Can hormones affect our visual health?
We go through many hormonal changes during our lives and with the arrival of menopause our visual health can be affected.
Many of us already know the physical and emotional changes that occur during this significant stage of life and we must know that these changes can also manifest in the eyes.
One should take note, some menopausal prescribed therapies may have an effect on the health of the eyes. Either by producing sensitive changes in visual function or increasing discomfort in already prevalent symptoms.
How menopause affects the appearance of visual problems: Dry eye syndrome.
Among other affectations, oscillating hormonal levels modify the quality and quantity of the tear film, this can lead to dry eye syndrome, or corneal elasticity.
Although dry eye syndrome is not a serious problem, it can cause discomfort like irritation, itching, a sensation of grit inside the eye and sensitivity to light, which can be a discomfort for activities of daily living.
The important thing is to consult a specialist to rule out other pathologies, and to get treatment to calm these symptoms, thus reducing the usual discomfort.
A new opportunity: Reconnection
Menopause provides us with the opportunity to return to ourselves and to become more connected and attentive to our needs.
We develop a deeper sense of knowing as to avoid situations or habits that cause us more stress.
In yoga we say, “each body is different, and has different limits and needs.” Each eye is unique and also needs care.
I encourage you to take care of your eyes by doing Visual Yoga.
Yoga to improve eyesight: benefits
Yoga for the eyes offers many benefits to the eye muscles, a greater blood supply in the area. Toning of the ocular muscles, which acquires strength and elasticity, recovery of lost vision and maintenance of visual acuity. The eyes physically benefit with this visual yoga practice to help with myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, presbyopia and strabismus.
The practice of visual yoga is very simple and it’s accessible to all people and ages. It also has no contraindications.
It is important to practice Visual Yoga regularly with focus on both breath and body posture.
You can read further about breathing in my previous article Yoga and breathing
8 simple Visual Yoga exercises:
Sit comfortably in a lotus position with a cushion underneath you or in a chair that keeps your back straight, stable and relaxed. With focus on your breath repeat the exercises two to three times. Upon completion of the exercise take three deep breaths and return to your routine. Do them twice a day. It is unnecessary to do all of them in one sitting, but be consistent with daily practice. You will see results and improvements from the first days.
- Close your eyes and cover them with your hands gently for 10 seconds, then open your eyelids slowly, letting them get used to the light.
- Without moving your head, inhale, slowly look to the right side for 5 seconds. Exhale returning to the center and then slowly looking to the left side.
- With your inhale, look to the top corner then exhale and look to the bottom corner. You will be making a diagonal with your gaze.
- Draw circles with your eyes in one direction and then change direction.
- Look up, go through the center, and then down.
- Use various objects at different distances to exercise distance and near vision.
- Draw an infinity figure with your eyes. Repeat 10 times blinking in between.
- Close your eyes, inhale and then fix your gaze on one point until you have the urge to blink.
Any questions you have, please feel free to contact me through my IG: @unavida_slow
Let’s do it together! And the moment is now!
“We Don’t See Things As They Are, We See Them As We Are” (Henry Ward Beecher)
Carola Laksmi
Aging. Body Health. Menopause. Yoga Women’s Health.
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