Relearning to See: Improve Your Eyesight Naturally! [1 ed.] 1556433417, 9781556433412

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Relearning to See —Naturally!

Improve Your Eyesight

Thomas R. Quackenbush *rv

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2012

http://www.archive.org/details/relearningtoseeOOthom

am very impressed with your book Relearning to See. Great! It is the on the Bates method. I am going to recommend it to all my patients." "I

best

book

—Edward C. Kondrot, M.D., Ophthalmologist "Congratulations for your excellent work. ural vision

One more

step towards the truth in nat-

improvement."

—Deborah Banker, M.D., Ophthalmologist "The Bates method has been proved.

—W. "[After eliminating

an old

man

my

It is scientific

and

successful."

MacCracken, M.D., author of Use Your

F.

young man of

recommend Relearning

improving your eyesight,

to See.

It is

method teacher

book ever self-help book on

the most comprehensive

you want a simple and book to buy."

practical

this is the

— Roe Gallo, author of Perfect Body, health and "I

me from

fifty."

Darling, M.D., Ophthalmologist, Bates

written on the Bates method. If

have your excellent book [Relearning to See]

lar.. ..someone is

Own Eyes

presbyopic glasses] Dr. Bates' work has changed

of forty-eight to a

—E. "I highly

B.

always reading

in

my

office

fitness consultant

and

very popu-

it is

it."

—Dr. Stan Appelbaum, Optometrist most comprehensive and complete work that I have had the privilege of reading on the subject of eyesight and its defects, and how they may be overcome. I would like to thank you personally for all the effort that you have put into making this knowledge available, and I perceive it to be a great work of love "Relearning to See

is

the

and compassion towards

all

mankind."

—Dr. John

L. Fielder,

"After several years of peering at

DC, D.O., N.D., Academy of Natural Living

my computer screen, my close-range

deteriorated recently to the point where inches of

had

could barely focus on anything within 12

my nose, and I could not read small print without a magnifying glass. Two

weeks ago

I

got a copy of Relearning to See because

not about eye exercises; it that

I

vision

my eyesight is

is

I

will

be

selling

it.

The book

about relearning to relax the eyes. This morning

I

is

noticed

almost completely back to normal."

—Dave Klein,

editor, Living Nutrition

Magazine

'Relearning to See

is

a very impressive text!. ..Outstrips

all its

predecessors.... Most

complete text that we've ever seen on natural vision improvement. For anyone seeking to improve their eyesight without drugs, surgery or prescription lenses... Relearning to See

is

a 'must have."'

— Rosemary Jones, Healing Pages Bookstore, book reviewer for America Online "I

have been doing the eyesight My prescription was -4.00 and -4.50....I

ordered your book [Relearning to See] and

habits....And

had

to call

now I can see without my glasses!

you and

tell

you

I

Thank you!"

this!

—Debbie "Your wonderful book, Relearning Liver

S.,

Reiki practitioner,

to See, could actually be called

New York

Relearning to

—Pamela, California "I'm really enjoying and appreciating your book Relearning to See. excellent resource

work

I've

It's

been an

and the most researched, organized, detailed, and informative

seen on vision improvement/'

—Dan, New Mexico "'Your

book

is

incredible,

and certainly contains everything you need to know."

—Michael G, San Francisco "Tom's

holistic

mented by

his

approach

is

a revelation. His

breadth and understanding of

'new age' attitude

is

perfectly compli-

scientific fact."

—Stuart Diamond, Feldenkrais Method practitioner "I

have your book and

it

me

helped

incredibly."

—Todd D., D.C., California "I

am reading Relearning

to See

and finding

it

immensely

helpful."

—Mike F, Washington

Continued on the

last

pages

in the

back of the book

Relearning to See Improve Your Eyesight

—Naturally!

Thomas

R. Quackenbush

©

North Atlantic Books Berkeley, California

Also by Tom Quackenbush:

Relearning to See

Copyright

Better Eyesight:

The Complete Magazines of William H. Bates

© 1997, 1999 by Thomas R. Quackenbush.

No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored

in a retrieval system,

or trans-

mitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books. This book

is

solely educational

nature. The reader of this

author,

and informational

book agrees

in

that the reader,

and publisher have not formed a professional,

or any other, relationship. responsibility for

The reader assumes

full

any changes or lack of changes expe-

The reader do this book. The

rienced due to the reading of this book. also

assumes

any of the

full

responsibility for choosing to

activities

mentioned

in

author and publisher are not liable for any use or misuse of the information contained herein.

The educational information

in this

book

not

of function, or treatment of any eye conditions or dis-

eases or any health disorder whatsoever. Readers

and students of the Bates method are advised to have an eye doctor monitor their eyesight. The information

book should not be used

P.O.

Box 12327

Berkeley, California 94712

Cover photo licensed from PhotoDisc Cover and book design by Catherine Campaigne Printed in

Canada

Relearning to See is

intended for diagnosis, prescription, determination

in this

Published by

North Atlantic Books

as a replacement for

sponsored by the Society for the

is

Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational corporation

whose goals are

to develop an

educational and crosscultural perspective linking various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic

ing;

view of

arts, sciences,

humanities, and heal-

and to publish and distribute

relationship of mind, body,

literature

on the

and nature.

proper medical or optometric care.

Any

person with disease, pathologies, or acci-

dents of the eyes should be under the care of an eye

ISBN

978- 1-55643 -341 -2

doctor, and consult with the eye doctor before doing

any

activity in this

book.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Quackenbush, Thomas R. 1952Relearning to see /Thomas R. Quackenbush. p.

cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 1. I.

1-55643-341-7

Orthoptics.

2.

Eye

—Care and hygiene.

Title.

RE992.07Q33 817.7

1997

—dc2i

96-54600

CIP

5678

9 10

II

12 TRANS

12

II

10 09 08 07

PERMISSIONS The following

individuals

and organizations kindly

granted permission to use their works in •

•

•

book:

"Vision," from the artist Gail E. Hargrove,

Edu-Kinesthetics, •

this

Inc.,

Ventura,

CA.

Assumptions of the Empirical and Rational Schools of Health and Healing" from "The Health Care Contract: A Model For Sharing Responsibility" from Jerry Green, Mill Valley, CA. "Spectral Power Distribution Curves" from GE Lighting, a division of General Electric Company, Cleveland, OH. Quotations from The New Species from "Scientific

Cherie Carter-Scott of The

MMS Institute,

Santa Barbara, CA. •

•

•

Quotations from Inside Mac Games from Tuncer Deniz, Glenview, IL.

The author's [TQ] photographs of model Lynn Kahn beginning with the "The Sway" from Lynn Kahn. "BodyShots"™ Business Images ©1994 from Digital Wisdom Inc.,Tappahannock,

•

VA. The

author's [TQ] photographs of M.S.

Cove, NV. •

Text and images from Perfect Sight Without

•

©1920 by William H. Bates, from Henry Holt and Company, Inc., New York. "Out of the Night" poem from Adam Glasses,

Schwartz.

•

Graph from The Science of Homeopathy from Grove Press, Inc., New York. "Chart to Iridology" from Bernard Jensen, D.C., Ph.D., Escondido,

•

CA.

"Health Returns in Cycles" from Share International, Inc., Fort Worth, TX.

•

Dow. Artwork "Relaxation," "Movement," "The Three B's," "A Buoy," and "The Three Seeing Mice" from Annie Buttons. "Suzie Q's Red Eyes" from Suzie, Bill, and Laura Quackenbush. Images from Life ART Super Anatomy 1-4, and Imaging 1, ©1991-95, from TechPool Studios

Inc.,

Cleveland,

OH.

Image of "Ott-Lite" from Environmental Lighting Concepts, Inc., Tampa, FL. Images from Photo Pro™, Vol. 1-3, from Wayzata Technologies, Inc., Grand Rapids,

MN. Images from "©1994 PhotoLab®" from Creative Data, Inc., Scottsdale,

Dixie II boat from Travel Systems, Zephyr

•

"Evolution," from Nevin Berger (Eli) of Laughing Trout, Albany, CA. Quotes from the "General Chuck Yeager Air Combat" manual ©1993 from Electronic Arts, Mountain View, CA. "Dancer" from Terry Schmidbauer Illustration, Lake Zurich, IL. "Georgia's View of Health" from Georgia

"ClickArt" images from T/Maker® Co.,

Mountain View, CA.

AZ.

Images from PhotoDisc ©1994, Seattle, WA. Images from "Art Explosion 40,000 Images" from Nova Development Corp., Calabasas,

CA. "Cosmosis" Art Stone images from Jim Quackenbush. Images from "PowerPhotos™, Series I" from Metatools™, Inc., Carpinteria, CA. Images from "Color Digital Photos, Paramount" from Seattle Support Group, Kent,

WA. Images from "MediaClips™," ©Aris Multimedia Entertainment, Inc. 1994, Marina del Rey,

CA.

DEDICATION

William H. Bates, M.D. (1860-igsi)

This

book

is

dedicated to

ophthalmologist Dr. William H. Bates, M.D.,

principles

who

discovered the

and habits of natural,

clear vision.

Acknowledgments

I

gratefully

acknowledge

my teachers Janet late Anna Kaye,

Goodrich, Ph.D., and the

who have

gifted

me with the knowledge and

joy of the Bates

method

of natural vision

improvement.

acknowledge all of the wonderful stuI have taught since 1983. They have enriched my life and work immeasurably, and have also been my teachers. I

dents

I

wish to express appreciation to Kathy

Glass for her monumental editing work and outstanding suggestions for making this a better I

book. also

acknowledge Catherine Campaigne

for her expert designing advice

and the guiding

and patience,

North Atlantic Books for author through a maze of vari-

staff at this

ables in order to successfully complete this

work.

Thanks especially their support of

to

my

my work.

parents for

all

Table of Contents

xx

List of Illustrations List of Plates

Will

Introduction

xxv

Vitreous

Humor and Chamber

The External Parts of the Eye The Optic Nerve The Eyelids and Tear Glands The Six External Muscles

PART ONE: Fundamentals

1

1.

Relearning to See

3

Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

2.

Anatomy

5

Four Types of Refractive Lenses

The Eye Orbit

5

The Eyeball

Understanding Lenses: Diopter, Axis, and Base

5

The Three Layers of the Eye The Outer Layer: Sclera and Cornea The Sclera The Cornea The Middle Layer: Choroid, Ciliary Body, Lens,

and

6

6 6

13

Diopters and Diverging Lenses

13

Diopters and Converging Lenses

14

Diopters and Cylindrical Lenses

14

Bases and Prism Lenses

15

Visual Acuity and

The Choroid The Ciliary Body The Lens The Iris The Inner Layer: The Retina The Visual Portion of the Retina The Non- Visual Portion of the Retina

The Fluids and Chambers of the Eye Aqueous Humor, and the Anterior and Posterior Chambers

6

6 6

7 7 8 8

8 8

8

13

Diopters

6

Iris

11

Eye Charts

16

Distance "20/20" Vision

16

What do the xx/yy Top and Bottom Numbers Refer To?

17

Driving Requirements

18

Bates and the Snellen Eye Chart Near "20/20" Vision

18 19

A Strain; UnderCorrection: A Relief

Over-Correction:

Understanding Prescriptions

19 19

Prescriptions for Nearsightedness

20

Diopters and 20/xx Distance Loose Correlation Numbers:

21

Prescriptions for Astigmatism

21

A

Relearning to See

•

ix

— RELEARNING TO SEE

A Scientific American Report on the

Prescriptions for Strabismus

22

Mixed

23

Prescriptions

Inadequate Prescriptions

Bates Method

22

(Crossed Eye, Wall Eye, etc.) Prescriptions for Farsightedness

Functional Problems

Refraction and Strabismus

23

Errors of Refraction

and Contact Lenses

Accommodation Explained Further The Helmholtz Lens Theory of Accommodation

Glasses and Contact Lenses:

Blur

Do To Us"

Bates:

"What Glasses

"Why

Glasses are Harmful for

25 25

30 31

The Monovision Solution Nearsighted Glasses Can Double

31

Peripheral Objects

Some

Objects

31 31

Problems with Contact Lenses

Wrong

Reduced

5.

Direction

Prescriptions

Working With a Supportive Eye Doctor

"Old-Age" Myth

Prescriptions

Work

32

More Problems

32

Conventional Presbyopia

35

Age 35

36

Two

Pairs of Reduced Glasses? 36 "5&10" or Eye Doctor Prescriptions? 37

Can Vision Improve While Wearing Contacts? Building Vision Confidence

37 38

PART TWO: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction 6.

39

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction The Orthodox View

41

Bates' "Introductory"

41

—

Bates and Simultaneous Retinoscopy 47

7.

Forty?"

•

Relearning to See

63

63

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction Bates' View

—

65

Bates' Research on the Role

of the Six Extrinsic

Eye Muscles 65

"The Truth About Accommodation as Demonstrated by Experiments on Animals" 65 Bates: "The Truth About Accommodation as Demonstrated by a Study of Images Reflected from the Lens, Cornea, Iris, and Sclera" 69 Bates: The Lens Does Not Change Its Curvature During Bates:

Accommodation 72 "The Truth About Accommo-

Bates:

dation as Demonstrated by Clinical Observations"

X

61

with the

Theory "Why Do So Many People Lose Near Vision around

33

36 Glasses

57

Physician, Heal Thyself

The Importance of Reduced Driving and

53

Presbyopia, an Age-Old

A Visual Biofeedback — In the

51

Accommodation The "Grand Objection"

Helmholtz Lens Theory Regarded Today? 56 Could Presbyopia Be Caused by a Strained or Atrophied Ciliary Muscle? 57

31

and "Bifocal Neck" Trifocals, Quadrafocals, even Dozenfocals!

Theory of Accommodation

How is the

Can Lose

Bifocals

50

Lensless

Farsighted Glasses for Nearsights?

Farsighted Glasses

49 50

Bates Questions the Accepted

Children and Young People" and

Everyone Else

49

of Convergence

25

Artificial Solutions to

49

Strabismus, an Error

The Problem with Glasses

4.

48

—Errors of

73

—

——

Table of Contents

Bates:

"The

Variability of the

Experiencing Oppositional

Refraction of the Eye" Bates:

76

"The Cause and Reversibility

of Errors of Refraction"

The

84

Ciliary

Muscle?

Ciliary Muscle Pumps Aqueous Humor

Lens Theory

More on Nearsightedness (Myopia) is

86

Become

87 90

(Hypermetropia) is Not Hereditary Improvement of Farsightedness

Farsightedness

Astigmatism

—Summary

Reasoning Being"

New Idea

130

91

Movement

94 94

99

The

First Principle

The Problem of Rigidity

Non-Movement Creates Tension Light Receptors Need Change

132

Many Types

Movement and Oppositional Movement are Fun!

132

of Natural

Eye Movements Posture: The Eyesight

134

Chairs

136

102

Posture during Sleep

107 107

108

134

136

—The Mental/

Emotional Connections

The Problem

is

137

Staring

Why Do People

139

Stare?

139

The Staring Trap You Get What You Think Staring While Moving

140 140

140

Non-Movement Rods for Movement Other Notes on Movement

141

Peripheral 112

Movement

A Visual Massage

131

132

100

105

Movement Bates on Movement Oppositional

Connections

The Vestibulo-Ocular Connection

135

Principles

—Movement

—The Physical

Con-neck-tion Telephones and Posture

99

102

of Natural Vision

128

Motion Sickness and Dizziness? Move!

Movement

the Imagination

9.

128

Movement 129

The Physical Follows

PART THREE: The Three

125

91

Farsightedness = Astigmatism =

No Accommodation Accepting a

Swing

90

95

a

123

Infinity °° (or Figure-8)

The Near- To-Far/Far-To-Near Swing

Bates: Nearsightedness =

Not

Oppositional Movement!

The

Oppositional

Accommodation and Errors

Is

121

a Sharpshooter with

and Depth Perception etc.

Improvement of Nearsightedness More on Farsightedness

"Man

118

118

Double Oppositional Movement

Surgery,

Ortho-Keratology,

of Refraction

117

The Pencil The Sway The Long (or Elephant) Swing

Procedures: Radial Keratotomy

8.

117

Movement

86

Corneal Refraction

(RK)

Movement

Oppositional

Not Hereditary 87

Bates Explains Nearsightedness Artificial

Oppositional

— Simple

86

A Brightness/Darkness Nearsightedness

116

The Variable Swing Object Shifting

are the Functions of the Lens

and

of Stationary

Objects

78

How Long Does It Take? What

Movement

141

and Staring 113

Staring is

141

— and Blurred Vision

Epidemic

141

115

Relearning to See

•

xi

—

RELEARNING TO SEE An 84- Year-Old The Solution 10.

The Second

is

Child

142

Movement

142

—

Principle

Centralization

145

Centralization

145

Centralization

—The Searchlight

The Peripheral is "Not Clear" Centralization The Physical

Centralization Patterns

164

Not Clear Everywhere

It Is

It is

Easier with Practice

166

To Vision?

166

146

Trusting Peripheral Vision While Centralizing

147

in

Final Notes

Centralization

in the

171 171

148

Bates on Relaxation

172

149

More on Relaxation The Problem is Abnormal

Normal

Relaxation

Resistance to Relearning Centralization

Diffusion

Goes with Movement; Goes with Rigidity

151

151

Centralization =

Relaxation

178

179

PART FOUR: The Three Habits

Movement

Incorrect

151

Movement Without

Centralization

Incorrect

Centralization

vs.

152

Diffusion

The Emotional Connection Centralization

152

—The Mental

Connection Concentration Centralization

153

Centralization

Centralizing

—The Two Pencils —The Pebble Game

Relearning to See

The

First

Habit

— Sketching

(Shifting)

183

Bates on Shifting

183

The Nose-Helpers

184

Sketching with the Nose-Pencil

184

Move

the Head,

Not

Just the

185

Eyes

The Picture is Inside. Not Outside Artificial Improvement is Not Sufficient Shifting

vs.

Sketching

185

185

186

186

Variations on Nose-Pencil Sketching 186 156

—The Universal

Connection Centralizing

156

—The Hearing

Connection Centralization

154

—The Social

Connection

12.

181

Vision Functions by Edges

Centralization = Relaxed

•

is

Movement =

of Natural Vision

Centralization Without

is

178

Relaxation = Clarity

Centralization

175

—The Hearing

The Solution

Movement:

Movement without

175

Strain

Connection

150

Centralization without

is

169

— Relaxation

Relaxation

— Elusive

Centralization

Centralization

The Third

169

on Centralization

148

Beginning

Interfering with

True Nighttime Vision

Principle

11.

Centralization

167

The Center Correctly Disappears(!)

147

Not Obvious

164

Limits

The Larger Problem is

I

—Yet!

146

147

164

But

The Staring Connection

Initially.

XU

164

Centralize

—

Connection

The Color Centralizing Game The Counting Centralizing Game

157

159 160

The The The The

Nose-Feather Nose-Paintbrush

186

Nose-Crayon Nose-Laser Beam, the "High-Tech" Nose-Helper

187

186

187

—

!

Table of Contents

Yes, You

Can Imagine, Or Pretend!

Artificial Tears

187

Are

Centralization

Sketching (Shifting)

an Exercise;

But

is

Doesn't Feel Natural (At First) Is

Primary

The Second Habit

Anatomy

— Breathing

of Breathing

Abdominal Breathing Abdominal Breathing Breathing through the Nose

Natural.

of Natural Blinking

187

188

208

Notes on Blinking

208

TV and Movies — Blinking Allowed

210

A Butterfly Blinking Story Squinting— A Harmful Habit Why

188

210 211

Squinting Creates an

Artificial, Sharper Image The Pinhole Effect The Pinhole Camera "But I Do Not See Clearly,

191 191 191

211

213

or More Clearly" More on the Harm of Squinting

191

193

213 213

—The Social Connection Blinking—The Emotional

Shallow/Chest Breathing

193

Experience Abdominal Breathing

194

The Emotional Connection

196

Connection

214

Breathing and Staring

196

Blinking and Flashes

214

Breathing and Posture

197

Final Notes

Smoking

is

Out

Exercise, Yoga,

197

and Breathing

The Movement Connection

Blinking

15.

Connection

214

on Blinking

214

Sketch, Breathe, and Blink

197

Summary

197

Bringing the Three Vision Habits

198

"In the Beginning..."

217

218

The Centralization-Relaxation

217

Together

217

Bates on Breathing

198

The Eyes are Listening

Yawning

199

It is

More on Breathing

200

Plateaus are a Time to Coast

218

200

Keeping the Perspective

218

201

"Positivity" Essential for Success

219

201

Failures

219

Motivation

220

Natural Breathing 14.

204

The Frequency and Duration

188

More What We Are Unlearning Than Learning

204 204

Emotional Tears

Bates on Blinking

187

It

The Mind

13.

Irritant vs.

Not

a Habit!

It is

— Helpful

or Harmful?

Nose-Helper Not Essential; Movement and

The Third Habit

is

Relaxing

— Blinking

Anatomy and Physiology

The Eyelid Muscles and Blinking 201 202 Ptosis, A Drooping of the Eyelid

and Principles of Normal Sight 202

The Conjunctiva The Irrigation System The Drainage Portion of the Lacrimal System

202

A Third Eyelid?

203

Dry Eye Syndrome

218

But...

Bates Summarizes the Key Habits

Secretion Portion of the Lacrimal (Tear) System

So Simple,

203

PART FTVE:

203

and 223

Stereoscopic Vision 16.

203

Light, the Retina,

221

225

Light

The Eyes are Organs of Light

225

Sunlight

225

Relearning to See

•

XU1

—

—

RELEARN1NG TO SEE Mid-UV Causes

Sunlight, a Primary Source

of Energy

Bates on

225

Atmosphere, and the Earth The Visible Spectrum = Colors!

226 226

Sunlight, an Essential Nutrient

226 227 228

The Melatonin Controversy

—

Healing with Light Sunning with Closed Eyelids Closed-Eyelid Sunning The Sunning Sandwich Strobing (or Flashing) While Sunning Syntonics

231

Artificial Lighting

231

Natural, "Full-Spectrum" Sunlight 232

The CCTs and CRIs of Light The Quest for Artificial, Full-Spectrum Lighting

Practical Suggestions 17.

"Quartz" Halogen Lightbulbs High-Intensity Discharge

247 248

In the Beginning, There

Fluorescent Tubes is Still

Confusion"

233

Rods

233

Rod

Ballasts for Fluorescent Lights "Investigate Before

You Invest"

X-rays, and Other Radiation

Light "Jet-Lag"

235

237

XIV

•

Relearning to See

251

Brightness to Darkness,

and Back

— Our "Movement

Detectors" .

.

.

Three Types of Cones

— Our

238

Most Colorblind People

Intensity

238

239 239

240 241 241

251

252

And Then There Were Cones

Natural RGB Monitor Cones Need Medium-Bright

240

Sunlight and Nutrition

Excellent Night Vision

238

238

More on

Light

250

250

Tri-Chromatic Vision

240

Near-UV

249

Night Adaptation

Rods

Daytime Full-Spectrum Light All Day and All Night? Ultraviolet

Rod

are Very Sensitive

From

240

Three Types of UV Light Natural and Essential Mid- and

249 of

In Darkness

Fluorescent Hardware

Considerations

Were

Rods...

One Type

Advanced Full-Spectrum "Diffusion

Supplies

The Central, Retinal Blood Vessels 248 The Choroidal Blood Vessels 249

236

Fluorescent Tube Types

244

Ten Retinal Layers

232

237

244

Two Blood

236

Lights

243

247

"Compact" Fluorescent (CF) Fluorescent Lights

242

The Retina

(HID)

Lights

242

244

Books, Articles, and Resources

"Regular," Incandescent, Tungsten

Lightbulbs

on Light

Final Notes

230

Bates on Light

in

Addicted to Darkness

229

231

—

The Harmful Consequences of Wearing Sunglasses

229 231

241

242

Learning to Live Darkness

Sunglasses

Sunlight, the

Light for Sight and Health

Cataracts?

UV

See Colors

252 252

253 253 253

A Difference Between Day and Night

254

Different Density Distributions

254

Cone Density Distribution Maximum Cone Density

255

at the Fovea Centralis Minimal Cone Density

in the Periphery Experience Cone Density

Distribution

255

256 256

Table of Contents

Rod Density Distribution Maximum Rod Density in the

Periphery

Rod

Different Networking

Putting

It

The

Birds'

with the Vision Halo

286

258

Vision Halo for People with Sight in Only One Eye Amblyopia— A "Switched

259

—No Cones or Rods

and the Bees' Vision

Nictitans, the Third Eyelid

Birds

261

262

Nighttime Birds

262

—

Sensitivity

Ultraviolet

and Infrared Vision

263

263

Stereoscopic Vision

267

Binocular Vision

288

289

289 290 290 290

290

2: The Bead Game The Bead Game: Convergence

292

292

Aligning the String

264 265 265

288

vs.

Fusion

264

Chapter Summary

Off"

Amblyopia Variations on Amblyopia "Lazy Eye" or "Tense Eye"? Strabismic Amblyopia Refractive Amblyopia Other Types of Amblyopia Activities for Amblyopia Fusion

261

262

288

Image

260

Daytime Birds Other Animals Other Daytime Animals Other Nighttime Animals The Tapetum Doubling

18.

286

257

258

All Together

The Blind Spot

286

Aligning the Vision Halo Learning about Vision Habits

Density

Distribution

286

Creating a Vision Halo

257

Zero Central Rods Experience

The Vision Halo

257

for the Bead Game Normal Convergence with the Bead Game

292 293

Strabismus

294

267

Strabismus and the Bead

Horizontal Fields

267

Common Types

Full Visual Fields

267 268

Esophoria Exophoria Hyperphoria

295 296

296

The Fused Finger Binocular Vision

Depth Perception

295 295

268

Hypophoria

269

Infinite Possibilities

A Topsy-Turvy World

270

3-D Vision, More Than

294

of Strabismus

Judging Relative Distances

for

Game

297

Activities for Strabismus

Just

297

Phoria (Directional) Swings

297

Stereoscopic Vision

270

Phoria Swing for Esophoria

The Stereoscopic Pictures Fad Bates on Strabismus (Squint) and Amblyopia The Story of Esther "Then, One Day I Broke My

272

Phoria Swing for Exophoria

297 298

Glasses"

299

276

Phoria Swings for Other Types of Strabismus

—Prisms

1

278

279 280

299

Not the Solution Improvements with Strabismus

299

Final Chapter Notes

299

Straining

to

Bates on Strabismus, Continued

Fusion

298

Phoria Swing for Hypophoria

277

The Mechanical Solution Strabismus

Phoria Swing for Hyperphoria 272

is

299

PART SEX: Brains, Health, and Healing

Fusion and Double Images Explained Further

283

Centralization and Fusion

284

19.

301

Brains and Vision

303

Relearning to See

•

XV

—

—

RELEARNING TO SEE Right to the Basics

How the

Left-Brain Concepts

304

Brain Characteristics

304

Brains Process the

Pictures

We

See

318

Movement Two Perspectives on Opposition Movement

305

Eighty Percent Right-Handed

A Clue to an Imbalanced Society

318

Left-Brain Centralization

Both Brains Connected by

304

A Very Left-Brain Oriented Society

Movement

Bias Favoring Right-Handed

309

Other Aspects of Natural Vision Improvement

Bias Against (Right-Brain

Dominant) "Lefties" 309 Too Much Left-Brain Emphasis =

The

Move Too

Fast..."

Re-Activating the Right Brain Dyslexia

Forgetting

309

"Slow Down, You

It

311

Vision and

323

Connection

323

Memory

323

Right-Brain Subjectivity

and Beliefs

of Seeing

313

All About, William?

313

323

Attitudes and Language

312

"It

20.

Makes Sense"

324 324

The Two Sides of Health

Normal Vision Normal Distance Vision Normal Near Vision Abnormal Vision

313

and Healing

313

Left-Brain Nearsights

314

Right-Brain Farsights

The Empirical and Rational Schools of Health and Healing 328 The Shift to Rational Medicine 328 "Why Haven't I Heard

315

313

314

Predisposition

315

Younger Left-Brain Nearsights. Older Right-Brain Farsights

Many Younger Nearsights Many Older Farsights

—

Astigmatism An Ambiguity of Brain Dominance? A Funny Thing Happened

On My Way to My The

Principles of Natural Vision Explained by Right-Brain/

Symptoms

to

See

—Messages of Imbalance

316

Our

316

Surgeries 'R

316

The Consequences

Legally Drugged Society

Us

331 331

332

—From

the Physical to the

Emotional Plane

317

An

Issue of

Symptoms

333

Awareness and

Self-Responsibility 317

Two

Releaming

327

of the Bates Method Before?"328 What's Going On? 331

Other

Personality

•

322

Dreams

Right-Brain/Emotional

Hemispheric, Not Genetic,

XVI

322

Qualities of Natural Vision

311

by the Right-Brain/Left-Brain

What's

322

Naturally

310

The Bates Method Explained

Model The Machines

319

320

About Your Eyes

Vision

—Too Much Left-Brain

Stress for the Right Brain

319

319

The Cross-Crawl Habits. Not Exercises

(Left-Brain Dominant)

Distress

318

Relaxation = Centralization =

305

Individuals

318

Right-Brain Relaxation

334

—How to Answer

the Messages

334

Parts to Natural Healing

335

— —

——

Table of Contents

Removing

the Causes

Accelerating Healing

Homeopathy

336

Acupuncture Herbs

337

Massage Therapy/Bodywork Color Healing Other Healing Modalities

Messages of Progress Aggravations and Reversals Healing Aggravations Reversals A Clue to

—

True Healing "Health Returns in Cycles"

21.

"But

Near

339

351

352

Do Not Try to

352

in

How to Read Naturally Oppositional Words

Children

Bates on Reading Bates:

376

—

Spontaneous

vs.

