Muscular funnel of the eye. Eye muscles - structure and functions
3. Auxiliary apparatus of the eye: muscles of the eyeball, conjunctiva, eyelids, lacrimal apparatus, their blood supply, innervation.
Muscles of the eyeball - 6 striated muscles: 4 straight - upper, lower, lateral and medial, and two oblique - upper and lower.
M bullock that lifts upper eyelid, T.levator palpebrae superi oris. R located in the orbit above the superior rectus muscle of the eyeball, and ends in the thickness of the upper eyelid. The rectus muscles rotate the eyeball around the vertical and horizontal axes.
Lateral and medial rectus muscles,tt. recti late ralis et medialis, turn the eyeball outward and inward around the vertical axis, the pupil rotates.
Upper and lower rectus muscles,tt. recti superior et inferior, rotate the eyeball around the transverse axis. The pupil, under the action of the superior rectus muscle, is directed upward and somewhat outward, and during the operation of the inferior rectus muscle, downward and inward.
superior oblique muscle,T.obliquus superior, lies in the superomedial part of the orbit between the superior and medial rectus muscles, turns the eyeball and pupil down and laterally.
inferior oblique muscle,T.obliquus inferior, starts from the orbital surface of the upper jaw near the opening of the nasolacrimal canal, on the lower wall of the orbit, goes between it and the lower rectus muscle obliquely upwards and backwards, turns the eyeball upwards and laterally.
eyelids.Upper eyelid, palpebra superior , And lower eyelid, palpebra inferior , - formations that lie in front of the eyeball and cover it from above and below, and when the eyelids close, completely cover it.
The anterior surface of the eyelid, facies anterior palpebra, is convex, covered with thin skin with short vellus hair, sebaceous and sweat glands. The posterior surface of the eyelid, facies posterior palpebrae, faces the eyeball, concave. This surface of the eyelid is covered conjunctivatunica conjuctiva.
Conjunctiva, tunica conjunctiva , connective tissue sheath. It distinguishes eyelid conjunctiva,tunica conjunativa palpebrarum , covering the inside of the eyelids, and conjunctiva of the eyeball,tunica conjunctiva bulbAris, which on the cornea is represented by a thin epithelial cover. . The entire space in front of the eyeball, bounded by the conjunctiva, is called conjunctival sac,saccus conjunctivae
lacrimal apparatus, Apparatus lacrimalis , includes the lacrimal gland with its excretory tubules opening into the conjunctival sac and the lacrimal ducts. lacrimal gland,glAndula lAcrimAlis, - a complex alveolar-tubular gland, lies in the fossa of the same name in the lateral corner, at top wall eye sockets. excretory ducts of the lacrimal gland,duxuli excretorii open into the conjunctival sac in the lateral part of the superior fornix of the conjunctiva.
blood supply: Branches of the ophthalmic artery, which is a branch of the internal carotid artery. Venous blood - through the eye veins into the cavernous sinus. The retina is supplied with blood central retinal artery,a. centerAlis retinae, Two arterial circles: big,circulus arteriosus iridis major, at the ciliary edge of the iris and small,cir culus arteridsus iridis minor, at the pupillary edge. The sclera is supplied with blood by the posterior short ciliary arteries.
Eyelids and conjunctiva - from the medial and lateral arteries of the eyelids, the anastomoses between which form in the thickness of the eyelids the arch of the upper eyelid and the arch of the lower eyelid, and the anterior conjunctival arteries. The veins of the same name flow into the ophthalmic and facial veins. Goes to the lacrimal gland lacrimal artery,a. lacrimalis.
Innervation: Sensitive innervation - from the first branch of the trigeminal nerve - the ophthalmic nerve. From its branch - the nasociliary nerve, long ciliary nerves depart, suitable for the eyeball. The lower eyelid is innervated by the infraorbital nerve, which is a branch of the second branch of the trigeminal nerve. The upper, lower, medial rectus, inferior oblique muscles of the eye and the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid receive motor innervation from the oculomotor nerve, the lateral rectus from the abducens nerve, and the superior oblique from the trochlear nerve.
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The muscles of the eye perform coordinated movements of the eyeballs, providing high-quality and volumetric vision.
There are only six oculomotor muscles in the eye, of which four are straight and two are oblique, which received this name because of the peculiarities of the muscle in the orbit and attachment to the eyeball. Muscle function is controlled by three cranial nerves: oculomotor, abducens, and trochlear. Each muscle fiber of this muscle group is richly supplied with nerve endings, which ensures special clarity and accuracy in movements.
Thanks to the oculomotor muscles, numerous options for the movement of the eyeballs are possible, both unidirectional: up, to the right, and so on; and multidirectional, for example, reducing the eyes when working at close range. The essence of such movements is that, due to the coordinated work of the muscles, the same image of objects falls on the same parts of the retina - the macular area, providing good vision and a sense of depth.
