Our Eyesight is arguably our most important sense. 80% of what we perceive in the world happens via our sight. Our cognition, learning and motor abilities are mediated through our vision. Because our visual cortex takes up the largest area of any sense, it is usually the most acute sense we perceive. So can we improve our eyesight and if so, how?

Due to current circumstances, many of us are spending longer hours in front of a screen, be it television or computer. This can cause a lot of strain on our eyes leading to headaches or blurred vision. As we age, the lenses of our eyes become less flexible which makes it harder to focus on close objects. Our eyes may also become drier as we produce less tears, there may be a loss of muscle tone in the muscles around the pupil and we may also develop cataracts. There are said to be 570 named illnesses that can affect the eye.

This all sounds a bit dismal, but there are many things you can do to preserve your eyesight and prevent deterioration. Facial Reflexology is one of them. It is a very powerful therapy that works on all levels of the body – physical, mental and emotional. Firstly, it improves the circulation to every part of the eye which is very important, as of those 570 illnesses, most are related to eye circulation. By increasing blood flow to the eyes, function will be improved.

Nerve supply is also stimulated to assist with messages from the brain via the Optic nerve. Facial reflexology can work the muscles on the face and the muscles around the eye. Many of these muscles receive their blood supply via major arteries that run through the face and are innervated by cranial nerves, which are again worked through Facial reflexology.

Facial reflexology uses the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is believed the all eye problems come from an organ problem and most diseases affecting the eye are closely related to the liver and gallbladder meridians.

The eye is nourished by all of the internal organs in the body and an imbalance in any of these internal organs will lead to a dysfunction in the eyes. Facial Reflexology looks at which organs and meridians are most out of balance and treats these along with the liver and gallbladder meridians. It also addresses the immune system to help with any infections in the eye , such as Conjunctivitis and the Spleen and Stomach meridians to help with circulation to the eyes.

Other factors to consider for eye health are diet, stress, the type of work we do, computer use, exercise and lifestyle. A diet rich in betacarotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids are recommended. Foods rich in these nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes. It’s also important to have plenty of water to help hydrate the eyes, exercise to improve circulation, frequent breaks from computer use and meditation, yoga or other forms of stress relief.

These will all benefit your eye health.

We are often told that worsening eyesight is just a part of ageing and that nothing can be done to stop this decline in our eyesight. However, numerous peer-review studies show clearly that many eye conditions can respond to proper diet, lifestyle adaptations and nutritional supplementation, and that people can preserve their vision. 

Reflexology is also a very powerful tool and many eye conditions can be helped. I always remember a story told by my Reflexology tutor about a boy with a rare congenital condition, Q18 syndrome, who was born deaf and blind. He had intensive daily reflexology for three years and regained 100% of his hearing and eyesight.

Our eyesight is arguably, our most important sense so why not take measures to improve it.

I would love to know your thoughts.

Warmest wishes,

Judy xxx

You can find a chart of Facial Reflexology points to work on your eyesight here.

References: www.newjerseyeyesight.com, www.theconversation.com, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441907, Ocular Therapy Course by Lone Sorensen, www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Healthy+Eyes+with+Chinese+Medicine.

Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.