According to medical research, the most common causes of visual impairment are functional disorders, which in most cases can be overcome with simple, natural treatments, without the need for surgery, glasses or contact lenses.
This article will discuss the most effective ways to restore vision, which have proven themselves in the treatment of myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and other visual defects. The effectiveness and timeliness of treatment directly depends on the complexity of the violation, its duration and the implementation of prescriptions.
Neglect of advice and recommendations, eye strain due to excessive work, physical and mental stress, as well as poor diet can significantly slow down the progress of treatment and, in some cases, stop it altogether. To prevent this from happening, you must carefully follow all instructions throughout the treatment, as well as after its completion.
Causes of Visual Impairment
According to Dr. Bates' research, the main cause of visual impairment is psychological and physical overstrain, which leads to disturbances in accommodation - the ability to see both distant and near objects equally clearly.
Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, focusing of vision occurs not only due to a change in the curvature of the lens, but also due to a change in the shape of the eye itself, due to the actionexternal muscles of the eyeball, which are responsible for eye movement in all directions.
Due to the contraction of certain groups of eye muscles, the back wall of the eye moves closer or further away, depending on whether you are focusing on a distant or near object. Thus, many visual impairments are nothing more than the result of a violation of accommodation due to improper functioning of the external muscles of the eye.
In the case of nearsightedness (myopia), the eye has a constantly elongated shape, which does not allow focusing on distant objects, and in the case of farsightedness (farsightedness), on the contrary, the eyeballhas a compressed shape, thus not allowing you to see nearby objects clearly.
Vision correction with the help of lenses further aggravates the situation, as it fixes the muscles in one position, violating the natural accommodation. As a result, muscle tension increases and the disease progresses.
Thus, glasses and contact lenses are the main cause of the continuous deterioration of vision, which they aim to combat.
Exercises to restore vision
By using special techniques to relieve eye muscle tension in combination with diet and general improvement in the health of the body, one can significantly improve vision and, in some cases, completely overcome many visual defects, including myopia. , hyperopia and astigmatism.
To achieve the maximum result, it is necessary 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 relaxation and relaxation are the key to successful vision restoration.
Gymnastics for the eyes
Eye gymnastics is an essential step in improving vision. The main task of eye exercises is to relieve tension in the eye muscles and tone them. This will greatly speed up the treatment process and return to normal vision.
Gymnastics for the eyes with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism consists of four basic exercises that should be performed in the most relaxed state. It is best to do this while sitting on a chair or sofa.
- Exercise 1. As gently as possible and with minimal effort, move your eyes up and down 6 times in each direction. Movements should be as slow and spaced out as possible. As you relax, the range of eye movement increases. Keep it as relaxed and relaxed as possible. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with 1-2 second breaks between repetitions.
- Exercise #2. Gently move your eyes from side to side 6 times in each direction. No tension. The main task is to relax overloaded muscles, and not to increase tension, so eye movement requires minimal effort. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with an interval of 1-2 seconds between sets. As you relax, increase the amplitude, while maintaining relaxation and ease.
- Exercise #3. Bring your index finger to your eyes at a distance of about 20 cm, focus on it, then look at a large object located at 3 meters or more. Next, look at your finger, then focus on a distant object again. Move your eyes back and forth 10 times at a fairly rapid pace. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with an interval of 1-2 seconds. This is one of the best coping exercises to do as often as possible.
- Exercise #4. Move your eyes as smoothly and slowly as possible in a circle, first in one direction and then in the other direction. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times for 4 circles in each direction with an interval of 1-2 seconds between cycles, while applying minimal effort.
Before each exercise, you should relax your eyes by covering them with your palms for a few seconds. If you wear glasses, they should be removed during exercise. If your eyes hurt during the process, stop the exercise and rest. Wash your face with cold water and palm off.
Wellness exercises for the neck
Neck gymnastics is an essential step towards restoring vision. Due to overstrain 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 imperative to exclude disorders of the spinal system and achieve complete relaxation of the neck muscles.