377

Voluntary

386

"Definite, Irrefutable

Proof

388

Better Eyesight Magazines

School Children

390

"Great Imitators" Natural Speech Improvement

394 396

Children's Vision Stories

396

354

Chapter Comments

398

357 359 359 359 360 360 360

360 362 362 362

"The Menace

of Large Print"

School Children

353 354

Read Naturally

Until...

375

School Children

351

Children,

Reading Naturally

375

Perfect Sight Without Glasses

356

Posture and Reading

373

and Schools

Attention

Bates on Palming

A Locked Neck

More by Bates on Reading

The Prevention of Myopia

Positive Affirmations

Diffused Speed Reading

372

342

349

Interferences to Clear Reading

371

The White Glow!

343

349

—For All Ages

369

A Child's Natural Eyesight A Precious Gift

Palm What To Do While Palming

Reading

369

Print for Farsights; Far Print

23. Children

24.

22.

369

339

349

PART SEVEN: Reading, Schools, and More

Small Print"

for Nearsights

339

Palming and Acupressure

Acupressure

Am Straining

Comprehension

338

345

See Black More on Palming by Bates The Palming/Sunning Sandwich Variations on Palming

369 I

Lighting and Reading

and Practitioners 344

How to

Print

Feel Like

When I Read

337 338

Chapter Comments

Palming

I

A Temporary Lowering of

337

Iridology

Holistic Education

The Fine

335 336

Computers, TVs, and

Movie Theaters

401

Computers

401

Computers and Natural Vision Habits

401

Computer Posture Annoying Monitor Flicker CRT Computer Monitor

402 403

Radiation Concerns Radiation

403 403

101

Swedish MPR-II and TCO Low-Emission Standards

404

Radiation Solutions

404

On the

405

Horizon Radiation, Poor Vision Habits. or Both?

405

362

Releaming

to

See

•

XV11

RELEARNING TO SEE 405

Glare Smaller,

Not Larger,

Print

is

Solution

Other Computer Tips

25.

Risks Not Avoided by Refractive

Corneal Surgeries and OrthoKeratology

the

4°6 406

Serious Vision Problems

4°6

Cataracts

428

Movie Theaters

407

Glaucoma

Chapter Comments

407

429 430

Commuting and Recreation

409

Driving

409

Safer Driving

Detached Retina Conical Cornea (Keratoconus) Opacity of the Cornea

Commuting Relearning Centralization and Movement While Driving

Reading While Commuting Driver's Education = Bates Method! "Motion Sickness" While Driving Drivers Vision Test

M.

431

432

409

Told to Learn Braille

432

Aldous Huxley's Improvement

432

Betsy's Testimonial

432

Chapter Comments

433

For Fun!

435

409 411

28. Just

Method Has Been Proved"

29. "This

412

"It is Scientific

and Successful"

Three M.D. Testimonials 412

Dr. Woodward's Testimonial

413

Ophthalmologist Darling's Testimonial

T. L.

413

M.D. Improvement and Teaching

—

413 413

More Proof

Flying

414

Swimming and Boating

416

(Almost) 100 Messages from Natural Vision Students

Sports

416

Hundreds of Case Histories

Games

417

Chapter Comments

417

26. Nutrition

419

The Nutrition Connection The Vitamin A Connection General Nutrition Principles

"Oh.

The

I

Don't Eat Much"

Final

Key

to Nutrition

Chapter Comments

419

445

"Out of the Night" 30. Questions

How Can

I

457

and Answers

459

Find a Natural Vision

Teacher?

How Can

I

459

Obtain Information

about Becoming a Certified 422 422

Natural Vision Teacher?

What

are the Little Specks

Floating in Front of

Serious Vision Problems

425

Sometimes?

The Risks of Blurred Vision

425

Is

the Bates

of

Relearning to See

446

Now

—A Vision Poem 457

422

•

445

in Literature

420 420

442 443

413

Ophthalmologist M. H. Stuart,

B.D.

441

442

S.C

W C.

441

411

413

P.

431

Three Case Histories 409

Tips for Passing the

Student Case Histories

431

Other Natural Improvements

Enjoyable and Relaxing

XVUl

428

Television

Natural Vision Habits =

27.

427

Method

Mind Control

I

459 See

My Eyes 459

a

Form

or Hypnosis?

460

Table of Contents I

Find There Are

Some

Appendix C: Biographical Sketch of William H. Bates, M.D.

Parallels

Between the Bates Method and

477

Spiritual/Metaphysical Concepts

Why Do You Not Mention Teach These Concepts

in

Your

Classes? 31.

Summary One

Appendix D: Light Comparison Table 479

or

Appendix E: Becoming a Natural 461

463

Final "Natural" Vision

Improvement Story

Appendix A: Bibliography

465

467

Vision

467

Other Recommended Reading

470

Vision Teacher

Appendix

F:

483

Eye Charts

485

Distance Eye Chart

485

Near Eye Chart

493

Appendix G: Additional Vision Stories

497

Bates' "Fairy Stories"

497

500

Appendix B: Resources

475

The

Holistic Health

475

The Sand Man

50i

Lighting

476

Pansy Land

503

Cosmosis

476

Fairy School

Index

507

Other

Releaming

to

See

•

xix

of Illustrations

List

William H. Bates, M.D. (1860-1931) Figure 2-1: The Skull Figure 2-2: The

Eye Orbit

vi

5

Figure 6-2: The

Eye

as a

Camera

46

Figure 6-3: Diagram of the Images of Purkinje

52

5

Figure 6-4: Diagram by which Figure 3-1: Four Types of Refractive

Helmholtz

Lenses

12

Images Distorted by Astigmatism

15

Figure 3-2:

Figure 3-3: Astigmatism Chart

Figure 3-4: Snellen

Eye Chart

Figure 3-5: The 20/20 "E" for Distance

Figure 3-7: Table for Near Eye Chart

16

Figure 6-6:

Eye of 17

in

Eye

is

an Essential Factor 68

Upon

the

of a Carp that the Superior

Oblique Muscle

is

Essential to

Accommodation

68

Figure 7-3: Demonstration

Eye of

22

Upon

Upon

the

a Rabbit that the Production

of Refractive Errors

is

Dependent

the Action of the External

Muscles.*

43 *

Relearning to See

the

Accommodation*

Figure 7-2: Demonstration

20

Upon

a Rabbit that the Inferior

Oblique Muscle

19

Hypermetropic, Emmetropic, and

•

53

Figure 7-1: Demonstration

Figure 6-1: Diagram of the

XX

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand

von Helmholtz

Prescription for Farsightedness and

Myopic Eyeballs

53

16

Figure 3-9: Theoretical Sample Bifocal

Astigmatism

52

Conclusion from Helmholtz's Research

15

Figure 3-8: Theoretical Sample Single

Lense Prescription for Nearsightedness, Astigmatism, and Crossed Eye

Theory

Figure 6-5: Expected Conclusion and

Figure 3-6: Table for Distance

Eye Chart

Illustrated His

of Accommodation

Graphic not shown.

68

.

List

Figure 7-4: Demonstration

Upon

of Refraction by the

the

Eye of a Fish that the Production of Myopic and Hypermetropic Refraction is Dependent Upon the

Presented in

Nearsightedness

Farsightedness

Figure 7-19: The Production of

Astigmatism

on the Front of the Lens

94

71

Figure 7-20: Production of Mixed

Figure 7-7: Image of Electric Filament

Astigmatism

on the Front of the Sclera

in the

Eye

of a Carp

96

71

Figure 9-1:

Figure 7-8: Image on the Side of the Sclera

74

Figure 7-9: Straining to See at the

Near Point Produces Hypermetropia

Figure 9-3: The

Long (Elephant) Swing

121

Movement During Target

Practice

124 126

81

Figure 9-6: Oppositional

Figure 7-11: Immediate Production of

128

Figure 9-7: The Vestibulo-Ocular

82

Distance

Movement

and Depth Perception

Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism in Eyes Previously Normal by Strain to

and Goes as the Subject Looks

119

Figure 9-5: The Infinity Swing

Increased by Conscious Strain

Figure 7-12: Myopic Astigmatism

107

Sway

Figure 9-4:

is

"Movement"

Figure 9-2: The

81

Myopia Produced by Uncon-

scious Strain to See at the Distance

Comes

Connection

132

Figure 9-8: The Eyesight

Con-neck-tion

at

Distant Objects with or without

Figure 9-9:

135

Head Tilt

135

82

Strain

Figure 7-13: Subject of the Right

Who Had the

Eye Removed

Figure 9-10:

Lens

Refraction of this Eye by Strain Figure 7-14:

Mind

the Vision

84

Myopes Who Never Went School, or Read in the Subway

Figure 7-15:

Figure 7-16: of People

One

of

Many Thousands

Who Eliminated Errors

a Headset

136 137

.

Figure 10-1: The Fovea Centralis

147

Figure 10-2: The Pointer

156

Figure 10-3: Strategic Centralization

158

83

A Family Group Strikingly

Illustrating the Effect of the

Use

Figure 9-11: Don't Lock Your Neck.

for

Cataract Produces Changes in the

to

92

69

Figure 7-6: Image of Electric Filament

Upon

89

Figure 7-18: The Production of

Removed*

at the

86

69

Figure 7-5: Rabbit with Lense

See

Methods

Book

Figure 7-17: The Production of

Action of the Extrinsic Muscles*

Figure 7-10:

this

of Illustrations

Figure 10-4: The Pebble

Game

161

Figure 10-5: Centralization Patterns

165

Figure 10-6: Concentric Circles

168

85

Figure 10-7: Get the "Point" of 169

Centralizing? *

Graphic not shown.

Relearning to See

•

XXI

RELEARNING TO SEE Figure

11-1:

"Relaxation"

Figure 19-1: Left and Right Brains

304

177

Figure 19-2: Corpus Callosum

304

171

Figure 11-2: Stress Figure 11-3:

"A Buoy"

178

Figure 19-3: Brain Characteristics 306-307

Figure 11-4:

E=mc

179

Figure 19-4: Left Sides to the Right Brain/Right Sides to the Left Brain

308

Figure 19-5: "Vision"

308

Figure 19-6: The Cross-Crawl

3i9

2

Figure 12-1: Sketching

vs.

Staring

Figure 13-1: The Respiratory System

183 192

Figure 13-2: Experience Abdominal

Breathing

194

(1)

the Rational and Empirical Schools

Figure 13-3: Experience Abdominal

Breathing (2)

of Health and Healing"

Figure 20-2: "Chart to Iridology" 199

Figure 13-5: The Yawning Vase

200

Figure 14-1:

No

Figure 14-2:

No "Trick" Vision .

.

.

328

195

Figure 13-4: Yawning

Figure 14-3:

Figure 20-1: "Scientific Assumptions of

Squinting

and Blink, By George!

211

Figure 20-3: "Georgia's View of Holistic Health"

340

Figure 20-4: "Homeopathic

213

Aggravation and Healing"

214

Figure 20-5: "Health Returns in

Figure 15-1: "The Three B's" (or "the

337

Cycles"

341

344

217

Figure 21-1: Palming

350

Figure 15-2: "The Three Seeing Mice"

220

Figure 21-2: Acupressure Points

355

Figure 16-1: Sunning

229

Figure 22-1:

Figure 16-2: Sunning

230

Figure 22-2: Reading Naturally

Figure 16-3: Lighting

234

Figure 22-3: The

B-Attitudes")

is

Natural

Print: 7

Figure 18-1: Voluntary Production of

Strabismus Figure 18-2: Prism Correction

275

278

Vertical Strabismus Eliminated by

Figure 18-4: Near Finger Supplement

Menace

Figure 22-4: The

360 361

of Large

and 6 Point

370

Menace

of Large

Print: 5 to 1.5 Point

371

Figure 22-5: The White Glow!

Figure 18-3: Case of Divergent

Eye Education

Book Support

372

Figure 23-1: Face-Rest Designed by

279

Kallman, a

German

Optician

Computer Posture

381

284

Figure 24-1:

Head Balancing

285

Figure 26-1: "See" Food

419

Figure 18-6: The Vision Halo

287

Figure 26-2: Typical American Diet

420

Figure 18-7: Cyclops

300

Figure 29-1: "Out of the Night"

458

Figure 31-1: Born to See

464

Figure 18-5:

XXll

•

Relearning to See

402

List

Following page 132: Plate i:The

Plate

Eye

2:

The Three Layers of the Eye

Plate

3:

Suzie Q's

Plate

4:

Aqueous Humor

Plate

5:

The

Plate

6:

Long Swing Lake

Plate

7:

"Dancer"

Plate

8:

Centralizing

Red Eyes

Six External

Eye Muscles

Blinking

The Levator Palpebrae Superioris Muscle (Top View)

Plate

Plate

18:

of Plates

19:

Plate 20:

The Lacrimal (Tear) System

Plate

The Conjunctiva

21:

Following page 228:

The Electromagnetic

Plate 22:

and Visible Spectrums

—The Two Pencils

Plate 23: Sunlight, the

Atmosphere,

and the Earth Centralization

Diffusion

Plate

9:

Plate

10:

Plate

11:

Plate

12:

The Edge

Plate

13:

Abdominal Breathing

Plate

14:

Eyelids, Eyelashes,

Plate

15: The Orbicularis Eyelid Muscle

vs.

16:

Plate 26: Spectral

17:

and Health

Power Distribution

Curves

and Eyebrows

The Orbicularis Eyelid Muscle

(Front View) Plate

Outside and Play in the Sun

Plate 25: Light for Sight

The Nose-Helpers

(Side View) Plate

Go

Plate 24:

Cosmosis

The Levator Palpebrae Superioris

Plate 27: Living in Natural Light

Plate 28: Retina Cross-Sections Plate 29: for the

Blood Vessel Sandwich Cones and Rods

Plate 30: Retina

(1)

Retina

(2)

Plate

31:

Muscle (Side View)

Relearning to See

•

xxiii

—

Following page 260: Plate 32:

Darkness-Adapted Rods

Sensitivity

Plate 33:

Plate 45:

Daytime Cones

The Monitor

Plate 34:

Sensitivity Chart

Eye— Our Natural RGB

Daytime Cones/DarknessAdapted Rods Sensitivity Chart

Plate 35:

Plate 36:

Cones and Rods

Day and Night

and Night Plate 46:

Chart

Sensitivity

Cycle

A Difference Between Day Cones 3-D Density Model

(Top View) Plate 47:

Rods 3-D Density Model

(Top View) Plate 48:

Cones and Rods Horizontal

Density Graph (H1-H2) Plate 49:

The Blind Spots

Plate 50:

Animal Vision

Plate 37: Measuring Density Distributions

of

Cones and Rods

Following page 292:

Cones Vertical Density Graph (V1-V2)

Plate 38:

Plate

51:

Binocular Vision

Plate 52: Judging Relative Distances

Cones 3-D Density Model View) (Side

Plate 39:

Plate 40:

Rods Vertical Density Graph

(V1-V2) Plate

41:

Plate 53: Fusion

Plate 54:

Rods 3-D Density Model

Plate 56:

Plate 57:

Cones and Rods Graph (V1-V2)

Plate 42:

XXIV

•

—The Bead Game Esophoria —The Bead Game Exophoria —The Bead Game

Vertical Density

Cones and Rods 3-D Density Model (Side View)

Plate 43:

How We

Amblyopia

Plate 55: Fusion 2

(Side View)

Plate 44:

1

See

Relearning to See

Plate 58: Infinitely Right

and Left

Plate 59: "Evolution" Plate 60:

Blink

The Land of Sketch, Breathe, and

Introduction

Most people

in this society obtain glasses or

contact lenses

when

their eyesight

becomes

blurred. These crutches, or "machines of seeing," are

not necessary. Nor are they natural.

Medical School and Hospital and was ostracized from the conventional medical com-

munity

because

of

his

revolutionary

discoveries.

"Corrective" lenses do not correct the real

Someone once asked Bates what technique

A person wearing glasses or con-

he was using. Bates' reply was that he did not

problem.

tact lenses

still

use any technique, but

has blurred vision.

Ophthalmologist Dr. William H. Bates,

if it

was a technique,

to stop interfering with their clear vision; they

would be nature's technique. Bates wrote June 1923 Better Eyesight magazine, ". my methods are the methods employed by the normal eye." Blurred vision is a message from the mind and body that a person visual system is out

were

of balance with nature.

M.D. (1860-1931), discovered the principles and habits underlying natural eyesight. Concurrently, Bates discovered the interferences

to

normal

sight.

literally

Bates then taught students

relearning to see.

Bates rejected contemporary theories

it

in his .

.

's

Clarity

a connection; blur

is

about blurred vision because he found too

nection. Blur

much evidence

it is

in his practice as

an ophthal-

is

a discon-

is

created primarily in the mind;

much more

a disconnection from ourfrom the world. The processes

mologist that contradicted them. Bates'

selves than

decades of research on natural vision and the

involved in improving eyesight naturally are

real causes of nearsightedness, farsightedness,

astigmatism, crossed eyes, and vision his

problems went

far

many

other

beyond the ideas of

contemporaries. Today, most orthodox

vision specialists

still

do not support

coveries. Unfortunately, Bates

his dis-

was forced

to

leave his teaching post as instructor of oph-

thalmology

at the

New York Post-Graduate

an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves.

The Bates educational method

is

an oppor-

tunity for internal change.

The great majority of attendees

at

my

introductory lectures say they have seen their vision

improve spontaneously. Vision

ates for all people.

For

many people

trialized societies, sight generally

Relearning

10

fluctu-

in indus-

becomes

Sec

xxv

RELEARNING TO SEE worse over time. Yet sometimes people see better. Most people know, either intuitively or experientially, that there

improve

a

way

to

people accept a theory that says

it

blurry sight

due to old age when many peo-

is

—especially non-industrialized cul—have excellent eyesight 40, in

at

tures

70, 80,

50, 60,

by the

also contradicted

fact that

many

is

stu-

dents have improved their sight by relearning correct vision habits. And,

many children improve their parents in

Many

I

have watched

their vision along with

my classes.

people experience a lowering of

their sight during a period of high stress.

showed that when gies) lowers,

it is

Bates

vision (excluding patholo-

due

it is

due

to the person relearning relaxed vision habits.

Relaxation

the key to normal, clear sight.

is

Broken bones heal. Burns and Stomach aches get better. Are we that eyesight, the

ception

over millions of years,

is

the only part of the arti-

contact lenses, drugs, and surg-

vision problems, including nearsightedness,

and strabismus?

Bates concluded the answer was "no." I

knew about the Bates way vision

I

knew

there was a

could improve naturally. In the beginning,

read several eyesight

I

improvement books. I did all of the "exercises" and "drills," but did not notice any improvement. Looking back, I realize I had almost no real understanding of the Bates method. The processes especially the more

—

subtle aspects

— are

from books.

had continuing improvement

of

my

tions

I

difficult to

understand

eyesight only after receiving instruc-

from a Bates teacher.

Contrary to popular

method

is

belief, the

not about "eye exercises."

natural eyesight

had several good reasons

pursue the possibility of improving

Bates

Many

improvement books present

this topic in a relatively ineffective, left-hemi-

cussed further in Chapter

eries the only solutions to the functional

Personally,

I

to believe

that has evolved

farsightedness, astigmatism

occurred before

method. So,

sphere eye exercise manner. This issue

human body that cannot heal itself? Are

Vision." Since vision

sphere

19,

is

dis-

"Brains and

primarily a right-hemi-

is

activity, lessons are best

presented

an integrative, holistic manner, with the emphasis on the correct vision habits (or in

skills) to

be used automatically and subcon-

sciously our entire lifetime.

Along with improvement of clarity, many qualities of the vision

system improve,

e.g.,

color brightness and variations, contrast, spato

my sight:

tial/depth perception,

There

is

and texture awareness.

a high correlation between

memory

suffered physically from wearing heavy

and concentration improvement and natural

and painful contact lenses every day; began to experience improvement in all

eyesight improvement.

glasses

my

began receiving natural healing and education from many parts of

health once

I

holistic health practitioners.

XXVI

this

cuts heal.

most important sense per-

we have and one

ficial glasses,

my

participating in a stress reduction program;

to acquiring incorrect

vision habits. When vision improves,

2) I

experienced a dramatic improvement in

and even 90 years of age? The idea that

age and genetics determine blurry vision

1) I

I

eyesight for approximately one hour while

their sight.

How is ple

is

improvement be the only natural healing process I investigated that did not work? 3)

•

Relearning to See

Could vision

Since poor vision habits strain the neck and

shoulders,

no one

is

truly healthy

who

has

blurred sight.

Many

of the important writings by Bates

Introduction

are in his original 1920

book

Perfect Sight

Without Glasses and his monthly Better Eyesight magazine.

A good deal of this material

reproduced and discussed

been changed or modified cational nature of the

to reflect the edu-

modern Bates method.

As an example, the term "patient" has

often

book. All indented quotations from Perfect

been changed to "person" or "student." Such changes are not necessarily indicated in this

Sight Without Glasses and the Better Eyesight

book.

is

in the present

magazines are indicated by vertical along the

left

and

lines

right sides. All material

The term "blur" as used

quoted from the Better Eyesight magazines

opia, or astigmatism as

are from Bates, unless otherwise noted.

doctor.

I

have watched eyesight improve naturally

in this

book

refers

to nearsightedness, farsightedness, presby-

due

Some

determined by an eye

individuals have eye

to accidents or diseases,

damage

and the term

with hundreds of students from 1983 to 1997.

"blur" as used in this

Many of my students have

freed themselves

such conditions. Such individuals should seek

from glasses or have prevented moving into

the care of an eye doctor. All vision problems

wearing glasses

in the first place. If

you are

referred to in this

book does not refer

book do not

refer to

to

any

interested in vision re-education, study this

type of pathology or disease unless specifi-

book and other books on natural eyesight improvement to learn and apply as much as

cally stated.

you are

able; better yet, find a Bates teacher

who understands and can habits

and

teach you the key

The case histories of my students in this book are true, but most of their names have been changed and/or abbreviated.

principles of natural vision. Then,

discover the joys and rewards of relearning to see

— naturally. As the original jacket of

Aldous Huxley's book The Art of Seeing says, this

process of improving vision

Adventure

A few more notes beginning

is

'An

in Re-education."

this

are necessary before

book.

Because Dr. Bates was a medical doctor

and eye surgeon (ophthalmologist), and much of his work is discussed in this

because

book, some terms used herein are medical. After Bates died in

1931, his wife

Emily and

other Natural Vision teachers have taught the

"Bates method" in an educational manner.

The Bates method, as presented is

solely educational in nature

ical

—

in this

it is

book,

not med-

or optometric.

Since most Bates

method teachers

are not

eye doctors, some words in Bates' original text,

and

in

some other quoted materials, have

Relearning to See

•

XXV11

PART ONE

Fundamentals

Chapter One

Relearning to See

This

book presents

a formal, educational

approach to improving vision

naturally. This

approach was discovered by ophthalmologist

the incorrect habits which created the blurred vision.

Bates referred to the incorrect habits

as "interferences" to normal, clear vision.

William H. Bates, M.D.

Strained vision habits create nearsightedness,

we study basic anatomy of the eye. we Next, gain an understanding of prescription glasses. Then, we explore the research of

farsightedness, astigmatism,

vision problems. What the natural vision stu-

Bates.

the student

First,

Understanding the cause tion to, blurred vision has

many

students.

With

of.

and the

knowledge,

students can not only take measures to

improve

their vision, but often

become

highly

^learning

is

As

solu-

been helpful to

sufficient

dent

is

is

more

and many other

the issue than what

relearning.

the student relearns natural vision

habits, a "spotlight" begins to shine

areas of his

life

least those associated habits.

on the

that are out of balance

—

at

with incorrect vision

Correct vision habits are often asso-

motivated and enthusiastic about the process

ciated with correct living habits. For some,

of relearning to see naturally.

the interferences

Then we study the three key underlying natural, clear sight centralization,

principles

—movement,

and relaxation. The student

who

desires to return to natural, clear vision

will

need to re-establish the same correct

unhealthy

diet.

may be poor posture

or an

For others the interferences

may be overwork, fatigue, accidents, traumas, unhealthy attitudes, boredom, and so on. If

during a period of stress, a person inter-

feres with the normal, relaxed habits of vision

principles of seeing he learned automatically

given to him by nature, the vision will lower.

and subconsciously early

The

in

life.

Next we explore the three habits of natural seeing

—sketching

principles

were

and habits of natural vision

clearly identified

by Bates.

Today we have an even

(shifting), breathing,

better appreciation

and blinking. These habits are based on the

of his discoveries, because of advancements

three principles of vision.

in

Practicing correct vision habits

removes

our knowledge of the function of the mind

and

the

body

— especially

right-brain/

Relearning to See

•

3

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS left-brain concepts. vision

The idea

only one of the

is

that blurred

many harmful

con-

sequences of living in an imbalanced, highly left-brain oriented society

ter 19, "Brains

is

explored in Chap-

and Vision," and Chapter

20,

"The Two Sides of Health and Healing." Natural vision education holistic

movement

in

is

part of a larger

which many people

in

—and finding— tions to many health problems — problems this society are

seeking

solu-

they have been told by the orthodox cannot

improve.

More and more people

away from lems,

artificial

sight

is

solutions to health prob-

a reflection of a person's bal-

ance with nature.

•

moving

and seeking out a balance with nature.

Normal

4

are

Relearning to See

Chapter Two

Anatomy

Studying the structure and functions of the various parts of the visual system in

understanding

how to

is

helpful

use our vision in the

naturally correct way.

THE EYE ORBIT The bony structure of the eye orbit, along with the fatty tissue surrounding the eye, protect

and

the back

sides of the eye.

THE EYEBALL See Plate

As

the

i:

The Eye.

"'991

human embryo

trusions extend forward long, thin portions

and the bulbs eyeballs.

develops, two pro-

from the

become

at the

Pt>

I

Li!-. :

Figure 2—1: The Skull.

brain. The

the optic nerves,

ends become the two

Nerves from the brain travel through

the optic nerve

and "fan out" throughout the

retina. The eyeball is literally

the brain

an extension of

—a "mini-brain."

The eyeball with liquid.

It

is

a soft

round sphere

filled

grows from approximately

1.6

cm (about 2A inch) in diameter at birth to 2.3 cm at age three. Its diameter is about 2.4 cm at

age thirteen and older

a ping-pong ball

(1

—about the

inch = 2.54 cm).

size of

Figure 2-2: The Eye Orbit.

Relearning to See

•

5

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS

THE THREE LAYERS OF THE EYE The Three Layers of the Eye. The eye can be classified into three basic

See Plate

2:

The three

layers of the eye:

layer consists of the sclera

The outer

and cornea;

the middle layer consists of the choroid, ciliary

body, lens, and

iris;

layer consists of the visual

and the inner and non- visual

The

fluids and chambers of the eye:

anterior

3.

make

safety glass in automobiles.

the cornea, light can pass through

it

more

per-

The cornea receives nutrients on its inner surface from the aqueous humor, on its outer surface from tears and oxygen from the air, and along its circumfectly to the retina.

ference from blood vessels in the sclera.

portions of the retina. 2.

which

dozen layers of epithelial

Because blood vessels are excluded from

groups: 1.

cells,

are like the sheets of glass used to

several

and posterior chambers are

The

filled

The cornea for

80%

is

and accounts

a convex lens

of the curvature needed to focus

onto the retina. By bending

with aqueous humor; and the vitreous

light rays

chamber is filled with vitreous humor. The external parts of the eye: the optic

rays inward, the cornea and lens shrink the

nerve, eyelids

and tear

glands,

and the

six

large

image of the world down to the

light

size of

a nickel onto the retina.

external muscles.

The Outer Layer: Sclera and Cornea

The Middle Layer: Choroid, Ciliary Body, Lens, and Iris

The Sclera

The Choroid

The sclera (pronounced skleh'-rah; from the Greek skleros, meaning "hard") is the eye's

The choroid lies between the sclera and the retina. The choroid consists of many blood vessels and provides nutrients to the entire

protective, leather-like outer layer.

thick,

It is

strong,

and opaque. This "white of the eyes"

covers about

A of the

5

outer surface of the

eyeball.

eye, but especially to the retina.

The choroid is discussed further in Chap"The Retina." The or a serrata is the notched junction between the choroid and the ciliary body.

ter 17,

The Cornea

The

clear, crystalline front of the

eye

is

called

Body

meaning

The

"horn-like").

The hard, tough cornea is the become transparallows light to enter the eye. The

The

part of the sclera that has

enlarged continuation of the choroid that

the cornea (from the Latin corneus,

ent,

and

it

cornea bulges forward In adults the cornea

diameter

dime

—a

little

is

in a

dome-like shape.

about one-half inch in

smaller than the size of a

— and covers the remaining

eye's outer surface.

Releaming to See

The cornea

14

of the

consists of

Ciliary

ciliary

body

is

a highly vascularized,

encircles the lens.

Within the process,

ciliary

body

is

the ciliary

which produces aqueous humor. Sus-

pensory ligaments extend between the

ciliary

process and the lens capsule, 360 around the lens.

Chapter Two: Anatomy

The

ciliary

body contains

a

circular

(parasympathetic) ciliary muscle, and a meridional-radial (sympathetic) ciliary muscle.

The

is

narrowing of the

iris

lose their ability

up close around age

called presbyopia, or "old-age

contraction of the circular muscle decreases the circumference of the ciliary body, like the

many people

the reason

to see clearly

40; this

is

,?

sight.

Theories of the role of the lens are

dis-

cussed more in later chapters.

in bright light. The con-

traction of the radial muscle

expands the

cil-

in

dim

The Iris

Most orthodox books on eyesight state

that

colored (pigmented), circular, and variable

iary body, like the enlarging of the

iris

In front of the lens lies the

light.

the contraction

and expansion of the

inter-

nal ciliary muscle changes the shape of the

more and less More on this theory

front side of the lens to give

curvature, respectively.

it

diaphragm.

cle contracts, the pupil

body lies The front

in front of the vitreous

the double convex, transparent

lens.

side of this "living crystal" touches

the back side of the

iris

and

is

nourished by

The pupil

an opening

which

and

a

iris

surrounds

the pupil. When the pupillary sphincter mus-

is

The Lens

iris is

A pupillary sphincter muscle along

the inner circumference of the

larger.

iris

The

becomes

smaller. When

the dilator muscle contracts, the pupil

in later chapters.

