Effect of yoga ocular exercises on asthenopic symptoms in students with minor refractive errors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the impact of yogic eye exercises on asthenopic symptoms in students.  

METHOD:               

This Quasi experimental study involved a data collection proforma that was based on symptoms of eye fatigue and was circulated among the students who had asthenopic symptoms to find out the effect of yoga ocular exercise. Female students of college of ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) having asthenopic symptoms were included in study. After informed consent, participants filled the proforma followed by yoga ocular exercises for 6 weeks (5 days per week for 30 minutes). Later on the participants again filled proforma to document the difference in symptoms related to eye strain. After consent a proforma containing 12 questions was given to the participant. Asthenopic symptoms were graded as nil, mild, moderate and severe. Data was then analyzed by calculating the frequencies and percentages of different symptoms before and after exercise.

RESULTS:

All forty three participants were female. Almost all participants document decrease or absence of asthenopic symptoms after yoga ocular exercises. Most notabley percentage of participants with complete relieving of blurred vision, headache and sore eyes was documented from 8% to 31%, 7% to 27% and 28% to 39%.

Conclusion:

The results support the use of yoga ocular exercises as a non-pharmacologic and therapeutic approach for alleviating the intensity of eye fatigue and minimizing asthenopic symptoms.