Impact of Eye Exercises on Visual Field and Reaction Time in Young Males.

Background The visual field is the extent of the external world visible to the eye with a fixed gaze. reaction time (VRT) is the time from the presentation of a visual sensory stimulus to the initiation of a motor response due to that stimulus. Eye exercises are active training for developing the eye, ocular glands, and extraocular muscles. The effect of eye exercise on the visual field in young healthy individuals has not been studied so far. Aim To determine the effect of 15-minute eye exercises on visual field and visual reaction time (VRT) in medical college students and compare it with the control group. Methods This interventional study was conducted among 70 healthy male medical students in the age group of 18-25 years who were randomly divided equally into the Study (n = 35) and Control (n = 35) groups. The baseline VRT and visual fields of both eyes were measured and compared with the values obtained after 15 minutes of eye exercises. The VRT was measured using a discriminatory and choice reaction time apparatus and the visual field using the Priestly Smiths Perimeter. Using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, the results were statistically analyzed using paired and unpaired t-tests. Results A significant decrease (p<0.004) in the green light values of VRT was observed in the study group with no significant change in the red color. A statistically significant improvement in temporal (p<0.016 & p<0.020) and inferior (p<0.032 & p<0.046) fields of vision was observed in the right and left eyes of the study group compared with the control group, with no significant changes in the superior and nasal fields. Conclusion Eye exercises have improved VRT for green color and fields of vision in the temporal and inferior fields.