The Effects of Stress Reduction andStress Inducing Techniqueson the Visual System
Therefore visual stress is not a topic that can be separated
from the general stress theory. The visual process is a dominantfunction of a person in terms of operating in the world andgetting meaning from it and thus reflects the actions of thebody and mind in specific ways.

Virsha G. VallabhAnees Asmaljee
Nicolene Victor

The approach of stress reduction and its relevance in terms ofoptometric diagnosis and therapy is what caught our interestand attention and led us to explore this subject more deeply.
Procedures to reduce stress activation may be very useful tooptometric therapy. The use of the breath as one technique, isa physiological effect that can be felt in every part of the body.
Breathing in brings air into the lungs where oxygen is extracted
from it to be used by all the cells of the body as part of its
energy producing mechanism. Therefore breathing in can belikened to an influx of energy and breathing out as awithdrawal into restfulness. Flemming(3)Abstract
Using stress reduction and stress inducing techniques, wemeasured the results that these techniques have on the visualsystem. We determined the ability to see objects further in thedistance using these two techniques. Three groups wereincluded in the program. The groups included a relaxed group,in which their technique would move an individual further
from the object, A stress group, in which their technique wouldmove an individual closer to the object, and a control groupwhose technique would not create any shift in distance. A
total number of 12 participants were used in the study withthe mean age at test being twenty four years. A total of fifteen
mean readings were recorded over three months. Subjective
refractions of individuals were also recorded before and after
the program. The results from all three groups was proved in
the study. However not much change in the refractive error
after the program.

Another regular practice is meditation which leads one to be
more aware of the inner verbalization. Individuals who areintense, rigid and analytical tend to engage in a task withstrong concentration and drive for achievement. Suchindividuals tend to emphasize focal (central) vision withdecreased peripheral awareness. Excluding periphery thistends to facilitate concentration and reasoning, but isassociated with increased attentional energy. Hence increased
focal attention with decreased peripheral awareness increases
the stress. Birnbaum(4)Introduction

Meditation, diaphragmatic breathing and progressive
relaxation are procedures commonly used to teach relaxationand stress reduction. Many techniques involve the visualsystem, including visualization. Dusky (5)Skeffington (1) viewed visual stress as resulting from “acentered task which provokes an avoidance reaction that
becomes a drive to center nearer in space”. Refractive problems
or ocular defects were seen specifically as being the end resultof adaptation to visual stress. Further extensions of this model
led to the ability to extrapolate from a set of examination
findings, information as to whether an individual has been
exposed to persistent visual stress, how that stress had affected
him and how he had coped with it, approximately how long
this coping had gone on and how performance might havebeen affected. Forrest (2)Our study focuses on the relaxation technique founded by
the Art of Living. The Art of living course, involves the use ofSudarshan Kriya. Developed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founderof the Art of Living, the Sudarshan Kriya is a special breathing
technique which eliminates stress and brings one into thepresent moment. It is one of the most powerful practices which
has a profound effect on the mind, body and spirit. By learning
its special pattern of breathing, one can rid the system of theaccumulated stress and toxins. (6)The subject of stress has become popular in all aspects of life.
There are increasing number of books, articles and televisionpresentations on the subject. An increasing number ofindividuals and disciplines have become involved in the areaof stress and stress reduction.

The purpose of the present study, using the Art of Living
relaxation technique, was to see if there was any improvementin the ability to see the objects further in the distance. This
was associated with a stress technique which involved anexercise program. The exercise routine was carried out for ten
minutes. This technique was carried out in the same manneras the relaxation technique, to see the effect of stress on thevisual system and how it affects ability to see objects furtherin the distance. A control group was included and norelaxation or exercise routine was presented to them.

People who react more strongly to stress have more persistent
sympathetic and parasympathetic conditioned responses.
They can often lead to diseases of adaptations including many
diverse conditions, such as respiratory disorders, skindisorders, immune system disorders, visual disorders suchas functional myopia, accommodative and convergence
breakdowns.Forrest (2)Methods
71

Subjects

before and after the technique. This procedure was reportedin the Dusky and Kavner, pp. 232. A similar procedure wasreported in Birnbaum (7) 1993, pp. 374-375. However here thetechnique was performed without the use of glasses or contactlenses to improve acuity. This was performed by Bates whoindicated that when one attends to a task individuals tend tostare and blink less frequently and more tensely. Breathing
becomes more shallow, and individuals tend to hold theirbreadth for many seconds at a time. Attention narrows andpatients tend to hold their eye steady with reduced eye
movements. Deep breathing and frequent blinking develops
the ability to see without strain.

The sample for this study included 12 participants. The mean
age at test was 24 years (range = 16-36 years). Participants
were included into the study if they met all the following
criteria: 1) ametropia, which included only myopia, 2) a visualacuity of 20/20 or better, 3) subjects who performed the basic
Art of Living course, 4) Subjects who performed their Kriya
everyday for 3 months without any break in-between.

