According to medical research, the most common causes of visual impairment are functional disorders, which in most cases can be overcome with simple and natural treatments, without the need for surgery, glasses or contact lenses.
This article will discuss the most effective ways to restore vision, which have been proven in the treatment of myopia, farsightedness, astigmatism and other visual defects. The effectiveness and speed of treatment directly depend on the complexity of the violation, its duration and the application of the prescriptions.
Neglect of advice and recommendations, eye strain due to overwork, physical and mental stress, as well as inadequate nutrition can significantly slow the progress of treatment and, in some cases, stop it altogether. To prevent this from happening, you must carefully follow all instructions throughout the entire treatment, as well as after its completion.
Causes of visual impairment
According to research by Dr. Bates, the main cause of visual impairment is psychological and physical overload, which leads to disturbances in accommodation - the ability to see distant and close objects with equal clarity.
Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, the focus of vision occurs not only by a change in the curvature of the lens, but also by a change in the shape of the eye itself, due to the action of the external muscles of the eyeball, which are responsible for the movement of the eyes in all directions.
Due to the contraction of certain groups of eye muscles, the back wall of the eye moves closer together or further away depending on whether you are focusing on a distant or close 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 myopia (myopia), the eye has a constantly elongated shape, which does not allow you to focus on distant objects, and in the case of farsightedness (farsightedness), on the contrary, the eyeball has a compressed shape, not allowing you to see objects close clearly.
Correction of vision with the help of lenses further aggravates the situation, as it fixes the muscles in one position, violating 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
Using special techniques to relieve eye muscle tension in combination with diet and overall improvement of the body's health, one can significantly improve vision and, in some cases, completely overcome many visual defects including myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism.
To achieve the maximum result, it is necessary to be aware of the treatment and carefully follow all instructions. The main task is to learn to relieve tension and achieve the desired level of eye muscle relaxation. Deep relaxation and relaxation is 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 bring them into tone. This will significantly speed up the treatment process and return you to normal vision.
Gymnastics for eyes with myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism consists of four basic exercises that should be performed in the most relaxed state. This is best done while sitting on a chair or sofa.
- Exercise 1. As smoothly as possible and with the least amount of effort, move your eyes up and down 6 times in each direction. Movements should be as slow and evenly spaced as possible. As you relax, the range of eye movements increases. Keep it as relaxed and relaxed as possible. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with 1-2 second pauses 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 overworked muscles, not to increase tension, so eye movement requires a minimum of effort. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with an interval of 1-2 seconds between sets. As you relax, increase the range while maintaining relaxation and ease.
- Exercise #3. Bring your index finger to your eyes from a distance of about 20 cm, focus on it, and then look at a large object that is 3 meters or more away. Then look at the finger again and refocus on a distant object. Move your eyes back and forth 10 times at a very fast pace. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with an interval of 1-2 seconds. This is one of the best accommodation exercises to do whenever you can.
- Exercise #4. Move your eyes as smoothly and slowly as possible in a circle, first in one direction and then in the other. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times for 4 circles in each direction with a 1-2 second rest between cycles, applying minimal effort.
Before each exercise, you need to relax your eyes by covering them with your palms for a few seconds. If you wear glasses, they must be removed during exercise. If your eyes hurt during the process, stop the exercise and rest. Wash your face with cold water and palm.
Neck wellness exercises
Neck gymnastics is an essential step in restoring vision. Due to the overexertion 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 in the spinal system and to achieve complete relaxation of the muscles in the back of the neck.
- Exercise 1. Assume a free standing position, arms relaxed and lowered. Raise your shoulders as high as possible, then pull back as far as possible, then lower and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 25 times, making very quick circular movements with your shoulders.
- Exercise #2. Perform circular movements in the same way, only in the opposite direction. Pull shoulders back, raise as high as possible, lower and return to starting position. Repeat the exercise continuously 25 times.
- Exercise #3. Lower your chin to your chest, relax your neck as much as possible, then gently lift your head and tilt it back as far as possible. Don't strain during the process. Repeat the exercise 12 times.
- Exercise #4. Gently lower your chin to your chest, turn your head to the left, lean back, turn to the right and return to the starting position. All movements should be slow, even and as wide as possible, 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 should be slow, tension-free and with maximum amplitude. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Regular exercise helps to relax the muscles in the neck and upper back, 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. . Neck gymnastics are best done in the morning or morning and evening, as well as throughout the day if necessary.
Exercises to relieve eye strain
To succeed in improving vision, the eyes need to rest consciously every day, lasting 30 to 60 minutes to relax all the muscles and tissues around 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 to correct vision, which can be performed almost anywhere and at any time. The technique for performing the exercise is as follows:
- Sit in a comfortable position on 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 your right and left palms are in front of your right and left eyes, respectively, and your fingers are crossed on your forehead. Eliminate any pressure on the eyes.
