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Defective vision is a common problem in children nowadays. The main reasons for eye defects are reading in bad light ( either too dim or excessively bright), excessive reading, reading in moving trains, buses or cars, watching too much television, seeing too many films and eating artificial foods.

The eyes need to be properly supplied with blood and nerve force for proper vision. Any factor capable of interfering either with the bloodvessles or with the nerves of the eyes could cause defective vision. The muscles covering the upper portion of the spine at the back of the knee are the main seat of mechanical interference with the blood and nerve supply to the eyes.

The foremost consideration in the treatment of defective vision is to loosen the strained and contracted muscles surrounding the eyes.

The following eye, neck and shoulder exercises will help in achieving this objective :

1 Keep your head still and relax. Gently move the eyes up and down six times. Repeat the same movement twice or thrice at two second intervals. The eyes should move slowly and regularly as far down as possible and then as far up as possible.

2 Move the eyes from side to side as far as possible, without any force or effort six times . Repeat two or three times.

3 Hold the index finger of your right hand about eight inches in front of the eyes, then look from the finger to any other large object ten or more feet away - the door of window will do. Look from one to the other ten times . Do this exercise fairly rapidly.

4 Move the eyes up gently and slowly in a circle, then move them low in the reverse direction. Do this four times in all. Rest for a second and repeat the movement two or three times, using minimum effort. Repeat">All eye muscles exercises should be performed while seated in a comfortable position, rotte the neck (a) in circles and semi-circles , (b) move the shoulders clock-wise and anti-clockwise briskly, drawing them up as far as possible several times (c) allow the head to drop forward and backward as far as possible, (d) return the head to the right and left as far as possible several times. These exercises help to loosen up contracted neck muscles which may restrict blood supply to the head.

Natural, uncooked foods are the best diet for defective vision. These include fresh fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, peaches, plums, cherries, green vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, turnip tops, root vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrot, onions and beet roots, nuts, dried fruits and dairy products.

Cereals are also necessary, but they should only be consumed sparingly. Genuine wholemeal bread is the best and most suitable. Nans, cakes, pastries, whie sugar, white bread, confectionery, tea, coffee, etc. together with meat, fish or eggs soon play havoc with the digestion and the body.

The value of vitamin A for improving vision must be stressed. The intake of sufficient quantities of this vitamin is essential as a safeguard against or treatment of defective vision or eye disease of any kind. The best sources of ths vitamin are cod-liver oil, raw spinach, turnip tops, cream, cheese, butter, egg yolk, tomatoes, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, soya beans, green peas, whet germ, fresh milk, oranges and dates.