Techniques
For all groups the visual task included a visual acuity chart
which was posted on a wall. For the relaxed group, Sudarshan
Kriya, was the technique that was performed. The Sudarshan
Kriya had to be performed daily. For the stressed group anexercise routine formed part of their technique. No technique
was given for the control group. However the exercise routine
was not subjected to only one form of exercise routine. They
were allowed to do any form of intense routine. This could
include running for ten minutes, jogging on the spot for ten
minutes, or using the exercise bicycle for ten minutes. Thesubjects were instructed to choose two days in the week toperform their techniques and record their findings, and werealso encouraged to keep these two days consistent for the threemonths. The times the techniques were performed was also
encouraged to be remain consistent for the three months. A
total number of fifteen readings (5 readings with eachindividual reading) were taken over the three months.

Results
A total of fifteen were conducted over three months for all
three groups. During each session an average of five readings
were recorded. These readings are plotted against the x-axis.
The shift in distance from the original starting distance (SD)is plotted against the y-axis. Two graphs from each group arereflected below.
Relaxed Group (A and D)

ADist
anc 9.4e(m) 9.35
from 9.3
VAcha 9.25
rt
9.2

Procedure

BeforeAfter

9.15

All groups had to perform this basic procedure (BP). The
subjects had to put up a visual acuity chart on the wall andlook at the 20/20 row of letters and wearing their glasses orcontact lenses they would slowly move back until they could
no longer see the letters on the wall, that is, the letters weretotally blurred. This distance was measured and kept
consistent throughout the program (also known as the starting
distance (SD)). Thereafter subjects were asked to move forward
slowly until they could just barely make out the letters, eventhough they were blurred. They were to record the distance atwhich this was seen. A total number of five individual readings
were to be recorded using this BP technique.

9.1
9.05
SD=11.23 1m

2

3

4

5

678910 11 12 13 14 15

Average of five readings per session

DDistance (m) from VA chart

10.310.2
10.1
10After

9.8
9.7
9.6
9.5
1 2
SD=12.32 m

The relaxed group would perform the BP and the performtheir Sudarshan Kriya which took an average of 30 minutes.
They would return to record their results but this time there
would be a slight change to the procedure. At the SD theywould tighten both fists very hard, lean forward at the waist
and blink rapidly. Thereafter would do as before by moving
forward until they could just barely make the letters out. They
would take deep Ujjayi breadths before recording each of thefive readings. Refer to Appendix A for the average values before
and after the relaxation technique.

Before9.9345678910 11 12 13 14 15

Average of five readings per session

Figure 1Figure 1 represents the graphs of the two subjects (A and D)
who participated in the relaxation technique. Values plottedon each of the graphs are represented with profiles, before
and after the relaxation technique. Distance (m) of each graphhas been set according to the individual results, therefore
variation in results should not be misunderstood due to thedifferent scale configurations scales. With Subject A there is
an improvement after the relaxation technique. Mean value
before technique is 9.17 ±0.043 and after technique it is
9.27±0.54. A mean improvement of 010m. The profile for thissubject started with a great difference, but from the fifth session,much more consistent resultants were found between thebefore and after techniques, however with only one great
variation of reading 11, also being the highest average reading
achieved in her entire program Subject D did show a mean

The stressed would perform the BP. Thereafter they would
perform their exercise program for ten minutes and wouldreturn once again, to perform the BP. Refer to Appendix A forthe average values before and after the stress technique.
The control would also perform the BP and thereafter wait forten minutes. However in these ten minutes, they were notgiven any task to do. After the ten minutes they would returnand follow the BP. Refer to Appendix A for average values
72improvement of 0.16m. Only a big fluctuation with the firstreading. A very consistent graph was also achieved. As canbe seen, there is an improvement in all subjects which suggeststhat by doing the Art of Living techniques, that you can see atfurther distances when you and your body are relaxed.

LDistace (m) from VA chart

9.65

Stressed Group (E and F)
EDistance (m) from VA chart

Before
9.55

After

9.5

9.45
12

SD=11.10 m

12345678910 11 12 13 14 15

Average of five readings per session

Control Group (I and L)

11.5
Before11FIGURE 3

After

Figure 3 represents the control group. With the two subjects
the10.5

10132574

SD=11.43 m

69811101312mean value did not change before technique and aftertechnique. Subject I and L showed no change in standard

1514

Average of five readings per session

deviation before and after technique. Overall, there is nochange in readings before and after technique, which supports
the fact that when no stimulus was given to the two subjects
distances, did not change during the program.

F
12Distance (m) from VA chart

9.6

11.5
11Discussion

Before10.5

AfterWith all three groups this study has proven the effect of thesetechniques on the visual system. Given the fact that this is anindependent, subjective response there should be variations
between values between different individuals. Since thesubjects did show a mean improvement , this does suggestthat this type of relaxation technique over a longer period oftime would greatly influence the visual system. However thestress group has indicated how greatly influenced the visualsystem is by stress, showing immediate decreases in distancesby large amounts, which enforces one to reexamine theirstressful lifestyle and look for approaches to relieve the stresson the visual system, one way would be by following thepowerful Art of Living technique. The reliability that we haveshown with our program needs to be further expanded bytaking contributing factors which include the time factor andthe sample size. Our study was conducted in the limited threemonths and consisted of a total population of twelve people.
A larger sample size would without any doubt, show greater
effects of the techniques on the visual system.