Behind the

iris.

becomes

not a physical structure; it

is

in the center of the

iris,

through

light enters the eye.

The

iris

amount and

regulates the

distrib-

ution of light entering the eyeball. In the brightest light, the diameter of the pupil

about

1.5

mm (with an area of only 2 mm

low

is 2

);

the aqueous humor. The back side of the lens

in very

contacts the vitreous body.

(with an area of 64 expands to about 9 average the diameter is about 4 );

The

lens

is

elastic capsule.

mem-

The suspen-

sory ligaments between the lens capsule and the ciliary

body "suspend" the

behind the

The

lens

lens vertically,

composed of many microscopic,

onion-skin-like layers, and accounts for the

remaining

20%

of the curvature needed to

lens

mm

2

(with an area of 13

Changes observed off;

tively.

grows slowly each year due to a

constant addition of external layers. The older,

ball

is

appear

between the ages

of 20 and 80.

Orthodox textbooks

ening of the lens into a relatively

flat

shape

constricts

and

dilates, respec-

light entering the eye-

absorbed by the retina and choroid.

is

in

reflected out through the

some photographs.

large.

on the camera eye.

state that the hard-

iris

on

light

The pupil normally appears black

See Plate 3: Suzie Q's Red Eyes.

pupil

lens doubles in size

can easily be

pupil.

carded, are compressed in the middle of the

The

).

mirror while turning a

little light is

inner layers, which cannot be absorbed or dis-

lens.

in a

the

mm

2

in the pupil size

because most of the

Very

focus light rays onto the retina.

The

mm

and

iris.

is

diameter

mm

enclosed in a transparent

brane called the

levels of light, the

The

reflects

When

In

Red pupils

dim

light,

the

the high-intensity bulb

flashes, a lot of light enters the

retina glows red because lights

from the blood vessels

in the retina

and choroid.

Relearning to See

•

7

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS Modern cameras have been able to reduce "red eyes" by turning on a special "red-eye reduction lamp" before the picture

is

taken.

The pupil has a chance to contract small and thus is

much less light

enters the eye. The result

a picture with a normal, black pupil.

side of the

chamber

and the

iris.

lies

The much smaller posterior

between the back side of the

lens, lens capsule,

suspensory

iris

liga-

ments, and ciliary body.

These two chambers contain aqueous humor, which means "watery fluid." Aqueous

humor supplies the cornea and the lens with nutrients. Aqueous humor is referred to by an

The Inner Layer: The Retina The

retina

about

95%

is

(back, sides,

is

Aqueous humor

is

produced by the

ciliary

and part of the

front)

process and secreted into the posterior cham-

The

entire

ber.

of the interior surface of the eye. eyeball

ophthalmologist consultant as "clear blood."

the inner third layer, covering

designed for the retina.

There are two parts of the

iris

retina: the visual

From

it

travels slowly

around the

chamber. The entire volume of the aqueous

humor

and non-visual portions.

there,

through the pupil into the larger anterior

is

replenished every hour. The aque-

ous humor's pressure helps maintain the cornea's convex shape.

The Visual Portion of the Retina

The rear 70% of the

retina contains light

receptors, called cones

The design of the retina

is

and

rods.

visual portion of the

discussed in great detail in Chapter

"The Retina."

17,

Aqueous humor also "percolates" from the posterior chamber into the vitreous chamber. Excess aqueous humor, along with dead cornea cells, drains away through the Canal of Schlemm, which encircles the cornea. The Canal of Schlemm discharges these fluids and cells into veins.

The Non-Visual Portion of the Retina

The other 30% of the

retina, the

non- visual

Vitreous

from the

visual por-

The

portion, extends forward

tion at the ora serrata, along the

back part of

the ciliary process and the back side of the iris

up

to the pupil. There are

no

light recep-

tors in the non-visual portion of the retina.

Humor and Chamber

vitreous

chamber lies behind the

lens

and

comprises the majority of the volume of the eye.

It is

almost completely surrounded by

the visual portion of the retina. Filling the

reous chamber

is

vit-

a "jelly-like" clear liquid

called the vitreous humor.

THE FLUIDS AND CHAMBERS OF THE EYE

Positive intraocular pressure created by

the vitreous fifths

humor helps hold

of the eye in

its

the rear four-

round shape.

Aqueous Humor, and the Anterior and Posterior Chambers

THE EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE EYE

See Plate 4: Aqueous Humor.

The external

The anterior chamber

lies

between the

back (inner) side of the cornea and the front

8

•

Relearning to See

parts of the eye consist of the

optic nerve, eyelids

and tear glands, and the

six external (extrinsic) muscles.

Chapter Two: Anatomy

The eye socket which:

1)

is

lined with fatty tissue

cushions the eye from blows to the

head; 2) lubricates the continually moving eyeball;

and

3) provides

rior),

outer (lateral), and inner (medial) parts

of the eye.

When

cle shortens

and

of the eye where

warmth.

when

musbackward on the part

contracting, a rectus

pulls it is

attached. For example,

the superior rectus muscle contracts,

the eye rotates upward. When the medial rec-

The Optic Nerve

tus muscle contracts, the eye rotates inward,

The optic nerve is the second cranial nerve and the second-largest nerve in the human body. This nerve transmits the signals from

and so on.

the 137 million light receptors in the retina to

of refraction and accommodation.

the brain. directly

retina

The

central nervous system

exposed to

of Bates' research was directed in errors

is

light stimulation via the

and optic nerve

human body where

Much

toward the role of these muscles

—the only part of the

this occurs.

The Eyelids and Tear Glands The eyelids and tear glands are discussed in Chapter 14, "The Third Habit Blinking."

—

The Six External Muscles See Plate

5:

There are

The Six External Eye Muscles. six external (extrinsic)

muscles

around each eye. One end of each muscle attaches to the sclera, while the other end attaches to the eye orbit.

The eye muscles are very powerful. Comparing on a weight basis, the eye muscles are

some of the strongest in the human body. The top (superior) and bottom (inferior) oblique muscles wrap over the top and bottom of the eye, respectively. They form almost a complete belt wrapping around the eyeball.

The superior oblique muscle passes through a small loop called the trochlea. The trochlea is

located at the inner, upper, forward part of

the eye orbit.

The four external

recti

muscles are

attached to the top (superior), bottom (infe-

Relearning to See

•

9

Chapter Three

Understanding Lenses

and Prescriptions

In this chapter

we

discuss various types of

com-

refractive, or "corrective," lenses that are

monly used

in prescription glasses

tact lenses. In this refers to

an

and con-

book, the term "lense"

artificial lense,

while "lens" refers

to protect the eyes

from

injury.

eye has no

sight,

Figure 3-1 shows a piano lense and four

in glasses or contact lenses

in nearsightedness. is

refractive error

A double concave lense

a diverging lense because the light rays

com-

"spread out" after passing through the lense.

—con-

A diverging lense has a "virtual" focal point

types of refractive, or "corrective," lenses

in front of the lense.

prismatic.

A meniscus lense

Of course, the term "corrective" does not mean that the lense corrects the cause of the

and convex on the

vision problem; only the angle of light rays

side of the meniscus lense in Figure b-2

entering the eyes changes.

"corrective" lenses are

As Bates stated, more correctly

referred to as "compensating" lenses.

no curvature, parallel

light rays

not really a "corrective" lense.

it is

A piano lense

has no focal point. Notice the image seen

through the lense on the right as the original

image on the

is

the

Piano lenses are often used in safety glasses

other. Notice

how the

front is

is

a diverging lense. Contact lenses are

often meniscus lenses. In glasses for nearsightedness, a meniscus

lense

is

usually used in place of a single or

double concave lense, mainly for cosmetic reasons.

Figure c shows a double convex lense,

same

left.

concave on one side

degree of concavity. This type of meniscus

con-

tinue in straight paths through the lense;

is

convex, while the back side has a higher

lense

Figure a shows a piano lense. Since a piano lense has

in

Figure b-i shows a double concave lense,

FOUR TYPES OF REFRACTIVE LENSES

and

be placed

glasses in front of the sightless eye.

which can compensate for the

cave, convex, cylindrical,

are also

but the other eye uses a cor-

rective lense, a piano lense can

to the natural lens inside the eye.

monly used

They

used for cosmetic reasons. For example, if one

which can compensate for the in

farsightedness.

A

refractive error

convex lense

Relearning to See

is

•

a

II

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS

OBJECT AS SEEN THROUGH LENSE

a.

PLANO LENSE:

Sl^ 3^£&l r^%f

Since the direction of the light rays

piano

emerging from a

does

lense

not

change, the image does not

change.

_

-

CONCAVE. NEARSIGHTED, -MINUS LENSE:

b-1 b-2.

MENISCUS LENSE

P

rays

Light

IB

*"

diverge

when

emerging from a concave lense: the image appears smaller.

2 -

c.

CONVEX. FARSIGHTED. MAGNIFIERS, 'PLUS LENSE:

S

M

rays

Light

emerging lense:

converge when

from

the

a

convex appears

image

larger

~ d.

CYLINDRICAL. ASTIGMATIC LENSE:

Vertical

light

rays

diverge

when emerging from

e.

cylindrical

{

light

rays are unchanged: the

image appears

^^A s

Vkbb^ ^^^^F

Light rays emerging '

Figure 3-1: Four Types of Refractive Lenses.

Relearning to See

from a

P r sm chan 9 e ,ne r direction. but d0 not conver e °' ? diverge: the image shifts its location.

•

oval.

PRISM, STRABISMIC LENSE

/bJC '\

12

this

Horizontal

lense.

'

3

Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

converging lense because

light rays

converge

to a point after passing through the lense.

A

converging lense has a focal point beyond the

mathematical definition of a diopter meters.

When

lense.

Figure d shows a cylindrical lense, which

dow in

astigmatism.

straight

Figure e shows a prismatic lense, which can

Glasses can have tion"

combined

into

more than one one

lense.

tion.

a lense can be both diverging and cylindrical,

compensating for nearsightedness and

home, the

a

through

astig-

matism.

light rays

simply continue

—without changing direc-

Diopters do not apply to piano lenses

because there

Most

"correc-

For example,

from a distant

parallel light rays

object travel through a typical (piano) win-

can compensate for the refractive error in

compensate for an eye with strabismus.

the

is

reciprocal (or inverse) of the focal length in

is

no

focal point.

made

corrective lenses are

in multi-

D—for example, 0.50 D, 1.25 D, and 3.75 D. Some lenses are made in 0.125 D increments. A total correction of less than 0.25 D in one eye is seldom prescribed. ples of 0.25

UNDERSTANDING LENSES: DIOPTER, AXIS, AND BASE

Diopters and Diverging Lenses

Diopters

vature and a long focal length of -2 meters

A diopter,

abbreviated "D,"

is

a unit of

mea-

A diverging lense with a small amount of cura -0.50

surement of the refractive power of a concave, convex, or cylindrical lense. Trie

number

of diopters indicates the light-bending ability

The more diopters, the more power of a lense, and, generally, the

of a lense.

refractive

more curvature

When

D lense;

The minus cates there

parallel light rays pass

from

air

sign in front of the 0.50

is

is

-2 meters = -0.50 D.

D indi-

a virtual focal point located in

front of the diverging lense. Since parallel light

rays emerging there

is

no

from a concave lense diverge,

focal point

ever, there

in a lense.

1 4-

is

beyond the

lense.

How-

a virtual focal point located in

front of the lense. This focal point

is

deter-

through a curved piece of glass or other trans-

mined by drawing rays

parent material, they change direction. When

tion of the diverging rays, so that they

parallel light rays pass

through a convex lense,

some distance beyond the lense. This distance, measured in meters, is called the focal length. The the rays converge to a focal point at

converge at a point in front of the the focal length

rays,

and the shorter the focal length.

Since

it is

convenient to have a system of

measurement refractive

in

which a lense with a higher

power corresponds

value, the dioptric system

to a higher

was created. The

is

lense. Since

in the opposite direction of

the direction of original light rays, the

num-

ber of meters has a minus sign in front of

A diverging lense that has a

greater the curvature of the lense, the greater

the change in direction of the emerging light

in the opposite direc-

little

more

it.

cur-

vature with a shorter focal length of -1 meter is

a -1.00

D lense;

1 -r

-1

diverging lense that has

meter = -1.00 D.

A

much greater curva-

ture with a

much

shorter focal length of

-Vb meter

a -6.00

D lense;

is

1 -r

-A meter =

-6.00 D.

Relearning to See

•

1

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS is too long from front "-" diverging lense is used to focus

A cylindrical lense bends light rays in only

The nearsighted eye to back.

A

light rays farther

back into the eyeball, onto

the retina.

Some

one plane. Think of a lense

cally.

materials have a higher index of

in the

can of soup that has been cut

When a horizontal plane

rays passes through

come

shape of a

in half verti-

of parallel light

this cylindrical lense, the

to a vertical "focal line" at

refraction than others. Therefore, a lense with

light rays

a high index of refraction and low curvature

some distance beyond the cylinder. However, when a vertical plane of

may have

the

same

power

refractive

lense with a low index of refraction

as a

and a high

curvature. Lenses with a high index of refrac-

tion are

sometimes used

in glasses for

ple with high errors of refraction,

i.e.,

rays passes through the

The direction of

lense without converging.

very

the original vertical plane of light rays

them.

is

not

affected by the lense.

and cosmetically pleasing. However, some difficulty adjusting to

cylindrical lense,

the light rays continue straight through the

peo-

blurred vision. The thinner lenses are lighter

people have

same

light

Since a cylindrical lense brings a plane of parallel light rays to a "focal line," there

dioptric

is

a

measurement associated with the

cylindrical lense.

A cylindrical lense can have

Diopters and Converging Lenses

"+" or "-" diopters. The sign

A converging lense with a small amount of

drical diopters

curvature and a long focal length of 2 meters

edness or farsightedness, and

it

important for the discussion

book. We

is

a +0.50

D lense;

The plus

1 -f

2

meters = +0.50 D.

sign indicates the focal point

beyond the converging

is

lense.

more

little

curvature with a focal length of

D lense;

1 -r 1

1 meter is a meter = +1.00 D. A much

stronger convex lense with a focal length of

only

Vs

meter

is

a +5.00

D lense;

1 -r

Vs

meter

= +5.00 D.

The

is

too short from

A converging lense

is

used to

focus light rays closer to the front of the eye,

onto the

in this

retina. Glasses

made with converg-

number

of a cylinder diopter

of diopters for astigma-

number

is

ignored here.

In nearsightedness and farsightedness, the eyeball

but

is

too long and too short, respectively,

it is still

round from the front point of is

teaspoon or football. The amount, or magnitude, of this "ovalness"

is

measured

The oval shape

in

a

lemon

lying

on

astigmatism can be

It

its

can be horizontal side), vertical, or

other angle. The angle of astigmatism axis.

The

axis

Diverging and converging lenses have equal

tation, of the cylindrical lense

that

These lenses bend planes and bring the rays

planes.

light equally in all

to a focal point.

14

•

Relearning to See

is

ori-

(like

any

called

determines the angle, or orien-

curvatures in

all

in the

diopters.

ented at any angle.

Diopters and Cylindrical Lenses

oval, or

lopsided, from the front point of view, like a

ing lenses are often called "magnifiers" or "readers."

not

is

tism correction; the plus or minus sign in front

view. In astigmatism, the eyeball

farsighted eyeball

front to back.

in front of cylin-

not a measure of nearsight-

consider only the magnitude, or absolute

value, of the

A converging lense that has a +1.00

will

is

put into glasses

compensate for astigmatism. Axis is not a measure of the amount of the astigmatism

—only

its

angle.

5

Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

the British physician

who

Thomas Young, own eyes

did research with his

between 1799 and

Using a square

1801.

piece of paper, Young found that horizontal lines were clear, while the verti-

ones were blurry. Cylindrical lenses

cal

used to compensate for astigmatism

were

first

used by the astronomer Airy

in 1827.

Bases and Prism Lenses

A prism uniformly changes the angle of all

incoming parallel

light rays.

The path

of the light rays simply changes to a direction. Since there

the

is

power of the prism

no

is

new

focal point,

not measured

Figure 3-2: Images Distorted by Astigmatism. in diopters.

Prism correction for strabismus in

is

In astigmatism, one plane of light can focus

measured

back of the

the prism symbol, A. For example, i ABO, called

retina, as in farsightedness,

in units of base,

and

is

indicated by

while another plane of light can focus in front

"one prism base

of the retina, as in nearsightedness. This

rection for an eye that turns slightly inward.

is

is

A 4 BI, "four prism base

because one plane of the cornea can have too

much

out,"

a relatively small cor-

in," is a larger correc-

curvature, while

another plane has too

lit-

tle curvature.

In

astigmatism, the

shapes of objects

at all

distances or only at specific

distances can be dis-

torted.

also

Astigmatism can

create

images

of,

multiple

or shadows

around, an object.

With astigmatism, vertical lines

paper

on

may appear

to

be

darker or lighter than horizontal

ASTIGMATISM WHEEL

a piece of

lines.

While looking

move

the page

Astigmatism Wheel, move this page closer and farther from you; then

a circular motion; then rotate the page clockwise and counterclockwise.

Do

the

same

while

looking at the figures on the right.

Do some others?

The discovery of astigmatism is attributed to

at the stripes of the in

If

stripes appear gray while others appear black?

so,

Do some

of the stripes

appear less clear than

you may have astigmatism.

Figure 3-3: Astigmatism Chart.

Relearning to See

•

1

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS tion for

A an eye that turns outward. 2 BU, "two

prism base up," 2

A

for

is

an eye that turns down.

BD, "two prism base down,"

for an eye

is

F P

that turns up.

T O Z

Strabismus and prisms are discussed further in Chapter

18,

L P E D

"Stereoscopic Vision."

P E C F D e d r c z p r E L O P Z D

VISUAL ACUITY AND EYE CHARTS Distance "20/20" Vision In 1864, a test for visual acuity was devised

Figures -4: Snellen Eye Chart.

by the Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen. Using the sight of an anonymous

young Dutch man

(actually, Snellen's assis-

normal vision, with letters on it. The

tant) as his standard for

Snellen created a chart

"Snellen" chart was used to test the sight of

children reading the chalkboard from the

chart has different-size letters

A black letter E, which

3

is /s"

in height

and

width, placed twenty feet away, occupies a 5 area in the macula. The macula is the area in

the center of the retina with a high concen-

Cones pick up sharp

detail

(acuity). If the three black horizontal lines

and

the two horizontal white spaces in the letter

E

all

of the letters on

the 20/20 line can be read with one eye, with-

out correction, you are said to have "normal,"

in that eye.

Larger

tration of cones.

When

the "20/20" line.

"perfect," or "20/20" sight for distance vision

back of a classroom.

The Snellen on it.

assistant could read this line, so Snellen called it

are of equal width, a horizontal stroke or

white space occupies a

i°

area in the center of

the macula, called the fovea.

The fovea con-

tains the highest concentration of

the macula (and the retina).

cones within

The

letter E's

letters

on the eye chart correspond

to vision less than 20/20 sight. For example, if

you can read

of the

all

at least 20/30 sight;

letters

ter

letter, If

is

reading the line with u/i6"

the letter

is

line,

3'/2" let-

usually the largest (top)

E on the

you can read

20/30

you have

20/40 sight. The line with a

20/200. This

is

Vi" letters,

all

Snellen chart.

of the letters on the

but only most of the letters on the

you may have slightly less than you read all of the letters on the 20/100 line and some of the letters on the 20/80 line, you may have slightly 20/20

line,

20/20, or 20/20', vision. If

+

three horizontal black strokes plus the two horizontal white spaces, at

The

i°

each, equal 5

distance of twenty feet

because, for

feet. If

practical purposes, the eye

all

an object

at

twenty feet

ally) objects farther

away

Snellen placed several letter

E

16

Releaming

•

.

important,

is

accommodates only within the

first

is

twenty

clear, (usu-

will also

3

be

clear.

/s" letters, like

See

E

ACTUAL

SIZE OF 20/20

MACULAR VISION

|

3/8', 5'

'E'

the

described above, in a row. Snellen's

to

better than 20/100 vision, or 2o/ioo sight.

Figure 3-5: The 20/20 "E" for Distance.

Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

What do the

xx/yy Top

and Bottom

ciple

Numbers Refer To? One way

to think about the xx/yy

numbers

on an eyeglass prescription or an eye chart to consider

is

xx to be the number of feet a per-

son with xx/yy vision chart, while

yy

the

is

is

standing from the eye

number

of feet a person

is standing from the same Both people are looking at the same

with 20/20 vision chart.

xx/yy

line.

For example, a person with 20/200 sight

would need to stand

same

1

3

/2" letters

could see at 200

at

People are typically given corrective lenses

sight,

the

or better. The

more

sight could see at

40

D to read the 20/20 line, but a person with 20/200 might need -4.00 D might need only -1 to read the

Height

i

person with 20/20

i

3

/8

letters a

/i6" letters at

20/10 vision; 3Ai" letters

is

four times better than "normal" 20/20 sight.

is

20/5 vision,

which

A person with 20/5 vision can see at twenty feet

what

need

a person with 20/20 sight

to stand at 5 feet to see!

Another way bers

would

is

sight.

20/200 sight

is

is 1/1,

or

Moth of 20/20

How can a person see better than 20/20 if The cones evenly.

in the

As

increases to

up the

Vs" letters?

fovea are not distributed

the center of the fovea

approached, it

the

density

20/20

Va"

20/15

/l6"

20/10

/3 2"

20/5

Figure 3-6: Table for Distance Eye Chart.

Bates offers the following suggestion to those with nearsightedness in Perfect Sight Without

It will

to

be well

be used

be seen

(cones/mm

is

to

best,

have two

.

.

.

cards,

near point, where

and the other

student will find

at ten

it

it

one can

or twenty

a great help to

shift from the near card to the distant one,

as the unconscious

memory

of the letters

seen at the near point helps to bring out those seen at the distance.

)

superior vision have their attention in a very

—a key natural vision

...

at the

2

maximum density. People with

tiny central area

A"

3

feet. The

sight.

the cones in the fovea pick

20/30

3

num-

two times better than normal

sight. 20/10 is

20/40

Glasses:

to think of the xx/yy

to consider the ratio: 20/20

"normal"

20/50

3

twenty feet

is

20/70

-

w

with 20/20 sight would need to stand at 15 feet 3

20/100

%"

person

20 feet)

20/200

"

/."

7

feet.

W

(at

1

on the eye chart better than 20/20 sight. For

Reading the

/4

line.

Vision Acuity

3*4"

to stand at twenty feet to

twenty feet the same

to see.

same 20/20

of Letter

example, a person with 20/15 sight can read at

exam-

person with 20/40 uncorrected vision

Letters smaller than Vs"

correspond to

the refractive error,

diopters of correction are needed

A person with 20/40

letters a

more

to let that person see 20/20 again. For ple, a

a person with 20/20 sight feet.

back to "normal" 20/20

that bring the eyes

twenty feet to see the

would need see the same n/i6" sight

called centralization. This will be

explained further in Chapter 17," The Retina."

prin-

The opposite approach can be used by those with farsightedness. Both approaches can be used by those with astigmatism.

Relearning to See

•

1

7

.

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS There are identical Distance and Near Eye Charts

in

Appendix

The Snellen card and

where.

Driving Requirements 20/40 sight sight in

most

states.

Although 20/40

of normal sight, this

is still

Your eye doctor can

sight.

light

the driving requirement for eye-

is

requirement for your

is

"half

in

you the vision

tell

state.

any

many It

quite functional

a

little

lenses can be

easier to use

light

may

It

and the advantages of objective simul-

taneous retinoscopy.

with the Snellen card and

can be deter-

By

and

moment

at the

moment

whether

astigmatic,

is

moment he

ball, at the

after

But with the retinoscope

to determine

for

any information about the

he swings for the it,

the for-

would be impossible,

it

or whether he

Glasses:

it

in a fraction of a second.

strikes

With

trial lenses.

refraction of a baseball player at the

it.

Quoting from Perfect Sight Without

under

also be used

takes a considerable time, varying from

instance, to get

discusses the limitations of test-

dim

minutes to hours, to measure the refraction

mer method

ing vision with the subjective Snellen eye

in a

it

may be used

it

other unfavorable conditions.

the retinoscope, however,

Bates and the Snellen Eye Chart

chart,

It is

than in a bright one, but

mined

Here Bates

trial

used only under certain favorable conditions, but the retinoscope can be used any-

F.

it is

his vision

he

strikes

quite easy

normal,

is

myopic, hypermetropic, or

when he does these

things;

and

if

Much of my information about the eyes has

any errors of refraction are noted, one can

been obtained by means of simultaneous

guess their degree pretty accurately by the

retinoscopy. The retinoscope

rapidity of the

is

an instrument

used to measure the refraction of the eye.

.

which have not been generally

realized by the medical profession.

Most

ophthalmologists depend upon the Snel3

len card, supplemented by

trial lenses,

determine whether the vision not,

is

to

normal or

and to determine the degree of any

abnormality that

may

exist.

This

a slow,

is

awkward, and unreliable method of testing the vision, and absolutely unavailable for the study of the refraction of the lower

animals, of infants, and of adult

beings under the conditions of

of the shadow. trial

lenses con-

.

This exceedingly useful instrument has possibilities

movement

With the Snellen card and

human

life.

drawn from the person's

clusions must be

statements as to what he sees; but the person often

becomes so worried and confused dur-

ing the examination that he does not

what he

make

sees, or

his sight better or

over, visual acuity

is

worse; and, more-

not reliable evidence of

the state of the refraction. 2

D

of

know

whether different glasses

One

person with

myopia may see twice

much

as

as

another with the same error of refraction.

The evidence of the Snellen card

is,

in fact,

entirely subjective; that of the retinoscope entirely objective,

depending

in

is

no way upon

the statements of the person. a

Herman

Snellen (1835-1908). Celebrated Dutch

by means of the Snellen card and

tion

the University of Utrecht, and director of the

lenses requires considerable time,

Netherlandic Eye Hospital. The present standards

of visual acuity were proposed by him. and his test types

18

In short, while the testing of the refrac-

ophthalmologist, professor of ophthalmology in

•

became the model

Releaming

to

See

for those

now in use.

be done only under certain ditions,

trial

and can

artificial

with results that are not always

conreli-

—9 Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions able, the retinoscope

sorts of

can be used under

all

normal and abnormal conditions

There "Eye

Near Eye Chart

a

is

in

Appendix

on the eyes both of human beings and the lower animals; and the results, when it is used properly, can always be depended upon. This means that it must not be

print in

brought nearer to the eye than

Over- Correction: A Strain; Under-Correction: A Relief

erwise the subject will be

six feet; oth-

made

nervous,

the refraction, for reasons which will be

explained

later, will

be changed, and no

reliable observations will be possible. In

the case of animals

use

it

at a

much

it is

often necessary to

Chapter

22,

"Reading

—For All

Ages."

Prescription glasses are sometimes "over-cor-

rected" to give sharper acuity than 20/20 for example, 20/10 correction. Unfortunately, 20/10 lenses create a greater strain

greater distance.

F,

Charts." There are also samples of small

on the eyes

than 20/20 lenses. Glasses can be "under-corrected" to give

Near "2o/2o"Vision

functional but not 20/20 sight

A different chart

20/30 or 20/40 correction.

test the

is

used by eye doctors to

near vision of farsights. The Near Eye

Chart has different sizes of type and

is

held

When a person can read the line consisting of 3-point type letters, she has normal 20/20

near vision. Reading 7-point type

letters

for example,

doctors

intuitively under-correct prescriptions to pre-

vent 20/20 glasses from straining a person's eyes.

14 inches away.

vision, half of

—

Some eye

normal near

is

20/40 near

vision. If the small

cannot be read, the eye doctor

may pre-

Students improving vision often choose to get glasses that are

weaker than

20/20.

Over-

and under-corrections are discussed further in the next

two chapters.

UNDERSTANDING PRESCRIPTIONS

scribe converging lenses, "magnifiers," to focus

note: Prescriptions are always obtained from

near objects onto the retina.

an eye

doctor. Bates teachers

do not prescribe,

Type Size

Visual Acuity (at 14")

23 point

20/200

14 point

20/100

numbers associated with

point

20/90

numerical description of the lenses

12 point

20/80

glasses or contact lenses

point

20/75

called a prescription.

10 point

20/70

9 point

20/65

lense (non-bifocal) prescription for near-

8 point

20/50

sightedness and astigmatism in both eyes, and

7 point

20/40

strabismus (crossed eye) in the right eye.

6 point

20/35

13

11

diagnose,

Many

or determine function.

treat,

people

Figure 3-8

is

who wear glasses have

In nearsightedness the eye

5 point

20/30

farsightedness the eye

20/25

cases, the eye

3 point

20/20

from the

Figure 3-7: Table for Near

Eye

is

side.

The made for

by an eye doctor

a theoretical

4 point

seen

their glasses.

is

is

sample single

is

too long; in

too short. In both

when viewed converging and Diverging not spherical

Chart.

Relearning to See

•

1

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS

0. D.

(Right Eye)

Spherical

Cylindrical

Axis

Prism

Base

-7.25

-1.25

x170

A 1

OUT

-6.75

-1.75

x 145

—

—

Distance

O.S. (Left Eye)

0. D.

(Right Eye)

Near/Add

OS. (Left Eye)

Figure 3-8: Theoretical Sample Single Lense Prescription for Nearsightedness, Astigmatism,

and Crossed Eye.

compensate for the nearsighted and

lenses

farsighted eye's "non-spherical" shape, respec-

This correction

tively.

is

indicated in the

"Spherical" column of a prescription. Spherical

corrections for nearsightedness and far-

sightedness are measured in diopters.

is

oval (not spherical) from

the front point of view.

