Since I think that my SOM is mostly related to my TMJ which is related to stress, fatigue, depression, etc.....my alternative treatments have been related to reducing the TMJ.

I noticed that when I was on Effexor that my TMJ pretty much completely went away and my SOM significantly improved, almost completely gone. I can't continue on the Effexor (too much weight gain, too high of cholesterol numbers), so I've started on St John's Wort, which appears to curb the TMJ. May be too early to know for sure, only been on this for a month or so.

 

 Kept experimenting with my own "made-up" eye expecises to see if I could take down the strength of the spasms on really bad days.  To some extent, forcing the eye into extreme gazes especially to upper left and lower right (right eye), and then doing the opposite directions did help a bit.  So did forcing an extreme upward gaze and then a similar downward gaze.  It helped a little with trying to read.

 

Using OTC stuff for dry eye made reading a little more comfortable, too.

 

Relaxation at least lets you close your eyes, think about something else, and take a break when things are wonking like crazy.  No real lasting benefit, though.  It's good for the soul, anyway. 

 

Had some craniofacial release as part of PT for back problems.  I didn't notice any effect on the eye.  Am kind of ambivalent about that whole thing.  While it does feel relaxing and nice, does it really help, or is it the pleasure of having someone concentrating on you, who also is nice and is in tune with your general distress?

 

A vertical prism in my right lens did decrease the angle of the tortion.  That reduced eye strain.

 

Patches--home made types--were very useful.  It's annoying to have to go to that extreme, but sometimes, it was the only solution for watching TV, reading, going to a movie, etc.  If you wear glasses, you can experiment with what feels good behind the lens and what stays put.  Personally, I couldn't use a patch for driving because of total blindness on one side and loss of binocular vision.  It worked only when I was at home and doing close work.

 

Closing the SOM eye got to be so easy and such a habit that I am still trying to break it.   Don't need to do that since the surgery. 

 

Flourescent lights were to be avoided at all costs, so low light situations were best for me, and replacing flourescent lights with incandescent ones wherever possible was beneficial.  I also found that overhead lighting of any kind wasn't good--and table-type lamps were my best choice.

 

Never tried herbs, exotic nuts and berries, chanting, hanging upside down or anything like that--though I would have if I'd been promised some help!