An inward turning of both eyes during focusing is called esotropia ( a specific type of squint). Normal human eye at rest is designed for distance vision and hence the eyes are parallel. However, when we look at things up close, just like a camera, to make the image clear we point or aim our eyes at the closer target called accommodation. To achieve this the eyes need to do an enormous amount of work by contracting several small pretty muscles of the eye. This aiming process involves pulling both the eye balls inwards (called convergence ) ,constriction of the pupils and thickening of the lens. Unfortunately in some children instead of the focusing causing the right amount of convergence it invokes excessive convergence. This results in an eye turn or a squint which is more obvious when the child does near work.
In addition if the child also has farsightedness an error of refraction which is due to difficulty in changing the shape of the lens during distance adjustment , it results in over convergence even during distant vision which is normally relaxed. Hence the hyperopic person makes things clear by focusing their eyes for distance and using additional focusing at near. The result is an esotropia (inward turn of the eyes) both during distance and near vision.This component of the error of refraction is correctable with glasses. If the turn is greater at distance than near bifocals or progressive lenses are needed. Vision therapy is necessary to improve the muscle coordination and eventually eliminate the bifocal
The primary aim of Yoga techniques used for correction of inward eye turn is to provide deep relaxation to these small eye muscles which are overworked during both near and far vision that results in progression of the problem in spite of the use of glasses, patching or surgery .
The integrated approach of yoga therapy provides deep rest to all muscles of the body including those of the eyes. Hence it is important to practice the basic set of yoga that works at relaxing the whole body through asanas, pranayama, meditation,and stress management.One hour of regular practice should include suryanamaskars(3),standing postures (3),sitting postures (3), prone postures (2) and inverted postures (4) followed by DRT, kapalabhati kriya, nadishuddhi pranayama, and chanting of a,u,m and om nine times each will take about one hour of daily program.
The specific yoga practices for deeper rest and improved muscle coordination to correct the inward turn of the eyes should include tratakas performed carefully without overstraining the eyes. Jatru tratakas are useful. Avoid nasagra and bhrumadhya tratakas. Emphasize ubhayajatru trataka. Since this is the most important of all tratakas for this problem ,it may be repeated several times during the session as well as during the day. All the trataka practices have to be interspersed with palming with deep slow breathing and chanting of bhramari to relax the eyes.Avoid jyothi trataka in the usual style of keeping the lamp at a distance of one foot away from the eyes in the beginning. Instead do trataka on an object or light kept far away ( five to ten feet) as in om meditation practice with palming interspersed.The aim is to see that the eye muscles get gradually increasing stimulation to contract followed by deep rest so that over a few months of practice the muscle co ordination can improve through this deep internal awareness and relaxation.
PADMA BAKASANA – Crane in Lotus
- Sit in Padmasana. With the help of the hands slowly come up onto the knees.
- Place the hands in front of the body on the floor with the fingers spread and the fingertips pointing forward. Transfer the weight of the body onto the hands.
- Slowly raise the buttocks and the legs and place the knees on the elbows. Look to the front. Slowly return to the starting position.
- Initially, practice the asana three times holding each repetition briefly. After practicing this way for some being to extend the practice by holding the posture for a few minutes with normal breathing.
Note:
This Asana should not be practiced with high blood pressure or tendonitis. |
