blurred vision after meditation?

[end]

i've been meditating for eight years. my method is sitting upright with my eyes mostly open but relaxed and gently focused on whatever is in front of me within about four feet, usually the floor or a coffee table. i sit and focus on my breathing. two or three times i have meditated for thirty minutes and after have experienced blurred vision when trying to read anything. this lasts about twenty minutes and then returns to normal.

the first time this happened i had been meditating outside and had been looking at something about thirty feet away so i thought maybe it had something to do with the way my eyes were focused so i started fixing my gaze on something closer and a year went by without incident until today i had the problem again.

has this happened to anyone else? is there a way to prevent it?

[tiltbillings]

is there a way to prevent it?

Shut your eyes. (You are getting older and your eyes are not as elastic as they once were.)

[Ben]

is there a way to prevent it?

Shut your eyes. (You are getting older and your eyes are not as elastic as they once were.)

Seconded.

[end]

thank you for the advice i will try that. do you know this from experience or is this just assumption?

only problem is i have trouble staying awake when i shut my eyes during meditation. anything else you could think of that would help or maybe a way to stay awake with them shut?

also how do you know i'm not like eighteen? just kidding, i'm assuming you guessed that eight years meditating doesn't usually mean teenager lol!

[tiltbillings]

thank you for the advice i will try that. do you know this from experience or is this just assumption?

I have no idea how old you are, but I am finding that when I read for long periods, my eyes take a while to able to focus on things far way afterwards. My optometrist said it is because I am getting older and that my eyes are much less flexible. As for sitting (meditating, I have always sat with my eyes shut.

[end]

thank you for the advice i will try that. do you know this from experience or is this just assumption?

I have no idea how old you are, but I am finding that when I read for long periods, my eyes take a while to able to focus on things far way afterwards. My optometrist said it is because I am getting older and that my eyes are much less flexible. As for sitting (meditating, I have always sat with my eyes shut.

yeah i'm thirty, i was only joking around:) i think you're probably exactly right.

[tiltbillings]

thank you for the advice i will try that. do you know this from experience or is this just assumption?

I have no idea how old you are, but I am finding that when I read for long periods, my eyes take a while to able to focus on things far way afterwards. My optometrist said it is because I am getting older and that my eyes are much less flexible. As for sitting (meditating, I have always sat with my eyes shut.

yeah i'm thirty, i was only joking around:) i think you're probably exactly right.

Try it with your eyes shut and see what happens.

[end]

Try it with your eyes shut and see what happens.

i intend to give it a shot but like i said in my experience i pass out fast when i do it with my eyes shut. i mean it's ridiculous! i go from my breath to little dreams and scenarios the same as when i lay down for bed. any tips on staying awake?

[tiltbillings]

Try it with your eyes shut and see what happens.

i intend to give it a shot but like i said in my experience i pass out fast when i do it with my eyes shut. i mean it's ridiculous! i go from my breath to little dreams and scenarios the same as when i lay down for bed. any tips on staying awake?

Ah, well. Sit facing a blank wall. Eyes half open and let your vision go out of focus.

On the other hand, having to contend with a few minutes of blurry vision after meditating probably is a small price.

[end]

Try it with your eyes shut and see what happens.

i intend to give it a shot but like i said in my experience i pass out fast when i do it with my eyes shut. i mean it's ridiculous! i go from my breath to little dreams and scenarios the same as when i lay down for bed. any tips on staying awake?

Ah, well. Sit facing a blank wall. Eyes half open and let your vision go out of focus.

On the other hand, having to contend with a few minutes of blurry vision after meditating probably is a small price.

yes i agree. i think i'll just go to the eye doctor, if he says there's no harm in it i'll just keep doing it the way i have been. i was hoping a bunch of people would say "oh it's normal, don't worry about it." and i could save my money and not go to the doc. that may still happen though, the post is still young! for the time being though i'll try your suggestions, thank you.

[Jhana4]

i intend to give it a shot but like i said in my experience i pass out fast when i do it with my eyes shut. i mean it's ridiculous! i go from my breath to little dreams and scenarios the same as when i lay down for bed. any tips on staying awake?

What posture are you using?

Sitting up straight can help keep you alert, so can sitting up straight without the aide of a chair.

[pilgrim]

Half close your eye-lids and sit in a lighted room.

[end]

i intend to give it a shot but like i said in my experience i pass out fast when i do it with my eyes shut. i mean it's ridiculous! i go from my breath to little dreams and scenarios the same as when i lay down for bed. any tips on staying awake?

What posture are you using?

Sitting up straight can help keep you alert, so can sitting up straight without the aide of a chair.

i sit up straight in a chair without a back so i don't think the chair has much to do with it. thanks for the thought though:) i realize the lotus would help but i have knee problems... i just sit in a normal sitting posture with my legs, my upper body is in the same position it would be with full lotus: back straight, chin level, hands in mudra, arms a couple inches from my body.

[end]

Half close your eye-lids and sit in a lighted room.

i was thinking lighting might have something to do with it... although one of the times it happened was outside on a perfectly bright day, just a little overcast so i don't think it was too bright either. half closing them might help, i will try this combination together, thank you.

[Nari]

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd jump in and say I've got the same thing. Talked to a priest at my temple. She seemed to think it was pretty unusual, but after searching around online a little, Ive found others. Her suggestion was that I close my eyes if I need to.

It reminds me of the old joke where the patients says to the doctor, "Doc, it hurts when I do this..." and the doctor says, "Don't do that."

So I'm experimenting with closing my eyes a little more or trying to focus differently. Otherwise, I can never meditate in the morning before I hop on my motorcycle and take off for the day without making my ride more exciting than I'd like.

[Yana]

Hi,

I know this is an old thread too, But i would like to add to it. When i first started meditating i also experienced blurred vision. I meditate with my eyes open and in a crossed leg sitting position.At first I didn't know what was going on because i felt a bit blurry or cloudy not just with reading but with other things right after meditation like walking or washing the dishes etc..

Then i am not sure what happened,but i think it has to do with being gentle with your meditation practice.Instead of focusing really hard or concentrating on the breath really hard which i noticed can cause stress,headaches and more cloudiness.Or even forcing the breath or forcing your focus. I started unwinding and gently just let go of everything,i let the natural awareness of the breath arise.And just stay with the breath regardless if it's short or long.Or if i am calm or agitated.The key is whatever condition you are in just be aware of your breathing.And if i am distracted i just gently return to the breath.when i do this i start experiencing a very natural,warm and calm like bliss,like i am absorbing something I keep my eyes open in any condition and it won't be a problem because my focus is on the breath it looks like i am seeing through whatever is in front of me.After meditation i don't experience blurriness of vision any longer but i do experience what i think is i think is some kind of lessening of relating to the senses.I see clearly,hear clearly,but i no longer react to it without thinking or stopping.It seems like there is some kind of gap or seperation,detachment forming..Which might make it seem like your senses are more blurry than before.I think it is just lessening the affect of the senses in the mind.

I also have the same problem with meditating with my eyes closed.I fall asleep or have mini dreams.Which is quite distracting.Everybody is different and react well to different techniques.Hope this helps