- Get into a comfortable position with your elbows resting on your knees or on a table. The eyes should remain closed and covered with the palms of the hands.
- Relax as much as possible, don't keep your thoughts on something important or serious, think of the good and the positive. Try to see as much black as possible. The more black in front of the eyes, the more relaxation and rest they experience.
Schematically it will look like this:
To get a good effect, covering your eyes with your palms should be performed at least 2-3 times a day for at least 10-20 minutes. It is also recommended to do the exercises between works when the eyes are tired.
Swinging sideways is a very effective exercise to relieve eye strain and relax. To do this, stand up straight, feet shoulder-width apart, arms lowered along your body. Keeping yourself relaxed and at ease, begin 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 manner. The torso must remain straight and the legs must not bend. If necessary, you can slightly lift your heel without taking your feet off the floor.
It is best to perform the swing while standing by the window. At the same time, the eyes should be relaxed and look without tension at objects outside the window, "swinging" 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.
Swing should be performed 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 must be removed before doing this exercise.
Blinking is a very simple and effective eye strain relief exercise. Unfortunately, in many visually impaired people, the natural blinking process is disturbed: they blink less often, their eyes become less mobile, and the blinking process itself occurs convulsively, with tension, and not regularly.
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 way, thus avoiding strain. It is recommended to blink at least 1-2 times every 10 seconds without any effort, regardless of the situation.
Sunlight is very important in the treatment of visual impairment and should be used as much as possible 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 turn your head slowly 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 in the evening.
You can also rock from side to side while facing the sun. Of course, eyes closed. This sunbath improves blood circulation in the eyes, relaxes muscles and nerves.
In addition, the following exercise is very favorable for improving vision:
- Cross the four bent 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 spot for a thin ray of sunlight to pass into the other eye.
- Pass a small beam of light through your fingers and look at it. Adjust the beam thickness so that the sunlight is pleasant and does not cause discomfort.
- After 1-2 minutes, switch hands to look at the sun with the other eye.
Watching the sun through the hole between your fingers is very careful! Failure to observe safety precautions can damage the retina of the eye!
Cold water is an effective remedy to quickly relieve tension and improve the tone of the eyes, as well as the muscles and tissues that surround them. To do this, when washing, close your eyes and do not splash too much water on them. Repeat the procedure 10 to 20 times, then gently wipe the 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 cold.
Training memory and imagination is an important step towards good vision. This is very easy to verify - we recognize familiar objects much faster than unfamiliar ones, as memory and imagination come to our aid. Therefore, they must be developed in order 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 in great detail. Repeat the exercise.
The above exercise should be performed for 5 minutes or more, of course, without glasses or contact lenses. Words or book letters can also be used as objects. Regular exercise contributes to a significant improvement in vision over time.
Center fixation is a basic exercise that allows you to better see the objects you are focusing your attention on. Unfortunately, visually impaired people are often deprived of this opportunity. Due to constant overexertion, 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 some line. Then highlight the word in the center of the line and focus on it. After that, close your eyes and imagine that you see 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. Perform the central fixation for 5 minutes, each time imagining the central word more and more clearly, and all the surrounding words as blurry as you like.
As your eyesight improves, switch to shorter words until you can do the exercise with two-letter words, focusing on one letter. The second letter will be blurry. In this case, we can consider that the central fixation is almost reached.
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 takes place without tension. Otherwise, bad eyesight will only get worse.
To improve vision, it is necessary to read effortlessly. To do this, get into 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 as you read. 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 the palms of your hands (palming).
As your vision improves, gradually change the distance to 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 strong myopia, you can start reading with one eye, giving preference to the eye that sees worse. As vision improves, it will be possible to start reading with both eyes.
Initially, the reading duration may be just a few minutes. However, you should not despair. Over time, as you master relaxation and relaxation skills, you will be able to read longer without any strain or tension.
Proper nutrition and diet to improve vision
Inadequate nutrition is a common cause of visual impairment with age. In many cases, just following a diet can significantly improve vision and, in combination with special exercises, completely restore it.
It is impossible to make a universal diet that satisfies everyone, so the following general recommendations for dieting right:
- Eat only natural foods.
- Eat more vegetables, fruits and vegetables (according to the season).
- Cook food as little as possible and only when necessary.
- Excludes artificial and concentrated foods, semi-finished products and canned foods.
- Minimize, or better yet, completely ditch fried, smoked, fatty, sweet and salty foods.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks.
- Minimize your 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 the best for this.
- Eat small meals, but often. Ideally up to 5-6 times a day.
- Each meal should contain fiber-rich foods (see point 2).
- Eat dinner no later than 2 hours before bed.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is necessary to minimize, and it is better to completely abandon consumption of everything that is so diligently promoted with the help of the media. Food should be treated as a necessity, not a means to satisfy our tastes and whims. By changing your relationship with food, you will change your health.