From: shreeved@ece.orst.edu (David Shreeve)
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Bates method (natural vision improvement)
Date: 22 Dec 92 21:05:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: flop.1h7vu4INNfem
Distribution: world
Organization: Oregon State University, Corvallis
NNTP-Posting-Host: chemeketa.ece.orst.edu
Originator: shreeved@chemeketa.ECE.ORST.EDU


    Not long ago a poster was asking about natural vision correction
    and I wanted to share my experience with the Bates method.

     The underlying assumption in Dr. Bates' approach to vision correction
is that bad vision is caused by an error in control of the eye muscles;
that in most cases, there is nothing organically wrong with the eyes (such
as them being permanently misshapen or the lens permanently hardened), but
rather there is a muscle control problem.
     And the thrust of his argument: the malfunctioning eye muscles are in
a state of strain which interferes with normal vision (whether the problem
is myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, etc.); it is possible to learn to relax
these muscles back into a dynamic functional state.
     So all the Bates "exercises" are actually eye relaxation techniques!

     Something which really appealed to me initially about Dr. Bates'
approach is his observation that glasses attack a SYMPTOM and not the
fundamental problem.  And worse: glasses are a crutch which require the
eye to maintain the visual error in order to see clearly through them!
Not only are they a symtom quick-fix, but they make the condition permanent.
Dr. Bates' approach is more holistic, directing his attention at the problem.
     Of course, there is SO much more to tell, but it is my hope that I
may have caught someone's interest with this little bit. 
As to the
scientific validity of Bates' hypothesis, I cannot say that I have seen
any studies on the subject (and I'm not surprized with so many opticians
out there waiting to dampen any such news), BUT my personal experience
has led me to the point that I no longer question its truth.  And I believe
it wouldn't take much experimenting on anyone out there's part to at least
demonstrate to themselves that the standard Western way of dealing visual
errors is at least lacking.
     For one thing, visual errors change from moment to moment.  I was  
surprized to learn this myself: I had always thought that your vision was
20/70 and it changed only slowly over the years.  Well it has been my
experience that it changes with stress level, with mood, with sleep, very
rapidly!  How can static glasses accomodate?  Try not wearing your glasses
for an hour.  Try a Bates technique like "palming" (blocking out all light
by covering your eyes with your palms, putting no pressure on them), or
even just relax your body and meditate on relaxing your eyes and all the
muscles in the eye sockets.  For me, this had amazing results, even the
first time.

     I would like to correspond with anyone who would be interested in
talking about personal experiences with the Bates method.  I have been 
using the techniques on and off for about 15 months and I get clear
flashes daily, but in times of stress my visions seems to get as foggy
as it was before I started (my glasses were 3.5 diopters- ~20/250, I
think).  I have not worn any glasses in that time.
    Anyone who would like to read more on the subject, I would recommend:

    "Help Yourself to Better Sight" by Margarett D. Corbett (sp?)
      --She was a student of Dr. Bates, and ran a clinic in the LA area;
	 this is a pretty readable book

    "Better Eyesight Without Glasses" by Dr. W Bates
     --This was written, I believe in 1918 and published posthumously
	by Dr. Bates' wife in the 40s.  It is a bit harder to read because
	of his roundabout long sentences.  But I think this is the main
	source for all subsequent Bates-method based stuff

    "The Art of Seeing" by Aldous Huxley
     ---Yes!, this is the same Aldous Huxley of Brave New World fame
	who did a good deal to popularize the Bates method in the 40s.
	I guess he was near blind until he discovered Bates.

     There are other more current books on the subject; some employ
     hypnosis, for instance, to help change the old habits of eyestrain.
     Still, I recommend these others first.

     OK, all for now.  Comments welcome.

     Dave
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative