A queston about eyes...

[ZenHarmony]

I know this is probably a silly question, but I've been struggling with it for a while now and hope someone may have a suggestion/solution for it:

When on the zafu, with my eyes semi-closed and my gaze fixed on the floor, I find that my eyes tend to unfocus. Now for most folks, that may not be a problem but I ruined my eyes my 14th summer staring off into space like that and ended up needing glasses by the time I was back in school in September. I now have progressive bifocals and I find, after zazen, that I am unable to see clearly for quite a while afterwards.

Do I need to focus completely on the wall/floor despite the distraction, or should I maybe remove my glasses entirely? Honestly, I can't afford for my eyes to get any worse, considering how much glasses cost nowadays—besides the fact that I'm darn near blind afterwards.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Gassho,

Lisa

[Bunny]

I sometimes sit with my glasses, sometimes without. I just do what feels best for my eyes at each sitting. Have you tried sitting without your glasses? How does that go? I wonder if sitting with your eyes closed might be the kindest thing for your body.
Gassho
Bunny

[Bunny]

Here's another discussion on glasses:

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11357-Zazen-With-Glasses%21

[Taigu]

Do what is best for your eyes. You could also seek precise medical advice.

Gassho

Taigu

[Mp]

Hey there Lisa,

Sorry to hear about your eyes - please do take care of them. For me, I try to not force my eyes to do anything that is not natural. When I have my posture and eyes are the right angle, I don't need to squint my eyes. Then my eyes can focus not focus and blind naturally.

I look at the wall, so not much there to focus on - I find if I try and focus too much my eyes get tired. Hope this helps.

Gassho
Shingen

[Jundo]

Here's another discussion on glasses:

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...ith-Glasses%21

Yes, as Taigu says.

We also had a third thread on eyes recently, worth a "look"

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11359-Trouble-focusing

I wrote there:

Hi,

My belief, when something like this comes up, is that folks must be doing something unnatural with the eyes during sitting. For example, holding them too rigidly on a fixed point of focus, or too artificially trying --not-- to look at/focus on an object.

I just sit, looking out through my half open eyes, no differently than if were sitting at my kitchen table looking at the room or driving a car looking at the road. If looking at the wall, I am just looking as if looking at any scenery. Normal vision, but I just am not particularly thinking about, pondering or concentrating on what I am seeing. There is no eye strain.

Perhaps you are trying too hard --not-- to let the eyes settle on something, and that is the cause of the strain?

Gassho, J

[Daijo]

Also, I noticed you said "eyes focused on the floor". Maybe don't focus, just relax your gaze and forget about the floor.

[Rich]

I also have progressive bifocals and usually sit without them.

Sent from my RM-860_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

[ZenHarmony]

Thank you, everyone, for the responses, and Bunny for the link on the glasses thread. Last I sat, I did it sans glasses and while it was a bit awkward, I didn't experience the same blurriness afterwards. I guess it's an ongoing experiment on balance ()

Gassho,

Lisa

[sittingzen]

Hi Lisa,

I know exactly what you are referring to. Your eyes tend to almost relax "too much" and the opposite of straining happens? It's difficult to put into words. I find this happens when my attention has become too relaxed. Usually, I will straighten my back to "refresh" for a brief moment. Get my posture back in line.

If it helps, just bring your attention back to a normal gaze, if possible. Nothing special. Just as is.

[Stacy]

I have been having a similar issue, not sure how my eyes should be looking and sometimes having a little short term blurred vision afterward (only really noticeable with trying to read immediately afterward). I don't wear bifocals or the like, just "regular" glasses for my near-sightedness.

I tried using "normal vision" (as Jundo said) in my last session of zazen and I noticed improvement. I will have to try without my glasses too and see how that goes.

Thanks for the thread, Lisa, and thanks everyone for the wonderful advice.

Gassho, Stacy