Effectiveness of Bates Therapy (Ophthalmic Exercises) on Visual Acuity among Elderly People

Background: The eye is the window of the human body through which it feels its way and enjoys the beauty of the world, but as age rises, elderly people develop visual problems. Visual acuity is decreasing in most people older than 65 years. To improve the eyesight naturally, eye exercise is a set of massage that improves blood circulation and relaxes muscles in the ocular region. Objectives: To assess the level of visual acuity among elderly people, to assess the effectiveness of Bates therapy on visual acuity among elderly people, and to find out the association of visual acuity among elderly people with selected demographic variables. Methodology: Preexperimental—one-group pretest and posttest research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was elderly people with decreased visual acuity. Thirty samples were selected by purposive sampling technique. The data were collected using a structured interview schedule and standardized visual acuity assessment scale (Snellen chart). Results: The study result shows that in the right eye, the level of visual acuity among elderly people was as follows: In the pretest, 8 (26.6 % ) had near-normal vision,19 (63.3 % ) had moderate low vision, and 3 (10 % ) had severe low vision. And in the posttest, 2 (6.6 % ) had normal vision, 9 (30 % ) had near-normal vision, and 19 (63.3 % ) belong to moderate low vision. In the left eye, the level of visual acuity among elderly people was as follows: In the pretest, 6 (20 % ) had near-normal vision, 22 had (73.35 % ) moderate low vision, and 2 (6.6 % ) had severe low vision. And in the posttest, 18 (60 % ) had near-normal vision, 11 (36.6 % ) had moderate low vision, and only one (3.3 % ) belongs to severe low vision. The effectiveness of Bates therapy on the level of visual acuity among elderly people was assessed by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. In the right eye, the pre- and posttest median scores were both three, respectively, and the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test value was 2.828, and the obtained p value was 0.005. In the left eye, the pre- and posttest median scores were 3 and 2, respectively, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test value was 3.357, and the obtained p value was 0.001, which is highly statistically significant at p < 0.001 * level. It shows that the Bates therapy was effective for decreased visual acuity. Conclusion: The study concludes that Bates therapy was effective in visual acuity among elderly people.