International Journal of Health Sciences and Research

www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571

Original Research Article

Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on

Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses with
Refractive Error
Soumya1, Manju Chhugani2, Eke Lama Tamang3
1
M.Sc. Nursing 2nd Year Student, 2Principal, 3Tutor,
Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi.
Corresponding Author: Ms. Soumya

ABSTRACT

Topic: A study to assess the effectiveness of trataka exercise on vision and aesthenopia among
student nurses with refractive error in a selected college of nursing of Delhi.
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the effectiveness of trataka exercise on vision
among student nurses and to assess the effectiveness of trataka exercise on aesthenopia among student
nurses.
Methodology: A quantitative research approach (true experimental) with pre – test - post – test
control group design was used. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 30 student nurses
with refractive error from Rufaida College of Nursing, Delhi. Data was collected using standard
Snellen’s chart and a structured checklist. The tool was validated and reliability of the tool was
established as 0.8 using KR – 20.
Results: There was no significant difference in vision of student nurses who received trataka exercise
in the experimental group at 0.05 level of significance. In the experimental group there was
significance difference in aesthenopia in student nurses who received trataka exercise at 0.05 level of
significance. In the control group there was no significant difference in both vision and aesthenopia at
0.05 level of significance.
Conclusion
Student nurses who performed trataka exercise showed decrease in aesthenopia than those who were
not administered the exercise. There was no significant difference in vision in the experimental group
and control group after the intervention. Trataka exercise was an effective method for the
management of aesthenopia among student nurses with refractive error.

Key words: Trataka exercise, aesthenopia, refractive error

INTRODUCTION have dire effects on individuals, families,

Humans have five senses: the eyes and communities. These effects range from
to see, the tongue to taste, the nose to a decrease in quality of life and increased
smell, the ears to hear, and the skin to feel. mortality to large-scale economic
By far the most important organs of sense consequences.
are our eyes. We perceive up to 80 per cent Visual disturbance is represented as
of all impressions by means of our sight. one of the most complex problem in the
And if other senses such as taste or smell field of ophthalmology and has been of
stop working, it's the eyes that best protect great interest ever since the dawn of human
us from danger. Low vision and blindness life. Now a days, myopia especially in

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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

children and adolescence is quite common 2. To assess the effectiveness of trataka

ophthalmic disease and seldom exceeds 5-6 exercise on aesthenopia among student
D (dioptre). Glasses neutralize the effect of nurses.
such conditions but do not relieve the cause
of the trouble, so in many cases, despite MATERIALS AND METHODS
using glasses the disease continues to Research Approach: Quantitative
progress. Estimates of the number of people approach (true experimental)
worldwide with refractive error range from Research Design: Pre – test Post – test
8 million to 2.3 billion. [1] Ocular Control Group Design
complaints of computer users have been Variables under study
grouped together and collectively termed as Independent variable: In the present study,
computer vision syndrome (CVS). [2] It is the independent variable is trataka exercise.
defined by the American Optometric Dependent Variable: In this study the
Association as a complex of eye and vision dependent variables are vision and
problems related to activities, which stress aesthenopia among student nurses with
the near vision and which are experienced in refractive error.
relation or during the use of computer. Setting of the study: The setting for the
Blurred vision, dry eyes, burning sensation, pilot study and final study was Rufaida
redness of eyes and headache are the main College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard, New
symptoms resulting from improper use of Delhi
computers. [3] Population: Population comprised of
Apart from the duration of usage, student nurses with refractive error studying
factors such as poor lighting, glare, screen at Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia
brightness, vision problems and improper Hamdard, New Delhi
work station setup also account for eye and Sample: The sample comprised of student
visual problems associated with computer nurses belonging to the age group of 15 – 25
usage. [4] Sustained periods of close screen years studying at Rufaida College of
work results in visual fatigue symptoms Nursing, New Delhi.
such as sore eyes and increased glare Sampling technique: Purposive sampling
sensitivity. [5] Dry eyes and related technique was used. A total of 30 student
symptoms are associated with reduced blink nurses were selected, out of 30, 15 each
rate and horizontal gaze causing wider were randomly assigned to experimental
opening of the palpebral fissure that lead to and control group using lottery method.
increased evaporation through exposed area. Procedure
 Ethical permission was taken from the
[6]
The discomfort associated with computer
usage has not yet been proven to result in Institutional Ethical Committee of Jamia
permanent damage, but may cause a Hamdard, New Delhi to conduct the
reduction in work accuracy. This can reduce research study.
productivity by as much as 40%. [7] The  Permission was obtained, to conduct the
extensive use of computers as a tool in research study, from the principal of
teaching and learning in universities Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia
necessitates introspection into the extent of Hamdard, New Delhi.
the disorder's effect on the population of  Snellen’s chart was used to assess
students tested. vision. Snellen’s chart is a standardized
tool. A structured checklist to assess
Objectives of the study aesthenopia among student nurses with
1. To assess the effectiveness of trataka refractive error was developed.
exercise on vision among student nurses.  The structured checklist consisted of 17
items. The maximum score was 17 and
the minimum score was 0.