The amount of cor-

rection for astigmatism

is

indicated in the

"Cylindrical" column, in diopters. of the astigmatism correction

is

the "Axis" column, in degrees.

The angle

indicated in

The

a correction that has been

axis

is

tom

rection

away from the point of interest. The amount of correction

less

is

indi-

than the distance correction. For

the correction on the bottom part

"right eye." "O. S." stands for oculus

which means "left eye." The top two rows indicate corrections

for

"Distance" vision. Distance vision correction

commonly given to nearsights. Distance vision correction may also be given to faris

their distance vision

ciently blurred.

•

farsights,

is

greater

than the distance correction.

Sometimes the correction given by the prescription, e.g. 20/20 or 20/40,

is

written

The uncorrected

also be indicated, e.g.

on the

visual acuity

"WOG 20/400";

"WOG" means without glasses.

Relearning to See

becomes

Prescriptions for Nearsightedness

Lense Prescription for Nearsightedness, Astigmatism, and Crossed Eye. gle

A prescription for nearsightedness has a

sinister,

20

is

Refer to Figure 3-8: Theoretical Sample Sin-

"O. D." stands for oculus dexter, which

if

in the bot-

indicated in the "Prism" col-

umn. The direction of the correction cated in the "Base" column.

sights

to the

on the bottom part of the bifocal

may

usually not written.

In strabismus, an eye turns

means

"Added"

part of bifocals. For nearsights, the cor-

bol

is

to farsights.

Distance/Spherical diopters (in the top two

prescription.

for strabismus

"Near" vision

In bifocals, the bottom two rows indicate

sometimes preceded by an "X"; a degree symis

for

commonly given

rows) to create the prescription

Unlike the nearsighted and farsighted eye, the astigmatic eye

The bottom two rows are correction,

suffi-

negative (-)

Usually

this

number in the Spherical column. is the number of diopters needed

to correct the nearsighted eye back to 20/20

normal

sight. If less

diopters are given, the sight

can be corrected to

less

than 20/20, e.g. 20/40.

In our example, the Distance vision has a

Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

D for the right eye, and D for the left eye. This is not a bifocal

correction of -7.25 -6.75

prescription because there diopter

measurement

in the

is

no Near/Add

bottom two rows.

Sometimes the prescription

is

written with

"DS" after the number of diopters, e.g. -7.25 DS, or -7.25 D.

S.

minus sign

plus or

number of diopters

the correction

is

indicates

in front

whether

for nearsightedness or far-

sightedness.

bifocal prescription, there

might be two +1.25

D

Near/Add numbers in the bottom two rows. The bottom part of this bifocal would then be -6.00 D (-7.25 D "Add" +1.25 D) for the right eye, and -5.50 D (-6.75 D "Add" +1.25 D) for the left eye. Notice that the plus signs of the diopters are taken into

when adding diopters in the Spherical column. The amount of nearsighted correction is less on the bottom part of the account

bifocal because the nearsighted eye does not

need the

up

full

distance correction to see clearly

close. (In fact, there

is

usually a point

up

where no correction is needed to see clearly up close.) Though the bottom part of close

a nearsighted bifocal prescription in

power, a person could

sharper near vision with

As your

students ask about the relationship

between the number of diopters

still

this

is

and

scriptions

in their pre-

their acuity, e.g. 20/20, 20/40,

20/200, etc.

There

is

no absolute

correlation. The

num-

ber of diopters in a prescription relates to the refractive error of the eyeball.

As Bates stated

above, the Snellen eye chart test tive test

Nearsights can also be given bifocals. In a

and minus

Many

DS means diopters of spher-

ical correction. The

of the

Diopters and 20/xx Distance Numbers: A Loose Correlation

is

a subjec-

and can vary from individual to

vidual. Squinting can

indi-

change acuity quickly

and dramatically. One person with -3.00 of nearsightedness

may read

while another person with -3.00

be able to read the 20/200 That being

D

the 20/100 line,

D may only

line.

said, there is a loose correlation

between diopters and 20/xx numbers. At approximately -1.00 person might have driver's test. -2.00

D of nearsightedness, a

difficulty passing a "20/40"

D might be 20/80; -3.00 D 20/100 to 20/200. -5.00 D

may be between may be around 20/500 sight. Beyond -3.00 D distant objects appear very

blurry.

When

usually

improving

vision,

the most pronounced experiences of sharper vision occur

from -3.00

D to zero D.

reduced

have 20/20 or

lower correction.

Prescriptions for Astigmatism

vision changes, a prescription

Figure 3-8: Theoretical Sample Single Lense

adjusted originally for 20/20 correction would

Prescription for Nearsightedness, Astigma-

no longer correct a person

to 20/20. When the

vision improves, the prescription

sharper than 20/20,

i.e.,

too strong. When the

vision lowers, the prescription

sharp than 20/20.

would be

would be

less

tism,

and Crossed Eye shows

with -1.25

a prescription

D of astigmatism correction for the

right eye. The angle of the astigmatism (axis) is

170 degrees.

of -1.75

The

left

eye has a correction

D at an axis of 145 degrees.

Trying to correct for astigmatism can be a

problem because not only can the magni-

tude (diopters) change (as with nearsighted-

Relearning to See

•

21

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS The top part of

ness and farsightedness), but the angle (axis)

can change as

one changes, the

well. If either

original correction will

be incorrect and can

this bifocal

D D cor-

has a +1.50

correction for the right eye and a +1.75

Both of these correc-

rection for the left eye.

tions are for distance vision.

create a strain.

The bottom part of

a bifocal

vision. In this prescription there

for near

is is

an "Add"

D for each eye. The "Add" diopters

Prescriptions for Strabismus

of +1.25

(Crossed Eye, Wall Eye,

are "added" to the diopters in the top (Dis-

etc.)

Figure 3-8 also shows a correction for a

tance) part of the bifocal. In this example, the

crossed (inward turning) right eye.

right eye

i-\ is

called "one prism." in the Prism

amount

the

in the

of the prism correction.

Base column indicates

this

the direction the eye

is

is

sighted bifocal

prism

is

cor-

because a

i

with

1

D. 2 with 2 D. and

near vision

have

There

is

DC.

see that a theoretical sam-

number in the Spherical column. This is number of diopters needed to correct the

is

axis in the left eye

the axis

is

DC.

or D.

the

At about

farsighted eye. usually back to 20/20 near

C. e.g.,

is

95

.

is

40

Remember,

a bifocal prescription, there

the "Distance" and the

"Near/Add."

+1.00

is

not more blurred than

D of farsightedness, a per-

small print, especially in

dim

light.

However,

such a person might be able to pass the ver's vision test without glasses.

(Right Eye)

Spherical

Cylindrical

Axis

+ 1.50

-1.25

x40

+ 1.75

-1.25

x90

Prism

Base

Distance

OS. (Left Eye)

0. D.

(Right Eye)

+ 1.25

Near/Add

OS. (Left Eye)

+ 1.25

Figure 3-9: Theoretical Sample Bifocal Prescription for Farsightedness and Astigmatism.

22

•

Releaming

to

See

the

son often begins to need glasses for reading

vision in a single lense prescription.

0. D.

:

since

not a measure of the magnitude of

the astigmatism. 95 °

parts:

D of astigmatism cor-

Sometimes astigmatism

indicated by

40°.

two

passing the dri-

DC means diopters of cylindrical

itive

are

more blurred

correction. The axis in the right eye

ple prescription for farsightedness has a pos-

is

difficult)'

also -1.25

rection in each eye.

so on.

Prescriptions for Farsightedness

Since this

is

A farsight with this pre-

ver's vision test without corrective lenses.

correction

we

stronger than the top part,

farsight's

scription might

the opposite of

-1.25

In Figure j-g,

is

than the far vision.

turning.)

A

D (+1.50

+2.75

"OUT"

In terms of eyestrain, one might equate A

is

D "Add" +1.25 D).The bottom part of a far-

recting for a right eye that turns inward. (The

direction of the correction

near prescription

column

dri-

Chapter Three: Understanding Lenses and Prescriptions

Many

people obtain "magnifiers"

at

the

"5&10" store when their near vision first becomes blurry. Often the number of diopters of farsighted correction is written on the inside of one of the frame's temples. 5&10 glasses do not have astigmatism correction. Also, a prescription from an eye doctor is not needed to buy 5&10 "readers."

sightedness and +2.00

left eye,

distance correction in the

left

(3.00

total correction for

is

Interestingly, the

sum

5.00

D

of the spherical and

cylindrical diopters for the right eye

same

is

often

sum in the left eye. For example, a person may have -3.00 D

the

as,

right eye,

The

eye

the total

D plus 2.00 D).

or close

spherical/+i.oo

Mixed Prescriptions

D of astigmatism for

distance correction in the

to,

the

D cylindrical correction in the

and -2.25 spherical/+i.75

cylindri-

cal in the left eye. In this case, the total cor-

one eye

is

the

sum of

rection in each eye

is

4.00 D.

the absolute values (magnitudes) of the near-

sighted (or farsighted) diopters, the astigma-

tism diopters, and the prism base. The plus or

minus

signs in front of the cylindrical diopters

are ignored

when adding

diopters to deter-

mine the

total correction in

example,

if

Inadequate Prescriptions If

there

is

too

much

one

eye. For

may not be

D

of near-

or even usable vision.

a person has -3.00

blur, or

if

there are

pathologies involved, like cataracts, lenses able to correct a person to 20/20

Relearning to See

•

23

Chapter Four

The Problem with Glasses and Contact Lenses

I

am /

I

—

BATES:

weary of glasses have worn them so long,

Contact lenses were not generally available

wonder as time passes Will

my eyes—ever be strong?

Time was when

Could read

Now even

dim

how

his students

Even though he

to

limited

—

looks, for sight, for pain

best to

problems with eyeglasses,

many of these problems

with glasses

my

their vision.

his discussion to the

and strain,

They wear them night and noon.

done

improve

light;

They put them on too soon;

I've

when Bates taught

I

in

That light must be bright Too many are wearing glasses,

For

"WHAT GLASSES DO TO US"

tell

the rest

apply to strong con-

tact lenses.

The opinions of Bates regarding the strain caused by wearing strong glasses are now being echoed by more and more eye doctors, including ophthalmologists.

From

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

That of glasses I would beware; You'll find

it's

true,

I'm

telling

you

Glasses will not get you there.'

—Joseph

J.

Kennebeck, optometrist

GLASSES AND CONTACT LENSES: ARTIFICIAL SOLUTIONS TO BLUR

On

blur

and reversing

it,

most people obtain

Even stronger used when vision becomes

glasses or contact lenses.

"crutches" are

worse. "Strong" glasses are those that correct

tomb

tion

in

in the

Church of Santa Maria

Florence was found an inscrip-

which read: "Here

lies

Salvino degli

Armati, Inventor of Spectacles. May God pardon him his sins. " Nuova Enciclopedia Italiana, Sixth Edition

2

WHAT GLASSES DO TO

Rather than identifying the cause of their initial

a

Maggiore

The in

US

Florentines were doubtless mistaken

supposing that their fellow citizen

the inventor of the lenses

now

.

so

.

.

was

com-

monly worn to correct errors of refraction. There has been much discussion as to the

one's eyes to 20/20 vision or stronger, for near

origin of these devices, but they are gen-

or far vision.

erally believed to

have been known

Relearning to See

at a

•

25

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS period degli

much

Armati.The Romans

at least

have known something of the

unless one produces the degree of refrac-

must

tive error that

art of sup-

But

plementing the powers of the eye, for Pliny

they are designed to correct.

which

refractive errors, in the eye

is

are never constant. If one

Nero used to watch the games the Colosseum through a concave gem

secures good vision by the aid of concave,

however,

or convex, or astigmatic lenses, therefore,

tells

in

One cannot see through them

ing chapter.

earlier than that of Salvino

left to itself,

us that

set in a ring for that purpose.

If,

contemporaries believed that Salvino

his

it

means

that

one

maintaining constantly

is

produce these

a degree of refractive error which other-

aids to vision, they might well pray for the

wise would not be maintained constantly.

of the Armati was the

pardon of

first

to

his sins; for while

eyeglasses have brought to

it is

true that

some people

It is

only to be expected that this should

make

the condition worse, and

common

it is

a mat-

improved vision and relief from pain and discomfort, they have been to others simply an added torture, they always do more

ter of

or less harm, and at their best they never

steadily increased in order to maintain the

improve the vision to normal.

degree of visual acuity secured by the aid

The "relief from pain and discomfort" proin the

long term.

ach pain

their strength, in

who

first pair.

cases, has to

be

Persons with presbyopia

put on glasses because they cannot

A drug used to relieve stom-

have worn them for a time they cannot,

serious problems

if

used

A drug does not necessarily ache. A drug

or mechanical crutch

may even

lead a person

to ignore the real cause of a problem.

without their aid, read the larger print that

was perfectly plain to them before. A person with myopia of 20/70 who puts on glasses giving him a vision of 20/20 may find that in a week's time his

unaided vision has

declined to 20/200, and

we have

Continuing with Bates' words:

mony

That glasses cannot improve the sight to normal can be very simply demonstrated

care] the majority

any color through a strong convex or concave glass. It will be noted at

is

when seen with

always

less intense

than

naked eye; and since the perception of form depends upon the the

perception of color,

it

follows that both

testi-

thousands of myopes [under

grew

spite of all the skill

his

steadily worse, in

he could apply to the

fitting of glasses for

them.

When

people

break their glasses and go without them for a

week or

two, they frequently observe that

their sight has fact the sight

improved. As a matter of

always improves, to a greater

or lesser degree,

when

color and form must be less distinctly seen

carded, although the fact

with glasses than without them.

be noted.

Even plane glass lowers the vision both for color and form, as everyone knows who has ever

the

of Dr. Sidler-Huguenin, of Zurich, 3

that of the

that the color

most

read fine print too often find that after they

remove the cause of the stomach

by looking

does.

not necessarily beneficial

is

may cause

continuously.

it

After people once begin to wear glasses

of the

vided by glasses

experience that

glasses are dis-

may

not always

looked out of a window. .

.

.That glasses must injure the eye

dent from the facts given

26

•

Relearning to See

in the

is

evi-

preced-

"

Archiv

f.

Augenh.,

Arch. Ophth.,

vol. lxxix, 1915, translated in

vol. xlv,

No.

6,

1916.

Chapter Four: The Problem with Glasses and Contact Lenses

A

person's sight would not necessarily

improve habits

—

if

a person practiced worse vision

especially straining to see

ones he had before discarding

why relearning relaxed vision tial

for

improving eyesight.

found that

ple have

wearing glasses

—than the

glasses. This is

habits

Still,

their vision

is

essen-

many peo-

improves by

less.

weak

glasses people are unable to see dis-

they look through the center

tinctly unless

of the lenses, with the frames at right angles

and not only is their fail to do this, but annoying nervous symptoms, such as dizziness and headache, are sometimes proto the line of vision;

vision lowered

Glasses:

duced. Therefore they are unable to turn

is

a

true that glasses are

That the human eye resents glasses

is

a fact

that people

have to "get

never succeed in doing

so.

People with high

The is

difficulty of

one of the minor discomforts of glasses,

but nevertheless a most annoying one.

damp and

On

rainy days the atmosphere

clouds them.

great difficulty in accustoming themselves

from the body may have a similar

On hot days the perspiration effect.

and often are never do so. The strong concave glasses

moisture of the breath. Every day they are

make

so subject to contamination by dust and

to the full correction,

required by myopes of high degree all

result.

keeping the glass clear

degrees of myopia and hypermetropia have

able to

to look

any angle, but practically

they seldom accomplish the desired

which no one would attempt to deny. Every

used" to them, and that sometimes they

at

It

now ground in such

way that it is theoretically possible

through them

knows

they

their eyes freely in different directions.

Continuing from Perfect Sight Without

oculist

if

objects

On cold days they are often clouded by the

seem much smaller than they

moisture and the touch of the fingers

inci-

convex glasses enlarge

dent to unavoidable handling that

it is

really are, while

them. These are unpleasantnesses that can-

seldom they afford an absolutely unob-

not be overcome. People with high degrees

structed view of the objects regarded.

of astigmatism suffer

able sensations glasses, for

some very

when

they

disagree-

first

put on

which reason they are warned

by one of the "Conservation of Vision" leaflets published by the Council on Health

and Public Instruction of the American Medical Association to "get used to them at home before venturing where a misstep

Reflections of strong light from eyeglasses are often very annoying,

may be

street

Soldiers, sailors, athletes,

workmen, and

because of the activity of their

lives,

but often throws them out of focus, particularly in the case of eyeglasses

astigmatism.

who

get

it

sometimes happens that

on

fairly well

with their

glasses in the daytime never succeed in get-

ting used to

them

at night.

a greater or lesser degree.

The

Even with very

Lancaster: Wearing Glasses,

p. 15.

for

a matter

unworthy of considmen-

eration in a medical publication; but

discomfort does not improve either the

general health or the vision, and while

have gone so of what

a

worn

fact that glasses are very disfiguring

may seem tal

All glasses contract the field of vision to

which

not only leads to the breaking of the lenses,

these difficulties are overcome, but often

those

in the

children have great difficulty with glasses

might cause a serious accident." 3 Usually they are not, and

and

very dangerous.

some

far

we

toward making a virtue to be necessity that

we conceive

of us have actually

come

to consider

Relearning to See

•

T~]

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS huge round lenses

glasses becoming,

in ugly

It

has been demonstrated [by Bates],

tortoise-shell frames being positively fash-

however, that the lens

ionable at the present time, there are

in the

some unperverted minds wearing of glasses sight of

is

still

which the

to

mental torture and the

them upon others

far

from agree-

able

only as an aid to defective sight, but they are

the correction of errors of refraction. There-

now prescribed for large numbers of who can see as well or better with-

no circumstances can there be

fore under

muscle to be relieved.

a strain of the ciliary It

Up to a generation ago glasses were used

not a factor, either

is

production of accommodation, or in

has also been demonstrated that when

the vision is

is

normal no error of refraction

present, and the extrinsic muscles of the

eyeball are at rest. Therefore there can be

persons

no

The hypermetropic eye is believed to be capable of correcting its own difficulties to some extent by altering the

relieved in these cases.

curvature of the lens, through the activity

strain itself they

out them

of the ciliary muscle. [This topic in Part

is

covered

Two. "Accommodation and Errors

The eye with simple myopia ited with this capacity,

not cred-

is

because an increase

convexity of the lens, which

is

sup-

posed to be all that is accomplished by accommodative effort, would only increase the difficulty; but

myopia

is

usuahy accom-

panied by astigmatism, and

this,

believed, can be overcome, in part,

by

it

is

alter-

ations in the curvature of the lens. Thus

we

are led by the theory to the conclusion that

which any error of refraction

an eye

in

exists

practically never free, while open,

is

from abnormal accommodative other words, it

is

rect

its

trary,

effects

upon

a strain of

may

cor-

the refraction, but the

cannot

relieve.

as has been shown, they

worse.

[TQ emphasis]

assumed

that the

efforts. In

supposed

symptoms

it is

.

assumed

were not properly tioners

.

.

On

the con-

must make

it

When glasses do

and

to be because they

fitted,

and some

their clients exhibit

ing degree of patience

prescription.

practi-

an astound-

and perseverance

their joint attempts to arrive at the

in

proper

A person who suffered from

severe pains at the base of his brain was

fit-

ted sixty times by one specialist alone, and

had besides

visited

nerve specialists Europe.

many other eye and

in this

country and

He was relieved of the his vision, at the

in

pain in five

minutes by the methods presented

book, while

in this

same

time,

became temporarily normal.

muscle of accommodation has to bear not

It is

fortunate that

many people

for

only the normal burden of changing the

whom glasses have been prescribed refuse

focus of the eye for vision at different dis-

to

tances, but the additional

discomfort but

burden of correcting for refractive errors. Such adjustments, if they actually took place, would naturally impose a severe strain upon the nervous system, and it is to relieve this strain which is believed to be the

—

cause of a host of functional nervous troubles

—quite

as

much as to improve the

that glasses are prescribed.

28

When

these muscles does exist, glasses

not relieve headaches and other nervous

of Refraction."]

in the

strain of the extrinsic muscles to be

•

Relearning to See

sight

wear them, thus escaping not only much

much

injury to their eyes.

Others, having less independence of mind,

or a larger share of the martyr's

spirit,

or

having been more badly frightened by the oculists,

submit to an amount of unneces-

sary torture which

One

is

scarcely conceivable.

such person wore glasses for twenty-

five years,

although they did not prevent

her from suffering continual misery and

Chapter Four: The Problem with Glasses and Contact Lenses

lowered her vision to such an extent that

not wear the glasses, and was very severe

which he could read without difficulty before he got his glasses can no longer be read without their aid. In from five to ten years the accommodative power of the eye is usually gone; and if from this point the person does not go on to cataract, glau-

about her practice of looking over instead

coma, or inflammation of the

of through them.

consider himself fortunate. Only occasion-

when she

she had to look over the tops

wanted

to see anything at a distance.

the most serious consequences

As

Her

might expect

oculist assured her that she

if

she did

refractive abnormalities are contin-

do the eyes refuse

ally

from day to day from hour to hour, but from minute to and minute, even under the influence of [the

ficial

paralyzing drug] atropine, the accurate

ods.

ually changing, not only

ting of glasses

some

is,

in

fit-

may

to submit to the arti-

conditions imposed upon them; but

such cases they

may keep up an them

ishing struggle against

aston-

for long peri-

A woman of seventy, who had worn

glasses for twenty years,

of course, impossible. In

he

retina,

was

still

able to

cases these fluctuations are so

read diamond type and had good vision for

extreme, or the person so unresponsive to

the distance without them. She said the

mental suggestion, that no

glasses tired her eyes

is

relief

whatever

obtained from correcting lenses, which

vision, but that she

become under such circuman added discomfort. At their best

and blurred her

had persisted

in

wear-

necessarily

ing them, in spite of a continual temptation

stances

to

it

cannot be maintained that glasses are

anything more than a very unsatisfactory substitute for

The idea result of

much

If

normal vision

is

persons

presbyopic,

that presbyopia

growing old"

throw them off, because she had been it was necessary for her to do so.

told that

is

"a normal

presbyopic age, would, instead of resorting to glasses, follow the

responsible for

defective eyesight. When people

have reached the presbyopic age

who find themselves getting or who have arrived at the example of the gen-

tleman mentioned by Dr. Holmes [see Chapter 6, 'Accommodation and Errors of

who

[forty]

—The Orthodox View"] and

experience difficulty in reading, they are

Refraction

very likely to resort at once to glasses, either

make

with or without professional advice. In

they can find, the idea that the decline of

some

cases such persons

may be

accommodative power

actually

presbyopic; in others the difficulty

may be

little

about

if

is

"a normal result

of growing old" would soon die a natural

something temporary, which they would have thought

a practice of reading the finest print

death.

they had been

younger, and which would have passed

Tom's Personal Log: At age

away if Nature had been

a prescription of -2.50

left

to herself

But

once the glasses are adopted, in the great majority of cases, they produce the condition they

were designed to

already existed, they

make

relieve, or, if it

worse, some-

knows. In a couple of weeks sometimes,

the person finds, as noted in the chapter

What

Glasses

Do to

Us, that the large print

-1

10, 1

was given

for myopia.

and contact lenses increased

in

My

power

D and D of astigmatism. At that time I could not

until at

it

times very rapidly, as every ophthalmologist

glasses

D

age 30

1

had approximately -8

see anything clearly

from

my

more than

a few inches

nose. For over twenty years,

I

suf-

fered with glasses and contact lenses, which

made both my

vision

and

my

health worse.

Relearning to See

•

20,

.

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS Potential serious problems due to blurred

Chapter

vision are discussed in

27, "Serious

glasses causes the increased progressive

.

Vision Problems."

.

Nearsighted and farsighted glasses

.

will create

"WHY GLASSES ARE HARMFUL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE" AND EVERYONE ELSE

4

nearsightedness

more

of the

same problem

for

which the lenses were prescribed and worn. If left alone,

without glasses, and the [incor-

eye habits

rect]

in all close

work were

stopped, the eyes would return toward nor-

In 1969, Joseph

J.

Kennebeck, O.D., a prac-

more than 50

ticing optometrist for

wrote

Why

.

book, Kennebeck

this

a nearsight uses glasses that were

if

up

Where

glasses begin,

good eyes end. 6

Regarding nearsightedness, optometrist Bruce

given to him for distance (20+ feet) vision to see

.

.

Glasses Are Harmful for Children

and Young People. In says that

mal. 5

years,

close,

he puts a strain on

his eyes.

May states:

Sadly, the

myopia

For nearsights, Kennebeck writes:

is

most

common approach

the least likely to prevent

its

to

fur-

ther increase. Usually, corrective concave

lenses are supplied for clearing distance

Glasses fitted at twenty feet are harmful

and habit-forming at twenty feet and beyond Inside of twenty feet the glasses .

are

.

many

times worse. Glasses are wrong feet.

wrong;

feet the glasses are twice

At

be worn

all

the time. This procedure can

wrong

are twenty times

son glasses are not

.

.

.

This

.

.

other distances,

WITHOUT BEING HURT

almost certain that more myopia develop.

the rea-

is

scientifically correct

all

stress. It is

will

7

at five feet

eyes cannot compensate through glasses for twenty feet for

only increase the near point

ten

they are four times wrong; at one foot, they

made

to

.

every foot inside of twenty

at

seeing, along with advice that the lenses are

.

.

.

This

Similarly, a farsight

who

looks into the dis-

tance with his reading glasses on will also strain his sight.

Dr.

Thomas H. David,

Improve Your Vision with

in his

booklet

Television, writes:

is

what brings on progressive myopia, which could have been prevented if the glasses

To put on glasses when one has developed a strain may give temporary relief,

3 had never been prescribed or worn Nearsighted eyes have to over-accommodate through nearsighted glasses to read

eyes are not overcome, the wearer returns

compared to normal eyes. Their over-accommodation adds up to the nearsighted lens power they wear for distance, say for example minus three diopters, plus the same three diopters that normal eyes use to see at thirteen inches, which makes six diopters of accommodaat thirteen inches, as

by such nearsighted eyes through nearsighted glasses such terrific overtion used

.

accommodation

30

•

Releaming

to

.

.

through

See

nearsighted

however,

if

incorrect habits of using the

to the eye specialist for an increase in his lense.

8

The scope of these problems increases when lighting factors are taken into consideration. Most people who have blurred vision have more blur in darkness than in bright light.

Better vision in bright light

is

due to

the pinhole effect, discussed in Chapter

"The Third Habit eyesight

is

14,

— Blinking." One reason

tested in darkness

is

to ensure

you

!

Chapter Four: The Problem with Glasses and Contact Lenses

are given the for

all

maximum

correction needed

A nearsight's vision is checked at twenty feet in darkness

When

—the "worst case scenario."

a 20/20 prescription

situation,

it

will

a chameleon. This can result in the loss of nor-

mal depth perception experience with binoc-

situations.

is

given for this

ular (two-eye) vision, as the brain tries to

emphasize the picture from only one eye, and

de-emphasize the picture from the other.

automatically be too strong,

not only for close vision, but for distance

Nearsighted Glasses Can Double Peripheral Objects

vision in bright light.

As mentioned by Bates, when Farsighted Glasses for Nearsights?

many

After wearing prescription glasses for

some nearsights lose the ability to see clearly up close while wearing their strong,

years,

distance glasses. (Since without corrective lenses a nearsight can

the person

is

still

see clearly

up close,

not truly "farsighted," as

is

a person wears "-" strong diverging lenses, objects appear

smaller through the lenses. As a result, nearsights

who wear

strong glasses can experi-

ence a doubling of objects, or parts of objects,

around the frames. The stronger the premore the doubling.

scription, the

often

mistakenly stated.)

Many nearsights are

given converging, "+"

reading glasses to wear on top of their concave, "-" contact lenses for reading up close.

For example, if the contact lense

is

-5 D, and

Farsighted Glasses Can Lose Some Objects

When "+" converging lenses are used, objects appear larger through the

As

"Magnifiers"

lenses.

the glasses are +2 D, the resultant combina-

literally

tion contact lense/reading glasses correction

wear strong glasses can experience

is

magnify.

a result, farsights

who

loss of

-3 D.

objects, or parts of objects, at the borders of

A person in this predicament could simply a -3 D pair of glasses for near vision,

the frames. The stronger the prescription, the

wear

more

the

loss.

but without using the contact lenses. But a

common motivation for using contact lenses is

have to wear glasses

to not

This scenario has led

in the first place.

some people

to enroll

Bifocals and "Bifocal Neck"

A common solution to the problem of strong, single prescriptions

for natural vision classes.

is

the use of bifocals, or

"progressive" lenses.

Bifocals are often provided as a conve-

The Monovision Solution

nience so that people will not need to switch

Another solution

between two

to the nearsight's loss of

near vision while wearing strong "-" contact lenses

is

monovision.

One eye

is

fitted

with a

lense to see in the distance, while the other is

fitted

with a reduced lense to see up close.

The idea

is

to use only

one eye

at a time, like

different

powers of glasses

to

see at different distances.

One problem with

that the

neck

becomes even more tense than when

"sin-

gles"

were used.

bifocals

Many

with acknowledge this

is

people fact.

I

One

have talked eye doctor,

Relearning to See

•

3

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS who

prescribes reduced-power glasses for

natural vision students, refers to people wear-

their chronic tension completely unless vision is

normalized.

ing bifocals as having "bifocal necks."

Before wearing be more

likely to

move the head up and down and near, respec-

naturally to see objects far tively.

With

person would

bifocals, a

tendency

bifocals, the

to

is

head back, lock the head and neck

tilt

tight,

the

on

even dozenfocals!

