For me my vision issues are severe and similar to those described in recent thread. I recently purchased a paint by number kit and although i thought at first i may not be able to do it, i realized that not only has it been relaxing I actually think that doing so has forcd me to use different eye muscles that i otherwise would (concentrated on one spot rather than usually focus, refocus, etc) and seems to be helping my vision otherwise. Of course, could be the recent IVIG but i have taken that into consideration.

FYI i have limited time "painting" to short time periods only.

I used to have a lot of fun with those paint by number things when I was a kid. It sounds like a fun project.

Steph, Maybe it's as simple as relaxing those eye muscles because you're enjoying yourself! Muscles tense up when we're stressed. I'm glad you're having a good time painting. I really miss doing that.

Annie

What you say makes a lot of sense. I know that for me suduko was very helpful. Normally, when we read our eyes move quite fast from one side of the page to the other and from up to down. We don't even notice that we are doing this. With MG, this leads to fatigue of the eye muscles very quickly. When you concentrate on one point for a significant amount of time you " teach" yourself to move your eyes less, while you read.

I do most of my reading on the computer screen because I can adjust it to the range of movement of my eyes+I don't have to hold anything, flip pages etc.

I now can read with reasonable efficiency and speed. But, it took a lot of practice, trial and error and quite a lot of frustration.

I initially went from being able to read 50 papers in one day, to one paper in a week. Apart from my breathing problems this was for me the hardest and most frustrating aspect of MG.

That is such a good point about variating muscle use with myasthenic weakness and eventually MG forces you to do that - I have to be more proactive and get´ahead´before mine crash and definitely distribute the load more effectively. And think about ones that need strengthening!

Painting by numbers sounds lovely, I wish I could come over and join you for a session IF my forearms and hands behave a little better than they do whilst trying to write!!!!!

Interesting. I've always been interested in electronics and computers, but never actually learned to solder. I recently bought a learn to solder kit, since I'd seen a couple radio and hi-fi audio projects I wanted to do. Then I looked at the kit and put it away as hopeless. I may pull that out again and see if it helps me focus my eyes better and maybe exercise those muscles.

Of course paint-by-number is probably a bit safer in that it doesn't involve hot irons.

I learned some about soldering when i was recovering fom GBS many years ago as i made a very elaborate stain glass piece. I enjoyed at time but was a lot of work involved. A couple years ago i bought a portable inexpensive soldering kit from sears as my dad was in town and added speaker wire to my stereo speakers...the soldering is very easy.

Although i am really enjoying the painting i noticed if i paint for too long it overtaxes eyes but isnt that true with everything we MGers do?

I would encourage doing anything you might enjoy just understand limits

Do any of yall ever notice in pictures that your eyelids look closed half the time!?!
I sware every single pic I have of me since my onset of this all, I look like I am drunk - my eyelids are almost all the way shut.. but I dont' think I walk around looking like that ALL the time.. just curious if yall have this too?? I am much more photogenic when I just go ahead and pretend to be asleep, since thats the way it looks !

In case some people haven´t tried it yet...

If you buy an iPad, and open up the thread that you want to read on the forum,
you can choose an option to have it read out loud to you on the days that your eyes really need a rest.

Simply:
1) Highlight the written text
2) Select´speak´from the two options available.......
3) Listen!

.....I used to read scripts in a recording studio for things like interactive helicopter pilot training programs.
So for an automated voice this is really not bad at all - and a question does actually sound like a question!


Anacrusis