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Medical Forum / General / Vision / February 2006Causes of astigmatism
I've been reading a journal article by Paul Harris called "Visual conditions of symphony musicians". A copy of it is here: http://www.babousa.org/Symphony.htm It provides case studies in support of a theory by a guy named EB Forrest that astigmatism could be influenced by the scanning pattern of the eyes. If I understand correctly, people who do a lot of horizontal scanning are likely to end up with 0/180 cylinder correction and people who scan vertically are likely to end up with 90 correction. His theory also states that if one eye is closer to what you are looking at, the further away eye will develop more astigmatism. The Harris article has these references from Forrest: 1. Forrest EB. A new model of functional astigmatism. J Am Optom Assoc 1981; 52:889-97. 2. Forrest EB. Eye scan therapy for astigmatism. J Am Optom Assoc 1984; 55:894-901. 3. Forrest EB. Astigmatism as a function of visual scan, head scan, and head posture. Am J Optom Physiol Opt 1980; 57:844- 60. 4. Forrest EB. Visual imagery: an optometric approach. Santa Ana, CA: Optometric Extension Program Foundation Inc., 1981. First, I'd be interested in any opinions on this theory. Reference #2 is especially intriguing because it seems to imply that people could possibly "do something" about astigmatism, especially if it was brought on by usage as opposed to genetics. I found this summary of the article: "A relationship exists between eye scanning habits and astigmatism. In this study involving a control and experimental group, the experimental group was instructed to do various eye scan exercises, each lasting two minutes, 10-15 times per day while eating, brushing teeth or watching TV over a consecutive three month period of time. The results showed that there was a positive significant difference in the change scores between the experimental group overall, and the change was predictable. These results demonstrate eye-scanning exercises have a positive effect on the reduction and control of astigmatism." I'd really like to get a copy of this article. I searched the net for over an hour and could only find the abstract. Can anyone point me to an on-line source for these journal articles? I'm willing to pay a reasonable fee if necessary. never heard of scanning and astigmastim. My astigmastim isnt even in the same axis between my eyes. I did read about exercises to reduce astigmastim but I hear whatever you do to reduce myopia usually also automatically reduces astigmastim as well. > never heard of scanning and astigmastim. My astigmastim isnt even in > the same axis between my eyes. I did read about exercises to reduce > astigmastim but I hear whatever you do to reduce myopia usually also > automatically reduces astigmastim as well. "As well" indeed. Most doctors would agree that you can reduce astigmatism with exercises about as well as you can reduce axial myopia. Which means they're both about as effective as changing the size or shape of your ears by listening to the right music. -MT > Which means they're both about as effective as changing the size or > shape of your ears by listening to the right music. > > -MT Why so quick to shoot this down? The articles seem legit. Have you read them? I have long suspected that astigmatism, under some circumstances, can be cause by sleeping on one's face. I would not have mentioned it, except that it now appears that corneas can be bent by sleeping with them in forms. Well, I also assumed that myopia might be worsened by reading with distance lenses, so I suspect that my surmises may be taken with some grains of salt. I conjecture also that myopia may be worsened by reading with naked astigmatic eyes. Probably other pathologies as well, but what would I know -- I am a simple astigmatic myope (well, was). -- Dicky > I have long suspected that astigmatism, under some circumstances, > can be cause by sleeping on one's face. I would not have mentioned > it, except that it now appears that corneas can be bent by sleeping > with them in forms. I've wondered the same thing. I sleep in such a way that one or the other eye is pressed into the pillow... is that consistent with 0/180-ish astigmatism though? > I'd really like to get a copy of this article. I searched the net for > over an hour and could only find the abstract. Can anyone point me to > an on-line source for these journal articles? I'm willing to pay a > reasonable fee if necessary. Have you tried this; http://scholar.google.com/ Dom > > I'd really like to get a copy of this article. I searched the net > > for over an hour and could only find the abstract. Can anyone [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Dom Thanks, but yes. That gets me the abstract only. Try connecting online to a database through your local library. > > > I'd really like to get a copy of this article. I searched the net > > > for over an hour and could only find the abstract. Can anyone [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Thanks, but yes. That gets me the abstract only.  Signature~RT |
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