Modern technology can

create almost any

type of lenses for glasses. The student of one

and

move the eyes down to see through the bottom portion of the bifocal lens. This can create a high strain

Trifocals, Quadrafocals,

vision teacher

had been given dozenfocals!

The more complex the

lenses, the

more

unnatural the vision experience, and the

a person's neck.

greater the strain.

Ophthalmologist R.

Mind and

S.

Agarwal, in

his

book

Vision, writes regarding bifocals:

Problems with Contact Lenses The upper

glass

One

is

meant

to see distant

lower glass

objects, while the

reading.

is

is

meant

not able to see through the

junction between the two glasses.

one has to objects

for

Hence

The eye

is

forced to

June Biermann and Barbara Toohey write

book The Woman s Relief Book:

Do you ward? In

Holistic

regularly hold

this

category

is

a message

to stop putting foreign objects into the eyes!

Some problems experienced by some contact lense

wearers include:

move up and

down in an unnatural way. This unnatural movement causes great strain on the eyes. 9

in their

painful "adaptation" period experienced

by wearers of hard contact lenses

raise the eyeball to see distant

and lower the eyeball to see the near

objects.

The

Headache

•

Lenses not

•

Lenses are not durable

•

Inconvenience of handling

•

the cornea properly

fitting

Non-compliance with hygienic measures

in cleaning, disinfection,

and

storage

your chin for-

we can put "bifocal

Sudden pain and

dizziness

Distortion of the cornea

your chin forward to peer better through

eye and eyelids Cornea abrasion and infections

the reading [lower] portion of your glasses.

Allergic reactions to cleaning solutions

headaches," headaches caused by sticking

June suspects

this

was a contributing

fac-

tor in her headaches. 10

Irritation of the

Protein buildup on lenses Restrictions from

People with blurred vision have a tight

some occupations

Continuous expense

neck because the same strained vision habits

Allergic reactions

that tighten the eye muscles also tighten the

Red

neck muscles. Bifocals only increase that neck

Scar tissue on the cornea

tension.

Possible melting of the lense onto the

Clients with blurred vision can be a source

of frustration for holistic health practitioners.

The neck and shoulders cannot

release

eyes

cornea with certain types of accidents involving electrical sparks

Risks of oxygen deprivation to the cornea, which can cause abrasions,

32

•

Releaming

to See

Chapter Four: The Problem with Glasses and Contact Lenses especially with hard

and extended-wear

everything

•

now "fine"

is

The mental and

contact lenses

Extended-wear contact lenses causing

3.

corneal ulcers, abrasions, and inflamma-

mind and body want to give you blurred vision, no matter what artificial approaches you take. Blur is a correct message telling you to blur. It's as

loss

the

if

Corneal transplant

•

Serious infections

•

Vision

•

Mucus trapped under

•

Interference with normal blinking and

trialized cultures

tearing

message.

including blindness

eliminate excessive strain.

Unfortunately, most people in indus-

the lense

•

Inflammation of the upper eyelid

•

Drying out of the eyes

do not

In the next chapter, •

Serious safety hazard

we

if

dust lodges rective lenses, thus giving

In 1986, contact lenses had the highest

number

US Consumer

Commission

for

devices; 33,458 injuries

all

Product

medical

1

were linked to

3

4

mental and physical strain of

tight. The mind and body

are

now

of imbalance from the

you tell

con-

mind and body

that

Ibid., pp.

28-29.

Thomas H. David, Improve Your

gram Foundation pamphlet

(1981).

Vision with

Television! (Los Angeles, California:

DeVorss

& Co., 1951), p. 7.

a message

mind and body

Kennebeck, pp. 26-27.

8

R.

S.

Agarwal, Mind and Vision (Pondicherry,

Aurobindo Ashram Press, 1983), p. 33. June Biermann and Barbara Toohey, The Woman's Holistic Headache Relief Book (Los India: Sri

10

of seeing. Strong corrective

the

book which contain empha-

are by the quoted author, unless

Bruce May, Rx for Nearsightedness: StressRelieving Lenses, Optometric Extension Pro-

to return to the normal,

way

italics

Ibid., p. 62.

9

is

Press, 1969), pp. 119-21.

7

supposed to be experi-

natural vision habits. Blur

with

Why Eyeglasses are Harm-

and Young People (New York:

6

enced only when a person has relaxed,

lenses

habits.

Ibid., p. 29.

Corrective lenses lock the eye muscles

relaxed

for vision to

5

tightens the eye muscles, creating blur.

telling

room

otherwise noted.

incorrect vision habits abnormally

is

Kennebeck,

All quotes in this sis

ate a negative biofeedback loop:

fused. Clarity

J.

Vantage

For most people, strong corrective lenses cre-

initial

Joseph

ful for Children

A VISUAL BIOFEEDBACK— IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

2.

per-

Notes

2

The

how a

improve when relearning correct vision

contact lenses. 11

1.

discuss

of product-related injuries

reported to the Safety

listen to this

son can minimize the strain caused by cor-

between contact lense and cornea •

not!

This increased strain tightens the eye

•

loss,

it's

muscles even more, creating additional

complete vision

tion; possible partial or

—but

physical strain remains.

Angeles: 11

MDDI

J.

P.

Tarcher, Inc., 1979),

Report (September

p. 47-

4, 1987).

Relearning to See

•

33

Chapter Five

Reduced Prescriptions

who wear

strong "corrective" lenses

for

for blurred vision

have two interferences to

to take off glasses altogether. Since relaxation

People

normal

vision: incorrect vision habits

and the

first

interference

is

the original incor-

rect vision habits acquired initially blurred. The

when

Natural Vision."

as reasonable

it

best to

is

to

normal

strong glasses. Unfortunately,

when

sight

is

some people

they are not needed.

This can strain the visual system.

glasses.

Bates stated that

the best approach while improving vision to discard glasses permanently.

where

this

He

is

also stated

would be "too great

a hardship," glasses of reduced strength can

be used while improving, but longer to succeed. Therefore,

it

it is

may

Many

take

not neces-

sary to completely eliminate glasses diately to succeed.

in

possible.

SUPPORTIVE EYE DOCTOR student

imme-

natural vision

is

unable to eliminate glasses

immediately, he can consult with a support-

reduced

ive or "neutral" eye doctor to obtain

prescriptions.

your eye doctor

If

Some people are confused about what Bates said regarding

and relaxed a way as

WORKING WITH A If a

The other interference

that in cases

the key to normal sight,

the vision

correct vision habits are

discussed in Part Four, "'The Three Habits of

are given glasses

students with strong prescriptions

approach the vision improvement process

strong glasses.

The

is

many

you may be able

is

not supportive

to educate

initially,

him or her

that

now ophthalmologists and optometrists who give natural vision students reduced prescriptions and some who even teach their students how to improve their there are

vision naturally.

several of

There are even eye doctors,

whom this author has met person-

who have improved

ally,

their

own

eyesight

with the Bates method. Most likely there least

one eye

is

at

doctor in your community who

support your vision improvement pro-

students have succeeded by using reduced

will

glasses during the transition period.

gram. They are your eyes, and you want to

It

would be too

stressful

and impractical

take care of them the best

way you know how.

Relearning to See

•

35

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS

TWO PAIRS OF REDUCED GLASSES?

THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCED PRESCRIPTIONS Bates wrote in

May 8, 1915,

Many

issue of the

New

legal,

nearsights have obtained a reduced,

and

ever, as

York Medical Journal:

safe prescription for driving.

Kennebeck emphasized

chapter, this prescription

As

a general rule

it is

best for the stu-

dent to discard glasses. In some cases of extreme myopia, where going without glasses entails too great a hardship, results

good

have been obtained by gradually

reducing the strength of the glasses worn as the vision improves, but the process

then prolonged.

close.

Nearsights have two options for their close vision: 1) If possible,

may already be

doing

that the glasses for distance sight are too

strong for your eyes, and that you can func-

Therefore glasses, to some degree,

"remind" the student to continue poor vision can succeed with vision

improvement by using reduced prescriptions or "transition" glasses,

if

they continue to

practice correct vision habits while wearing

them, and

if

they remove the glasses

when

they are not essential. In the long term, correct vision habits are

more powerful than

the

negative effects of the reduced glasses.

DRIVING AND WORK GLASSES you need

If

glasses for driving,

you must

obtain and use safe and legal driving glasses

from your eye doctor. 20/40 requirement for eyesight in

no

is

the driving

many states, while

state requires better than 20/25 sight f° r

driving.

Check with your eye doctor regard-

ing the vision requirements for driving in your

safe

you have an occupation that requires work up close, wear glasses that are ade-

quate for your task.

up

close without them. 2) If

glasses for close vision are necessary, obtain

a second, even weaker, pair of reduced glasses.

Bifocals create an even greater strain

on

the neck and visual system than single-prescription lenses. In the long term, increased

blur and strain on the visual system

convenient, especially

if

is

less

they lead to more

serious vision problems. (See Chapter 27,

"Serious Vision Problems.") rective lenses are

needed

If different cor-

for

more than one

better to have two pairs of

distance,

it

reduced

glasses. Besides, the

is

more you

vision, the less you need them. you have some older, weaker pair of glasses, you can ask your eye doctor to check their power. They may be fine for your first pair of reduced glasses. If not, you may be

improve your If

able to put reduced lenses into the old frames.

Although there expense glasses,

state.

If

do not use glasses; you this, knowing intuitively

is

1

Most people were given glasses due to the mastery of staring and other poor vision

habits. Students

too strong to wear

Wearing a distance prescription while seeing up close is a strain.

up

tion adequately

habits.

is

How-

in the last

it is

term. This pairs of

is

in obtaining

is

not

usually an additional

two pairs of reduced

more expensive

in the long

because the weaker of the two

reduced glasses can often be used for

the other distance as the vision improves.

How much money have you spent already on corrective lenses? How much more would you spend for the

36

•

Relearning to See

rest of

your

life?

Chapter Five: Reduced Prescriptions

When vision with a pair of reduced glasses becomes

For nearsights, strong, single-prescrip-

•

no longer

crystal clear, they are

tion contact lenses are designed for dis-

"reduced" prescriptions, because vision

tance vision. This

improved!

single-prescription 20/40 contacts

It is

then time to switch to an even

weaker prescription. Many students are happy to pay their eye doctor for weaker

And

glasses!

who

eye doctors

ural vision students get

more

means

would be too strong •

lenses

when they

needed. Since

business!

reduced

for close vision.

important not to use any corrective

It is

support nat-

that

are not absolutely

it is

impractical to con-

and put

stantly take contact lenses out

"5&10" or

EYE DOCTOR

them back

PRESCRIPTIONS? Farsights

who buy

"5&10" store need

to decide

obtaining reduced glasses.

whether inex-

Some

when

lenses.

literature

is

that

some

glasses might

not contain lenses of as high a quality as others,

and

that the difference could be

based on

cost.

Regardless of the cost, improperly glasses can strain

Temporary

scription.

made

your eyes. There are many

go into making the correct pre-

You

will

need

sometimes

told me they will never my natural vision class because they are

not willing to go back to wearing

to decide

continue to wear contact lenses.) ple could

remember

Students

who have

completely elim-

happy they were

willing to use

glasses temporarily.

One

of

my students held onto her contact

lenses until she

CAN VISION IMPROVE WHILE WEARING CONTACTS?

these peo-

inated their need for both contact lenses and glasses are

choice.

If

the joys of beautiful,

naturally clear vision, they might think dif-

whether

inexpensive 5&10 glasses are the correct

glasses. (Stu-

dents can attend natural vision classes and

ferently.

factors that

sacrifices are

Some people have take

some

students do not like the idea of

necessary to reach wonderful goals.

"compromise" eyesight

to not

Many

returning to glasses after wearing contact

authorities

with "imperfect lenses." The implication given in

an obvi-

is

ous advantage. "reading" glasses at the

pensive glasses are the correct choice

warn people

using glasses

in,

saw improvement of her sight,

which occurred by the second

Wearing contact lenses while improving vision is not the best approach for several reasons: •

little

Contact lenses are a foreign object in

increase circulation in life

many

ways. The

force energy that returns to

your eyes, especially due to the release of neck tension, the

more

likely

your

eyes will "reject" these foreign objects.

ceremony

class

in disposing of

and

them

into the trash can. After the course she

became

the eye. While improving vision, the eyes

more

had a

She

class.

brought her contact lenses to that

I

a Natural Vision teacher.

have met some extraordinarily motivated

individuals in the last seventeen years of

teaching Natural Vision classes. The following

is

a

most remarkable

case.

A woman, T B., called me and talked with me about my classes. She said she was a scuba diver,

welding

oil

pipelines underwater off

Relearning to See

•

37

— PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS the shores of Alaska! Since she

wore contact

ciple

—

was not very practical for her initially. She was extremely motivated rid of

any corrective

at least,

lenses, especially

ture

to get

who are

in occupations closely

is

"unclear"

—even

see

for those with

put their visual attention into the areas

connected

of the picture that are unclear.

son sees better

vision.)

when he

whom I later learned had healed her

life,

shifts attention

from the

unclear areas back to the clearer area.

Students are often surprised at

requested temporary surface duty on

activities

a boat. She

was then able to stop wearing con-

tact lenses

and obtained reduced

enrolled for

my class in June

had 20/200 uncorrected

glasses.

1988,

She

when she

A per-

—instantaneously

cancer by eliminating excessive stress from her

is

visual pic-

perfect sight! People with blur tend to

because

to nature appear less likely to have blurred

T. B.,

we

most of the

clearest, while

not

none of her colleagues needed them. (People

—Centralization," only a small

part of the visual picture

lenses while scuba diving, returning to glasses

soon ities

how many

they can do comfortably fairly

—with and without

glasses.

Many activ-

they did not think they would be able to

do without strong

glasses.

vision. In July 1988,

her optometrist measured her uncorrected

''Where there

is

a

will. ..."

vision at 20/70. At this time she received -1.75

diopter glasses to correct her to 20/40. In

October 1988, she was seeing 20/20 with the same reduced glasses. Eventually, she eliminated her need for corrective lenses and returned to her regular underwater scubadiving, pipe-welding

work.

BUILDING VISION CONFIDENCE Some

students, especially at the start of their

natural vision re-education, are a bit nervous

prospect of using reduced glasses. you are one of these students or poten-

at the If tial

1.

students, consider the following:

Many,

if

not most, people already

what reduced

know

glasses are like, because

they have usually experienced

"reduced" vision through their glasses after a period of time. 2.

When

a student relearns to see

correctly, confidence in

vision can

grow

learn in Chapter

38

•

your natural

quickly.

Relearning to See

10,

As we

shall

"The Second

Prin-

Notes 1

William H. Bates, "'The Reversal of Errors of Refraction by Education Without Glasses" in the

New

York Medical Journal,

May 8, 1915.

—

PART TWO

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

In the next three chapters,

we explore how the eyes

theories and facts relating to adjust to see clearly called

from

accommodation

far to near

—and the errors of

refraction: nearsightedness, farsightedness,

so-called presbyopia,

and astigmatism.

.

Chapter Six

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

The universe the limits

man

's

is

not to be narrowed

down

— The Orthodox View to

of understanding, which has been

up

practice

to

now, but the understand-

It is

body

a well-known fact that the

is

human

not a perfect mechanism. Nature,

in the evolution of the

human tenement,

ing must be stretched to take in the image of

has been guilty of some maladjustments..

the universe as

But nowhere

it is

discovered.

—

Sir Francis

Bacon

is

dered so badly as eye. With

.

she supposed to have blunin the construction of the

one accord ophthalmologists

tell

man was never intended for the uses to which it is now put. us that the visual organ of

BATES' "INTRODUCTORY" Bates' "Introductory" his

is

the

first

chapter in

seminal work on natural vision improve-

ment, Perfect Sight Without Glasses.

Eons before there were any schools or moving

printing presses, electric lights or pictures,

days

mal

INTRODUCTORY Most

on ophthalmology appear to believe that the last word about problems of refraction has been spoken, and from

word

its

evolution was complete. In those

served the needs of the

perfectly.

Man

man, a farmer, a

writers

their viewpoint the last

it

told,

mainly distant

at rest

is

was

fighter.

human

ani-

a hunter, a herds-

He

vision;

needed, we are

and since the eye

adjusted for distant vision, sight

is

supposed to have been ordinarily as pas-

a very

sive as the perception of sound, requiring

depressing one. Practically everyone in

no muscular action whatever. Near vision, it is assumed, was the exception, neces-

these days suffers from refractive error. Yet

these

ills,

we

is

some form

of

are told that for

which are not only so inconveand danger-

nient, but often so distressing

is not only no way to reverse them, and no palliative save those optic

ous, there

crutches

known

as eyeglasses, but,

modern conditions prevention.

of

life,

under

practically

no

.

sitating a

.

.

muscular adjustment of such short

was accomplished without upon the mechanism of accommodation. The fact that primitive woman was a seamstress, an duration that

it

placing any appreciable burden

embroiderer, a weaver, an

artist in all sorts

of fine and beautiful work, appears to have

been generally forgotten. Yet

women living

Relearning to See

•

41

.

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION For the prevailing method of vision

under primitive conditions have just as good

by means of compensating

eyesight as the men.

When man learned how to communicate

tle

was ever claimed except

lit-

that these con-

thoughts to others by means of written

trivances neutralized the effects of the

and printed forms, there came some undeniably new demands upon the eye,

various conditions for which they were pre-

his

.

.

scribed, as a crutch enables a

lame

man to

has also been believed that they

first

only a few people, but grad-

walk.

ually including

more and more, until now,

sometimes checked the progress of these

affecting at

more advanced

in the

mass of the population influence.

countries, the great is

subjected to their

A few hundred years ago even

It

conditions; but every ophthalmologist

now

knows

that their usefulness for this pur-

pose,

any,

if

is

very limited. In the case of

princes were not taught to read and write.

myopia b

Now we compel everyone to go to school,

of Zurich, in a striking paper recently pub-

whether he wishes to or not, even the

lished, expresses the

babies being sent to kindergarten.

A gen-

eration or so ago books were scarce and expensive. Today, by stationary

all sorts,

means of

and

and

terday.

is

by the various forms of arti-

a

come

the

man was

—

The compulsion of

to

it

an error of

about that the unaided

and errors inevitable

ishing difficulties

in

its

struc-

—

and circumstance. Gould: The Cause, Nature and Consequences of Eyestrain, Pop Sci Monthly, Dec, 1905. ture, function

complete

With the invention of writing and then with the

reasonable to expect that Nature

should have provided for

it

eye must persistently struggle against the aston-

forced to

the supposedly destructive process.

Was

fate as well as

evolution has brought

couple of decades

moving picture

The unnatural strain of accommodating the eyes to close work (for which they were not intended) leads to myopia in a large proportion of growing children. Rosenau: Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, third edition.

prolong our vocations and avocations into

has

are

These conclusions are based on the study

a thing of yes-

which tempt most of us to

last

command

development of the very serious complications with which it is often associated.

ficial lighting,

and within the

our

avail" in preventing either the

progress of the error of refraction, or the

lately displaced

rest,

little

opinion that glasses at

have

The tallow candle has been but

hours when primitive

methods now

"of but

the discovery of the art of manufacturing

paper from wood, which

all

(shortsight), Dr. Sidler-Huguenin

libraries of

traveling, they

been brought within the reach of practically everyone. The modern newspaper, with its endless columns of badly printed reading matter, was made possible only by

invention of the printing press a

new element was

these devel-

introduced, and one evidently not provided for

opments, and produced an organ that could

by the process of evolution. The human eye which

all

had been evolved

respond to the new demands? It is the accepted belief of ophthalmology today that she could not and did not, a and that,

to perform a

upon the sense of

sight

The The

is

but imper-

b

seem

•

to justify this conclusion

Relearning to See

difficulty

is

being forced

being daily augmented.

Sacrifice of the

—

Scott:

Eyes of School Children, Pop

From the Greek myein, literally a

fectly fitted for its tasks.

There are a great number of facts which

is

part,

Sci Monthly, Oct., 1907.

more than upon

any other, the visual organ

for distant vision

new

one for which it had not been evolved, and for which it is poorly adapted.

while the processes of civilization depend

42

care,

lenses, very

to close,

and

ops, the eye;

condition in which the subject closes

the eye, or blinks. c

Archiv

f.

Augenh,

Arch. Ophth.,

vol. lxxix, 1915, translated in

vol. xlv,

No.

6,

Nov., 1916.

Chapter

Six:

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

of thousands of cases in Dr. Huguenin's

and

private practice

versity of Zurich,

in the clinic of the

vision,

Uni-

and regarding one group he

sufficiently to

near point and at the

dis-

whole or in from front to In myopia, on the con-

compensate,

in

part, for the flatness [short

back] of the eyeball.

states that

we

the failure took place in spite of the fact

trary,

that they followed his instructions for years

out of its

"with the greatest energy and pertinacity,"

to

sometimes even changing

at the

tance, increases the curvature of the lens

of individuals, persons connected with the local educational institutions,

both

— The Orthodox View

are told that the eye actually goes

way to produce the condition, or make an existing condition worse.

their professions.

have been studying the refraction of

I

the

human

and

my observations fully confirm the fore-

eye for more than thirty years,

going conclusions as to the uselessness of

methods heretofore employed for improvement of errors of refraction. I was very early led to suspect, however, that the problem was by no means an unsolvable one. all

the

the prevention and

Every ophthalmologist of any experience

knows

that the theory of the irreversibility

of errors of refraction does not

fit

the

Not infrequently such cases recover spontaneously, or change from one form to another. It has long been the custom either to ignore these troublesome facts, or to explain them away, and fortuobserved

facts.

nately for those to bolster

who consider it necessary

up the old theories

at all costs,

the role attributed to the lens in accom-

modation plausible

offers, in the

Emmetropic, and Myopic Eyeballs. 1 H, hypermetropia; E,

Note

instead of coming to

upon

method of explanation. Accord-

at school, the

eye changes

vision at different distances

its

the retina.

"at rest";

it

is

said to be

has a spherical shape and sees

from a

far

by altering the

oretically constant error of refraction the

upon the very ingenious idea

of attributing to the lens a capacity for curvature, not only for the pur-

pose of normal accommodation, but to cover up or to produce accommodative errors.. ..in the case of the

A normal, emmetropic eye

clearly in the distance. Light rays

explanation for the inconstancy of the the-

its

axis.

and myopia the rays, a focus, form a round spot

focus for

curvature of the lens: and in seeking an

theorists hit

emmetropia; M, myopia; Ax, optic

that in hypermetropia

majority of cases, a

ing to this theory, which most of us learned

changing

Figure 6-1: Diagram of the Hypermetropic,

disappearance

or lessening of hypermetropia,

asked to believe that the eye,

we

are

on emmetropic eye to see near objects clearly, there must be some mechanism by which the diverging light rays from a near object can be focused onto the retina. The changing of the eye to see clearly up close object focus properly

the retina. In

order

for an

is

called

accommodation.

Conventionally, accommodation

is

attributed

only to the lens, which supposedly acquires

more curvature on

its

front side by the

in the act of

Relearning to See

•

43

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION contraction of the ciliary muscle. Bates (and

others) attributed

accommodation

to the

Normally, the lens ter (less

is

said to be in the

convex) shape when "at

emmetropic

rest."

action of the two oblique muscles producing

discussed, the

an elongated eyeball.

ball at rest sees clearly in the distance.

A

hypermetropic ("farsighted") eye

short from front to back; clearly near.

is

too

does not see

it

(Or far, but near objects are usu-

ally less clear

than far objects.

Many farsights

are surprised to see their distance vision

improve while improving their near

A myopic from front

(nearsighted) eye

to back;

correctly

on the

too long

When

the ciliary muscle contracts, the front side of the lens

is

said to gain

more

curvature,

which would allow the spherical eyeball to see clearly up close. This

is

the orthodox

explanation of normal accommodation.

The hypermetropic (foreshortened) eyedoes not see clearly near. With a fore-

ball

cannot see clearly in the

shortened eyeball, and an "at rest" lens in

normal

retina of a

myopic

eye.

In a multitude of debates about eyesight, virtually all authorities agree

on these three

flatter

"in back

its

shape, light rays are focused

of the retina; light rays on the retina

are "out of focus." Theoretically,

if

the ciliary

muscle contracts, the front side of the lens could gain greater curvature and would be

facts:

1.

(spherical) eye-

from near objects focus

it

distance. Light rays

is

vision.)

flat-

As just

The normal, "at

able to focus light rays rest" eyeball

is

onto the

round shape;

from

far objects clearly

in a

in this state, far objects

are clear and close objects are not

retina.

Bates again from Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

clear. 2.

3.

The myopic (nearsighted) eyeball is elongated; near objects are clear, and

These curious performances may seem unnatural to the lay mind; but ophthal-

far objects are not clear.

mologists believe the tendency to indulge

The hypermetropic

in

ball

is

("farsighted") eye-

foreshortened; near objects are

not clear.

them

to be so ingrained in the consti-

tution of the organ of vision that, in the

atropine

Continuing with Bates' words from Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

—

it is

one who has ever iar

— into

fit-

customary to instill the "drops" with which every-

ting of glasses,

visited

an

oculist

is

famil-

the eye, for the purpose of

paralyzing the ciliary muscle and thus, by In other words, the so-called "ciliary muscle,"

believed to control the shape of the

lens, is credited

into a

with a capacity for getting

more or less continuous

traction, thus

preventing any change of curvature in the lens,

bringing out "latent hypermetropia"

and getting

rid of

"apparent myopia."

state of con-

keeping the lens continuously

In other words,

in a state of [greater] convexity which,

according to the theory, it ought to assume

only for vision at the near point.

ciliary

power

when

atropine

is

used, the

muscle loses any possible contraction to

change the curvature of the

lens,

and, theoretically, the lens relaxes into

To

clarify

what Bates said about the con-

ventional position on accommodation:

44

*

Relearning to See

normal, "at vision.

rest," flatter

its

shape for distance

The "true" condition of

a person's

Chapter sight,

i.e.,

the

Six:

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

amount of myopia or hyper-

metropia due to the eyeball being non-spher-

can then be determined.

ical,

From

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

many Natural Vision

instillation

would say, "Yes." Another consultant, an ophthalmologist,

agrees that the multitude of people

however,

and

orthodox.

is

who have

far long after the so-

called presbyopic age

the lens [without the

of atropine],

and many nat-

teachers,

ural vision students

clear vision near

The interference of

— The Orthodox View

confusing to the

is

As Bates pointed

out, nearly

all

believed to account for only moderate

experienced eye specialists have seen such

degrees of variation in errors of refraction,

cases.

and that only during the life.

earlier years of

after forty-five years of age, is

If

For the higher ones, or those that occur

supposed to have

when

no

is

the only

mechanism of accom-

modation, as stated conventionally,

the lens

it

should

be easy to demonstrate that these older peo-

lost its elasticity to a

greater or lesser degree,

the lens

ple are

plausible expla-

accommodating with the

enough If

Above, Bates presents one of his primary

rigid

normal accommodation.

to prevent

the lens has

In this

become

case, the lens has obviously not

nation has ever been devised.

lens.

become

so rigid the ciliary

muscle can no longer produce accommoda-

two oblique eye muscles must be

arguments against the lens being the mech-

tion, the

anism of accommodation. To recap:

producing accommodation, in which case the

The conventional explanation

for hyper-

lens

is

obviously not essential for

metropic (farsighted) young people improv-

dation.

not that the eyeball returns

Note

ing their sight to

its

is

normal round shape, but that the lens

gains greater (than normal) curvature to see clearly near

and

far again.

Hypermetropia

is

that the refractive

accommo-

power of the

lens

of a camera remains fixed.

Continuing from Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

considered to be congenital and irreversible.

A problem with this conventional position is

it

cannot explain

improves or in

how hypermetropia

other institutions, is

eliminated in elderly people,

whom the lens is said to become rigid and

inflexible.

A Natural Vision Center consul-

who

has seen numerous elderly people

who have

natural clear vision near and far,

tant,

Examining 30,000 pairs of eyes a year at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and in

I

observed

.

.

.

many cases

which errors of refraction either recov-

ered spontaneously, or changed their form,

and

I

was unable either

to ignore them, or

to satisfy myself with the orthodox explanations,

even where such explanations were

consultant states that conventional eye spe-

seemed to me that if a stateit must always be a truth. There can be no exceptions. If errors of

how

refraction are irreversible, they should not

refers to such people

Chinese phrase

cialists

by quoting an ancient

—"Returning of Youth." This

have "no

set

answer" to explain

people can maintain clear vision well into their seventies.

Are the

keep clear vision their

all

elderly people

who

of their lives keeping

"youth" somehow?

I

available. It

ment

is

a truth

recover, or change their form, spontaneously.

In the course of time

I

discovered that

myopia and hypermetropia,

like astigma-

believe Bates,

Relearning to See

•

45

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

Figure 6-2: The Eye as a Camera, 2 The photographic apparatus: D, diaphragm

made of circular over-

lapping plates of metal by means of which the opening through which the rays of light enter the cham-

ber can be enlarged or contracted; L, lens; R, sensitive plate (the retina of the eye); AB, object to be

photographed;

ab,

image on the

sensitive plate.

