Impact of Personality in the Subjective Perception of Visual Acuity among Myopic Patients Practicing Eye Relaxation

Myopia is a condition where both the lens and the cornea are too strong or the eyeball too long that the parallel rays entering the eye converge into focus anterior to the light sensitive area of the retina. Studies indicate stress disorders may be characterized by neurological disorders like impairment in taste, vision, smell and tongue movements (Hussain. A, 1999). Stress is found to accelerate the progression of myopia. In tissues directly affected by stress a Local Adaptation Syndrome (LAS) can occur, triggering selective exhaustion of muscles, eyes or inflamed tissues all represented in the final stages only in LAS. LAS in turn stimulate the hypothalamic pituitary adrenalin inducing the production of Cortisol. Cortisol in excess in combination with reduced level of testosterone levels indicates myopia (Balacco, 1982). The physiological effect of stress is also influenced by the psychological makeup of the individual, as in the case of personality. One of the most accurate and concise measure of personality is through self report inventories like five factor inventory of personality. The five factors in consideration are extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience. The present study attempts to trace the effect of eye relaxation practices on myopic patients taking into account the influence of personality. The sample included in the study is 42 myopic patients. Intervention involving ten sessions of eye relaxation practices are given to the sample. Analysis of the results indicates that openness to experience can be taken as an individual personality dimension that influences the change in visual acuity affected through eye relaxation practices.