M.Tech. (Biotechnology) / Spectacles and contact lenses are the most widely used optical appliances to manage myopia. Surgical techniques are an alternative but the outcome of surgery can be unpredictable and the procedures are costly. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition characterised by blurred distant vision. Both a more lasting cure and a more cost-effective alternative solution in the treatment of myopia are desirable. The effectiveness of the homoeopathic remedy, Physostigma 30CH on its own, the Bates method on its own and a combination of the homoeopathic remedy and the Bates method in reducing myopia were determined. Thirty suitable myopic subjects between the ages of 21 - 34 years were selected. Subjects were paired in terms of age, race and sex on a double-blind basis. This research was conducted in three stages of thirty days each. During stage one the experimental group performed the Bates method, while the control group performed the modified Bates method. During stage two the experimental group received the .homoeopathic remedy, Physostigma 30CH, whilst the control group received a placebo. During stage three the experimental group performed the Bates method and received the homoeopathic remedy, Physostigma 30CH, whilst the control group performed the modified Bates method and received the placebo. Each subject underwent an optometric examination before and after each of the abovementioned stages. During the eye examination, the aided and unaided visual acuity, left and right refractions, accommodative flexibility and accommodation amplitude were determined by a qualified optometrist. After each eye examination a questionnaire was completed to determine the patient's subjective feelings ofthe treatment. The data was analyzed using a 2-sample t-test (incorporating the Levence test) for determining the statistical significance within each different stage of the research. The significant (2-tailed) p-values for the statistical significance between the two groups were obtained in order to indicate whether there was a reduction in myopia in either the experimental or the control group or both.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:3627 |
| Date | 05 February 2014 |
| Creators | Smith, Debbie |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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