- Exercise 1. Take a free standing position with your arms relaxed and lowered. Raise your shoulders as high as you can, then step back as far as you can, then lower back down and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 25 times, performing fairly quick circular movements with your shoulders.
- Exercise #2. Perform circular movements in the same way, only in the opposite direction. Pull your shoulders back, then lift as high as possible, lower yourself and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise continuously 25 times.
- Exercise #3. Lower your chin to your chest as low as possible, relax your neck as much as possible, then gently lift your head and tilt it as far back as possible. Don't try hard 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, twist to the right, and return to the starting position. All movements should be slow, even 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. The turns must be slow, without tension and with maximum amplitude. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Regular exercise helps relax the muscles of the neck and upper back, improves the circulation of blood and nerve energy to the head, normalizes high and low blood pressure, and also has a positive effect on visionand general well-being. Gymnastics for the neck is best done in the morning or in the morning and evening, as well as throughout the day, if necessary.
Eye Strain Relief Exercises
To be successful in improving vision, the eyes must be given complete and mindful rest every day, lasting 30 to 60 minutes to relax all the muscles and tissues surrounding the eyes. For this there are special exercises:
Covering the eyes with the palms of the hands (palming) is one of the simplest and most effective exercises for correcting vision, which can be performed almost anywhere and at any time. The technique for performing the exercise is as follows:
- Sit comfortably on a chair, an armchair or a 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 opposite the right and left eyes respectively and the fingers are crossed over the forehead. Eliminate any pressure on the eyes.
- Get into a comfortable position with your elbows resting on your knees or on a table. Eyes should remain closed and covered with palms.
- Relax as much as possible, don't hold back your thoughts on something important or serious, think about the good and the positive. Try to see as much black as possible. The more black there is in front of the eyes, the more they feel relaxed and rested.
Schematically, it will look like this:
To achieve a good effect, covering the eyes with the 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 jobs when your eyes are tired.
Swinging to the sides is a very effective exercise for relieving eye tension and relaxing. To perform it, stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down along the body. Staying relaxed and at ease, start rocking slightly from side to side.
In the process of movement, you can imagine yourself as a pendulum and move in the same measured and slow way. The torso should remain straight and the legs should not bend. If necessary, you can slightly raise the heel without taking your feet off the ground.
It is best to perform the swing while standing near the window. At the same time, the eyes should be relaxed and look without tension at the objects outside the window, "swaying" with you. After a minute, close your eyes and imagine the "movement" of the window as clearly as possible. After a minute, open your eyes again and keep moving, then repeat the exercise again.
Rocking should be done at least 3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. When performed correctly, it effectively relieves eye stress, and also has a very beneficial effect on the condition of the eyes and the nervous system as a whole. It goes without saying that if you wear glasses or contact lenses, they should be removed before doing this exercise.
Blinking is a very simple and effective exercise to relieve eye strain. Unfortunately, in many visually impaired people, the natural blinking process is disrupted: they blink less often, their eyes become less mobile, and the blinking process itself occurs convulsively, tensely and irregularly.
To improve vision and the condition of the eyes in general, it is necessary to develop the habit of blinking frequently, regularly and in a relaxed manner, thus avoiding tension. It is recommended to blink at least 1-2 times every 10 seconds without any effort in any situation.
Sunlight is very important in the treatment of visual impairment and should be used to the maximum by all patients. However, it is worth using it carefully so as not to injure yourself. To do this, follow the main rule - never look at the sun with an unprotected eye, so as not to damage the retina.
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 evenly on your eyes. It is recommended to perform this exercise 2-3 times a day for 10 minutes. For safety reasons, it is best to do this in the morning and evening.
You can also swing from side to side while facing the sun. Of course, eyes closed. Such sunbathing improves blood circulation in the eyes, relaxes muscles and nerves.
In addition, the following exercise is very favorable for improving vision:
- Cross the four crossed fingers of one hand and place them perpendicular to the other four.
- Place your palms over your eyes so that one palm covers one eye and the other creates a point for a thin ray of sunlight to pass through the other eye.
