Eye Muscles Control Our Vision

As light enters our eyes, the muscles respond to adjust the eye and bend the light in order for us to see the image clearly. Muscles give our eyes the flexibility it needs to adapt to many conditions. There are a few sets of muscle which influence our vision.

Iris – These muscles control the amount of light entering the eyes. We do not have conscious control of these muscles.

Ciliary muscles – These muscles adjust the lens to sharpen the object we want to see. At rest, these muscles are set for distant vision. We do not have conscious control of these muscles.

Recti – These muscles move the eyes. According to Dr. Bates, they can warp the eyeball which causes hypermetropia and astigmatism. We do have conscious control of these muscles.
• Superior Rectus (2) moves the eye up
• Inferior Rectus (3) moves the eye down
• Medial Rectus (4) move the eye toward the nose
• Spacial Rectus (5) move the eye away from the nose

Oblique – These muscles rotate the eyes. They form a ring around the center of the eyeball. According to Dr. Bates, they can contract to elongate the eyeball when we look at a near object. We do have conscious control of these muscles.
• Superior Oblique (7) rotate the eye toward the nose
• Inferior Oblique (8) rotate the eye away from the nose

Eye muscles are indispensable to our vision. However, there is a drawback with muscles. Our muscles do two things, they contract and they relax. When they relax, they are in a rest position and can remain that way for a long time. When they contract, it creates movements which allow us to lift or grasp things. Muscles are created to work for a short time and then return to its rest position. This simple contraction and relaxation give us the basis to control any movement and to work for a long time without tiring.

If we contract and hold a position, our muscles quickly tire. If we continue to hold, it gets sore; and if we continue to hold longer, it eventually cramps. Contracted and cramped muscles constrict the blood vessels and prevents proper blood circulation. Our muscles need blood circulation to supply it with air, nutrients, and remove wastes. Poor circulation causes problem for the muscles and any area where the blood cannot circulate properly. We experience this when we sit cross-legged on the floor. After ten minutes or so, our leg begins to fall asleep. Blood cannot flow into our leg and feet properly and we begin to feel pins and needles. Straightening our legs or standing up will allow the blood to flow again and the pain to slowly subside. Circulation is very important for every cell in our body because without oxygen and nutrient, cells die.

This is the drawback of muscles. It has to be used properly otherwise it tires and cramps. For our eyes, cramping leads to poor vision. Tense eye muscles cause poor circulation which affects the supply of oxygen and nutrients, and the removal of waste. Poor circulation harms cells and cause disease in the eyes. We must learn to use our eyes correctly to keep the muscles relax and to maintain good circulation.