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 talk about the most effective ways to restore vision, which have been proven in the treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and other visual defects. The effectiveness and speed of treatment directly depend on the complexity of the violation, its duration and the implementation of prescriptions.
Ignoring advice and recommendations, eye strain from overwork, physical and mental stress, as well as improper diet can significantly slow down progress in treatment, and in some cases even stop it completely. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carefully follow all instructions during the entire treatment, as well as after its completion.
Causes of visual impairment
According to the research of dr. According to Bates, the main cause of visual impairment is mental and physical overstrain, which leads to disturbances in accommodation - the ability to see distant and close objects equally clearly.
Contrary to the prevailing stereotype, vision focusing 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 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 or further away, depending on whether you are focusing on a distant or near object. Therefore, many visual impairments are nothing but the result of a violation of accommodation due to improper functioning of the external eye muscles.
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 (hypermetropia), on the contrary, the eyeball has a compressed shape, which does not allow you to see close objects clearly.
Vision correction with the help of lenses worsens the situation even more, because it fixes the muscles in one position, disrupting the natural accommodation. As a result, muscle tension increases and the disease progresses.
Thus, glasses and contact lenses are the main cause of the constant deterioration of vision, against which they are directed.
Exercises to restore vision
By using special techniques to relieve the tension of the eye muscles in combination with diet and general health improvement of the body, vision can be significantly improved, and in some cases, many visual defects, including myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism, can be completely overcome.
To achieve maximum results, it is necessary to be aware of the treatment and carefully follow all instructions. The main task is to learn how to release 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
Gymnastics for the eyes is an important step towards improving vision. The main task of eye exercises is to release the tension of the eye muscles and bring them into tone. This will significantly speed up the treatment process and restore normal vision.
Gymnastics for eyes with myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism consists of four basic exercises that must be performed in as relaxed a state as possible. This is best done while sitting in 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 as possible and evenly spaced. As you relax, your eye range of motion will increase. Keep it as relaxed and casual 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 overstrained muscles, not increase tension, so eye movements require minimal effort. Repeat the exercise 2-3 times with a 1-2 second break between sets. As you relax, increase the amplitude, maintaining relaxation and ease.
- Exercise #3. Bring your index finger to your eyes at 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 back at your finger, then refocus on a distant object. Move your eyes back and forth 10 times at a fairly 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 as often as you can.
- Exercise #4. Move your eyes as gently 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 rounds in each direction with an interval of 1-2 seconds between cycles, with minimal effort.
Before each exercise, it is necessary to 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 make your palms.
Wellness exercises for the neck
Gymnastics for the neck is an important step towards regaining sight. As a result of overexertion of the neck muscles, the nerves and blood supply problems are affected. Therefore, in order for the treatment to be successful, it is necessary to rule out disorders in the spinal system and achieve complete relaxation of the muscles of the back of the neck.
- Exercise #1. Take a free standing position, arms relaxed and down. Raise your shoulders as high as possible, then pull back as far as possible, then lower yourself back to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 25 times, making 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 and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise continuously 25 times.
- Exercise #3. Drop your chin to your chest as low as possible, relax your neck as much as possible, then gently raise your head and throw it back as far as possible. Do not strain 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, and then turn your head to the left. Turns should be slow, without tension and with maximum amplitude. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Regular exercise helps to relax the muscles of 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 condition. Gymnastics for the neck is best done in the morning or morning and evening, as well as during the day, if necessary.
Exercises to relieve eye strain
In order to succeed in improving vision, it is necessary to give the eyes a full, consciously assured rest every day for 30-60 minutes in order to relax all the muscles and tissues around the eyes. There are special exercises for this:
Covering the eyes with the hands (palming) is one of the simplest and most effective exercises for vision correction, which can be performed almost anywhere and at any time. The exercise 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 opposite the right and left eyes, respectively, and the fingers are crossed on the forehead. Remove 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, do not dwell on something important or serious, think about the good and the positive. Try to see as much black as possible. The more blackness in front of their eyes, the more relaxation and rest they experience.
Schematically it will look like this:
To achieve a good effect, covering the eyes with the palms must be performed 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.
Side swing is a very effective exercise to release tension from the eyes and relax. To perform it, stand up straight, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down along the body. Keeping yourself loose and relaxed, start rocking gently 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 trunk should remain straight and the legs should not bend. If necessary, you can gently raise the heel without removing the foot from the floor.