Features of the structure of the muscles of the eye
There are 6 oculomotor muscles, of which 4 are straight, going in the forward direction: internal, external, upper and lower. The remaining 2 are called oblique, as they have an oblique direction of travel and attachment to the eyeball - the upper and lower oblique muscles.
All muscles, with the exception of the inferior oblique, start from a dense connective tissue ring surrounding the external opening of the optic canal. Anterior to its origin, 5 muscles form a muscular funnel, inside which the optic nerve, blood vessels, and nerves pass. Further, the superior oblique muscle gradually deviates upward and inwards, following to the so-called block. At this point, the muscle passes into the tendon, which is thrown over the loop of the block and changes its direction to oblique, attaching in the upper outer quadrant of the eyeball under the superior rectus muscle. The inferior oblique muscle originates at the inferior inner edge of the orbit, runs outward and posteriorly under the inferior rectus muscle, and inserts in the inferior outer quadrant of the eyeball.
Approaching the eyeball, the muscles are surrounded by a dense capsule - Tenon's membrane and join the sclera at different distances from the limbus. Closest of all of the rectus muscles to the limbus, the internal is attached, and then the upper rectus, while the oblique muscles are attached to the eyeball slightly posterior to the equator, that is, the middle of the length of the eyeball.
The work of the muscles is regulated, for the most part, by the oculomotor nerve: the superior, internal, inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles, with the exception of the external rectus, the work of which is provided by the abducens nerve and the superior oblique - the trochlear nerve. A feature of nervous regulation is that one branch of the motor nerve controls the work of a very small number muscle fibers, due to which maximum accuracy is achieved when moving the eyes.
The movements of the eyeball depend on the features of muscle attachment. The places of attachment of the internal and external rectus muscles coincide with the horizontal plane of the eyeball, due to this, it is possible horizontal movements eyes: turn to the nose with the contraction of the internal rectus and to the temple with the contraction of the external rectus muscle.
The upper and lower rectus muscles mainly provide vertical eye movements, but since the line of attachment of the muscles is located somewhat obliquely with respect to the limbus line, simultaneously with the vertical movement, the eye also moves inwards.
The oblique muscles during contraction cause more complex actions, this is due to the peculiarities of the location of the muscles and their attachment to the sclera. The superior oblique muscle lowers the eye and turns outward, while the inferior oblique muscle raises it and also withdraws it outward.
In addition, the superior and inferior rectus muscles, as well as the oblique muscles, provide small turns of the eyeball clockwise and counterclockwise. Due to good nervous regulation and well-coordinated work of the muscles of the eyeball, complex movements are possible, both unilateral and directed to different sides, due to which there is a three-dimensionality of vision, or binocularity, and, in addition, the quality of vision increases.
Diagnostic methods
Determination of eye mobility - the completeness of eye movements is assessed when tracking a moving object. Strabometry - assessment of the angle or degree of deviation of the eyeball from the midline in strabismus. Cover test - alternately cover one and the second eye to determine latent strabismus - heterophoria, and in case of obvious strabismus, its appearance is determined. Ultrasound diagnostics - determination of changes in oculomotor muscles in close proximity to the eyeball. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging - detection of changes in the oculomotor muscles throughout their length.
Disease symptoms
Double vision is possible with obvious strabismus and with pronounced latent strabismus. Nystagmus - occurs when the ability of the eyes to fix objects is impaired.
The human eye is surrounded by six eye muscles: four straight (upper and lower, lateral and medial) and two oblique (upper and lower).
All the muscles of the eye, except for the inferior oblique, start from the tendon ring located in the thickness of the orbit and diverge anteriorly, forming a cone-shaped muscular funnel. All eye muscles, except for the superior oblique, are attached directly to the sclera.
The superior oblique eye muscle is directed forward to the cartilaginous block. At the block, it turns into a tendon and, having passed through the loop of the block, sharply changes the direction of movement. Under the superior rectus eye muscle, it penetrates into the sclera of the eyeball behind the equator.
The lower oblique eye muscle starts from the inner wall of the orbit and, bending around the eyeball, connects to the sclera behind the equator.
The superior oblique eye muscle is innervated by the trochlear nerve, the external rectus eye muscle is innervated by the abducens nerve, and all other muscles are innervated by the oculomotor nerve.
The external muscles of the eye are placed in this order (in ascending order): the inferior oblique eye muscle (the thinnest), then the superior oblique, superior rectus, inferior rectus, external rectus and internal rectus - the most powerful muscle.
Functions of the muscles of the eye
According to their action, the muscles of the eye are divided into the following groups:
levator muscles (inferior oblique and superior rectus); abductor muscles (oblique and external rectus); adductor muscles (lower and inner, upper straight); descending muscles (superior oblique and inferior rectus).
Like skeletal muscles, the muscles of the eye can contract without shortening (isometric contraction) or with shortening (isotonic contraction).
Thanks to isotonic contraction the external rectus eye muscle, the eyeball turns outward. The internal rectus eye muscle rotates the eyeball inward. The inferior rectus muscle rotates the eyeball downward, and the superior rectus muscle rotates it upward. The inferior oblique eye muscle rotates the eyeball up and out, and the superior oblique muscle down and out.