- Pass a small beam of light between your fingers and look at it. Adjust the thickness of the beam so that the contemplation of the 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 careful! Failure to observe the safety instructions can damage the retina of the eye!
Cold water is an effective remedy for quickly relieving tension and improving the tone of the eyes, as well as the muscles and tissues around them. To do this, during washing, close your eyes and do not spray them with too much water. Repeat the procedure 10-20 times, then gently wipe your closed eyes with a towel.
Repeat the procedure whenever your eyes are tired, but at least 3 times a day. At the same time, note that the water should be cold, not cool.
Training memory and imagination is an important step towards good vision. It is very easy to check this - we recognize familiar objects much faster than unfamiliar ones, because memory and imagination come to our aid. Therefore, they must be developed for vision restoration to be successful.
To train your memory and imagination, you can use the following exercise. Carefully consider any small object, its size and shape. Then close your eyes and try to remember everything down to the smallest detail. Repeat the exercise.
The above exercise should be performed for 5 minutes or more, of course, without glasses or contact lenses. Words or letters from books can also be used as objects. Regular exercise contributes to significant improvement in vision over time.
Central fixation is a basic exercise that allows you to better see the objects on which you focus your attention. Unfortunately, visually impaired people are often denied this opportunity. Due to constant overstrain, they see better with peripheral vision than with central vision.
To restore central vision, use the following exercise. Open the book and focus all your attention on one line. Then highlight the word in the center of the line and focus on it. After that, close your eyes and imagine seeing that word as clearly and clearly as possible, and imagine all the surrounding words as blurry as possible.
Open your eyes again and repeat the exercise. Do the central fixation for 5 minutes, imagining the central word more and more clearly each time, and all the surrounding words as blurry as you wish.
As your vision improves, move on to shorter words until you can practice two-letter words, focusing on one letter. The second letter will be blurry. In this case, we can consider that the central fixing is almost done.
Reading - Contrary to popular stereotypes and misconceptions, reading is one of the best ways to train your eyes and keep them active and healthy. Of course, this only applies to cases where the reading occurs without voltage. Otherwise, poor vision will only get worse.
To improve eyesight, it is necessary to read effortlessly. To do this, take a comfortable sitting position, cover 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, remembering to blink while reading. As soon as the first signs of fatigue appear, rest your eyes. Close them for a few seconds, and if necessary, cover your eyes with your palms (palming).
As your vision improves, gradually change the distance from the book. In the case of myopia, the distance must be increased, and in the case of hyperopia, it must be reduced. If you currently have very high myopia, then you can start reading with one eye, favoring the eye that sees less well. As vision improves, it will be possible to start reading with both eyes.
Initially, the playback time may be only a few minutes. However, you should not despair. Over time, by mastering relaxation and relaxation techniques, you will be able to read for longer without any effort or strain.
Proper nutrition and diet to improve vision
A poor diet is a common cause of visual impairment with age. In many cases, dieting alone can significantly improve vision, and in combination with special exercises, restore it completely.
It is impossible to make a universal diet that would suit everyone, so here are some general recommendations for making the right diet:
- Eat only natural foods.
- Eat more vegetables, fruits and green vegetables (depending on the season).
- Cook food as little as possible and only when necessary.
- Exclude artificial and concentrated foods, semi-finished products and canned foods.
- Minimize, or better yet, completely give up fried, smoked, fatty, sweet and salty foods.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks.
- Minimize your consumption of tea, coffee and sugary drinks.
- Eat animal products, such as meat, in moderation.
- Start your day with a light breakfast. Fruits and milk are best for this.
- Eat small meals, but often. Ideally up to 5-6 times a day.
- Each meal should contain foods rich in fiber (see point 2).
- Eat dinner no later than 2 hours before bedtime.
In conclusion, it should be noted that it is necessary to minimize, and it is better to completely abandon the consumption of everything that is so diligently promoted with the help of the media. Food should be treated as a necessity and not as a means to satisfy our tastes and whims. By changing your relationship to food, you will change your health.