Defective Vision refers to a condition in which the vision becomes defective or blurred. It is an eye related problem. Reading in dim or glaring light, reading in moving vehicles, excessive television watching; especially close to the screen, excessive reading, improper blood and nerve supply, deficiency of essential nutrients and minerals, mental and physical strain and other related factors may eventually result in Defective Vision.
Diet Therapy for Defective Vision
Diet therapy is an essential part in the treatment of defective vision. Natural, uncooked foods are the best diet. These include fresh fruits, such as oranges, apples, grapes, peaches, plums and cherries. Green vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, turnip tops; root vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrot, onions and beetroots; nuts, dried fruits and dairy products are also useful. Cereals are also necessary, but they should only be consumed sparingly.
The value of vitamin A for improving vision must be stressed. The intake of sufficient quantities of this vitamin is essential as a safeguard against or treatment of defective vision or eye disease of any kind. The best sources of this vitamin are cod liver oil, raw spinach, turnip tops, cream, cheese, butter, egg yolk, tomatoes, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, soya beans, green peas, wheat germ, fresh milk, oranges and dates.
Eye Care Tips for Defective Vision
1. Sun gazing also helps to cure defective vision. The patient should sit on a bench facing the sun with eyes closed and gently sway sideways several times for 18 minutes. He should open the eyes and blink about 10 times at the sun and look at some greenery. This helps short sight and is good for inflamed eyes.
2. Splashing plain, cold water several times on closed eyes cools the eyes and boosts blood supply.
Exercise for Defective Vision
Exercise is the most important natural remedy for defective vision.
Steps of Eye Exercise for Defective Vision
•In case of eye exercise the patient should keep his head still and relaxed.
•The eyes should be gently moved up and down.
•The movement is to be repeated twice or thrice at 2 seconds intervals.
•The eyes should be moved from side to side as far as possible, without any force or effort for 6 times.
Another eye exercise is to hold the index finger of the right hand about 8 inches in front of the eyes and then look from the finger to any other large object 10 or more feet away. This exercise should be done fairly rapidly.
In neck exercises, the neck should be rotated in circles and semi circles. The shoulders should be moved clockwise and anti-clockwise briskly, drawing them up as far as possible several times. The head should be allowed to draw forward and backward as far as possible. These exercises help to loosen up contracted neck muscles which may restrict blood supply to the head.
Swinging is also an effective exercise in curing vision. The patient should stand on his feet 12 inches apart with hands held loosely at the sides, the whole body and mind relaxed. Gently he should sway his body from side to side, slowly, steadily, with the heels rising alternatively but not the rest of the foot. Swinging should be done in front of a window or a picture. When the patient faces one end of the window or object, he should blink once. This exercise has a very beneficial effect upon the eyes and nervous system.
Home Remedies for Defective Vision
1. Honey is known to be an important home remedy in the case of defective vision. About 2.5 ml each of honey and lettuce powder can be mixed well along with 1/4 teaspoon of saturated ghee. This mixture can be consumed once in a day along with 200 ml of warm milk. Taking this early in the morning as a first thing is proved to be valuable in curing the defective vision.
2. Almonds are excellent in the treatment of defective vision. 4 or 5 almonds can be soaked in water all night and then the outer skin can be peeled off. These almonds can be consumed after chewing them well. This is a very useful remedy for improving the eyesight.
3. Carrot juice is proved to be very helpful in the treatment for defective vision. Daily intake of fresh carrot juice is found to have significant role in preventing the defects of eyesight.
4. About 80 ml of celery juice or parsley juice can also be taken once every day which is useful in curing the imperfect vision.
5. Putting a few drops of rose water in the eyes has a soothing effect on eyes and relieves the strain causing Defective vision.
Yoga for Defective Vision
Certain yoga asanas such as Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Yogamudra, Paschimottanasana and Kriyas like Jalneti are also beneficial for the eyes.
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