Eye exercises for astigmatism: types of exercises, step-by-step instructions for implementation, doctor's recommendations, eye muscle work, positive dynamics, indications and contraindications

To see the bright and colorful world around us is a gift that must be appreciated and tried to preserve from youth. Unfortunately, various eye pathologies are more and more often encountered, which do not allow us to see the image clearly, and sometimes even to see. One such disease is astigmatism. If you start treatment on time, simple eye exercises for astigmatism can help. If run, it can cause many complications, even blindness.

The essence of the disease

Astigmatism is an eye disease in which the shape of the cornea of ​​the eye or its lens changes. In this disease, the cornea and lens take the form of a distorted sphere, lose the ability to correctly refract the rays of light, as a result of which the image is perceived as distorted.

Astigmatism is divided into:

• congenital (often does not affect visual acuity, present from birth);
• acquired (occurs as a result of trauma to the cornea).

From how much the cornea is deformed, doctors diagnose 3 degrees of the disease:

• weak (up to 3 diopters);
• medium (from 3 to 6 diopters);
• high (more than 6 diopters).

In addition to the severity, astigmatism can be combined with myopia or farsightedness, turning into myopic and hyperopic astigmatism, respectively. For the treatment of these forms of the disease, special gymnastics complexes for the eyes have been developed for astigmatism and myopia.

Depending on how timely the ailment was diagnosed, and to what extent he managed to achieve, the optimal method for treating astigmatism is chosen.

Symptoms and diagnosis of astigmatism

In order for the eye exercises with astigmatism and other treatment methods to give the desired result, it is important to consult a doctor in time, who will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Signs of astigmatism:

• decreased visual acuity;
• image distortion;
• double vision
• a feeling of tension in the eyes;
• fatigue, especially when reading and other activities requiring high concentration;
• frequent headaches;
• when trying to correct myopia or hyperopia with glasses or lenses, the proper effect is not observed.

Any of these symptoms should alert the patient and become an occasion for a visit to the doctor, who, in turn, will conduct a series of diagnostic procedures.

Methods for diagnosing astigmatism:

• assessment of refraction (the power of the optical system of the eye) using special instruments of refractometers, cortometers, accommodometers;
• Visometry - assessment of visual acuity using special tables;
• skioscopy - a method for assessing the condition of the eyes, based on observation of the movement of the shadow;
• assessment of binocular vision - the study allows you to control the tone of the eye muscles, which makes it possible to diagnose eye diseases in the early stages;
• checking the movement of the eyeballs;
• determination of the nearest point of clear vision, as well as the area of ​​accommodation, that is, the distance between the far and near points of clear vision.

After making a diagnosis and determining the degree of the disease, the doctor will choose a method for treating astigmatism.

Treatments for the disease

There are several methods for treating astigmatism, among which the optimal one is determined on the basis of the studies performed by the attending physician.

Among the main methods distinguish:

1. Optic. It consists in wearing special glasses with cylindrical lenses. This technique is considered the most affordable, but will not be able to help in case of an advanced stage of the disease.
2. Hardware It is used to treat the second degree of astigmatism and refers to therapeutic non-invasive methods. Most often used in the treatment of childhood eye diseases.
3. Surgical. In this case, the distorted shape of the cornea or lens is corrected by surgery. Recently, preference has been given to laser correction. It is used for advanced astigmatism of the 3rd degree in patients over 18 years of age.
4. Eye exercises for astigmatism. This technique is used as an auxiliary therapy at an early stage of the disease.

In addition to following the recommendations of the attending physician to prevent the progression of astigmatism, it is important not to overload the eye muscles.

The benefits of eye exercises

In the early stages of astigmatism, eye exercises for children and adults are often prescribed to prevent the patient from deteriorating and losing vision.

Benefits of eye training:

• ease of implementation - you can do the exercises at home yourself;
• do not require much time;
• help relieve eye fatigue and remove muscle tension, which contributes to the gradual improvement of the patient's condition.

