Dick Adams wrote:

- quote -

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?
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Try connecting online to a database through your local library.

In article <01lIf.555231$084.290399[at]attbi_s22> ,
"Charles" <nospam[at]nospam.com> wrote:

- quote -

--
~RT

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

Mike Tyner wrote:

- quote -

Why so quick to shoot this down? The articles seem legit. Have you
read them?

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Dom wrote:

- quote -

Thanks, but yes. That gets me the abstract only.

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Charles wrote:

- quote -

Have you tried this;

http://scholar.google.com/

Dom

<acemanvx[at]yahoo.com> wrote

- quote -

"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

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.

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.

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