Investigation of the Effect of Different Eye Exercises on Hypermetropia in School-age Children

Randomized Controlled, Double-Blind Trial of Investigation of the Effect of Different Eye Exercises on Hypermetropia in School-age Children

Hypermetropia in school-aged children is a pathology which is very common and responds to treatments early. No studies have been found in the literature on the efficancy of the hypermetropia treatments with physiotherapy methods. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of different eye exercises on hypermetropia defects in school age children aged 7-17 years and to determine whether exercise protocols have superiority against each other.

60 volunteer school-aged children (30 girls, 30 boys, between 7-17 years of age) were included in our study. 60 participants were randomly divided into three groups: eye exercises, convergence exercises and oculomotor exercise groups. Home exercise protocols were given to all groups for 2 sessions per day for 6 weeks, and regular phone calls were made once a week. Participants were assessed for their hypermetropic grades by autorefractometry, visual acuity by snellen chart, near and sharp visual acuity by activities of daily vision scale, and the health-related quality of life by pediatric quality of life inventory 4.0 version (PEDSQI 4.0) children report.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having hypermetropia eye defects
• Max. having a 1.50 D astigmatism defect
• Using glasses
• Having mental capacity in the level to understand and do exercises
• Not having systemic disease preventing exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having undergone eye surgery
• Having more than 1.50 D astigmatism defect
• Not using glasses