The

retina

iris

(the

the hypermetropic eye; a "b ", image in the myopic

upon

eye: C, cornea

diaphragm of the camera); L, the normal eye;AB, object of vision; ab, image of

first refraction; D,

the retina instead

of being brought

to

eye.

lens,

in the

Note

where the rays of light undergo a

where the

light rays are

again refracted; R,

normal or emmetropic eye;a b\ image in x

that ina'b'

and a "b

"

the rays are spread out

a focus as in ab, the result being the formation of a blurred

image.

myopia

the lower animals, the results of which con-

so long believed, asso-

vinced both myself and others that the lens

tism, could

be produced

was

we have

not, as

at will; that

ciated with the use of the eyes at the near

is

point, but with a strain to see distant

the adjustment necessary for vision at dif-

objects, strain at the

near point being asso-

ciated with hypermetropia; that

no error

of refraction was ever a constant condi-

not a factor in accommodation, and that

ferent distances cisely as

it is

is

effected in the eye, pre-

in the

camera, by a change

in the length of the organ, this alteration

tion

being brought about by the action of the

upon these problems I examined tens of thousands of eyes, and the more facts I accumulated the more difficult it became to reconcile them with the accepted views. Finally, about half a dozen

muscles on the outside of the globe. [The

In seeking for light

years ago, tions

46

•

I

undertook a

series of observa-

upon the eyes of human beings and

Relearning to See

—the distance between the and the —of a camera increased

focal length lense

film

is

to focus near objects clearly.

The

focal

decreased to focus far objects

length

is

clearly.

As noted above, the

curvature of a

camera's lens never changes.] Equally con-

—

.

Chapter

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

— The Orthodox View

vincing was the demonstration that errors

BATES AND SIMULTANEOUS

of refraction [nearsightedness, astigmatism,

RETINOSCOPY

and farsightedness], including presbyopia, are due not to an organic change in the

of the key principles of natural vision

is

motion, or movement. Most people's sight

is

shape of the eyeball or

tested

in the constitution

and there-

of the lens, but to a functional fore reversible

derangement

in the action

of the extrinsic muscles.

making these statements

In

aware that cally

I

am

I

am

well

controverting the practi-

undisputed teaching of ophthalmo-

logical science for the better part of a

have been driven to the which conclusions they embody by the century;... but

facts,

and

prised at

I

am now sur-

that so slowly that

I

my own

At

blindness.

the time

One

when they

showed

are not moving. Bates

that vision blurs

for too long. His

when

a person

is still

advanced discoveries about

natural vision were largely possible because

he studied the vision of people and animals as they

were moving.

In Chapter

Two

of the ground-breaking

work, Perfect Sight Without Glasses, Bates

how

cusses

the retinoscope

dis-

made such

research possible.

I

my information

was improving high degrees of myopia; but

Much

wanted to be conservative, and I differentiated between functional myopia, which I was able to reverse, or improve, and

has been obtained by means of simultane-

organic myopia, which, in deference to the

of the eye.

orthodox tradition.

the pupil by reflection from a mirror, the

I

I

accepted as

irre-

versible.

of

about the eyes

ous retinoscopy. The retinoscope

an

is

instrument used to measure the refraction

light

It

throws a

beam

of light into

being either outside the instrument

—or arranged

above and behind the subject

Note able to

that the

problem of the

lens not being

accommodate, from the conventional

viewpoint,

is

only an issue after the age of

when supposedly the lens has become rigid. This is commonly referred to as presbyopia. This means that the mechanism of

within

it

by means of an

electric battery.

On looking through the sight-hole one sees a larger or smaller part of the pupil filled

with

light,

which

normal human eyes

in

is

forty,

accommodation does not need and

irrelevant,

is

if

is

brought back to

is

true

if

to

the elongated

its

be known,

myopic eye

normal shape. The same

the hypermetropic and astigmatic

eyes are brought back to their normal shapes.

a reddish yellow, because this

is

the color in a cat's

of the retina, but which

is

green

and might be white

if

the retina were

eye,

diseased. Unless the eye at the

point from which

one sees

also a dark

the pupil, and

it is

is

exactly focussed

it is

being observed,

shadow

edge of

at the

the behavior of this

shadow when the mirror

is

moved

in var-

Stated another way: nearsightedness, far-

ious directions which reveals the refractive

sightedness (at least before the age of forty),

condition of the eye.... This exceedingly

and astigmatism do not have anything to do with the front side of the lens not being able to acquire

more

useful instrument has possibilities which

have not been generally realized by the medical profession..

curvature.

For thirty years

I

.

have been using the

retinoscope to study the refraction of the eye.

With

it I

have examined the eyes of

Releaming

to

See

•

47

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION when we abandoned

tens of thousands of school children, hun-

we adopted

dreds of infants and thousands of animals,

the attempt to raise an

including cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, cows,

normal

birds, turtles, reptiles it

when

they were in motion

was

and

have used

fish. I

the subjects were at rest and

in motion;.

.

.1

—also when

have used

it

I

when

myself

in the day-

when the subjects were when they were excited: when they were trying to see and when they were not; when they were lying and when they were telling the truth; when the time and at night,

comfortable and

in 1909,

army and navy with been

vision, defective eyesight has

one of the leading causes of rejection for service in both the

Army and Navy, if it has

list. In 1915 it was by far the most common of the defects found among applicants for enlistment in the Navy and Marine Corps. The total num-

not actually headed the

among

ber refused for this cause

was

12,374, while

flat

feet

106,392

came next with

only 8,188 cases. This too was under a stan-

off part

dard which, while higher than that of the

when the pupil was when it was contracted to a pin-point; when the eye was oscillating from side to side, from above downward and in other directions. In this way I dis-

Army and Navy is only three-quarters nor-

eyelids

were partly closed, shutting

of the area of the pupil, dilated,

and

covered

also

many

facts

which had not previ-

ously been known, and which

mal.

The

fact

that defective sight

is

wide plague, making

its

is

a world-

appearance along

with civilization, and increasing just in pro-

modern modes

portion as

of living are

was quite unable to reconcile with the orthodox teachings on the subject. This led me to

of the medical profession toward this

evil,

undertake the series of experiments already

which we have learned to take

only

alluded

mony

to.

with

The

my

results

were

I

in entire har-

previous observations, and

me no choice but to reject the entire body of orthodox teaching about accomleft

modation and errors of

refraction.

adopted

At

the present time the general attitude

lightly

common,

is one of hopebooks on the subject, practicing ophthalmologists and others,

because

it is

so

lessness. Writers of

while admitting the inadequacy of the eyeglass, all

assure us that

it is

the only [solu-

tion] for errors of refraction; while the only

means of prevention they can suggest is that of sparing the eye as much as possible

A SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN REPORT ON THE BATES METHOD Mary Dudderidge

only by the writes in the January

1918, issue of Scientific

The

from the close application necessitated not 12,

American:

revelations regarding the physical

modern educational system,

where most of the trouble begins, but by many of the employments upon which

human

life

now depends. Some have even

condition of the American people which

concluded that nature, who could not have

have resulted from the examination of men

been expected to provide for such tremendous change as has taken place

for military service under the Draft

Law

have come as a shock to the nation, but are no more than was expected by those who

a in

human animal, was make the eye properly,

the environment of the

not in a position to

had previously been giving attention to such matters. Even under a liberal inter-

while several scientists of repute have held

pretation of the lowered standard which

of a natural adaptation, and should not be

48

•

Relearning to See

that a

moderate degree of myopia

is

a kind

Chapter

Six:

looked upon as abnormal

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

defects of

he

said, are

and no

sic

eye muscles. Since these are not "organic"

vision are accepted as irreversible,

means of

alleviating

them

are suggested

except the one, fraught with peril to the soldier, of placing

.

.

reversible.

convex or concave glasses

Strain in one's eye muscles

holding your

We were

all

an alteration

in the curvature of the crys-

muscles are tense, there the

ing the

fist

been found to be associated with deviations from the normal in the shape of the

a brace

on

eyeball,

which ought to be a perfect sphere;

and such deformations are always supposed

permanent. In nearsightedness the

to be

sphere

is

elongated, so that

it

focused

upon

it.

short,

light

coming from a distance are

tight for

would

many

and

properly. Hold-

years,

and putting

more probarm and shoulder become tight, and it,

likely lead to

for some, the breathing irregular.

The

tight fist

becomes shallow or becomes a holistic

problem.

can be

focused accurately only on near objects.

Rays of

lems. The

The

less mobility,

is

hand does not function

defects of vision have

Now

similar to

is

tightly for a long time.

fist

taught at school that the

accommodation of the eye depends upon talline lens.

caused by chronically tense extrin-

problems, he, and others, have said they are

before the eyes. 3 .

— The Orthodox View

What

is

the solution? Letting go. Every-

thing returns to state.

its

normal, relaxed, flexible

Everything functions correctly again.

in front of the retina instead of

In farsightedness the eyeball

and the

light rays are

is

too

focused behind

Errors of Refraction

the retina. In astigmatism the eyeball

becomes lopsided, the deviation from the normal curvature not having been uniform. In an effort to

overcome these conditions

the crystalline lens

is

supposed to

alter its

curvature, through the agency of what

known

as the ciliary muscle;

is

on which

When

even

if

the physical discomfort of the situ-

ation did not

do

so.

do not focus on the retina

eye cannot see objects clearly

at all distances. In this state the

have a refractive

error.

eye

The three

is

said to

errors of

refraction are nearsightedness, farsightedness

(including presbyopia), and astigmatism.

theory the unfortunate muscle would have

imposed upon it not only the ordinary labors of accommodation, but the duty of compensating for refractive errors; and from these labors it would practically never be free so long as the eye was open. The thought is really an appalling one, and is enough to drive the victim to eyeglasses,

light rays

correctly, the

Like the farsighted eye, the presbyopic eye has refractive error, but unlike the farsighted eye, presbyopic refractive error ventionally, to be caused not

ened

eyeball, but

is

con-

said,

by a foreshort-

by the hardening of the

as the cause of farsightedness

lens.

the

same

— tense

recti

Bates said the cause of presbyopia

is

muscles.

4

FUNCTIONAL PROBLEMS— ERRORS OF REFRACTION AND STRABISMUS

Strabismus, an Error of Convergence

Bates referred to nearsightedness, farsight-

turning of an eye

edness, presbyopia, astigmatism,

mus

and

strabis-

as functional problems. These problems,

Strabismus,

est.

or

e.g.

crossed eye,

away from

is

the abnormal

the point of inter-

Bates said that the abnormal tensing of one

more recti muscles can produce

strabismus.

Relearning to See

•

49

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Strabismus, by

itself, is

tion because light rays

to see clearly near strabismic eye

not an error of refrac-

still

and

focus on the retina

far.

Of course

the eye cannot see clearly at

in

if

the

also nearsighted or farsighted,

is

all

The Helmholtz Lens Theory of Accommodation Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) was a great German scientist and ophthalmologist.

He

distances.

developed the idea of the conservation

made important contributions

Strabismus and related issues are covered

of energy and

Chapter

to the fields of optics

18,

"Stereoscopic Vision."

and

acoustics. The action

of the ciliary muscle on the lens being the

ACCOMMODATION EXPLAINED FURTHER Optical devices,

e.g.

mechanism of accommodation

cameras, binoculars, micro-

and telescopes, require some way of

scopes,

changing in order to focus images at different distances clearly. In binoculars, microscopes,

and telescopes the distance between the lenses is

generally

is

attributed to Helmholtz.

increased and decreased. In cameras the

distance between the lens and the film

is

In 1943, ophthalmologist

May

stated the

orthodox position on accommodation

in his

book Diseases of the Eye: During accommodation, the

ciliary

mus-

cle (especially the circular fibers) contracts,

drawing forward the choroid and relaxing the suspensory ligament; this diminishes

increased to focus a near object, and decreased

the tension of the lens capsule

to focus afar object.

the inherent elasticity of the lens to increase

As

stated above, the eye, in

round, "resting"

its

normal,

state, sees clearly in the dis-

tance. If the eye did not

change

in

some way,

a near object could not be seen clearly. This is

because

light rays

would come

from the near object

to a focus in

back of the

retina.

its

convexity.

The change

lens.

This

is

Helmholtz's theory and the one

usually accepted.

is

is

clearly

up

state of seeing clearly in

in the process of close, or

emphasis.] Tschern-

He

maintains that the ciliary muscle increases

the ability of the eye

the distance to seeing clearly

the eye

[TQ

ing has advanced a different theory:

ing contraction,

change from the

curvature

affects chiefly the anterior surface of the

the tension of the suspensory ligament dur-

Accommodation to

in

and allows

when

up

close.

When

and

that this causes periph-

eral flattening of the lens with bulging center. 5

anteriorly at

its

Bates writes

in Perfect Sight

changing to see

it is

in the state of

Without Glasses,

modating." The reverse action of accommo-

"Marius Hans Erik Tscherning (1854-) is a Danish ophthalmologist who for twenty-five

dation returns the eye to seeing clearly in the

years was co-director and director of the oph-

seeing clearly up close,

it is

said to

be "accom-

said to be "at

thalmological laboratory of the Sorbonne.

rest,"

and no longer accommodating. Stated

Later he became professor of ophthalmology

more

simply, the eye

distance,

clearly

when, once again, it

up

close,

is

accommodates

to see

and then "unaccommodates"

to see clearly in the distance.

How

the eye

accommodates has been

debated for many decades

— long

Bates did his research on eyesight.

50

•

Relearning to See

before

Copenhagen." Although both of the theories of accommodation mentioned by May involve the in the University of

changing of the front side of the sents

two opposite mechanisms.

ing that as late as 1943, there were

lens, It is still

he pre-

interest-

questions

Chapter as to the actual

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

mechanism of accommodation.

So, Helmholtz's explanation

was

being

still

referred to as a "theory" and this theory apparently

was not accepted by everyone.

The 1980

Colle-

accommoda-

giate Dictionary defines visual

tion as: "the automatic adjustment of the eye

for seeing at different distances effected chiefly

vexity

[TQ emphasis] by changes in the conof the crystalline lens." 6 The word

"chiefly"

seems to imply there

at least

is

one

other mechanism of automatically seeing at different distances.

If all

the

elements of the eye were rigidly fixed

in

would be but one object distance for which a sharp retinal image would position, there

in fact the

normal eye can

focus sharply on an object at any distance

from

infinity

the eye. This

up is

to about 25

made

cm in

front of

possible by the action

of the crystalline lens and the ciliary muscle to

which

it is

the normal eye infinity,

i.e.,

the retina.

attached. is

When

relaxed,

focused on objects

the second focal point

When

In Perfect Sight Without Glasses, in Chapter entitled

it

is

an object nearer than

is

at

of the lens in accommodation.

Much of the

desired to view

assumes a more nearly spherical

[i.e.,

is

more

called

images on the front and

back surfaces of the

lens,

using reflections of

images from the cornea as a reference point.

However, there seems to be some question whether the lens becomes quoted

because the eyeball

Bates discusses research by Donders, and

on the

Don-

other

scientists,

ders,

Bates writes in Perfect Sight Without

lens.

In regards to

Glasses, "Frans Cornells Donders (1818- 1889) was professor of physiology and ophthalmology at the University of Utrecht, and is

ranked as one of the greatest ophthalmologists of all time."

After discussing Donders'

work, he discusses the work of the great ophthalmologist Helmholtz.

From

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

Like Donders, Helmholtz found the image

obtained by the ordinary methods on the front of the lens very unsatisfactory,

rigid in pres-

in University

later in this chapter.

and

in

"Handbook of Physiological Optics" he

describes

byopia in the next paragraph

in size

and cornea are said (conventionally) not to change their shapes during accommodation.

his

accommodation. 7

is

in the

size of reflections of

the ciliary

infinity,

convex] shape. This process

Physics which

research on the lens was con-

ducted by observing possible changes

at

muscle tenses and the crystalline lens

as to

"Evidence for the Accepted

Theory of Accommodation," Bates discusses research by many scientists on the role, if any,

remain constant

object distinctly, a sharp image

of it must be formed on the retina.

be formed, while

of Accommodation

Theoretically, the corneal reflections should

In 1976 University Physics states:

To see an

Bates Questions the Accepted Theory

III,

New

edition of Webster's

— The Orthodox View

it

as being "usually so blurred

form of the flame cannot be defi3 nitely distinguished." So he placed two lights, or one doubled by reflection from a mirror, behind a screen in which were two that the

small rectangular openings, the whole being

Handbuch der physiologischen Optik, edited by Nagel, 1909-11, vol.

i,

p. 121.

Relearning to See

•

5J

—

.

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

mmmmmm

r

1 8 Figure 6-3: Diagram of the Images of Purkinje. No.

front of the lens;

c,

on the back of the

lens.

No. 2

lar openings in a screen while the eye is at rest (R) b,

on the front of the

tral

lens;

c,

on the back of the lens

images are smaller and have approached each

indicate

an increase of curvature

in the front

—

1 Images of a candle: a, on the cornea; b, on the Images of [two] lights shining through rectanguand during accommodation (A): a, on the cornea;

(after

other,

Helmholtz). Note that in No.

a change which,

if it actually

2,

A, the cen-

took place, would

of the lens during accommodation.

so arranged that the lights shining through

from the front side of the lens decreased

the openings of the screen formed two

size

images on each of the reflecting surfaces.

clearly

to

him

two images on the front of the

lens

During accommodations, that the

seemed

it

became smaller and approached each on the return of the eye to a state of rest [for distance clarity] they grew larger again and separated. This change, he said, could be seen "easily and distinctly." b The observations of Helmholtz regarding

when

the eye

accommodated

in

to see

up close. An increase in the size of an image would indicate that the surface had

become

flatter,

and

However, the

vice versa.

size of the

images reflecting

other, while

from the back

side of the lens

stant, indicating that the

remained con-

back side of the lens

did not change in curvature during accom-

How can

a ciliary muscle change

Figure 6-4: Diagram

By Which Helmholtz Illus-

modation.

the behavior of the lens in accommodation,

published about the middle of the tury,

were soon accepted as

facts,

last

cen-

and have

ever since been stated as such in every text-

book dealing with the If

subject.

an image reflecting from the front side

of a convex lens

becomes

smaller,

indicate the front side of that

increased

its

it

could

convex lens has

curvature. Helmholtz's research

His Theory ofAccommodation. 9 R is supposed to be the resting state of the lens, in which trated

it is

seemed

to indicate that the images reflecting

adjusted for distant vision. In

sory ligament

is

supposed

to

A the suspen-

have been relaxed

through the contraction of the ciliary muscle, per-

mitting the [front side of the] lens to bulge forIbid., vol.

52

•

i,

ward by virtue of its own

p. 122.

Releaming

to

See

elasticity.

.

.

Chapter

Six:

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

— The Ortnodox View

did not indicate that both sides of the lens ORTHODOX LENS THEORIES' OF ACCOMMODATION

change their curvature, which The

lens

is

said to be relatively

—

flat

'at rest*

—

son might expect when the

tor distance vision

tracts

I the lens increases

its

when

the ciliary muscle contracts,

curvature so that the eye can see clearty up close:

To continue from

Helmhore

muscle con-

and expands around the

fect Sight Expected conclusion Irom

what a per-

lens.

Lensless Accommodation— The "Grand Objection"

i

Helmltoltz believed that

is

ciliary

Bates' exposition from Per-

Without Glasses:

Conclusion from

Helmhottz s research

s research

Yet in examining the evidence for the •BoOl

.v

BufliaM

Urn

[Helmholtz's lens] theory

we can only won-

Figure 6-5: Expected Conclusion and

der

Conclusion from Helmholtz's Research.

base such an important department of

at the scientific credulity

which could

medical practice as the [care] of the eye

upon such

a

mass of contradictions.

Helmholtz, while apparently convinced of

only the front side of a lens, without changing the back side?

the correctness of his observations indicating a change of form in the [front side

According to the Helmholtz lens theory of

accommodation, when the circular ciliary muscle contracts, it moves inward toward the lens. The suspensory ligaments, which span between the ciliary body and the lens capsule, relax their tension

As is

said to acquire

ally

on the

lens capsule.

a consequence, the front side of the lens

more

curvature. If this actu-

occurred, a person would then see clearly,

or at least

more

clearly,

up

close; in other

words, the person would be accommodating.

When

the ciliary muscle expands (relaxes)

back to

ments

its

pull

normal

side of the lens flatter

state, the

suspensory

on the lens capsule, and is

said to return to

its

normal

shape for clear distant vision again.

Some contemporary books on have

liga-

the front

illustrations

eyesight

showing only the front side

Figure 6-6: 10

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von

accommodation, as attributed to Helmholtz.

whose observations regarding the behavior of images reflected from the front of the lens are supposed to have demon-

Others show both sides of the lens changing

strated that the curvature of this

during accommodation. Helmholtz's research

during accommodation

of the lens changing

its

curvature during

Helmholtz

(1821-18Q4),

—

body changes

Relearning to See

•

53

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Bates then presents evidence of accom-

of the] lens during accommodation, felt himself unable to speak with certainty of

modation

means by which the supposed change was effected, 3 and strangely enough the

When

in

who

people

are lensless:

the

question

he

is still

"absolutely nothing but the

states,

iary

being debated. Finding, as cil-

muscle to which accommodation could

removed

the lens has been

for

cataract the person usually appears to lose

power of accommodation, and not only

his

has to wear a glass to replace the

lost part

be attributed," b Helmholtz concluded that the changes which he thought he had

sating for the loss of the lens], but has to

curvature of the [front side

put on a stronger [convex] glass for read-

observed

in the

of the] lens must be effected by the action

muscle; but he was unable

of this

to offer

any satisfactory theory of the way it operated to produce these results, and he explicstated that the one he suggested

itly

possessed only the character of probabil-

Some

convex glasses for distance, compen-

[i.e.,

ing.

A minority of these cases, however,

after they

condition,

become accustomed to the new become able to see at the near

point without any change in their [distance] glasses.

The existence of these two

classes

of cases has been a great stumbling block

of his disciples, "more loyal than

to ophthalmology.

The

the king." as Tscherning has pointed out,

numerous appeared

to support the theory

"have proclaimed as certain what he [Helmholtz] himself with much reserve

of the agency of the lens in

ity.

tion; but the

first

and more

accommoda-

second was hard to explain

explained as probable." but there has been

away, and constituted at one time, as Dr.

no such unanimity of acceptance

case as in that of the observations regard-

Thomas Young observed, the "grand objection" to this idea. A number of these cases

ing the behavior of the images reflected

of apparent change of focus in the lensless

from the

lens.

No

writer, so far as

one except the present

am

I

in this

aware, has ventured

to question that the ciliary muscle

is

the

eye having been reported to the Royal Society by competent observers. Dr. Young,

before bringing forward his theory of

agent of accommodation; but as to the

accommodation, took the trouble to exam-

mode

of its operation there

ine

to be

much need

lens

for

more

is

generally

light.

felt

Since the

not a factor in accommodation,

some

of them, and considered himself

justified in

concluding that an error of

it is

observation had been made. While con-

not strange that no one was able to find out

vinced, however, that in such eyes the

how

is

it

changed

its

curvature.

however, that these

It is

difficulties

strange,

have not

in

"actual focal distance able,"

is

he characterized

any way disturbed the universal belief that

in

the lens does change.

satisfactory."

support of

made some

this

At

totally

his

unchange-

own evidence

view as only "tolerably a later period

investigations

Donders

from which he

concluded that "in aphakia 3 not the

slight-

accommodative power remains." b Helmholtz expressed similar est

Handbuch der physiologischen Optik, 124

and

145.

Ibid., vol.

i.

p. 144.

Physiologic Optics,

54

*

Releaming

to

p. 166.

See

vol.

i.

trace

of

pp. a

Absence of the

b

On

the

lens.

Anomalies of Accommodation and

Refraction of the Eye.

p. 320.

Chapter

Six:

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

and von Graefe, although he observed a "slight residuum" of accom-

woman

modative power

change

views,

in lensless eyes, did

not

thalmological Society the case of a young

of eighteen who, without any in

her glasses, read the twenty line

it

on the Snellen test card at twenty feet and also read diamond type at from five inches to twenty. On October 8, 1894, a client of Dr. A. E. Davis who appeared to accommodate perfectly without a lens consented to go before the New York Ophthalmological Society. "The members," Dr. Davis reports, 6 "were divided in their opinion as to how the person was able to accommo-

today a perfectly well-known and undis-

date for the near point with his distance

consider

it

sufficient to discredit the theory

of

Cramer and Helmholtz.

he

said, to the

iris,

It

might be due,

accommodative action of the

and possibly

also to a lengthening of

the visual axis through the action of the external muscles. 3

For nearly three-quarters of a century the opinions of these masters have echoed

through ophthalmological is

— The Orthodox View

puted

fact that

many

literature.

Yet

persons, after the

glasses on"; but the fact that

removal of the lens for cataract, are able

at this point

to see perfectly at different distances with-

glasses

out any change in their glasses. Every oph-

thalmologist of any experience has seen cases of this kind,

been reported

and many of them have

was not

[This person] old,

in his

to be disputed.

was a

and on January

removed

he could see

without any change

chef, forty-two years

27, 1894, Dr.

a black cataract

from

Davis had

his right eye,

supplying him at the same time with the

in the literature.

In 1872, Professor Forster of Breslau

reported 5 a series of twenty-two cases of

apparent accommodation in eyes from

usual outfit of glasses, one to replace the

and a stronger one for reading. In October he returned, not lens, for distant vision,

which the lens had been removed for cataract. The subjects ranged in age from

because

eleven to seventy-four years, and the

ing"

it.

He had discarded his reading glasses

younger ones had more accommodative power than the elder. A year later Woinow

after a

few weeks, and had since been using

only his distance glasses. Dr. Davis doubted

of Moscow reported eleven cases, the sub-

the truth of his statements, never having

from twelve to sixty years of age. In 1869 and 1870, respectively, Loring reported d to the New York Ophthalmological Society and the American Oph-

seen such a case before, but found them,

jects being

Archive. £ Ophth.. 1855. vol.

ii,

part

1.

p.

187 et seq.

his

eye was not doing well, but

because he was afraid he might be "strain-

upon

investigation, to

his lensless

be quite correct. With

eye and a convex glass of eleven

and a half diopters, the chef read the ten line on the test card at twenty feet, and with the same glass, and without any change in its position, he read fine print at from four-

Albrecht von Graefe (1828-1870) was professor

teen to eighteen inches. Dr. Davis then pre-

of ophthalmology in the University of Berlin, and

sented the case to the Ophthalmological

ranked with Donders and Arlt as one of the

Society but, as has been stated, he obtained

is

greatest ophthalmologists of the nineteenth century.

Klin. Montasbl. p.

f.

Augenh.. Erlangen. 1872.

vol. x.

39 et seq.

Archiv. £ Ophth., 1873, v °l- xi*. Flint:

Physiology of Man, 1875.

P art

3' P- 107-

vol. v, pp. 110-111.

Davis:

Accommodation

in the Lensless

Eye,

Reports of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital. Jan.. 1895. The article gives a review of the

whole

subject.

Re learning

to

See

•

55

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION no

light

read

mind so strongly that even the evidence of objective tests was

at the

not believed. The apparent act of accom-

from that source. Four months

February

later,

4,

1895, the chef

20/10 at the distance

and

his

still

range

near point had increased so that he read eight to twenty-two

diamond type at from and a half inches. Dr. Davis subjected him to numerous tests, and though unable to find any explanation for his strange performances, he made some interesting observations. The results of the tests by which Donders satisfied himself that the lensless eye possessed no accommodative power were quite different from those reported by the Dutch authority [Cramer?], and Dr. Davis therefore concluded that these

tests

were "wholly inadequate to decide the question at issue." During accommodation the ophthalmometer 3 showed that the corneal curvature was changed and that the cornea

moved forward

a

little.

Under

scopolamine, a drug sometimes used

the ophthalmological

modation was said not to be theories, very curious

and

and many

real,

unscientific,

been advanced to account for

have

it.

How is the Helmholtz Lens Theory Regarded Today? The orthodox opinion remains the same today: the lens is the only mechanism of accommodation, and it becomes irreversibly middle

rigid in

modation

is

accom-

age. After that time

not supposed to be possible.

Ironically, this position presents excellent

support for the muscles being least tion,

—

at the

very

— another mechanism of accommodadue to the following four

facts

(some

from above):

instead of atropine to paralyze the ciliary

muscle

percent solution every five min-

1.

utes for thirty-five minutes, followed by a

2.

(1/10

wait of half an hour), these changes took

vision both near

place as before [paralysis of the ciliary mus-

Many

cle rules

3.

out the possibility of the ciliary

the lids were held up. With the pos-

sible influence of lid pressure ciliary

Davis

felt

himself

bound

to conclude that

.

.

These and similar cases have been the

cause of great embarrassment to those feel called

upon

to reconcile

who

them with the

accepted theories. With the retinoscope the lensless eye

can be seen to accommodate;

but the theory of Helmholtz has dominated

a

An instrument

for measuring the curvature of

the cornea.

•

Releaming

to

See

An

their vision with the Bates

eye with a paralyzed

ciliary

muscle,

which rules out accommodation by the lens,

muscle eliminated, therefore. Dr.

the action of the external muscles." .

4.

and of the

the changes "must have been produced by

far.

method of re-education.

corneal curvature]; they also took place

when

and

so-called presbyopes have

improved

muscle being the cause of the change of the

56

Many lensless people accommodate. Many older people keep excellent

can

The only four facts

is

still

accommodate.

rational explanation for these that the

accommodate the tors

two oblique muscles

eyeball.

Other physical

fac-

have been ruled out.

These four

facts indicate that

whether or

not the lens and/or ciliary muscle play any role in

accommodation, they are not neces-

sary for accommodation.

— Chapter

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

— The Orthodox View

Could Presbyopia Be Caused by a

Presbyopia, an Age-Old "Old-Age"

Strained or Atrophied Ciliary Muscle?

Myth

Could

after the

When

a strained or atrophied ciliary muscle,

unable to contract, be the reason a lens no

the eye cannot see clearly up close

age offorty

—a person

is

said to

have

presbyopia (from Greek: presby, meaning

longer accommodates? Could the normal-

"older,"

ization of the ciliary muscle be the reason

opes often hear or read that their near blur

presbyopes improve vision?

is

Some have taken iary

the position that the

muscle can lose

its

ability to

cil-

change the

shape of the lens as the person becomes

The "sluggish"

and

opia,

due to the

meaning "eye"). Presby-

inflexibility of the lens,

due to

the "natural aging process."