When doing gymnastics for the eyes with astigmatism, you should be patient and do not stop exercising in the absence of an instant effect. Such therapy will give results only after prolonged treatment.

Preparation for eye gymnastics

In order for eye exercises with astigmatism to be effective, it is recommended that you conduct special training for several days before they begin.

Preparatory complex for the eyes:

1. Solarization, or treatment with the sun. It consists in accustoming the eyes to bright light. It is recommended to act gradually, turning your face briefly, closing your eyes, to a source of bright light (sun). It is also allowed to watch the sunset.
2. Palming. It is necessary to close your eyes with warm palms and try to see a black picture without any spots or dots. This result is a sign of excellent vision.
3. Ocular muscle tension control. A good way to relax your eyes is to blink frequently.

After the preparatory measures, you can proceed to the main exercises.

Quick Relief Methods

Constant eye strain is one of the causes of eye diseases. Therefore, the first complex is aimed at relieving stress and fatigue:

1. Look in front of you, then at any object at a distance of about 30 cm (you can put your finger at the desired distance).
2. Put any object, such as a pencil, to the nose, gradually move it forward to the distance of the outstretched arm, while not taking his eyes off it.
3. Select an object at a distance of 30 cm from the eyes (again, it can be a finger), look at it alternately with the right eye, two, and then the left.

Each exercise needs to be repeated up to 10 times. Thanks to stress relief, the complex helps to get rid of discomfort in the eyes.

Eye muscle training

To prevent a situation where some muscles are constantly overstrained and worn out, while others are not involved and gradually atrophy, it is necessary to regularly train the eye muscles.

A set of exercises for the eye muscles:

1. Take a comfortable pose, relax and look forward 10-15 minutes.
2. Close your eyes for a few minutes.
3. Perform horizontal and vertical movements with eyeballs.
4. Go to the clockwise eye rotation, then counter.
5. Blink quickly.
6. Look left down and right right up.
7. Focus your gaze on the tip of your nose.
8. Blink fast again.
9. Standing by the window, alternately looking from the glass into the distance. For easier focusing, you can stick a piece of paper or adhesive on the window.

Repeat all exercises 5-6 times. The time required for all gymnastics does not exceed 10 minutes.

Zhdanov's technique

All of the above eye exercises for astigmatism in adults and children are intended for beginners. When gymnastics becomes a habit and not difficult, it is recommended to switch to a more complex complex developed by psychoanalyst V.G. Zhdanov.

Zhdanov complex includes:

• eyeball movements up and down;
• movements to the right and to the left;
• diagonally moving your gaze: from bottom left to top right and back;
• drawing with the eyes of a square clockwise and counterclockwise;
• execution of the picture "horizontal bow": it is necessary to perform eye movement diagonally from the upper left to the lower right, then look at the top and draw a second diagonal from right to left, and then again look up;
• execution of the drawing "vertical bow": the actions are identical to the previous exercise, but you need to draw a vertical figure;
• circular movements of the eyes clockwise and counterclockwise;
• zigzag movements with eyeballs;
• drawing with the eyes of a spiral, first right and left, then from top to bottom and in the opposite direction;
• image with the eyes of a spiral toward expansion, then narrowing;
• execution of the figure "horizontally located circle";
• focusing your eyes on fingers closed in front of you, spreading your fingers, watching each of them simultaneously with your eyes;
• the same exercise, but divergence of fingers is carried out diagonally, then up and down;
• focusing on fingers simultaneously drawing circles (left versus, right clockwise)

You should start with a three-fold repetition of each exercise, gradually bringing to 5 repetitions. With regular exercises of Zhdanov’s gymnastics for the eyes, astigmatism will not progress, and over time, positive dynamics can be noticed.

The final stage of training

An important stage of gymnastics for the eyes with astigmatism in children and adults is the completion of the final manipulations:

• relax completely;
• repeat the palming exercise;
• it is several times easy to press on the closed eye eyelids.

According to doctors, visual acuity depends on the state of the body as a whole. Therefore, to maintain eye health, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, not to exclude physical activity, alternating them with rest and relaxation.