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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

 The researcher had undergone one  On 15th day post- test vision and
month training in trataka exercise from aesthenopia was assessed in both the
Morarji Desai National Institute of groups.
Yoga, New Delhi.
 Procedure of trataka exercise and the STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
protocol for assessing the administration  The data was analysed using descriptive
of trataka exercise to the student nurses and inferential statistics. The vision
were developed. scores were represented using logMAR.
 The content validity of the tool was  Frequency and percentage distribution to
established by giving it to 7 experts describe the demographic characteristics
from the field of medical science, of the student nurses.
medical education, nursing science and  ‘t’ value computation to determine the
nursing education. significance of difference between mean
 The reliability of the tool was obtained pre – test and mean post – test vision
as 0.8 by Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 scores in the experimental and control
(KR-20). The reliability of the procedure group.
protocol was established through inter  ‘t’ value computation to determine the
rater reliability and r was 0.96. significance of difference between mean
 Formal administrative approval was post – test vision scores in the
obtained from the concerned authority to experimental and control group.
conduct the final study.  ‘t’ value computation to determine the
 The student nurses who met the significance of difference between mean
inclusion criteria were selected using pre – test and mean post – test
purposive sampling technique. The aesthenopia scores in the experimental
purpose of the study was explained to and control group.
the participants. After obtaining their  ‘t’ value computation to determine the
willingness to participate in the study significance of difference between mean
the data were collected from the sample post – test aesthenopia scores in the
subjects. experimental and control group.
 On day 1, vision was assessed using
Snellen’s chart and aesthenopia was RESULTS
assessed using structured checklist in Frequency and percentage
both the groups. distribution of student nurses by their age,
 Trataka exercise was administered for gender, religion, educational background,
10 minutes in the experimental group for marital status, type of family, income and
2 weeks. No intervention was duration of diagnosis.
administered in the control group.
Table – 1: Comparison of demographic characteristics of student nurses with refractive error in the experimental and control
group. n1 + n2 = 30
S. No Sample Characteristics Experimental Group Control Group Test applied p value
F % F %
1. Age(in years)
1.1 15 – 20 9 60 8 53.33 Chi – square 0.5
1.2 21 – 25 6 40 7 46.67 NS
2. Gender Test cannot be performed.
2.1 Male - - - -
2.2 Female 15 100 15 100
3. Religion
3.1 Hindu 5 33.33 4 26.67 Fisher’s exact test 0.76
3.2 Muslim 7 46.67 9 60 NS
3.3 Christian 3 20 2 13.33
4. Educational Background
4.1 DGNM 6 40 8 53.33 Fisher’s exact test 0.27
4.2 BSc Nursing 7 46.67 3 20 NS
4.3 PBBSc Nursing - - 2 13.33
4.4 MSc Nursing 2 13.33 2 13.33

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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

To be continued table 1….

5. Marital Status
5.1 Single 15 100 12 80 Fisher’s exact test 0.2
5.2 Married - - 3 20 NS
6. Family Type
6.1 Nuclear Family 12 80 8 53.33 Fisher’s exact test 0.24
6.2 Joint Family 3 20 7 46.67 NS
7. Family Income
7.1 8000 – 15000 1 6.67 - -
7.2 16000 – 30000 5 33.33 3 20 Fisher’s exact test 0.27
7.3 31000 – 50000 4 26.67 9 60 NS
7.4 Above 50000 5 33.33 3 20
NS – Not significant at 0.05 level, p>0.05 level

Table – 2: Comparison of clinical records of subjects by history of other illness and duration of diagnosis in the experimental and
control Group n1 + n2 = 30
S.No Sample Characteristics Experimental Group Control Group Test Applied P value
F % F %
8. Other Illness
8.1 Yes 3 20 2 13.33 Fisher’s exact test 1
8.2 No 12 80 13 86.67 NS
9. Duration of refractive error
9.1 0-6 months 2 13.33 - -
9.2 6-12 months 2 13.33 - - Fisher’s exact test 0.18
9.3 2-5 years 2 13.33 4 26.67 NS
9.4 Above 5 years 9 60 11 73.33
NS – Not significant at 0.05 level, p>0.05 level