Presbyopia lens

is

becoming

said to be the result of the

rigid, in its

"non-accommo-

not

dating" flatter shape. According to the

functioning correctly, but after being "toned

Helmholtz lens theory of accommodation,

older.

up" again, the

ciliary

muscle

accommodate

ability to

its

ciliary

is

muscle

is

said to regain

This position appears to require that: 1.

2.

the lens has not the lens

become

became

the presbyope can see clearly only in the distance, not

the lens.

up

its flexibility

have more curvaon near objects. Conventional textbooks do not state that the lens loses

rigid;

or

semi-rigid, but kept still

accommo-

presbyopia date; or eyeball,

the lens

became completely

regained

Supposedly the lens loses

and therefore the front side of its

ability to

ture to focus clearly

sufficient flexibility to

3.

close.

its flexibility

when

rigid,

but

is

caused by foreshortening of the

which was Bates' position.

Quoting again from University Physics: 11

the ciliary

muscle was "toned up" again.

The extremes of the range over which is possible are known as the the near point of the eye. The point and far far point of a normal eye is at infinity. The position of the near point evidently [TQ distinct vision

These theories are not supported by the orthodox.

The still

ciliary

muscle "revitalization" theory

does not explain

how

an eye with a paralyzed still

a lensless eye,

and

emphasis] depends on the extent to which

ciliary muscle,

can

the curvature of the crystalline lens

In fact, Bates agreed with orthodox science that the lens

becomes

less flexible as a per-

son ages. But for Bates the lens was "imma-

accommodation gradually diminishes with age as the crystalline lens loses bility.

For

this

because

his research indicated that

only the two oblique muscles are involved in

accommodation.

its flexi-

reason the near point grad-

ually recedes as terial,"

may be

increased in accommodation. The range of

accommodate.

one grows

older. This

recession of the near point with age called presbyopia,

sidered a defect of vision, since at

about the same rate

The following

is

is

and should not be conin all

it

proceeds

normal

eyes.

a table of the approximate

position of the near point at various ages:

Relearning to See

•

57

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Near

Age, years

[2.54

point,

cm =

1

ple or people living under primitive con-

cm

ditions,

inch]

very

little

10

7

20

10

30

14

40

22

among people who

rapidly

much

at the

culturists, sailors

agri-

40

mainly for distant vision; and Roosa and

200

others b say the contrary. This

word "evidently," the authors some doubt as to the rela-

to suggest

curvature and a person's near point with

ter

what

acters,

aging.

Bates believed presbyopia

is

hypermetropia

occurring at middle age, and

caused by

strained recti muscles foreshortening the eyeball.

Bates proved the two oblique muscles can elongate the eyeball, in which state a person sees clearly

up

close.

When the

oblique mus-

eye returns to the normal

cles release, the

shape for distance

vision.

For Bates, accom-

modation occurs only by the action of the felt

there

to sup-

produce accommodation. Following is his view on presbyopia, from Chapter XX of Percondition

is

when

According to Bates,

not inevitable, and

it

asked to look

fact that

forty-five or

it

can be

occurs.

how-

at printed char-

may be

such persons, fifty,

perfect.

at the

age of

cannot differentiate is

no warrant,

therefore, for the conclusion that their

accommodative powers are declining. A young illiterate would do no better, and a young student who can read Roman characters at the near point without difficulty

always develops symptoms of imperfect sight

when he attempts

to read, for the

first

time, old English, Greek, or Chinese characters.

When

was ample evidence

fect Sight Without Glasses.

if

objects at the near point

two, oblique, external eye muscles.

port the position that the oblique muscles

a fact,

although their sight for familiar

between printed characters is

is

who cannot read, no mat-

their age, will manifest a failure of

near vision

The

reversed

among

and others who use them

60

tionship between the inflexibility of the lens'

this

available.

50

In using the

Bates

is

use their eyes

near point than

ever, that people

seem

information

Donders a says that the power of accommodation diminishes little, if at all, more

the

accommodative power has

declined to the point at which reading and writing to

become

difficult,

have "presbyopia"

the person

or,

more

"old sight"; and the condition

is

said

popularly,

is

generally

accepted, both by the popular and the

sci-

mind, as one of the unavoidable inconveniences of old age. "Presbyopia," entific

says Donders, "is the normal quality of the

normal, emmetropic eye in advanced age," c

Among people ditions, the

living

under

civilized con-

accommodative power of the

eye gradually declines, in most cases, until at the age of sixty or seventy it appears to

On

have been entirely

Roosa:

lost,

absolutely dependent

the subject being

upon

his glasses for

As to whether the same thing happens among primitive peo-

vision at the near point.

the

Anomalies of Accommodation and

Refraction of the Eye,

1894, p. 537; Oliver: vol.

iv, p.

•

Relearning to See

223.

On

the

System of Diseases of the Eye,

431.

Anomalies of Accommodation and

Refraction of the Eye,

58

p.

A Clinical Manual of Diseases of the Eye,

p. 210.

Chapter

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

and similar statements might be multiplied

— The Orthodox View

Age

Diopters

10

14.00

2.81

"a physiological process

15

12.00

3.28

which every eye undergoes"; 6 while Roosa

20

10.00

3-94

speaks of the change as one which

25

8.50

4-63

30

7.00

5-63

35

5-50

7.16

40

4-50

8-75

45

3-50

11.25

50

2.50

15-75

55

1.50

26.25

60

0-75

5249

65

0.25

15748

70

0.00

endlessly.

De

Schweinitz

"a normal result of growing old"; d according to Fuchs

it is

mately affects every eye."

"ulti-

f

The decline of accommodative power with advancing years is commonly attributed to the hardening of the

lens,

an

influ-

ence which

is

later years,

by a flattening of this body and

a lowering of

believed to be augmented, in

its

Inches

the condition

calls

refractive index, together

with weakness or atrophy of the ciliary muscle; and so regular

most

cases, that tables

the decline, in

is

have been compiled

showing the near point to be expected various ages.

almost

fit

From these

it is

said

at

one might

glasses without testing the vision

of the subject; or, conversely, one might,

from a man's

glasses,

judge

his

age within

a year or two. The following table

is

quoted

from Jackson's chapter on "The Dioptrics of the Eye," in Norris and Oliver's "System of Diseases of the Eye," g and does not differ materially from the tables given by Fuchs, Donders and Duane.

umn indicates the

age, the

The

According to these depressing figures one must expect at thirty to have lost no less than half of one's original accommodative power, while of

it

at forty two-thirds

would be gone, and

at sixty

it

would

be practically nonexistent.

There are many people, however, who

do not fit this schedule. Many persons at forty can read fine print at four inches, although they ought, according to the

first

table,

col-

second diopters

of accommodative power, the third the near

point for an emmetropic eye, in inches. 11

to have lost that

power shortly

after twenty.

Worse still, there are people who refuse to become presbyopic at all. Oliver Wendell Holmes mentions one of these cases in The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.

"There

he d

Diseases of the Eye,

e

Text-book of Ophthalmology, authorized translation

Ernst Fuchs (1851-). Professor of

thalmology at Vienna from 1885 to

book of Ophthalmology has been

many

1915.

Oph-

His Text-

translated into

languages.

f

A Clinical Manual of Diseases of the Eye, p. 535.

g

Vol.

h

An eye which, when rays

i,

normal.

the retina

now living in New York State,"

cising fairly

it

on the

immediately took to exerfinest print,

and

it is

is

at rest, focuses parallel

said to be

emmetropic or

in this

way

bullied Nature out of her foolish habit

of taking liberties at five-and-forty, or there-

about. [Some Natural Vision teachers would have preferred the word "coaxed" instead of "bullied," as effort

ciated with normal vision.]

p. 504.

upon

is

"an old gentleman who, perceiving

his sight to fail,

p. 148.

from the twelfth German edition by Duane,

1919, p. 862.

says,

is

never asso-

And now this

old gentleman performs the most extraor-

dinary feats with his pen, showing that his eyes must be a pair of microscopes.

I

should

Relearning to See

•

59

.

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION be afraid to say

compass of

a

how much he

writes in the

half-dime —whether

the

Psalms or the Gospels, or the Psalms and I won't be positive." There are also people who regain

near vision after having

more

teen, or

years;

lost

it

their

for ten,

fif-

and there are people

who, while presbyopic for some objects, have perfect

sight for others.

Many

dress-

makers, for instance, can thread a needle

with

naked

the

retinoscope

it

and with

eye,

the

can be demonstrated that

they accurately focus their eyes upon such objects;

and yet they cannot read or write

So

far as I

am

aware no one but myself

has ever observed the

last -mentioned class

of cases, but the others are

known to every

easily disposed of

by

or that their pupils are unusually small.

comes under

the matter it

may

If

actual observation,

not be so simple, because

may be found that the subject, so far from myopic,

being

is

hypermetropic,

emmetropic, and that the pupil

mal

size.

There

is

or

of nor-

is

nothing [for the ortho-

dox] to do with these cases but to ignore them. Abnormal changes in the form of the lens have also

been held responsible for beyond the pre-

the retention of near vision

scribed age, or for

been

without glasses.

be

assuming that the subjects must be myopic, the case

1

the Gospels,

age, therefore, can

lost,

its

restoration after

it

has

the swelling of the lens in incip-

ient cataract affording a very convenient

and plausible explanation for the class of cases. In cases of

latter

premature pres-

One

byopia, "accelerated sclerosis"' of the lens

hears of them at the meetings of ophthal-

and weakness of the ciliary muscle have been assumed; and if such cases as the

ophthalmologist of any experience.

mological societies; they are even reported in the

medical journals; but such

of authority that

when

it

is

comes

the force

to writing

books they are either ignored or explained away, and every

new

treatise that

comes

from the press repeats the old superstition that presbyopia

ing old."

our

.

.

.

is

still

oppresses

and prevents us from

credit-

ing the plainest evidence of our senses

German ophthalmology is no

facts are

still

sacred,

.

.

and

allowed to cast discredit upon

Fortunately for those

upon

to

who

feel called

defend the old theories, myopia

postpones the advent of presbyopia, and a

decrease in the size of the pupil, which often takes place in old age, has in facilitating vision at the

some

effect

near point.

Reported cases of persons reading without glasses

60

when over fifty or fifty-five

Everyman's Library.

•

Relearning to See

1908, pp. 166-167.

years of

who can thread

their needles

they can no longer read the news-

papers had been observed, no doubt some

German

explanation consistent with the

viewpoint would have been found for them.

The

truth about presbyopia

that

is

it is

not "a normal result of growing old," being

both preventable and reversible. caused by hardening of the strain to see at the

lens,

near point.

It

some

in others

subject

It is

not

but by a

has no nec-

essary connection with age, since in

it.

1

when

"a normal result of grow-

German science

intellects

dressmakers

it

occurs,

cases, as early as ten years, while it

never occurs

may

live far into

at

all,

although the

the so-called pres-

It is true that the lens does harden with advancing years, just as the bones harden and the structure of the skin

byopic age.

changes; but since the lens

is

not a factor

accommodation, this fact is immaterial, and while in some cases the lens may in

Fuchs: Text-book of Ophthalmology,

p.

905.

1

Chapter

become

flatter,

or lose

some of

its

refrac-

power with advancing years, it has been observed to remain perfectly clear and tive

unchanged

in

— The Orthodox View

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

reversed, and this has happened, not in a

few

cases, but in

to sixty, seventy

many, and

and

at all ages,

up

eighty.

shape up to the age of ninety.

Since the ciliary muscle

is

also not a factor

in accommodation, its weakness or atrophy can contribute nothing to the decline of accommodative power. [In this last para-

graph, Bates completely discounts the role

of the lens and ciliary muscle as having

Physician,

Heal Thyself

Continuing from Perfect Sight Without Glasses, Bates explains

own

how he

reversed his

presbyopia:

anything to do with accommodation.] Pres-

byopia

is,

metropia point

is

in fact, in

simply a form of hyper-

which the vision for the near

chiefly affected, although the vision

for the distance, contrary to ally believed, is

what

both conditions the sight

gener-

may

is

not be

it.

has been shown that

strain to see at the

when

the eyes

near point the focus

always pushed farther away than before, in one or

all

always be demonstrated that

son with presbyopia the focus

is

is

was meridians; and by it

means of simultaneous retinoscopy

fails,

In

tries to

when

it

can

a per-

read fine print

always pushed farther

away than

it was before the attempt was made, indicating that the failure was caused by strain. Even the thought of making such an effort will produce strain, so that the refraction may be changed, and pain, discomfort and fatigue produced, before the

fine print

mind

is

is

regarded. [Relaxation of the

the most important principle Bates

discovered about natural, clear vision.] Fur-

thermore,

when

rests the eyes

a person with presbyopia

by closing them, or palming,

he always becomes at least, to

able, for a

read fine print at

few moments

six inches,

indicating that his previous failure

again

was due,

not to any fault of the eyes, but to a strain

When

the strain

is

relieved the presbyopia

is

to see.

first

person that

reversed of presby-

I

opia was myself. Having demonstrated by

means

of experiments

mals that the lens

is

on the eyes of

ani-

not a factor in accom-

modation, I knew that presbyopia must be reversible,

and

I

realized that

I

could not

look for any very general acceptance of the I had reached so wore glasses myself for a condition supposed to be due to the loss of the accommodative power of the lens. I was then suffering from the maximum degree of presbyopia. I had no accommodative power whatever, and had to have quite an

revolutionary conclusions

aware of

and

...

both points

at

lowered, although the person

It

is

always lowered also

The

permanently permanently

long as

I

outfit of glasses,

instance,

because with a

me

which enabled

print at thirteen inches,

I

glass, for

to read fine

could not read

either at twelve inches or at fourteen.

retinoscope showed that

when

I

it

The

tried to

see anything at the near point without glasses tance,

my

eyes were focused for the dis-

and when

I

tried to see anything at

the distance they were focused for the near point.

My problem, then, was to find some

way of reversing ing

to see at the it.

I

my

this

condition and induc-

my eyes to focus for the point I wished moment

that

I

wished to see

consulted various eye specialists, but

language was to them

like that of St.

Paul to the Greeks, namely, foolishness.

"Your lens is as hard as a stone," they said. "No one can do anything for you." Then I went to a nerve specialist. He used the retinoscope on me, and confirmed my own

Relearning to See

•

6

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION observations as to the peculiar contrariness

was able

to distinguish their form.

my accommodation: but he had no idea He would consult I could do about of his colleagues, he said, and asked

could read the newspapers w ith any kind of comfort, and a year before I obtained

of

what

it.

some

me

come back in a month, which I did. Then he told me he had come to the conclusion that there was only one man who to

could [reverse

my presbyopia]

—

and

that

called rapid.

my

It

byopic people.

answered.

it still

B. B.

One

I

has seldom

it

as long to reverse other people

did to reverse myself. In

it

some

cases

know.

never be

my own

case,

Bates accidentally

sight:

looked

at the

ture at the reading distance,

still

satisfied

till I

find out.

A person who had worn glasses for presbyopia for about twenty years reversed less

than fifteen minutes

...

—

in

In nine cases out of ten progress has

been much slower, and

it has been necesmethods of obtain[Relaxation is the third and

sary to resort to ing relaxation.

all

the

most important principle of normal .

.

.

vision.]

Their [the presbyopes"] sight for the

distance

is

often very imperfect and always

I

the distant vision improves the vision at the

cen-

When

my eyes were focused for the

will

read-

movement and

tralization (attention to detail).]

I

below normal, although they may have thought it perfect: and just as in the case of other errors of refraction, improvement of

stumbles upon two of the three key prin-

I

as

me

effected in

scientific discoveries.

ing distance. Then

presbyopia.]

Fortunately for others, taken

in his research,

long and tedious

hung on the wall. I noted some black spots on its face. I imagined that these spots were the openings of caves, and that there were people in these caves moving about. [As with many great

did this

own

his

Bates had erred

if

allowed him to find a way to reverse

many

studied

normal

[Even

in other pres-

and permanent reversal was a few minutes. Why. I do not

of Gibraltar which

ciples of

pronounced form every symp-

a complete

day. while looking at a picture of the

Rock

in

kindly used the

and tried to find some way of accommodating when I wanted to read, instead of when I wanted to see something at the distance. hours while

I

He

Foote. of Brooklyn. retinoscope through

had

I

tom subsequently observed

Thus thrown upon my own resources. I was fortunate enough to find a non-medical gentleman who was willing to do what me. the Rev. R.

months before

but the experience was extremely valuable,

"Because you are the only man who seems to know anything about it." he

assist

six

present accommodative range of four-

for

he could to

was

teen inches, from four inches to eighteen:

was Dr. William H. Bates of New York. "Why do you say that?" I asked.

same

pic-

imagining

near point [Repeating from Chapter

4.

"The Prob-

were caves with people in them. The retinoscope showed that I had accommodated, and I was able to read the

persons

lettering beside the picture.

opic age. would, instead of resorting to

that the spots

I

had. in

fact,

lem With Glasses and Contact Lenses":]

glasses, follow the

my imagination. Later I found that when I

man mentioned by

them

•

black,

letters

Relearning to See

I was able to see saw them black I

black

and when

I

If

who find themselves getting presbyopic, or who have arrived at the presby-

been temporarily reversed by the use of imagined the

62

My

progress after this was not what could be

example of the gentleDr. Holmes and make

a practice of reading the finest print they

can

find, the idea that the decline

of accom-

Chapter

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Six:

— The Orthodox View

modative power is "a normal result of growing old" would soon die a natural

out her glasses. She did not

death.

improvement. Her presbyopic vision improved automatically by relaxation. Her so-

know

called "presbyopia" returned

More Problems with the Another problem with the presbyopic/lenshave had

is

that

when

she

returned to her stressful job.

Conventional Presbyopia Theory hardening theory

anything

about the Bates method, or natural vision

some people who

clarity for the first forty years of

The

father of

two years

old.

one of my students

He

is

eighty-

has never needed glasses.

He still reads books and drives a car without glasses.

have met sev-

A fifty-seven-year-old woman in one of my

eral such individuals. In nearsightedness the

recent classes began to experience "presby-

become

their life

eyeball

is

nearsighted!

I

too long. Since the eyeball can

become too long

at

age

forty, is

able to believe the eyeball can short, creating

it

unreason-

become too

hypermetropia (farsighted-

neck and headaches. During

many years return to nor-

mal, clear vision, near and

far, after

the age

One

of the motivations for enrolling in nat-

ural vision classes

that

is

some parents of stu-

dents have had normal vision at ages seventy

These students know there

of forty. These people are told this occurs

and

eighty.

being

way

vision can be clear

because their nearsightedness "balanced" by presbyopia. This

is

is

not a sat-

that blurred vision

clearly both near

and

far. If

nearsightedness could be "balanced" by pres-

involved, there

clearly.

For seventy-five years, Bates teachers have

watched people with so-called presbyopia improve

their vision.

Many

so-called pres-

at

any age

is

a

— and

not hereditary.

is

a

way to see

clearly

up close,

including reading books, at any age.

byopia, a person would be unable to accom-

modate. Only one distance would be seen

is

—

Regardless of the physical mechanisms

isfactory explanation, because these people

accommodate

tight

vision classes

she said she was once again beginning to be

some people who have had

nearsightedness for

She stated she has a

bifocals.

able to read books without her glasses.

ness)? Bates said, "No."

In addition,

opia" at age forty-one. At age forty-seven she

was given

Acquiring farsightedness

in mid-life

is

not

due to "old age" any more than children acquiring nearsightedness is due to "young age." Bates

determine

showed

how

that the habits of vision

well a person sees near and

far.

byopic students have been able to improve their

near vision and read, once again, with-

"Why Do So Many People Lose

out any corrective lenses.

Some people improve so-called presbyopia spontaneously. One of my students, who had presbyopic glasses for many years, told me she went on a three-month vacation on a cruise ship many years ago. At the end of this relaxing vacation, she could read

books

with-

Near Vision around Age Forty?" It is

a fact that

many people

in stressful indus-

trialized societies lose the ability to see clearly

up

close

around the age of forty.

Presbyopia in

is

so prevalent in older people

our society that

we

are told to expect

Relearning to See

it,

•

as

63

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION if it

were a

one ad

Referring to presbyopia,

certainty.

states definitively that

if

you are over

then become nearsighted. This

more

in

Chapter

19,

is

discussed

"Brains and Vision."

store,

In the next chapter, we explore Bates' orig-

the rack with "magnifiers" for presbyopes

inal and extensive research on the mechanism of accommodation and errors of

forty,

"you've got

At

it."

5&10

a local

provides a reading card with different-size letters to

help you determine which power of

glasses to buy.

As

the print gets smaller, this

card educates you on

how

nature does not

provide enough secretions to keep the lenses

and

soft

flexible,

accommodation

and therefore the power of

informs you that failure of sight

Notes 1

is

forty.

text are

from Per-

Without Glasses.

2

Ibid.

3

Mary Dudderidge, "New Light Upon Our Eyes: An Investigation Which May Result in Normal

it

very com-

ages of thirty and

These graphics, caption, and fect Sight

new theory

this a

is lost. (Is

of lack of accommodation?) Further,

mon between the

refraction.

In

Vision for All, Without Glasses" [or surgery], in

our

statement

society, this last

of sight

is

Vision

normal

also

is

common

at

many

very suggestible.

response might be? trust her eyesight

true. Failure Scientific

sight for forty years

to lose her near vision,

is

If

is

a person with

5

Charles H. May, Diseases of the Eye (Baltimore,

6

H.

7

F.

told she

is

going

Would she begin (Trust

is

to not

a key

right-hemisphere characteristic of normal vision.)

Would she

near objects?

If

become

far-

'

strain their

near vision

around age forty and then become

Relearning to See

10

farsighted.

There also appears to be a correlation between left-brain-dominant individuals who

•

M. W. Zemansky, and H. D. Young,

MA: AddisonMay 1976),

Inc.,

young age and

These graphics, caption, and

text are

from Per-

fect Sight Without Glasses.

be a correlation between right-brain-domi-

64

Sears,

pp. 694-95.

In industrialized societies, there appears to

strain their near vision at a

W.

Wesley Publishing Company, 8

who

MD: William Wood and Company, 1943), p. 364. B. Woolf, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (Springfield, MA: G & C Merriam Com-

University Physics (Springfield,

consciously strain to see

she does, she will

Ibid.

pany, 1980).

sighted according to Bates.

nant individuals

12, 1918), p. 53.

4

what do you think her

anymore?

American (January

other ages!

Ibid.

This graphic, caption, and text are from Perfect Sight Without Glasses.

11

Sears, p.

695.

Zemansky, and Young, University

Physics,

.

Chapter Seven

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

This

book aims

to

ogy, theories, often stated as facts, to

Many parts when the

be a collection offacts and

not of theories ...In the science of ophthalmol-

obscure the truth and

have served

throttle investigation

more than a hundred years. The explanations of the phenomena of sight put forward by Young, von Graefe, Helmholtz and Donders have caused us to ignore or explain away a multitude offacts which otherwise would have

—Bates

ize

View

'

of the body heal and normaltrue cause of a

problem

is

removed. Cuts and burns heal, broken bones heal,

for

and so on.

Blurred vision tional problem.

of the

is

not a disease;

Are

it is

a func-

the eyes the only parts

human body

that cannot heal or

reverse a functional problem?

led to the discovery

of the truth about errors of and the consequent prevention of an incalculable amount of human misery... refraction

—William H. Bates, 1920

Bates: "The Truth About Accommodation as Demonstrated by Experiments on Animals" Perfect Sight Without Glasses contains

RESEARCH ON THE ROLE OF THE SIX EXTRINSIC EYE MUSCLES

of Bates' research, including

The theory

refraction

BATES'

that the eyeball elongates along

the visual axis to

accommodate did not orighad many sup-

from Chapter

porters as early as the 1600s.

modation

many

last chapter,

knew how

of the facts presented in the

and accommodation by the action

of the extrinsic muscles. The following excerpt is

to

many pho-

tographs showing the production of errors of

inate with Bates. This idea

Due

much

as

IV,

"The Truth about Accom-

Demonstrated by Experiments

on Animals."

Bates concluded that no one yet the

believed that

if

eyes accommodate.

He

he could discover the true

mechanism of accommodation, and what interfered with it, he could then show people

how to improve

The function of the muscles on

the outside

of the eyeball, apart from that of turning the socket, has

been a matter of much

dispute; but after the

supposed demonstra-

globe in

tion by

its

Helmholtz that accommodation

their sight.

Relearning to See

•

65

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION depends upon a change

in the curvature of

when two

absent or rudimentary, but

of

the lens, the possibility of their being con-

these muscles were present and active,

cerned in the adjustment of the eye for vision

accommodation, as measured by the objective test of retinoscopy, was always produced

at different distances,

or in the production

of errors of refraction, was dismissed as

no

longer worthy of serious consideration. ...

In

my own

experiments upon the

dogs and other animals, the demonstration to be complete that in the eyes of

these animals

accommodation depends

wholly upon the action of the extrinsic mus-

upon the agency of the

cles

and not

lens.

By the manipulation

I

was able

at all

electrical stimulation either of the eye-

ball,

extrinsic eye muscles of fish, rabbits, cats,

seemed

by

of these muscles

to produce or prevent accom-

or of the nerves of accommodation near

their origin in the brain. It

was

also

produced

by any manipulation of the obliques whereby their pull was increased. This was done by a tucking operation of one or both muscles, or by an advancement of the point at

which they are attached to the

sclerotic.

When one or more of the recti had been cut. the effect of operations increasing the pull

of the obliques was intensified.

After one or both of the obliques had

modation at will, to produce myopia, hyper-

had been par-

metropia and astigmatism, or to prevent

been cut

these conditions. Full details of these exper-

alyzed by the injection of atropine deep into

iments

will

be found

in the "Bulletin of the

New York Zoological Society" for November, 1914, and in the "New York Medical Journal" for May 8, 1915; and May 18, 1918; but for the benefit of those

who have

not

the time or inclination to read these papers, their contents are

There are

six

the eyeball, four

two

summarized below.

muscles on the outside of

known

as the "recti"

as the "obliques." The obliques

and

form an

almost complete belt around the middle of the eyeball, and are

known, according to and "inferior."

their position, as "superior"

The

across, or after they

accommodation could never be

the orbit,

produced by

electrical stimulation; but after

the effects of the atropine

had passed away,

or a divided muscle had been sewed

accommodation followed electriAgain when one oblique muscle was absent, as was found to be the case in a dogfish, a shark and a few together,

cal stimulation just as usual.

perch, or rudimentary, as in

a few fish

all

and an occasional

cats observed,

accommodation could not be produced by electrical stimulation.

rabbit,

But when the rudimentary

muscle was strengthened by advancement,

attached to the sclerotic, or

or the absent one was replaced by a suture

outer coat of the eyeball, near the front, and

which supplied the necessary countertrac-

recti are

pass directly over the top, bottom and sides

tion,

of the globe to the back of the orbit, where

duced by

they are attached to the bone [ajround the

accommodation could always be proelectrical stimulation.

After one or both of the oblique mus-

edges of the hole through which the optic

cles

nerve passes. According to their position,

of the recti were present and active, 3 elec-

they are

had been

and "external" recti. The obliques

a

In

many

animals, notably in rabbits, the internal

are the muscles of accommodation; the recti

and external

are concerned in the production of hyper-

tary,

metropia and astigmatism.

only two

some

cases one of the obliques

•

Relearning to See

recti are either

absent or rudimen-

so that practically, in such cases, there are recti, just as

In others, as in is

negligible.

66

and while two or more

known as the "superior," "inferior,"

"internal"

In

cut,

there are only two obliques.

many

fish,

the internal rectus

is

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

—Bates' View

stimulation of the eyeball, or of the

experiment with the same result was per-

nerves of accommodation, always produced

of one of the recti, usually the inferior or

formed on a number of other rabbits, on dogs and on fish. The obvious conclusion is that the lens is not a factor in accommo-

the superior, so as to strengthen

dation. [Rather, the obvious conclusion

trical

hypermetropia, while by the manipulation

same

result could

lyzing of the recti ting of

its pull,

the

be produced. The para-

that the lens

by atropine, or the

accommodation.]

cut-

one or more of them, prevented the

production of hypermetropic refraction by electrical stimulation;

but after the effects

In

is

is

not a necessary factor in

most text-books on physiology it is accommodation is controlled

stated that

by the

third cranial nerve,

which supplies

of the atropine had passed away, or after a

all

divided muscle had been sewed together,

superior oblique and the external rectus;

hypermetropia was produced as usual by

but the fourth cranial nerve, which supplies

electrical stimulation.

only the superior oblique, was found in

It

should be emphasized that in order to

paralyze either the recti muscles, or the obliques,

it

was found necessary

to inject

the muscles of the eyeball except the

these experiments to be just as nerve of accommodation as the

stimulated with electricity near

with a hypodermic needle. This drug

origin in the brain,

is

sup-

beings or animals, but in

ments

way

it

was found

had very

it

that

little

all

of

my

experi-

when used

effect

upon

the

was

either the third or the fourth nerve

the atropine far back behind the eyeball

posed to paralyze the accommodation when dropped into the eyes of human

much a When

third.

point of

accommodation always

resulted in the normal eye. gin of either nerve

its

When

the ori-

was covered with a small

wad of cotton soaked

in a

two percent

solu-

normal

in this

tion of atropine sulphate in a

power

solution, stimulation of that nerve

salt

produced

Eyes from which the lens had been removed, or in which it had been pushed

no accommodation, while stimulation of the unparalyzed nerve did produce it. When the origin of both nerves was cov-

out of the axis of vision, responded to elec-

ered with cotton soaked in atropine, accom-

of the eye to change .

.

its

focus.

.

trical

stimulation precisely as did the nor-

were

mal

eye, so long as the muscles

but

when they had been paralyzed by

injection of atropine

deep into the

electrical stimulation

had no

effect

active;

the

orbit,

on the

refraction.