During rapid eye movements, the eye muscles contract with a force of 0.11-0.13 kg. When the eyeball is rotated by forty degrees, the muscle contracts with a force of 0.045 kg.
Causes of sore eye muscles
A common reason why eye muscles hurt is their overwork. In addition, eye pain can occur due to scratching of the eye surface with contact lenses or due to the use of incorrectly selected glasses. Sometimes the muscles of the eyes hurt as a result of overexertion of the facial muscles.
In addition, eye pain can be directly related to eye diseases themselves - uveitis, conjunctivitis and others. In this case, the pain is often accompanied by general malaise (nausea, headache) and visual impairment.
Eye muscle training
Most effective remedy to strengthen the muscles of the eyes - general strengthening exercises in combination with special exercises for eye muscles.
At home in training sessions it is recommended to include breathing exercises, walking, arm movements, exercises for shoulder girdle, exercises for the muscles of the eye, exercises for the muscles of the legs and torso, self-massage of the neck and eyes, relaxation exercise.
Eye muscle training should include exercises for the external and internal eye muscles.
External eye muscle training:
in a sitting position, slowly look from the ceiling to the floor and back, then from left to right and back (repeat 10-13 times); carry out rotation of the eyes in different directions (repeat 4-7 times), as well as frequent blinking for 15-20 seconds.
Internal eye muscle training:
attach a round-shaped mark on the window glass at eye level with a diameter of 4-5 mm at a distance of 30 cm from the eyes; look at the mark, then at any distant object outside the window.
Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the eyes should be performed twice a day. On the first two days - within three to four minutes, on the third and fourth - five minutes, on the following days - ten minutes.
For the prevention and treatment of myopia (myopia), the American ophthalmologist W. Bates proposed a set of exercises for each type of visual impairment separately, as well as basic exercises, effective for eye fatigue and for any visual impairment.
Bates believed that glasses, while improving visibility, worsen the blood supply to the eyes and increase visual impairment and eye strain.
Bates gymnastics includes a method passive relaxation(mental representation, palming), dynamic relaxation method (solarization, breathing and blinking), central fixation method (analytical looking, quick glances, swaying and moving, reading small print, swaying).
The methods of restoring the vision of Norbekov and Zhdanov, slightly supplementing and modifying, copy the method of the ophthalmologist W. Bates.
The oculomotor muscles help to carry out the coordinated movement of the eyeballs, and in parallel they provide high-quality perception. To have a three-dimensional image of the surrounding world, it is necessary to constantly train muscle tissue. What exercises to perform, the specialist will tell you after a thorough examination. In any situation, self-therapy should be completely excluded.
general information
The muscles of the eye are of six types, with four of them straight and two oblique. They are named so because of the peculiarities of the course in the cavity (orbit) where they are located, and also because of the attachment to the organ of vision. Their performance is under the control of nerve endings, which are located in the cranial box, such as:
Oculomotor.Diverting.Block.
The eye muscles have a large number of nerves that are able to provide clarity, accuracy when moving the organs of vision.
Movement
Thanks to these fibers, the eyeballs can perform numerous movements, both unidirectional and multidirectional. Unidirectional ones include turns up, down, left and others, and multidirectional ones - bringing the organs of vision to one point. Such movements help the tissues to work smoothly and present the same image to a person, due to its hitting the same area of the retina.
Muscles can provide movements of both eyes, while performing the main function:
Movement in the same direction. It is called versioned. Movement in different directions. It is called vergent (convergence, divergence).
What are the structural features?
As mentioned earlier, the oculomotor muscles are:
Direct. They have a direct orientation. The oblique muscles have an uneven course and are attached to the organ of vision by the upper and lower tissues.
All of these eye muscles start from a dense connecting ring that surrounds the external opening of the optic canal. In this situation, the lower oblique is considered an exception. All five muscle fibers at the same time form a funnel, which has nerves inside, including the main visual one, as well as blood vessels.
If you go deeper, you will see how the oblique muscle deviates up and inward, while creating a block. Also in this area, the fibers pass into the tendon, which is thrown through a special loop, and at the same time, a change in its direction to an oblique one is observed. Then it is attached to the upper outer quadrant of the organ of vision under the upper tissue of the direct type.
Features of the inferior oblique and internal muscles
As for the inferior oblique muscle, it originates at the inner edge, which is located below the orbit and continues to the outer posterior border lower muscle direct type. The oculomotor muscles, the closer to the apple, the more surrounded by a dense fiber capsule, that is, the shadow shell, and then they are attached to the sclera, but not at the same distance from the limbus.
The performance of most fibers is regulated by the oculomotor nerve. In this situation, the external rectus is considered an exception, it is provided by the abducens nerve, and the superior oblique, which is provided by nerve impulses from the trochlear nerve. The internal muscles of the eye are closest to the limbus, and the upper straight and oblique muscles are attached in the middle to the organ of vision.
The main feature of innervation is that a branch of the motor nerve controls the performance of a small number of muscles, therefore, maximum accuracy is achieved when moving human eyes.
Structural features of the superior and inferior rectus and oblique muscles
How the oculomotor muscles are attached will determine the movement of the apple. The internal and external straight fibers are located horizontally relative to the plane of the organ of vision, so a person can move them horizontally. Also, these two muscles are involved in providing vertical movement.
Now consider the structure of the oculomotor muscles of the oblique type. They are capable of provoking more complex actions when reduced. This can be associated with some feature of the location and attachment to the sclera. The oblique muscle tissue, which is located on top, helps the organ of vision to descend and turn outward, and the lower one - to rise and also be retracted outward.
It is necessary to take into account one more nuance that affects the upper and lower rectus, as well as the oblique muscles - they have excellent regulation of nerve impulses, there is a well-coordinated work of the muscle tissue of the eyeball, while a person is able to perform complex movements in different directions. Therefore, people can see three-dimensional pictures, and the quality of the image is also improved, which then enters the brain.
Accessory muscles
In addition to the above fibers, other tissues that surround the palpebral fissure also take part in the work and mobility of the eyeball. In this case, the circular muscle is considered the most important. It has a unique structure, which is represented by several parts - orbital, lacrimal and secular.
So, shorthand:
the orbital part occurs due to the straightening of the transverse folds, which are located in the frontal region, as well as by lowering the eyebrows and reducing the eye gap; the eyelid part occurs by closing the eye gap; the lacrimal part is due to an increase in the lacrimal sac.
All these three sections that make up the circular muscle are located around the eyeball. Their beginning is located directly near the medial angle on the bone base. Innervation occurs due to a small branch facial nerve. It must be understood that any contraction or tension of the oculomotor muscles of any type occurs with the help of nerves.
Other accessory muscle tissues
Also, unitary, multiunit fabrics, which belong to smooth type. Multiunitary are the ciliary muscle and iris tissue. The unitary fiber is located near the lens, and the structure is able to provide accommodation. If this muscle is relaxed, then the image can be transmitted to the retina, and if it contracts, this leads to a significant protrusion of the lens, and objects that are closer can be seen much better.
Functional Features
The function and anatomy of the oculomotor muscles are interrelated. Since due attention has already been paid to the structure, we will now analyze in more detail the function of this type of muscle tissue, without which a person will not be able to correctly perceive the world around him.
home functional feature- the ability to provide full eye movement in different directions:
Bringing to one point, that is, there is a movement, for example, to the nose. This feature is provided by the internal straight line and additionally by the upper lower straight muscle tissue. Abduction, that is, movement to the temporal region occurs. This feature is provided by the external straight line, additionally by the upper and lower oblique muscle tissues. The upward movement occurs due to the correct functioning of the upper rectus and lower oblique muscles. The downward movement occurs due to the correct functioning of the lower rectus and upper oblique muscle tissue.
All movements are complex and coordinated with each other.
Training exercises
In any situation, a violation of eye movement can occur, therefore, at the first manifestations of a deviation, you should immediately contact a specialist who, after a thorough examination, will be able to prescribe effective treatment. In most cases, diseases and pathologies of muscle tissue are eliminated surgically. To exclude any complications and interventions, constant training of the oculomotor muscles should be carried out.
Exercise 1 - for external muscles. To relax not only muscle tissues, but also the eyes, you need to blink quickly for half a minute. Then rest and repeat the exercise again. Helps after a working day and long sitting at the computer. Exercise 2 - for internal muscles. Before the eyes at a distance of 0.3 m, you need to place your finger and look at it carefully for several seconds. Then in turn close your eyes, but continue to look at him. Then carefully look at the fingertip for 3-5 seconds. Exercise 3 - to strengthen the underlying tissues. The body and head must be motionless. Eyes need to move to the right, then to the left. Retraction to the side should be maximum. You need to do the exercise at least 9-11 times.
For a clear and clear vision, as well as the coordinated work of the eyeball, the oculomotor muscles are needed. Their innervation is due to a large number of nerve contacts, which make it possible to make precise movements when considering objects that are at different distances. The work of six muscles (of which 4 oblique and two straight) is provided by three cranial nerves.
It is thanks to muscle fibers that we can look up, down, left, right, or move our eyes when working at close range. Various groups muscles allow us to see clear images with a high degree of fidelity. In this article, we will talk in detail about the muscular structure of the organs of vision. Consider its function, anatomy, as well as possible pathologies.
Anatomical structure
The external muscles of the eye are located inside the orbit and are attached to the eyeball. With their contractions, the visual organ turns, directing the gaze in the right direction. To a greater extent, the work of the muscular apparatus is regulated by the oculomotor nerve. All the muscles of the eye begin surrounded by the opening of the optic nerve and the superior orbital fissure.
Depending on the features of attachment and movement, the muscle fibers of the eye are divided into straight and oblique. The first group goes in the forward direction:
- internal (medial);
- external (lateral);
- top;
- lower.
The external rectus muscle rotates the eye to the temple. Due to the reduction of the inner straight line, it is possible to direct the gaze towards the nose. The superior and inferior rectus muscles help the eye to move vertically and towards the inner corner.
The remaining two muscles (upper and lower) have an oblique course and are attached to the eyeball. They perform more complex actions. The superior oblique muscle lowers the eyeball and turns it outward, while the inferior oblique muscle raises it and also takes it outward. Eye movements depend on the features of attachment of striated muscle fibers.
At the end of the article, let's talk about the nerves that innervate the muscles of the visual apparatus:
- block-shaped - upper oblique;
- efferent - lateral straight line;
- oculomotor - all the rest.
INTERESTING! Overstrain of the oblique muscles of the eye becomes the main cause of myopia.
The external muscular apparatus also includes the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid and the circular muscle. circular muscle eyes (radial) - this is a plate that closes the entrance to the orbit. It goes around the entire circumference of the eye. Its main function is to close the eyelids and protect the eye socket. It consists of three main parts:
- secular - responsible for closing the eyelids;
- orbital - with involuntary spasms, it makes the eyes close;
- lacrimal - expands the lacrimal sac and removes fluid.
If this muscle is damaged, blepharospasm may develop. Involuntary contractions of the eye can last from a few seconds to several minutes. Lagophthalmos is also called "hare's eye". Due to paralysis of the muscle fiber, the palpebral fissure does not completely close. The above pathologies are characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms: eversion and sagging of the lower eyelid, convulsive twitching, dryness, photophobia, edema, lacrimation.
The internal muscles of the eye include:
- ciliary muscle;
- muscle that constricts the pupil;
- muscle that dilates the pupil.
The muscular apparatus adjusts the visual organ for viewing objects. With their help, the eyelids open and close. Thanks to voluminous and bright vision, a person fully perceives the world around him. The smooth operation of this system is possible due to two factors:
- correct muscle structure;
- normal innervation.
Main function muscular system- ensuring the movement of the eyeball in a given direction. Nerve fibers are the guiding elements of the entire process of movement. Due to the contractions of the visual muscles, a change in the size of the pupil also occurs.
Pathologies
Only with the correct operation of the oculomotor mechanism, the visual apparatus will be able to realize all its functions. Any deviation in the work of muscle fibers is fraught with a violation of visual function and the development of dangerous pathologies.
Most often, the oculomotor mechanism suffers from the following phenomena:
- Myasthenia. The weakness of the muscle fibers does not allow them to properly move the eyeballs.
- Paresis or paralysis. It manifests itself in the form of a structural lesion of the neuromuscular structure.
- Spasm. It is expressed in excessive muscle tension.
- Strabismus - strabismus.
- Myositis is inflammation of the muscle fibers.
- Congenital anomalies (aplasia, hypoplasia).
Diseases of the muscular apparatus causes the appearance of such unpleasant symptoms:
- Diplopia - doubling the image.
- Nystagmus is an involuntary movement of the eyeballs. In other words, the eye twitches.
- Pain in the eyes.
- Loss of one or another eye movement.
- Dizziness.
- Changing the position of the head.
- Headache.
Myositis
The external muscles of the eyeball can become inflamed at the same time. This is a rare ailment in which one visual organ usually suffers. Most often, men of young or middle age suffer from myositis. At risk are people whose professional activities involve a long stay in a sitting position.
Myositis is an inflammation of the eye muscles.
Myositis can develop under the influence of such reasons:
- infectious diseases;
- helminthic invasions;
- intoxication of the body;
- incorrect position of the body during the stay at the workplace;
- long visual loads;
- trauma;
- hypothermia;
- mental stress.
The disease is accompanied by pronounced pain and intense muscle weakness. Increased soreness occurs at night and when weather conditions change. There may also be slight swelling and redness of the skin. Patients complain of lacrimation and photophobia.
The more muscle fibers are involved in the pathological process, the more the inflamed muscles thicken. This manifests itself in the form of exophthalmos, or protrusion of the eyeball. With myositis, the visual organ is painful and limited in mobility. Treatment of the disease includes a whole range of therapeutic measures, including physiotherapy, physical education, massage, diet, and the use of medications.
myasthenia gravis
The development of myasthenia is based on neuromuscular exhaustion. Pathology most often affects young people between the ages of twenty and forty. Muscular weakness of the visual organs is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system begins to produce antibodies to its own tissues.
ATTENTION! Myasthenia symptoms increase after physical activity and decrease after rest.
Myasthenia gravis is characterized by a relapsing or constantly progressive course. The ocular form is manifested by weakness of the eyelids and muscles.
The exact causes of the disease are still unknown. Scientists suggest that the leading role in the occurrence of myasthenia gravis belongs to hereditary factors. When taking a patient history, it often turns out that one of the blood relatives suffered from the same ailment.
Among the symptoms of pathology, the following come to the fore:
- double vision;
- fuzzy vision of objects;
- violation of the motor and rotational function of the muscles of the eye;
- drooping of the eyelids.
To relieve discomfort, patients are advised to wear dark glasses in bright light. A special adhesive tape can be used to hold the eyelids. To prevent diplopia (double vision), a bandage is used on one visual organ. It is worn alternately on one and the other eye.
Spasm of accommodation
Normally, the organs of vision adapt and see images equally clearly at close and far distances. The focus of the eye is controlled by the ciliary muscle. With violations in its work, a spasm of accommodation is formed - a pathology in which a person cannot clearly see objects at different distances.
The disease is also called false myopia, or tired eye syndrome. The lens relaxes to see distant objects, and tightens to see near objects clearly. With a spasm of accommodation, the lens does not relax, because of which the quality of distance vision suffers.
The main cause of the development of pathology is visual overload. Fatigue develops due to a number of reasons:
- regular reading of books in poor lighting;
- no break when working with small parts or at the computer;
- long work, implying the utmost concentration of vision;
- lack of sleep.
With a spasm of accommodation, a person has difficulty seeing objects in the distance.
There is a spasm of accommodation in the form of myopia, periodic pain in the eyes, increased fatigue. Patients complain of a burning sensation, cramps, redness, dizziness, a feeling of dryness. As the pathology progresses, the eyes begin to get tired even in the absence of complex visual work. Visual acuity gradually decreases.
Treatment of spasm of accommodation involves complex measures. In addition to conservative therapy, hardware techniques and gymnastics are used. Doctors prescribe eye drops to relax the ciliary muscle: Midriacil, Cyclomide, Atropine. To dilate the pupil, stimulate the circulation of intraocular fluid and strengthen the ciliary muscle, drops of Irifrin are prescribed.
Simultaneously with such preparations, vitamin complexes and preparations for moisturizing the mucous membrane of the eye are prescribed. Neck massage helps relieve spasm.
Strabismus (strabismus)
This is a visual impairment in which one or both eyes deviate from the fixation point. Strabismus occurs in both children and adults.
Strabismus is not a simple cosmetic defect. The pathology is based on a violation of binocular vision. This means that a person cannot correctly determine the location of an object in space. The disease negatively affects the quality of life.
Normally, an image of objects is fixed in the central part of the organs of vision. Then the image from each eye is transmitted to the brain. There, these data are combined, which provides a complete binocular vision.
In strabismus, the brain cannot connect the information it receives from the right and left eyes. To protect a person from bifurcation, nervous system simply ignores the signal from the damaged visual organ. This causes a decrease in the functional activity of the squinting eye.
The following reasons can provoke the development of pathology:
- thorn of the cornea;
- cataract;
- degenerative changes in the macula;
- traumatic brain injury;
- strong fear;
- visual fatigue;
- brain diseases;
- infectious processes of ENT organs;
- retinal detachment.
Strabismus causes restrictions in the mobility of the eyeball. The patient is deprived of the opportunity to see a three-dimensional image. Objects double in the eyes. Patients complain of dizziness. There is a characteristic inclination of the head towards the damaged organ and squinting.
You can correct your vision with the help of specially selected glasses or contact lenses. Prismatic devices allow you to relieve muscle tension and restore the quality of vision.
The orthopedic method of treatment involves the imposition of a special bandage on a healthy eye. This will be a good stimulation of the damaged visual organ. In more severe cases, surgery is indicated.
The photo shows another pathology of the oculomotor muscles - strabismus
Strengthening exercises
Why do eyes hurt? The causes of pain may be associated with the development of ophthalmic diseases or problems with the muscular apparatus. Pain when moving the eyeballs indicates an overstrain of the visual muscles. Simple exercises for the eyes will help relieve spasm.
At first glance, the very idea of training muscle fibers may seem absurd, because they are already in constant dynamics. Indeed, the muscles of the eye actively work during the day, but such movements are most often of the same type.
ATTENTION! Gymnastics for the eyes is of a general strengthening nature, it can be performed at any convenient time.
First, let's talk about how to strengthen the external muscles:
- Take a seated position and keep your back straight. Look from the ceiling to the floor ten times. Then repeat the movement in the opposite direction.
- In the same position, move the eyeballs from the left side to the right and back. You will need to do ten such approaches.
- Imagine a clock face in front of you and move your eyes in a clockwise direction. Do five reps and then change direction.
- At the end, blink intensely for thirty seconds.
To train the internal muscles, you will need to make a black circle with a diameter of five millimeters in advance. It should be glued to the window, at eye level. Stand to the window at a distance of thirty centimeters. First, fix your eyes on the black circle, and then look at some medium-sized object outside the window.
The main condition is that the image must be still. It could be a tree, a car, or some kind of structure. On nearby and distant objects, you should hold your gaze for fifteen seconds. It will take five such cycles.
Weak eye muscles can be strengthened with palming. First, rub the palms of both hands together until you get a pleasant warmth. Put your hands on your closed eyelids and sit in this position for a few minutes. Try to relax completely without thinking about anything. After this procedure, you will immediately notice the clarity of vision of objects.
The results of visual gymnastics directly depend on the correctness of the exercises and regularity. If you exercise twice a day every day, then in two weeks you will feel an improvement in vision.
Prevention of muscle fatigue
As you know, we are what we eat. The diet is directly related to the functional activity of the visual system. To the mandatory products that should be in the diet of a person who cares about his vision, there should be carrots. This vegetable is a source of vitamin A, which improves visual acuity and twilight vision. Cottage cheese contains vitamin B, which ensures normal blood circulation and metabolic processes in the visual apparatus.
A "friend" for the eyes is blueberries. This berry contains B vitamins, as well as retinol and ascorbic acid. The constant use of blueberries helps to restore disturbed metabolic processes and the activity of various structures of the eye.
Alternative medicine also gives many tips for relaxing the muscular system. Pour half a glass of fresh cucumber peel with one hundred grams of cool water, and add a little salt. After fifteen minutes, the peel will give juice. It should be used in the form of compresses.
You can forget about muscle pain by following simple medical recommendations:
- Don't read lying down. Due to the unnatural arrangement of muscle fibers, they are stretched. This causes pain and deterioration of visual function.
- Provide good lighting when doing work that requires visual concentration.
- If your eyes start to get tired quickly when working at a computer, use special glasses.
- Treat ophthalmic diseases in a timely manner. Untreated pathologies negatively affect the state of the muscular apparatus.
The eye muscles play a huge role in ensuring high-quality vision of objects. Violations in their work are fraught with the development of such serious pathologies as strabismus, myositis, spasm of accommodation, myasthenia gravis. Prevention is the best cure. Experts advise to train muscle fibers. Regular execution simple exercises will help strengthen the muscles.
As well as the features of attachment to the eyeball. The work of the muscles is controlled by three cranial nerves: oculomotor, abducent and trochlear. All muscle fibers of this muscle group are rich in nerve endings, which ensures particular clarity and accuracy of their movements.
The work of the oculomotor muscles is numerous variants of eye movements, both unidirectional (up, down, right, left) and multidirectional (for example, reducing the eyes to the bridge of the nose). The essence of these movements is the coordinated work of the muscles, due to which the same images of objects fall on the same areas - the area. This provides good vision and gives a sense of depth of space.
The structure of the muscles of the eye
Humans have 6 oculomotor muscles. Four rectus muscles have a direct direction of movement: internal, external, lower and upper. The two oblique muscles of the eye have an oblique direction of movement and a similar attachment to the eyeball (inferior and superior oblique muscles).
The beginning of all muscles (excluding the inferior oblique) is a dense connective tissue ring surrounding the external opening of the optic canal. At its very beginning, five muscles form a muscle funnel, with blood vessels and nerves passing inside it. In the course of movement, the superior oblique muscle gradually deviates inwards and upwards, following the block, in which it passes into the tendon thrown through the loop of the block. In this place, it changes its direction to an oblique one and is attached in the region of the upper outer quadrant of the eyeball, located under the superior rectus muscle. The path of the inferior oblique muscle begins at the lower inner edge of the orbit and continues outward and backward, being under the inferior rectus muscle, where the muscle fibers attach in the lower outer quadrant of the eyeball.
When approaching the eyeball, a dense capsule appears in the muscles - the Tenon shell, with which they are connected to at different distances from the limbus. Closest to the limb of the rectus muscles is attached to the inner, then the upper rectus. The oblique muscles have a slightly different dislocation, they are attached to the eyeball posterior to the equator, namely in the middle of the length of the eyeball.
The oculomotor nerve is responsible for the work of the superior, internal, inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles. The work of the external rectus muscle is provided by the abducens nerve, and the superior oblique is provided by the trochlear nerve. The peculiarity of the nervous regulation of the oculomotor muscles is that one branch of the motor nerve is able to control the work of only a small number of muscle fibers, which ensures maximum accuracy of eye movements.
Movements of the eyeball depend, among other things, on the features of muscle attachment. The attachment points of the external and internal rectus muscles are located on the horizontal plane of the eyeball, which makes possible its horizontal movements: turning towards the nose - contraction of the internal rectus muscle, turning towards the temple - contraction of the external rectus muscle.
The lower and upper rectus muscles provide vertical eye movements, however, due to the fact that the line of attachment of the muscles is located slightly obliquely with respect to the limbus, simultaneously with the vertical movement of the eye, an inward movement also occurs.
The contraction of the oblique muscles causes rather complex movements, which is associated with the peculiarities of their location and attachment to the sclera. Thus, the superior oblique muscle can lower the eye and turn it outward, while the inferior oblique muscle raises the eye and takes it outward.
Also, the lower and upper rectus muscles of the eye, together with the oblique muscles, provide small turns of the eyes clockwise and counterclockwise. Good nervous regulation and well-coordinated work of the eye muscles makes complex movements possible, due to which the volume and binocularity of vision is ensured, and its quality increases.
