. Then close your eyes and try to remember everything in detail. Repeat the exercise.
The above exercise should be done for 5 minutes or more, of course without glasses and contact lenses. Words or letters from books can also be used as objects. Regular exercise helps to significantly improve vision over time.
Central fixation is a basic exercise that allows you to better see the objects you are focusing on. Unfortunately, people with visual impairments are often deprived of this opportunity. Due to constant overstrain, they see better with peripheral vision than with central vision.
Use the following exercise to restore central vision. Open the book and concentrate on one line. Then highlight the word in the center of the line and pay attention to it. After that, close your eyes and imagine that you see this word as clearly and distinctly as possible, and imagine all the surrounding words as blurred as possible.
Open your eyes again and repeat the exercise. Perform central fixation for 5 minutes, each time imagining the central word more and more clearly and all surrounding words as blurred as desired.
As your vision improves, move on to shorter words until you can focus on one letter and practice two-letter words. The second letter will be blurred. In this case, we can consider that the central fixation is almost achieved.
Reading - Contrary to popular stereotypes and misconceptions, reading is one of the best ways to exercise your eyes and keep them active and healthy. Of course, this only applies to cases where reading occurs without tension. Otherwise, poor vision will worsen.
To improve vision, you need to read without strain. To do this, take a comfortable sitting position, close your eyes with your hands and relax as much as possible. After a few minutes, pick up the book and start reading, holding it at the most comfortable reading distance, don't forget to blink while reading. Rest your eyes as soon as the first signs of fatigue appear. Close them for a few seconds and cover your eyes with your palms if necessary (palming).
Gradually change the distance to the book as your eyesight improves. In myopia, the distance should be increased, and in farsightedness, it should be reduced. If you currently have very strong myopia, then you can start reading with one eye, preferring the worse-seeing eye. As the vision improves, it will be possible to start reading with both eyes.
At first, the reading time may only be a few minutes. However, you should not despair. Over time, by mastering the skills of relaxation and relaxation, you will be able to study for longer periods of time without any effort or strain.
Proper nutrition and diet to improve eyesight
Improper nutrition is a common cause of age-related vision impairment. In many cases, just following a diet can significantly improve vision and, together with special exercises, restore it completely.
It is impossible to prepare a universal diet suitable for everyone, so the following general recommendations are given for preparing the right diet:
- Eat only natural food.
- Eat more vegetables, fruits and herbs (according to the season).
- Cook food as little as possible and only when necessary.
- Avoid artificial and concentrated foods, semi-finished products and canned goods.
- Minimize fried, smoked, fatty, sweet and salty foods, or even better, leave them completely.
- Avoid alcohol and carbonated drinks.
- Minimize intake of tea, coffee and sugary drinks.
- Eat animal products, such as meat, in moderation.
- Start your morning with a light breakfast. Fruit and milk are best for this.
- Eat small meals, but often. Optimally up to 5-6 times a day.
- Every meal should include foods rich in fiber (see point 2).
- Eat dinner no later than 2 hours before going to bed.
In conclusion, it should be noted that it is necessary to minimize, and it is better to completely refuse the consumption of everything that is so diligently promoted with the help of the media. Food should be seen as a necessity, not as a means to serve our tastes and whims. By changing your relationship with food, you will change your health.