Effect of Yoga Eye Exercises and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Interventions on Presbyopia

In this study, the effects of neck exercises, neck massage and yoga eye exercises on presbyopia will be examined. 52 patients diagnosed with presbyopia will be included in the study. The study is single-center and will be conducted in the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology outpatient clinic.The study will be grouped into 4 groups. The person who agrees to participate in the study will be assigned to a group. In these groups, the first group will be subjected to eye exercises. The second group will be subjected to neck exercises and massages. The third group will be subjected to eye exercises, neck exercises and massages. The fourth group will not be subjected to any intervention. The participants in the study will be evaluated before the intervention and 8 weeks later. The doctor will conduct evaluations with an eye-related device and the physiotherapist will evaluate the questionnaire, reading speed and neck angles using the photographing method.

This study will be conducted by a permanent ophthalmologist from the Department of Ophthalmology at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital, before and after all evaluations. The ophthalmologist will be informed about the purpose and scope of the study, and in this direction, suitable individuals will be determined according to the criteria for inclusion or exclusion during eye examinations. These individuals will be given preliminary information and those who agree to participate in the study will be included in the study.Yoga eye exercises group: Yoga eye exercises include eight steps. These are; closing the eyes with the palms, blinking, sideways gaze, front and sideways gaze, rotational gaze, up and down gaze, gaze at the tip of the nose, and near and far gaze (1).It will be implemented as a home-based program every day for 8 weeks.Myofascial release-postural correction exercise group: In our study, a 15-minute myofascial release application is planned. For more efficient suboccipital release, a 5-minute upper trapezius muscle release will be applied beforehand and a 10-minute suboccipital release will be applied (2). A 15-minute application is planned, 3 times a week for 8 weeks.Neck exercise training will be applied face to face 3 times a week for 8 weeks and as a home program on other days.Yoga eye exercises, myofascial release-postural correction exercises group: People in this group will apply yoga eye exercises individually every day for 8 weeks and will be followed up once a week. People in this group will receive myofascial release treatment 3 days a week, postural correction exercises will be done together and they will be asked to do postural correction exercises on the remaining days.Control group: The control group will not receive any intervention and will receive initial evaluations and final evaluations after 8 weeks.Assessment tools; Demographic Information Form, which includes basic information about the participants in the study, Refraction Measurement, Visual Acuity Measurement, Accommodation Amplitude Evaluation, National Eye Health Institute Visual Function Scale (NEI-VFQ 25), Craniovertebral Angle Assessment and Reading Speed assessment will be performed.

References

1. Kim SD. Effects of yogic eye exercises on eye fatigue in undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2016;28(6):1813.
2. Cho SH. The effect of suboccipital muscle inhibition and posture correction exercises on chronic tension-type headaches. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2021;1:1-8.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion criteria Being between the ages of 40-65, Being diagnosed with presbyopia by an ophthalmologist, Having the mental capacity to understand and perform the exercises, Not having a systemic disease that prevents exercise, Agreeing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria; People with a history of eye surgery, People with refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc., People with a history of head-neck and upper extremity surgery, Being diagnosed with strabismus, Being diagnosed with glaucoma, Having a neurological problem affecting visual functions, Being diagnosed with cataract, Having a history of eye inflammation