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INTRODUCTION
Eyes are the best gift of nature to the body. One is not even aware of their importance as long as the vision is perfect. It is only when one's sight begins to fail that one realizes with a shock the importance of the eyes. To a child born blind, the beauties of life and nature do not exist. Whereas to a person who has known the restless waves of the ocean, the multicolored butterflies and flowers, the bird flying over the mountains and green valleys, loss of sight is a tragedy without any parallel. Therefore, those who are gifted with sight need a constant and vigilant care of their eyes to conserve vision and restore it if need be. Moreover, the cost of preventing a disease is only a fraction of the amount spent on the treatment of the disease once it has set in and a colossal amount is needed for the rehabilitation of the blind.

One of the best modes of taking care of ones eyes is to combine Allopathy with Naturopathy and that is the aim for Yoga for perfect eyesight.

NORMAL EYE
The eye resembles a CAMERA. Just as we take a photograph with the camera, so also the eye takes a photograph of an object seen by it. In the camera, an object is focussed onto the film of the camera by a lens. This image is an inverted image and it is developed in the studio and made into an erect one. In the same way, an object is focused by the lens of the eye onto the film of the eye called RETINA. This image is also inverted and is made erect by the brain.

REFRACTIVE ERRORS
The eye is a sense organ and functions like any other sense organ. Just as we smell and hear, so also do we see. No efforts are made to hear and smell, similarly, the eye does not make an effort to see when it functions normally. Some people are not able to see clearly and only with the help of spectacles are they able to see clearly. THE INABILTY TO SEE CLEARLY WITHOUT SPECTACLES IS CALLED A REFRACTIVE ERROR. PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM REFRACTIVE ERRORS SEE CLEARLY ONLY WITH THE HELP OF SPECTACLES.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF EYE EDUCATION AND RELAXATION
Do you read imperfectly? Can you observe then that when you look at the first word you do not see best where you are looking. You might see other words just as well or better than the one you are looking at? Do you observe also that the harder you try to see the worse you see?

Now close your eyes and rest them, remembering some colour until the feeling of strain has been completely relieved. Now open them and look at the first word of a sentence for a fraction of a second. If you have been able to relax, partially or completely, you will have a flash of improved or clear vision. Now close the eyes for a fraction of a second quickly, still remembering the colour and keep them closed till they feel rested. Then again open them for a fraction of a second. Continue this alternate resting of the eyes for a time and you may soon find that you can keep your eyes open longer than a fraction of a second without losing the improved vision.

If your trouble is with distant vision instead of near vision, use the same method with distant letters. In this way you can demonstrate to yourself the fundamental principle of eye education and relaxation.

PREVENTION OF DEFECTIVE VISION
The most important thing in preventing defective vision is to develop the habit of seeing without straining or without making any effort. This is done by learning how to use your eyes properly.

[ 1 ] EYELIDS:
Nature has provided eyelids not only for the protection of the eyes from outside agencies, eg; dust, smoke etc., but also for the protection of our eyesight. One should not squeeze the eyes and strain them while reading.

[ 2 ] BLINKING:
Blinking is a quick method of resting the eyes. To blink is a natural habit of the eyes. In normal blinking, the upper eyelid comes a little down and is raised again. Blink once or twice while reading each line. The scientific reason why this is good is that whenever we blink the tear film of the eye flows past our cornea clearing it. This keeps our cornea moist and so refraction through the cornea is good.

[ 3 ] READING:
While reading, keep the book at a lower level than the chin so that the lids are not raised. Move the head a little from side to side. Blink once or twice while reading each line. The distance of the books from the eyes should be where the print is seen at its best. It varies from individual to individual. Avoid reading in insufficiently illuminated places and in a lying posture. Keep the illumination of the light on the book.

[ 4 ] WRITING:
While writing keep the sight on the point of the pen and move the sight with its movements. Blink frequently. A common mistake is to write forward and at the same time to look at the letters behind, which have already been written.

[ 5 ] SEWING:
Many women suffer from eyestrain and headache while doing needlework. The common mistake is that they keep their eyes fixed on the cloth and blink at very long intervals. They should move their sight with the movement of the needle and blink now and then.

THE TREATMENT OF DEFECTIVE VISION
Relaxation is one of the treatments of defective vision. Correct the position of the eyelids and eyeball. Exercises are very helpful. A good balanced and nourishing diet rich in proteins and vitamins help in the development of the eyes. Glasses and contact lenses are aids in correcting the vision.

SIMPLE EXERCISES FOR IMPROVING VISION

[ 1 ] SUN TREATMENT:
Sit comfortably facing the sun with EYES CLOSED and sway the body gently from side to side like a pendulum for 5 minutes. Remember to keep the eyes closed and not open. Hot sun at noon should be avoided. Morning or evening is the best time for sun treatment. It should be stopped as soon as the sun causes discomfort.

[ 2 ] EYE WASH:
After the sun treatment, come to the shade and wash the eyes with cold water.

[ 3 ] PALMING:
Palming is a great relaxation for both the mind and the eyes. In palming, one should close and cover the eyes with the hollow of the palms, so as to shut off all light. Now a completely dark field will be observed before the eyes. After covering the eyes, imagine familiar things, thus, girls like to imagine dolls and boys a game of cricket. This helps to relax the eyes. Do this for 5 minutes.

TELEVISION AND THE EYES
Television has become firmly entrenched in our way of life. It keeps us up to date on Wall street and World events. There are lots of questions one thinks about when one watches or thinks about television.

[ 1 ] CAN TELEVISION HARM THE EYES?
No. You cannot wear out your eyes by watching television. It does not cause eye defects. If your child is watching television sitting very close to it, then immediately consult an eye doctor as the child might have a refractive error.

[ 2 ] HOW FAR SHOULD THE TELEVISION BE FROM US?
The size of your television room and the television determine how far you should sit from the TV. a good general rule is: STAY AS FAR FROM YOUR TV SCREEN AS VISUAL COMFORT PERMITS.

[ 3 ] IN WHAT POSITION SHOULD WE VIEW THE PICTURE?
In order to see the picture without strain, sit comfortably by resting your back on the back of the chair. Keep the chin a little raised, the lids a little down and blink frequently.

[ 4 ] DOES TELEVISION INVOLVE DANGER FROM X-RAY OR OTHER RADIATION?
No. There is no danger from radiation from TV sets.

[ 5 ] HOW SHOULD THE ROOM LIGHTING BE?
One should have additional light in the viewing area or room. The contrast between the bright screen and surrounding darkness causes undue eye fatigue. Use soft, indirect lighting, making sure that no light source is reflected by the screen toward your eyes.

[ 6 ] IS A LARGE SCREEN SUPERIOR TO A SMALL SCREEN?
In general, a large screen permits more comfortable viewing because it gives clearer vision at a greater distance. However a large screen in a small room is not recommended.

SUMMARY
Throughout the ages, blindness and diseases leading to blindness have been regarded as a part of human destiny, but such an attitude of fatalism cannot be accepted today. It must be admitted that certain forms of blindness are not preventable and some cannot be cured or even arrested. Fortunately, the number of such diseases is declining in number. In most cases blindness is caused by preventable diseases and unnecessary accidents, which can be avoided if a little precaution is observed. There are many more diseases where medical or surgical measures can restore vision. Preservation of good eyesight is almost impossible without eye health education.

Bron: Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital