Abstract
Objective: Identify refractive errors and guide visual exercises based on Meir Schneider's self-healing method to eye health promotion. Method: Quantitative study and action research with 67 participants of the “Cuide da sua visão” Project at the Federal University of Amapá. For the operationalization of the study, the researchers explained about a certain refractive error and guided visual exercise practices subsidized by the self-healing method. Results: Prevalence of astigmatism was identified in 41,79% of the participants, followed by myopia 38.80%, presbyopia 23,88% and hyperopia 11,94%. As for visual problems, the most prevalent was cataract 8 (11,94%), followed by strabismus 3 (4,47%), glaucoma 2 (2,98%) and monocular vision 2 (2,98%). Visual exercises were oriented focusing on deep relaxation, adjustment to light frequencies, shifting, looking at a distance, expanding peripheral vision and balanced use of the eyes. Conclusion: The method showed its applicability for the eye health promotion, when implementing visual exercises in daily lives, obtained reports of sharper vision, more lubricated eyes, decreased sensitivity to sunlight, improvement of visual fatigue and in strabismus, significant improvement in eye alignment. Given the little existing literature on the measurable effects of visual exercises and their benefits, further studies and dissemination of this method are indicated.