Methods for diagnosing the state of the oculomotor muscles
Determination of eye mobility with an assessment of the completeness of movements when tracking a moving object.
Strabometry - an assessment of the degree or angle of deviation from the midline of the eyeball at.
Testing with alternately covering one and the other eye to determine the latent form of strabismus - heterophoria, and in case of obvious strabismus, determining its type.
Ultrasound diagnostics - detection of changes in the oculomotor muscles in close proximity to the eyeball.
Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography - are used to detect changes in the oculomotor muscles throughout.
Symptoms of diseases of the muscles of the eye
- occurs with obvious strabismus or pronounced strabismus of a latent form.
- occurs when the ability of the eyes to fix objects is impaired.
The muscles of the eye perform coordinated movements of the eyeballs, providing high-quality and volumetric vision.
There are only six oculomotor muscles in the eye, of which four are straight and two are oblique, which received this name because of the peculiarities of the muscle in the orbit and attachment to the eyeball. Muscle function is controlled by three cranial nerves: oculomotor, abducens, and trochlear. Each muscle fiber of this muscle group is richly supplied with nerve endings, which ensures special clarity and accuracy in movements.
Thanks to the oculomotor muscles, numerous options for the movement of the eyeballs are possible, both unidirectional: up, to the right, and so on; and multidirectional, for example, reducing the eyes when working at close range. The essence of such movements is that, due to the coordinated work of the muscles, the same image of objects falls on the same parts of the retina - the macular area, providing good vision and a sense of the depth of space.
Features of the structure of the muscles of the eye
There are 6 oculomotor muscles, of which 4 are straight, going in the forward direction: internal, external, upper and lower. The remaining 2 are called oblique, as they have an oblique direction of travel and attachment to the eyeball - the upper and lower oblique muscles.
All muscles, with the exception of the inferior oblique, start from a dense connective tissue ring surrounding the external opening of the optic canal. Anterior to its origin, 5 muscles form a muscular funnel, inside which the optic nerve, blood vessels, and nerves pass. Further, the superior oblique muscle gradually deviates upward and inwards, following to the so-called block. At this point, the muscle passes into the tendon, which is thrown over the loop of the block and changes its direction to oblique, attaching in the upper outer quadrant of the eyeball under the superior rectus muscle. The inferior oblique muscle originates at the inferior inner edge of the orbit, runs outward and posteriorly under the inferior rectus muscle, and inserts in the inferior outer quadrant of the eyeball.
Approaching the eyeball, the muscles are surrounded by a dense capsule - Tenon's membrane and join the sclera at different distances from the limbus. Closest of all of the rectus muscles to the limbus, the internal is attached, and then the upper rectus, while the oblique muscles are attached to the eyeball slightly posterior to the equator, that is, the middle of the length of the eyeball.
The work of the muscles is regulated, for the most part, by the oculomotor nerve: the superior, internal, inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles, with the exception of the external rectus, the work of which is provided by the abducens nerve and the superior oblique - the trochlear nerve. A feature of nervous regulation is that one branch of the motor nerve controls the work of a very small number of muscle fibers, due to which maximum accuracy is achieved when moving the eyes.
The movements of the eyeball depend on the features of muscle attachment. The places of attachment of the internal and external rectus muscles coincide with the horizontal plane of the eyeball, due to this, horizontal movements of the eye are possible: turning towards the nose during contraction of the internal rectus and towards the temple during contraction of the external rectus muscle.
The upper and lower rectus muscles mainly provide vertical eye movements, but since the line of attachment of the muscles is located somewhat obliquely with respect to the limbus line, simultaneously with the vertical movement, the eye also moves inwards.
The oblique muscles during contraction cause more complex actions, this is due to the peculiarities of the location of the muscles and their attachment to the sclera. The superior oblique muscle lowers the eye and turns outward, while the inferior oblique muscle raises it and also withdraws it outward.
In addition, the superior and inferior rectus muscles, as well as the oblique muscles, provide small turns of the eyeball clockwise and counterclockwise. Due to good nervous regulation and well-coordinated work of the muscles of the eyeball, complex movements are possible, both unilateral and directed in different directions, due to which there is a three-dimensional vision, or binocularity, and, in addition, the quality of vision improves.
Diagnostic methods
- Determination of eye mobility - the completeness of eye movements is assessed when tracking a moving object.
- Strabometry - assessment of the angle or degree of deviation of the eyeball from the midline in strabismus.
- Cover test - alternately cover one and the second eye to determine latent strabismus - heterophoria, and in case of obvious strabismus, its appearance is determined.
- Ultrasound diagnostics - determination of changes in the oculomotor muscles in close proximity to the eyeball.
- Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging - detection of changes in the oculomotor muscles throughout their length.
Disease symptoms
- Double vision is possible with obvious strabismus and with pronounced latent strabismus.
- Nystagmus - occurs when the ability of the eyes to fix objects is impaired.