The swing is best performed standing next to a window. At the same time, the eyes should be relaxed and without tension look at objects outside the window, which "swing" with you. After a minute, close your eyes and imagine the "movement" of the window as clearly as possible. After one minute, open your eyes again and keep moving, then repeat the exercise again.
Rocking should be performed 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. It goes without saying that if you wear glasses or contact lenses, you must remove them before performing this exercise.
Blinking is a very simple and effective exercise to relieve eye strain. Unfortunately, in many people with visual impairment, the natural process of blinking is disturbed: they blink less often, their eyes become less mobile, and the blinking process itself takes place convulsively, with tension and irregularly.
In order to improve vision and the condition of the eyes in general, it is necessary to develop the habit of frequent, regular and relaxed blinking, which prevents tension. 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 vision impairment and all patients should use it to the maximum. However, it is worth using it carefully so as not to harm 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 rock from side to side while facing the sun. Of course, with closed eyes. Such sunbathing improves blood circulation in the eyes, relaxes muscles and nerves.
In addition, the following exercise is very beneficial for improving eyesight:
- Cross the four folded 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 into the other eye.
- Run a small beam of light through your fingers and look at it. Adjust the thickness of the beam so that the contemplation of sunlight is pleasant and does not cause discomfort.
- After 1-2 minutes, switch your hand to look at the sun with the other eye.
Looking at the sun through the hole between the fingers is very cautious! Failure to observe safety measures 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 surrounding them. To do this, while washing, close your eyes and do not splash too much water into them. Repeat the procedure 10-20 times, then gently wipe closed eyes with a towel.
Repeat the procedure every time your eyes are tired, but at least 3 times a day. At the same time, keep in mind that the water should be cool, not cold.
Training memory and imagination is an important step towards good vision. This is very easy to check - we recognize familiar objects much faster than unknown ones, because 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 each small object, its size and shape. Then close your eyes and try to remember everything in detail. Repeat the exercise.
The mentioned 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 a significant improvement in vision over time.
Central fixation is a basic exercise that allows you to see better the objects on which you concentrate your attention. Unfortunately, people with visual impairments are often denied this opportunity. Due to constant overexertion, they see better with their peripheral vision than with their central vision.
Use the following exercise to restore central vision. Open the book and concentrate all your attention on a line. Then highlight the word in the middle of the row and concentrate on it. After that, close your eyes and imagine that you see this 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 a central fixation for 5 minutes, each time imagining the central word more clearly, and all the surrounding words as blurry as you like.
As your vision improves, move on to shorter words until you can practice on two-letter words, concentrating on one letter. 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 train your eyes and keep them active and healthy. Of course, this applies only to those cases in which the reading takes place without tension. Otherwise, poor eyesight will only get worse.
To improve eyesight, you need to read without straining. 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, keeping it at the most suitable reading distance, don't forget 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 the palms of your hands.
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 farsightedness, it must be decreased. If you currently have very severe myopia, then you can start reading with one eye, giving preference to the eye with poorer vision. As the vision improves, it will be possible to start reading with both eyes.
At first, the duration of the reading may be only a few minutes. However, one should not despair. Over time, by mastering the skills of relaxation and relaxation, you will be able to read for longer periods of time without strain or tension.
Proper nutrition and diet to improve vision
Improper nutrition is a common cause of vision impairment with age. In many cases, just following a diet can significantly improve eyesight, and in combination with special exercises, it can be completely restored.
It is impossible to make a universal diet that would suit everyone, so the following are general recommendations for making the right diet:
- Eat only natural food.
- Eat more vegetables, fruits and greens (according to the season).
- Cook food as little as possible and only when necessary.
- Exclude artificial and concentrated food, semi-finished products and canned food.
- Minimize, or even better, completely abandon fried, smoked, fatty, sweet and salty foods.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and carbonated drinks.
- Reduce your intake of tea, coffee and sugary drinks.
- Eat animal products, such as meat, in moderation.
- Start the morning with a light breakfast. Fruit and milk are the best for that.
- Eat small meals, but often. Optimal up to 5-6 times a day.
- Each meal should contain foods rich in fiber (see point 2).
- Have dinner no later than 2 hours before going to bed.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that it is necessary to reduce to a minimum, 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 need, not as a means to satisfy our tastes and whims. By changing your relationship with food, you will change your health.