Table – 3: Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation, mean post – test vision score (0.35) with a
Standard Error and ‘t’ value of pre – test and post – test left
eye vision (logMAR) scores in the experimental and control mean difference of 0.04. The obtained mean
group. n1 + n2= 30 difference was not statistically significant as
Group Mean M D SD SE ‘t’ value
Experimental evident from the calculated ‘t’ value of 0.17
Group 0.39 0.09 0.16 0.04 0.4 which is less than the table value of 2.15 at
Pre – test 0.30 0.11 0.02
Post –test 0.05 level of significance.
Control Group The mean post-test left eye vision
Pre – test 0.39 0.04 0.16 0.04 0.17
Post – test 0.35 0.15 0.03 score in the experimental group (0.30) was
‘t’ (14) = 2.15, Non significant at 0.05 level of significance lower than the mean post-test left eye vision
score (0.35) in the control group with a
The mean pre – test left eye vision
mean difference of 0.05. The obtained mean
score (0.39) was higher than the mean post
difference was not statistically significant as
– test left eye vision score (0.30) with a
evident from the calculated ‘t’ value of 0.65
mean difference of 0.09 in the experimental
less than the table value of 2.15. This
group. The obtained mean difference was
indicates that there was no significant
not statistically significant as evident from
difference in vision among experimental
the calculated ‘t’ value of 0.4 which is less
and control group after the intervention.
than the table value of 2.15 at 0.05 level of
significance. Table – 5 : Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation,
Standard Error and ‘t’ value of pre – test and post – test right
eye vision (logMAR) scores in the experimental and control
Table 4: Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation, group. n1 + n2= 30
Standard Error and ‘t’ value of post – test left eye vision
(logMAR) scores in the experimental and control group Group Mean MD SD SE ‘t’ value
n1 + n2= 30 Experimental
Group Mean M D SD SE ‘t’ value Group 0.36 0.1 0.15 0.04 1.9
Experimental Pre – test 0.26 0.11 0.03
Group Post –test
0.30 0.05 0.11 0.02 0.65 Control Group
Post –test Pre – test 0.40 0.01 0.13 0.03 0.25
Control Group Post – test 0.39 0.14 0.04
Post – test 0.35 0.15 0.03
‘t’ (14) = 2.15, Not significant at 0.05 level of significance t’ (14) = 2.15, Not significant at 0.05 level of significance

In the control group the mean pre – The mean pre – test right eye vision
test vision score (0.39) was higher than the score (0.36) was higher than the mean post

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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

– test right eye vision score (0.26) with a test aesthenopia score (10.73) in the
mean difference of 0.1 in the experimental experimental group with a mean difference
group. The obtained mean difference was of 3.13. The obtained mean difference was
not statistically significant as evident from found to be statistically significant as
the calculated ‘t’ value of 1.9 which is less evident from the calculated ‘t’ value of 6.87
than the table value of 2.15 at 0.05 level of which is greater than the table value of 2.15
significance. In the control group the mean at 0.05 level of significance. This shows that
pre – test right eye vision score (0.40) was the obtained mean difference between the
higher than the mean post – test right eye pre – test and post – test aesthenopia scores
vision score (0.30) with a mean difference in the experimental group was a true
of 0.01. The obtained mean difference was difference and not by chance. In the control
not statistically significant as evident from group the mean post- test aesthenopia score
the calculated ‘t’ value of 0.25 which is less (10.8) was lower than the mean pre – test
than the table value of 2.15 at 0.05 level of aesthenopia score (11.13) with a mean
significance. difference of 0.33. The obtained mean
difference was not statistically significant as
Table – 6: Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation,
Standard Error and ‘t’ value of post – test right eye vision evident from the calculated ‘t’ value of 1.47
(logMAR) scores in the experimental and control group which is lower than the table value of 2.15
n1 + n2= 30
at 0.05 level of significance.
Group Mean MD SD SE ‘t’
value Table 8: Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation,
Experimental Standard Error and ‘t’ value of post – test aesthenopia scores
Group in the experimental and control group. n1 + n2= 30
Post –test 0.26 0.13 0.11 0.03 1.25 Group Mean MD SD SE ‘t’
Control Group value
Post – test 0.39 0.14 0.04 Experimental
‘t’ (14) = 2.15, Not significant at 0.05 level of significance Group
Post–test 7.6 3.2 2.23 0.57
aesthenopia score **7.34
The mean post-test right eye vision Control Group
score in the experimental group (0.26) was Post – test
aesthenopia score 10.8 2.36 0.6
lower than the mean post-test left eye vision ‘t’(14) = 2.15, **significant at 0.05 level of significance
score (0.39) in the control group with a
mean difference of 0.05. The obtained mean The mean post – test aesthenopia
difference was not statistically significant as score (7.6) was lower in the experimental
evident from the calculated ‘t’ value of 1.25 group than the mean post – test aesthenopia
less than the table value of 2.15. This score (10.8) in the control group. The
indicates that there was no significant obtained mean difference was statistically
difference in right eye vision among significant as evident from the calculated ‘t’
experimental and control group after the value of 7.34 more than the tabulated ‘t’
intervention. value of 2.15 at 0.05 level of significance.
Table – 7: Mean, Mean difference, Standard Deviation, This indicates that there was significant
Standard Error and ‘t’ value of pre – test and post – test difference in aesthenopia in the
aesthenopia scores in the experimental and control group.
n1 + n2= 30 experimental group and control group after
Group Mean MD SD SE ‘t’ value the intervention.
Experimental
Group
Pre – test 10.73 3.13 2.31 0.59 **6.87 DISCUSSION
Post –test 7.6 2.23 0.57
Control Group
Eye exercise and Trataka yoga kriya,
Pre – test 11.13 0.33 2.09 0.54 1.47 the basic concepts behind these are
Post – test 10.8 2.36 0.60
‘t’(14) = 2.15, **significant at 0.05 level of significance
relaxation techniques. Relaxation of mind
and eyes improves the vision. Eye exercises
The mean post – test aesthenopia have a great role for play in aesthenopic
score (7.6) was lower than the mean pre – features. The practice of Trataka is based on
the scientific fact, that the movement of the
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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

eyeballs can reflect our thinking process. school girls. This experiment therefore
When we concentrate, our thoughts are included thirty (N=30) high school girls age
focused on a particular subject due to which, ranged from 11-15 from Guajarati
the stray thoughts become less or may even Kanyaprashala gulmandi Aurangabad. The
vanish. At the same time the eyeballs subjects were divided in to two groups i.e.
become steadier. [8] control group (n=15) and experimental
In this era of changed life style and group (n=15) Initial test of Myopia was
increased pace, it is the primary duty of conducted to all subjects. In training of
Ayurvedic community to educate the Yogic Exercise, which included OM
society regarding the healthy use of eye. A stawan, Anulom-vilom, Kapalbhati,
regular schedule in this regard for the Bhramari, Ujjayi Pranayama, OM recitation,
prompt relaxation of eye is not only eye exercise tratak, palming and Yoganidra.
beneficial to such refractive problems but After one month, training of Yogic exercise
also can prevent many degenerative final test was conducted for the entire
conditions. The agenda behind this subjects. The obtained data would
particular study was to popularize trataka statistically analyzed by using T ratio. It was
exercise, a simple technique which can found that the practice of Yogic Exercise
contribute to mankind in prevention of was improved the Eyesight of high school
many eye diseases and provide relief to too girls. [10]
many visual problems/aesthenopic
symptoms. Limitation
The present study concluded that The limitations of the study were:
trataka exercise was effective in reducing The study was confined to only 15 samples
aesthenopic symptoms in the experimental in each group and to only one institute that
group. limits generalization of findings.
These findings have been supported Recommendations
by the findings by G. Gopinathan, Kartar On the basis of the findings, the following
Singh Dhiman and R. Manjusha to evaluate recommendations were made for the future
the efficacy of trataka yoga kriya in the research:
management of timira (Ammetropia and  The study can be replicated on a larger
Presbyopia).The study showed that none of sample to validate the findings and make
the patient’s aesthenopic symptoms were generalizations.
cured and markedly improved in eye  A comparative study can be done to
exercises group. In Trataka group, moderate assess the effectiveness of other non
improvement was observed in one patient, pharmacological methods in the
mild improvement was observed in 20 correction of refractive errors.
patients and no improvement was observed  A study can be replicated on larger
in 10 patients of timira. In Snellen's chart samples of patients in clinical settings.
reading one line improvement was noted.  A study can be conducted to assess the
There was moderate improvement in clarity effectiveness of trataka on improving
of vision, contrast sensitivity, and fineness cognitive functions.
of objects. Though the degree of this
improvement was almost similar in both the CONCLUSION
groups, a better relief was appreciated by Trataka exercise was an effective method
patients of Trataka Yoga Kriya group. [9] for the management of aesthenopia among
Another study was conducted by student nurses with refractive error.
Lolage and Jadhav on effects of yogic
exercise and myopia of high school girls. IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study was to measure the The findings of the study have implications for
nursing practice, nursing education, nursing
effect of Yogic exercise on Myopia of high administration and nursing research.

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Soumya et al. Assessment of Effectiveness of Trataka Exercise on Vision and Aesthenopia among Student Nurses
with Refractive Error

Nursing Practice parents, friends and teachers for sharing their

 Knowledge about trataka exercise will pearls of wisdom during the course of this study.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Development and Research. 2013; 4(2): 144
First and foremost, I would like to thank
– 150.
Almighty God whose abiding grace enabled me
to successfully complete this study. I would also
like to express my gratitude to my beloved

How to cite this article: Soumya, Chhugani M, Tamang EL. Assessment of effectiveness of trataka exercise
on vision and aesthenopia among student nurses with refractive error. Int J Health Sci Res. 2017; 7(4):325-
331.

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