109.5
91

2

3

SD=10.90 m

45678910 11 12 13 14 15

Average of five readings per session

FIGURE 2
Figure 2 represents the graphs of the two subjects whoparticipated in the stress related technique. As can be seen
with Subject E, there is a decrease in the overall distanceachieved. The distance moving closer by 0.83m. The values
seemed very consistent throughout the program, with only
reading 15 dropping considerably after technique. Subject F
also shows an average decrease in distance by 0.78m. The
mean before technique being 10.66± 0.166 and after techniquebeing 9.88±0.031.

Conclusion

IDistance (m) from VA chart

8.95

In the above study, the relaxation and stress induced techniqueprovided us with information regarding the visual system.
Stress reduction techniques may be used to improve the ability
to see objects further in the distance and reduce physiologicalstress activation during every day activities. Further
investigation is required to provide a more objective analysisof how to interpret these effects on the visual system.

8.9
Before
8.85

After

8.8

8.75
12

SD=10.32 m

345678910 11 12 13 14 15

Average of five readings per session

References73

1. Skeffington AM. Nearpoint optometry. Santa Ana, CA:Optom Extension Prog Curr 2; 1950F

S1211.60
S1311.53
S1411.52
S1511.56
MEAN
11.55 (m)
(m)
STD
0.035

2. Forrest EB. Stress and vision. Santa Ana, CA: Optom
Extension Program Foundation; 1988
3. Flemming A, Horrigan C. Relaxation for concentration,
stress management and pain control. Oxford: Reed
Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd; 1997

IBeforeS1
8.89
S28.84
S38.84
S48.83
S58.89S68.89S78.88
S88.89
S98.8
S108.86
S118.86
S128.89
S138.91
S148.87
S158.86
MEAN
8.87 (m)(m)
STD5. Dusky L, Kavner RS. Total vision. New York: A & W
Publishers; 1978
6. http://www.artofliving.org/c-kriya.html
7. Birnbaum MH. Optometric management of near point
disorders. USA: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1993Appendix
Appendix A
Average Readings (m) of Figures 1,2 & 3 before and aftertechnique
RELAX GROUP - FIGURE 1Session - S1 to S15
After
9.34
9.26
9.36
9.33
9.27
9.27
9.3
9.26
9.2
9.23
9.37
9.26
9.21
9.21
9.25

D-Before
10.13
10.08
1010.23
10.08
10.15
10.2
9.95
9.85
9.68
9.68
9.73
9.73
9.68
9.9

After
10.1
10.08
1010
10.08
10.15
10.03
10
9.85
9.7
9.73
9.6
10.13
9.75
10.15

9.27 (m)9.94 (m)9 . 9 6

0.054

0.203

0.182

Before
11.57
11.54
11.61
11.53
11.48
11.54
11.50
11.58
11.54
11.58
11.53

Before
10.72
10.07
10.70
10.74
10.71
10.66
10.70
10.68
10.75
10.75
10.66

After
9.51
9.85
9.97
9.97
9.88
9.83
9.93
9.85
9.98
9.96
9.84

After
10.81
10.75
10.84
10.83
10.70
10.71
10.76
10.80
10.76
10.83
10.75

F-

9.84
9.88
9.98
9.87

10.72 (m)10.66 (m)9 . 8 8

0.185

0.166

0.116

Before
9.52
9.62
9.58
9.59
9.55
9.52
9.48
9.54
9.54
9.56
9.55
9.54
9.56
9.54
9.57

After
9.55
9.63
9.58
9.58
9.55
9.53
9.5
9.54
9.52
9.54
9.57
9.5
9.56
9.56
9.57

9.55 (m)9 . 5 5

After
8.82
8.84
8.83
8.86
8.86
8.85
8.9
8.87
8.9
8.92
8.88
8.87
8.88
8.9
8.89

74

L-

8.87 (m)
0.029

0.033

STRESS GROUP - FIGURE 2
ES1S2
S3S4
S5S6S7S8S9S10S11

10.68
10.6910.72
10.66

CONTROL GROUP - FIGURE 3

4. Birnbaum MH. The use of stress reduction concepts andtechniques in vision therapy. Journal of Behavioral
Optometry 1990; 1: 3-7

ABefore
S1
9.07
S2
9.13
S3
9.15
S4
9.18
S5
9.23
S6
9.21
S7
9.18
S8
9.24
S9
9.14
S10
9.17
S11
9.2
S12
9.14
S13
9.2
S14
9.18
S15
9.18
MEAN
9.17 (m)
(m)
STD
0.043

10.84
10.75
10.67
10.08

0.029

0.033

Acknowledgements

This symposium was inspired by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar.
The studies conducted at AllIndiaInstitute of Medical Sciences & presented at the symposium werecarried out in collaboration with Ved Vignan Mahavidyapeeth, Bangalore and financed by Central
Council of Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, New Delhi.
The symposium was financed by Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy, Minstry of Healthand Family Welfare and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

75