A Comparative study to assess the Effectiveness of Yogic Eye Exercises on Myopia

Background and Aim: Myopia is a refractive anomaly of the eye in which parallel light rays entering the eyes are focused by the eye in front of the retina due to large AP diameter of eyeball. Yogic eye exercises are supposed to strengthen the extra ocular muscles and prevent eye strain. Method: This study aimed at studying the effect of yogic eye exercises among the group of myopics of age group 18-25 years, of Agra India on the basis of visual acuity. A total of 59 students between 18 to 25 years of age, who were mild myopic (< -3Diopters) were included in the study after taking their consents. The visual acuity of each eye was determined by Snellen’s chart. The students were divided into two groups, Group-A, who practiced exercises for 6 months and Group-B who did not do any eye exercises. Visual acuity for all the myopic subjects was taken before the start of the study and after 6 months.Result: The geometric mean of visual acuity in group-A (experimental) was 6/18 before exercise while it was 6/16 in group-B. After 6 months of exercise in group-A, it was 6/15 while 6/18 in group-B. In group-A visual equity mean (log-MAR) decreased from 0.492±0.3 to 0.4057±0.3 after 6 months of exercise which was statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: Regular Yogic exercises improves visual acuity in mild myopics and can delay progression of myopia.