Eyes and Posture

The eye is not only an element of vision, it is also (with the foot) one of the most important receptors of the postural system. This has been confirmed by all of the neuroscientific work done in this field. The eye is both an endocaptor and exterocaptor of the system.

It serves 2 major functions: Exteroception (vision), and proprioception (extra-ocular muscles). The two ocular pathologies that are involved in tonic postural disequilibriums are: refraction problems (vision) which concern sensorial exteroception of the eye; convergence problems (proprioception) which concern the proprioception of the extrinsic ocular muscles. Unlike refraction disorders (myopia, astigmatism, hypermetropia), which are generally recognised and treated, convergence disorders are very rarely diagnosed.

 

Watch video of weak oculomotor muscles .

 

An asymmetry of tension between the oculomotor muscles of the left and right eye will lead, via these neurological pathways, to an asymmetry of tension in the muscles of the higher and lower cervical spine. This leads to lack of ROM of the neck and all the consequences that accompany it. There is a neurological link between the muscles of the eye (III, IV, VI) and the cranial nerve XI. They connect via the sensory division of the V. So the upper trapezius and the SCM are related and dependent on the eye. As well, since there is a link between the first cervical nerve and the XI, the sub occipitals are involved.

 

 

 

For posturologists, the diagnosis should be made as soon as a postural disorder becomes apparent, apart from trauma, there are many other etiologies, but above all, a convergence defect never corrects itself, it generates a new body image which functions with the defect and the postural disorder that accompanies it. If one has a convergence defect, in the absence of treatment, it is for life!

Posturologists often notice severe convergence disorders that require correction, indeed, these troubles are rarely diagnosed. There are two reasons for this GPs, doctors and pediatricians have never been trained in the diagnosis of this type of disorder, and opthalmologists are only interested in disorders in binocular vision.

In our opinion, it is essential that a systematic screening programme should be set up in schools and that training for GPs and paediatricians should be reinforced. As for opthalmologists, they should make themselves familiar with these concepts so as to collaborate more closely with posturologists.

Clinical signs of proprioceptive deficit:

·Cephalalgias;
·Unilateral;
·Hemicranial ;
· Temporal;
· Occipital.

These headaches may be accompanied by;

· Photophobia;
· Weeping ;
· Dizziness.

Less severe forms also exist:

· Vertigoes;
· Feeling of drunkenness;
· fear of open spaces (agoraphobia);
·Travel sickness;
·Fear of speed;
·Cervical spine pain;
·Pain radiating down the arm;
·Pain in thoracic spine.

IN ELDERLY PEOPLE;

Apprehension about driving a car especially at night or in semi-obscurity, a feeling of being drawn to the side of the road, these subjects frequently bump into things, they are clumsy, fall down stairs or off buses and catch their clothes in door handles. This type of problem is not necessarily due to old age or poor circulation. A convergence test may reveal the true cause.

IN CHILDREN;
· Easily fatigued;
· Diminished intellectual abilities;
· Difficulties at school (lazy or turbulent children);
· Dysgraphia;
· Spelling difficulties;
· Difficulties in learning to read;
· Poor performance in sports activities;
· Short legs in children.

 

Signs that particularly concern the eyes:

· Stinging eyes;
· Burning sensation, weeping, ocular spasms (once infections or other pathologies have been eliminated).
· A feeling of having sand in the eyes;
· Blinking or closing one eye especially in bright light;
· Redness of the eyes;
· Photophobia associated with weeping;
· Difficulties when working on a computer or after long periods of data input;
· Accommodation problems;
· Difficulties in fixing an object for long periods, falling asleep in front of the T.V., involuntary autohypnosis, a need to close the eyes;
· Excessive fatigue, blurred vision, even diplopia. Diplopia is the most advanced stage of the disorder that clearly should have been detected earlier.

 

 

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