In one experiment the lens was removed from the right eye of a rabbit, the refraction of each eye having first been tested by

retinoscopy and found to be normal. The

wound was then allowed after, for a

month

to heal. There-

period extending from one

two years, electrical stimulation always produced accommodation in the to

lensless eye precisely to the in the

eye which had a

same extent

lens.

as

The same

modation could not be produced by electrical stimulation of either or both.

When

the cotton was

removed and

nerves washed with normal

the

salt solution,

electrical stimulation of either or

both pro-

duced accommodation just as before the atropine had been applied. This experiment, which was performed repeatedly for

more than an hour by alternately applying and removing the atropine, not only demonstrated clearly what had not been known before, namely that the fourth nerve is a nerve of accommodation, but also demonstrated that the superior oblique muscle which is supplied by it is an important factor in accommodation. It was fur-

Relearning to See

•

67

—

—

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION ther found that

when

the action of the

oblique muscles was prevented by dividing them, the stimulation of the third nerve

produced not accommodation, but hypermetropia. In

all

the experiments

are believed to have

were

all

repeated

all

sources of error

been eliminated. They

many

times and always

with the same result. They seemed, there-

no room for doubt that neither the lens nor any muscle inside the eyeball has anything to do with accommodation, but that the process whereby the fore, to leave

eye adjusts tances

is

itself for

vision at different dis-

by the action on the outside of the globe.

entirely controlled

of the muscles

[Fig.

7-1 graphics not shown]1

Upon the Eye of a Rabbit that the Inferior Oblique Muscle is an Essen2 The tial Factor in Accommodation. No. 1 inferior oblique muscle has been exposed and two Figure 7-1: Demonstration

—

sutures are attached to

it.

Electrical stimulation

of the eyeball produces accommodation as demonstrated by simultaneous retinoscopy. No.

The muscle has been cut. Electrical stimulation produces no accommodation. No. 3 The 2

muscle has been sewed ulation produces

together. Electrical stim-

normal accommodation.

Figure 7-2: Demonstration Upon the Eye of a

Carp that the Superior Oblique Muscle 3

is

Essen-

—The superior

Accommodation. No. 1 is lifted from the eyeball by two sutures, and the retinoscope shows no error of refraction. tial to

oblique

No. 2

—Electrical stimulation produces accom-

modation, as determined by the retinoscope. No. 3

—The muscle has been

cut.

Stimulation of

the eyeball with electricity fails to produce accom-

—

modation. No. 4 The divided muscle has been reunited by tying the sutures. Accommodation follows electrical stimulation as before.

[Fig.

7-3 graphics not shown]

Figure 7-3: Demonstration Upon the Eye of a Rabbit that the Production of Refractive Errors Is

Dependent Upon the Action of the External

Muscles. 4 The string

is

fastened to the insertion

of the superior oblique and rectus muscles. No.

—

—

1 Backward pull. Myopia is produced. No. 2 Forward pull. Hypermetropia is produced. No.

3

— Upward pull in the plane of the

astigmatism

68

•

Relearning to See

is

produced.

iris.

Mixed

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

The production of

errors of refraction by

the action of the extrinsic muscles in a rabbit

does not prove, by

itself,

that errors of refrac-

Bates demonstrated the oblique muscles can produce accommodation. But he was not satisfied in just

demonstrating the role of the

produced by other means in the human eye. Bates proved here that

extrinsic muscles in

the extrinsic muscles can produce errors of

time, energy,

tion cannot be

refraction.

—Bates' View

accommodation and the

He

errors of refraction.

spent considerable

and ingenuity re-examining Helmholtz's research on the lens. If Bates could prove the lens did not play a role in

[Fig.

accommodation, then action of the oblique

7-4 graphic not shown]

Upon the Eye of a Fish and Hypermetropic Dependent Upon the Action of the

Figure 7-4: Demonstration

muscles must be the only mechanism of accommodation.

that the Production of Myopic

Refraction Is

Extrinsic Muscles. 5

A suture is tied to the inser-

tion of the superior rectus muscle.

By means of

strong traction upon the suture the eyeball

turned in

its

socket,

and by

is

tying the thread to a

pair offixation forceps which grasp the lower jaw, it is

maintained in

mixed astigmatism

this position.

A high degree of

is produced,

as demonstrated

by simultaneous retinoscopy.

When

the superior

oblique is divided the myopic part of the astigmatism disappears, and when the inferior rectus is

and the normal adjusted for distant although the same amount of traction is

cut the hypermetropic part disappears,

—

eye becomes vision

—

maintained.

Bates: "The Truth

About

Accommodation as Demonstrated by a Study of Images Reflected from the Lens, Cornea, Iris, and Sclera" The above heading, "The Truth About Accommodation ." is how Bates titled .

Chapter

.

V of Perfect Sight Without Glasses.

Following are excerpts from that chapter.

As

the conclusions to which the experi-

ments described

in the

preceding chapter

pointed were diametrically opposed to

evident that these muscles are

those reached by Helmholtz in his study of

and

the images reflected from the front of the

Bates proved that the extrinsic muscles can

determined to repeat the experiments of the German investigator and find out, if possible, why his results were so different from my own. I devoted four years to this work, and was able to demonstrate

It is

essential factors in the production of myopia

hypermetropia.

lens,

produce myopia and hypermetropia.

[Fig.

7-5 graphic not shown]

that

I

Helmholtz had erred through a defec-

tive technique, the

Figure 7-5: Rabbit With Lense Removed. 6 The

method being

animal was exhibited

that

at a

meeting of the Oph-

thalmological Section of the American Medical

it

lends

image obtained by

his

so variable and uncertain

itself to

the support of almost

any theory.

worked for a year or more with the

City, and was examnumber of ophthalmologists present, all

nique of Helmholtz, but was unable to

of whom testified that electrical stimulation of

obtain an image from the front of the lens

Association, held in Atlantic

ined by a

the eyeball produced

accommodation, or myopic

refraction, precisely as in the

normal eye.

I

which was

tech-

sufficiently clear or distinct to

measured or photographed. With

a

be

naked

candle as the source of light, a clear and

Relearning to See

dis-

•

69

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION tinct image could be obtained on the cornea; on the back of the lens it was quite clear; but on the front of the lens it was very imperfect. Not only was it blurred Just as Helmholtz stated, but without any ascertainable cause it varied greatly in size and

At times no

intensity.

obtained

at

light to the

reflection could be

regardless of the angle of the

all.

eye of the subject, or of the eye

of the observer to that of the subject. With a

diaphragm

got a clearer and

I

stant image, but

was not

it still

more con-

sufficiently

be measured. To Helmholtz the

reliable to

image of a naked flame seemed

indistinct

show an appreciable change, while

to

the

images obtained by the aid of the diaphragm

showed

more

it

clearly; but

obtain images which

be

was unable,

diaphragm or without

either with a

distinct to

I

I

it,

to

considered sufficiently

it

by the means described.

After a year or more of failure

Men who had been teaching and demonstrating Helmholtz's theory repeated his

my benefit; but the images

I

began to

work at an aquarium on the eyes of fish. It was a long story of failure. Finally I became

— 1000 —a diaphragm with a small opening

able, with the aid of a strong light

watts

and a condenser, to obtain, after some difa clear and distinct image from the

ficulty,

cornea of

fish.

distinct to

This image was sufficiently

be measured, and after

many

photograph was obtained. Then the work was resumed on

months

a satisfactory

human beings. The strong fight, combined with the diaphragm and condenser, the use of which was suggested by the eyes of

their use to glass slide

improve the illumination of a

under the microscope, proved to

be a decided improvement over the method of Helmholtz. and by

nique an image was

reliable.

experiments for

obtained from

the

distinct to first

of this tech-

obtained on the

was

sufficiently clear

front of the lens which

and

means

at last

be photographed. This was

time, so far as published records

which they obtained on the front of the lens

show, that an image of any kind was ever

seem to me any better than my own. After studying these images almost

photographed from the front of the

did not

daily for

more than

make any

a year

I

was unable to

reliable observation regarding

accommodation upon them. seemed that an infinite number

Professional photographers

whom

lens.

I

con-

sulted with a view to securing their assis-

tance assured

me

that the thing could not

was

the effect of

be done, and declined to attempt

In fact,

therefore obliged to learn photography, of

it

of appearances might be obtained on the front of the lens

when

a candle

as the source of illumination.

was used

At times the

image became smaller during accommodation and seemed to sustain the theory of Helmholtz: but larger. tell

just as frequently

At other times

what

With a

it

it

it

became

was impossible

to

did.

thirty-watt lamp, a fifty-watt lamp,

a 250-watt lamp and a looo-watt lamp, there was no improvement. ... To sum it all up, I was convinced that the anterior [front] sur-

was a very poor reflector of no reliable images could be

face of the lens fight,

70

•

and that

Relearning to See

which myself,

I

it. I

had previously known nothing, I then found that so far as the

and

image obtained by the method of Helmholtz is

concerned the professionals were

right.

The experiments were continued

until,

after almost four years of constant labor,

I

obtained satisfactory pictures before and after

accommodation and during the pro-

duction of myopia and hypermetropia. not

only of images on the front of the of reflections from the

iris,

lens,

but

cornea, the front

of the sclera (white of the eye) and the side

of the sclera.

I

also

became

images on any surface

at will

able to obtain

without reflec-

1

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

—Bates' View

Figure j-6: Image of Electric Filament on the Front of the Lens. 7

R,

rest; A,

accommodation. Under the magnifying glass no change can be observed in the size of the two

images. The image

Helmholtz

from

it

ought

the cornea.

at the right looks larger only because to

be smaller. The comet's

The spot of light beneath

is

tail

it is

at the left

more

distinct.

of the two images

To support the theory of is

an accidental reflection

a reflection from the light used to illuminate the eye while

the photographs were being taken. It took two years to get these pictures.

from the other parts. Before these were obtained, however, many difficulties had still to be overcome The results of these experiments confirmed the conclusions drawn from the previous ones, namely, that accommodation is due to a lengthening of the eyeball, and not to a change in the curvature of the lens. They also confirmed, in a striking manner,

show any change

tions

of the lens did not

results

or form during accommodation. The image

my earlier conclusions as to the conditions under which myopia and hypermetropia are produced. 3

The images photographed from the

front

in size

on the back of the lens also remained unchanged, as observed through the

tele-

scope of the ophthalmometer; but as there

no dispute about its behavior during accommodation [Helmholtz never claimed

is

the back side of the lens changed

its

cur-

was not photographed. Images photographed from the iris before and during accommodation were also the same in size and form, as was vature during accommodation],

it

from the character of the changed during accommodation, the iris, which rests upon

to be expected

lens images. If the lens a

Bates:

The Cause of Myopia.

March

16, 1912.

N. Y.

Med.

Jour.,

it,

would change

also.

8 Figure j-j: Image of Electric Filament on the Front of the Sclera.

R,

rest; A,

accommodation. During accommodation the front of the sclera becomes more convex, because camera is elongated when it is focused upon a near object. The spot

the eyeball has elongated, just as a

of light on

the cornea

is

an accidental

reflection.

Relearning to See

•

7

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Does Not Change Its Curvature During Accommodation

obtained during normal accommodation

Bates then states that his experiments have

rest, indicating

Bates: The Lens

proven that the lens does not change

its

cur-

The images photographed from the cornea and from the front and side of the sclera showed, however, a series of four wellmarked changes, according to whether the vision was normal or accompanied by a strain. During accommodation the images from the cornea were smaller than when the eye was at rest, indicating elongation of the eyeball and a consequent increase in the convexity of the cornea. But when an unsuccessful effort was made to see at the near point, the image became larger, indicating that the cornea had become less convex, a condition which one would expect when the optic axis was shortened, as in hypermetropia. When a strain was made to see at a distance the image was smaller than when the eye was at rest, again indicating elongation of the eyeball and The images photographed from the

front

series of

changes as the corneal images, but those obtained from the side of the sclera were

found to have changed site

in exactly the

oppo-

manner, being larger where the former

were smaller and vice versa, a difference which one would naturally expect from the fact that

when

the front of the sclera

becomes more convex the sides must become flatter. When an effort was made to see at a distance the image reflected from the side of

the sclera was larger than the image

obtained

when

the eye

was

at rest, indi-

cating that this part of the sclera had

become

less

convex or

flatter,

elongation of the eyeball.

72

•

Relearning to See

when

the eye was at

again a flattening of the side

of the sclera. The image obtained, however,

indicating that the sclera

had become more

which one would expect when the eyeball was shortconvex

at the side, a condition

ened, as in hypermetropia.

The most pronounced of the changes were noted

in the

images reflected from the

front of the sclera. Those sclera

were

difficulty of

less

on the

side of the

marked, and, owing to the

photographing a white image

on a white background, could not always be readily seen on the photographs. They were always plainly apparent, however, to the observer, and still more so to the subject, who regarded them in a concave mirror. The alterations in the size of the corneal image were so slight that they did not show at all in the

image was

photographs, except

large, a fact

when

the

which explains why

the ophthalmometer, with

its

small image,

show that the cornea did not change during accommodation. has been thought to

increased convexity of the cornea.

showed the same

also larger than

when an effort was made to see near was much smaller than any of the other images,

vature during accommodation.

of the sclera

was

because of

The image

They were always apparent, however, to the subject and observer. The corneal image was one of the easiest of the series to produce and the experiment is one which almost anyone can repeat, the only apparatus required being

lamp—an ordinary —and a concave mirror fastened

a fiftycandlepower tric

globe

to a rod

elec-

which moves back and forth

in a

groove so that the distance of the mirror

from the eye can be altered

at will.

A plane

mirror might also be used; but the concave glass

is

image. that

it

better,

because

it

magnifies the

The mirror should be so arranged reflects the

image of the

ament on the cornea, and so

electric

fil-

that the eye

of the subject can see this reflection by

— Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

looking straight ahead. The image in the mirror

is

used as the point of

fixation,

and

the distance at which the eye focuses altered

is

by altering the distance of the mir-

The

ror from the eye.

light

can be placed

modation

is confirmed by numerous obseron the eyes of adults and children, with normal vision, errors of refraction, or amblyopia, and on the eyes of adults after

vations

the removal of the lens for cataract.

within an inch or two of the eye, as the heat

not great enough to interfere with the

is

experiment. The closer

it is

the larger the

image, and according to whether

it

is

adjusted vertically, horizontally, or at an angle, the clearness of the reflection vary.

A blue

glass screen can

may

be used,

if

desired, to lessen the discomfort of the light. If

and

the

left

in all the

eye

used by the subject

is

experiments

it

was found

It

much

as possible to

an angle of about forty-

the front of

it,

five degrees.

For absolute accuracy the

at

eye

sup-

is

posed to prevent accommodation by paralyzing the muscle credited with controlling

the shape of the lens. That is

and the drug

is

has this effect

it

stated in every text -book

on the

subject,

3

daily used in the fitting of

glasses for the purpose of eliminating the

supposed influence of the lens upon to

the source of light should be placed to the

of that eye and as

has already been pointed out that the

instillation of atropine into the

refrac-

tive states.

be the more convenient for the purpose

left

—Bates' View

In about nine cases out of ten the con-

ditions resulting

from the

atropine into the eye

which

its

use

is

fit

instillation of

the theory

upon

based: but in the tenth case

light

they do not, and every ophthalmologist of

and the head of the subject should be held immovable, but for demonstration this is

any experience has noted some of these tenth cases. Many of them are reported in the literature, and many of them have come under my own observation. According to the theory, atropine ought to bring out

not essential. Simply holding the bulb in his

hand the subject can demonstrate

that

the image changes according to whether the eye

is

at rest,

accommodating normally

latent

hypermetropia

in eyes either appar-

for near vision, or straining to see at a near

ently normal, or manifestly hypermetropic,

or a distant point.

provided, of course, the person

In the original report were described possible sources of error

and the means taken

during which the lens its elasticity.

The

fact

is

is

is

of the age

supposed to retain that

it

sometimes

produces myopia, or changes hyperme-

to eliminate them.

tropia into myopia,

and

that

it

will

produce

both myopia and hypermetropia in persons

Truth About Accommodation as Demonstrated Bates: "The

over seventy years of age, when the lens a

by Clinical Observations" This

is

how Bates

fect Sight

titled

Chapter VI of Per-

Without Glasses, excerpts of which

is

Certain substances have the power of producing

a dilation of the pupil (mydriasis) and hence are

termed mydriatics. At the same time they

upon

the ciliary body, diminishing and,

act

when

applied in sufficient strength, completely para-

are reprinted below:

lyzing the

power of accommodation, thus rensome time unalterably focused

dering the eye for

The

testimony

of

the

experiments

described in the preceding chapters to the effect that the lens

is

not a factor in accom-

for the farthest point.

—Herman Snellen.

Jr.:

Mydriatics and Myotics, System of Diseases of the Eye, edited by Norris and Oliver, 1897-1900, vol. ii,

p. 30.

Relearning to See

•

73

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

9 Figure 7-8: Image on the Side of the Sclera.

rest; A,

R,

accommodation. The image

the eyeball elongates.

in

A is the larger, indicating a flattening of the side of the sclera as

My, Myopia. The eye

straining to see at the distance

is

indicating that the eyeball has elongated, resulting in a flattening tropia.

The eye

straining to see at

is

two

inches.

The image

is

of the side

the smallest

and

the

image

of the sclera. Hy,

is larger,

Hyperme-

of the series, indicating

that the

more convex. when the eye produced The two lower pictures confirm the authors previous observations that farsight is strains to see near objects and nearsight when it strains to see distant objects. and

eyeball has become shorter than in any of the other pictures,

supposed to be as hard as a stone, as well

which the lens

as in cases in

is

hard with

incipient cataract. People with eyes appar-

ently

normal

will, after

the use of atropine,

develop hypermetropic astigmatism, or

myopic astigmatism, or compound myopic

the side

of the sclera

have often become able, simply by ing their eyes, to read inches.

Yet atropine

is

diamond type supposed to

restat six

rest the

eyes [for distance vision] by affording relief to an

overworked muscle.

In the treatment of squint

and ambly-

astigmatism, or mixed astigmatism. 3 In

opia

other cases the drug will not interfere with

ter

the accommodation, or alter the refraction

any way. Furthermore, when the vision

encourage the use of the amblyopic eye; and at the end of this time, while still under

has been lowered by atropine the subjects

the influence of atropine, such eyes have

in

a

In simple hypermetropic astigmatism one prin-

normal and the other, at right flatter. In simple myopic astigma-

cipal meridian

angles to

it, is

is

is the case; one principal meridnormal and the other, at right angles to it, more convex. In mixed astigmatism one princi-

tism the contrary

ian

74

*

is

Relearning to See

I

have often used atropine

eye for more than a year,

pal meridian

is

too

flat,

in the bet-

in

order to

the other too convex. In

compound hypermetropic astigmatism both principal meridians are flatter than normal, one more so than the other. In compound myopic astigmatism both are more convex than normal, one more so than the other.

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

become able in a few hours, or less, to read diamond type at six inches (see Chapter XXII). The following are examples of many similar cases that might be cited:

ing to three diopters.

When

It

remains for those

the accepted theories to say

amount-

atropine was

who adhere to how such facts

can be reconciled with them. Equally

A boy of ten had hypermetropia in both eyes, that of the left or better eye

a half.

—Bates' View

case of a

if

more remarkable was

not

girl

of six

who had two and

the

a half

diopters of hypermetropia in her right or better eye,

and

six in the other,

with one

eye the hypermetropia

diopter of astigmatism. With the better eye

to four and a half diopters, and the vision lowered to 20/200. With a convex glass of four and a half diopters the boy obtained normal vision for the dis-

vex glass of four diopters he was able to

under the influence of atropine and the pupil dilated to the maximum, both eyes were addressed together for more than a year, and at the end of that time, the right being still under the influence of the atropine, both became able to read dia-

read diamond type

mond

instilled into this

was increased

tance,

and with the addition of another conat ten inches (best).

The

atropine was used for a year, the pupil

maximum. eye was being

being dilated continually to the

Meantime

the

right

addressed by methods to be described

Usually in such cases the eye which

overcame two and a

still

Thus, in

eye not only

half diopters of hyper-

modation, making a total of eight and a

remained precisely what being

it

not

is

latent

at the beginning,

left.

metropia, but added six diopters of accom-

half.

was

anything, than the

later.

some extent with the other, but in this case it did not. At the end of the year the vision of the right eye had become normal; but it

if

spite of the atropine, the right

being specifically addressed improves to

that of the left eye

type at six inches, the right doing

better,

20/200

without glasses for the distance, while read-

In order to eliminate

hypermetropia

in the

beginning had

atropine was

all

possibility of

in the left

eye

—which — the

now used

six diopters in this

eye and

dis-

continued in the other, the eye education being continued as before. Under the

ence of the drug there was a

influ-

slight return

was impossible and the

of the hypermetropia; but the vision quickly

degree of the hypermetropia had not

under the influence of the

became normal again, and although the atropine was used daily for more than a

with the pupil dilated to

year, the pupil being continually dilated to

ing without glasses

changed.

Still

atropine and the

still

maximum, this eye was now addressed

and in half an hour its vision had become normal both for the distance and the near point, diamond type being separately;

read

at six inches, all

without glasses.

According to the accepted theories, the iary

cil-

muscle of this eye must not only have

been completely paralyzed

must have been

at the time,

in a state of

but

complete

the

maximum,

it

type being read at

remained six

during the whole period.

me

to conceive

so,

diamond

inches without glasses

how

It is difficult

for

the ciliary muscle

could have had anything to do with the ability

of this person to

accommodate

after

atropine had been used in each eye separately for a year or

According

more

at a time.

to the current theory, atropine

and thus, by pre-

paralysis for a year. Yet the eye not only

paralyzes the ciliary muscle

overcame four and a half diopters of hypermetropia, but added six diopters of accommodation, making a total of ten and

venting a change of curvature in the

prevents

lens,

accommodation. When accom-

modation occurs,

therefore, after the pro-

Releaming

to

See

•

75

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION longed use of atropine, it is evident that it must be due to some factor or factors other than the lens and the ciliary muscle. The evi-

timony against the accepted theory of accommodation. On the theory that the

dence of such cases against the accepted theories is, in fact, overwhelming; and according

reversals

The

to these theories the other factors cited in

sight in presbyopia has

this

chapter are equally inexplicable. All of

these facts, however, are in

entire accord with

the results of my experiments on muscles of animals and my observations regarding the behavior of images reflected the eye

from various parts of the

eyeball.

They strik-

ingly confirm, too, the testimony

of the

lens

ers,

is

a factor in

accommodation such

would be manifestly impossible.

fact that rest of the eyes

and has been attributed

lens;

but while

might happen dition

and

it is

deep into the

able

conceivable that this

for a

few moments, it

is

not con-

ceivable that permanent relief should be

are, as the saying goes, as

injected

is

hardened

in the early stages of the con-

obtained by

was

muscle

for a brief period to influence the

accommodation could not be paralyzed completely and permanently unless the atropine

to the supposed

fact that the rested ciliary

experiments with atropine, which showed that the

improves the

been noted by oth-

this

means, or that lenses which

"hard as a stone"

should be influenced, even momentarily.

A truth

orbit,

strengthened by an accumu-

is

A

working hypothesis

so as to reach the oblique muscles, the real

lation of facts.

muscles of accommodation, while hypermetropia could not be prevented when the

proved not to be a truth

eyeball was stimulated with electricity

ories

without a similar use of atropine, resulting

of errors of refraction require that a mul-

in the paralysis

of the recti muscles.

[TQ

As

has already been noted, the fact that

after the

removal of the lens for cataract

the eye often appears to as well as

it

did before

of these cases have

is

accommodate just well

known. Many

come under my own

titude of facts shall

more than

experience, fact that

I

have not observed a single

was not

that the lens

be explained away. Dur-

in

harmony with

and the

man was

read without any glass at

all.

In

able to

all

these

cases the retinoscope demonstrated that

the apparent act of real,

accommodation was

being accomplished not by the "inter-

muscle have

that the changes in the shape of the eye-

are not permanent.

and ten inches and

ciliary

the belief

nothing to do with accommodation and

read diamond type with only their distance

but one

is

thirty years of clinical

ball

at less distance,

is

harmony with it. The accepted theof accommodation and of the cause

observation. Such people have not only

glasses on, at thirteen

a single fact

not in

ing

emphasis.]

if

upon which

tions

errors of refraction

My

clinical

have of themselves been

demonstrate sufficient to

this fact.

can be produced

sufficient to

They have

show how

depend

observa-

also

been

errors of refraction

at will,

and how they may

be reversed, temporarily

in a

few minutes,

and permanently by continued

practice.

pretation of circles of diffusion," or by any

of the other methods by which this incon-

venient

phenomenon

is

commonly

explained, but by an accurate adjustment

Bates: "The Variability of the

Refraction of the Eye"

of the focus to the distances concerned.

The reversal of presbyopia (see Chapter XX) must also be added to the clinical tes-

76

•

Relearning to See

From Perfect Sight Without VII:

Glasses,

Chapter

—Betes

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

View

'

The theory that errors of refraction are due to permanent deformations of the eyeball

having, at frequent intervals during the day

leads naturally to the conclusion not only

their

permanent

that errors of refraction are states,

but that normal refraction

continuous condition.

As

fore,

is

generally regarded as a perfect

machine which order.

No

regarded light

is

is

fact, there-

not surprising to find that the nor-

it is

mal eye

theory

this

almost universally accepted as a

also a

is

is

always in good working

is

matter whether the object strange or familiar, whether the

good or imperfect, whether the

sur-

and

night,

moments of normal vision, when

myopia, hypermetropia, or astigma-

tism wholly disappears.

The form of the

error also changes, myopia even changing into hypermetropia,

matism

and one form of astig-

Chapter

into another. [See

sion of school children.]

Among babies noted.

Most

a similar condition

babies hypermetropic.

them myopic.

A few have found

My own observations indi-

cate that the refraction of infants

even under conditions of nerve strain or

tinually changing.

is

expected

to have normal refraction and normal sight all

the time.

It is

harmonize with

true that the facts

this view,

do not

but they are con-

veniently attributed to the perversity of the ciliary

muscle, or

if

that explanation will

not work, ignored altogether.

When we

is

external muscles, and

how the

controlled by the

how

One

child

is

con-

was examined

under atropine on four successive days, beginning two hours after birth.

A three

percent solution of atropine was instilled into both eyes, the pupil

maximum, and other

was dilated

to the

physiological symp-

toms of the use of atropine were noted. The

examination showed a condition of mixed astigmatism. On the second day there was compound hypermetropic astigmatism, and on the third compound myopic astigmatism. On the fourth one eye was normal and the other showed simple first

understand, however,

shape of the eyeball

was

investigators have found

roundings are pleasant or disagreeable, bodily disease, the normal eye

23,

"Children and Schools," for Bates' discus-

it

instantaneously to their action,

responds

it is

easy to

see that no refractive state, whether

it is

normal or abnormal, can be permanent. This conclusion is confirmed by the retinoscope, and I had observed the facts

myopia. Similar variations were noted

long before the experiments described in

equally true of adults of

the preceding chapters had offered a sat-

over seventy years of age have suffered

isfactory explanation for

it.

During

thirty

years devoted to the study of refraction,

I

have found few people who could main-

more than a few mineven under the most

tain perfect sight for

utes at a time,

favorable conditions; and often

I

have seen

the refraction change half a dozen times or

more in a second, the variations ranging all the way from twenty diopters of myopia to normal. Similarly

I

have found no eyes with

continuous or unchanging errors of refraction, all

persons with errors of refraction

many What

in

other cases. is

true of children all

and

infants

ages. Persons

losses of vision of variable degree intensity,

and

in

is

and

such cases the retinoscope

always indicated an error of refraction.

A

man eighty years old, with normal eyes and ordinarily normal sight, had periods of imperfect sight which would

last

from a few

minutes to half an hour or longer. Retinoscopy

at

such times always indicated

myopia of four diopters or more. A sudden exposure to strong light, or rapid or sudden changes of light, are likely to produce imperfect sight in the normal

Relearning to See

•

77

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION eye, continuing in

some

(see Chapter

months

cases for

XVII)

weeks and

[of Perfect

is

also a frequent cause of defec-

tive vision in the

see imperfectly

them so

test

Army. Again, the test may be made that eyes which are apparently much below normal at the beginning may

normal eye. All persons

when they hear an unex-

so

few minutes required for the

in the

pected loud noise. Familiar sounds do not

acquire normal vision and

lower the vision, but unfamiliar ones always

read the

do. Country children from quiet schools may suffer from defective vision for a long time after moving to a noisy city. In school they cannot do well with their work, because their sight is impaired. It is, of course, a gross injustice for teachers and

others to scold, punish, or humiliate such

Bates:

test

become

test

able to

card perfectly.

"The Cause and Reversibility

of Errors of Refraction" This topic Bates engaged in Chapter

IX

conditions of mental or physical

has been demonstrated in thousands of

discomfort, such as pain, cough, fever, dis-

It

comfort from heat or cold, depression,

cases that

anger, or anxiety, errors of refraction are

all

abnormal action of the

nal muscles of the eyeball

exter-

accompanied

is

and

that with

always produced in the normal eye, or

by a strain or effort to

increased in the eye in which they already

the relief of this strain the action of the

The eye

is

variability of the refraction of the

responsible for

many otherwise

countable accidents. struck

down

When

in the street

or trolley cars,

it is

unac-

people are

by automobiles,

often due to the fact that

they were suffering from temporary loss of sight. Collisions

on

railroads or at sea, dis-

asters in military operations, aviation acci-

dents, etc., often occur because

some

responsible person suffered temporary loss

this

cause must also be ascribed, in

a large degree, the confusion

which every

student of the subject has noted in the statistics

which have been collected regarding

the occurrence of errors of refraction. far as I

am

may

from

So

blind,

cataract, or disease of the

retina; but so long as

it

does not

try to see,

the external muscles act normally and there is

no error of refraction. This fact furnishes means by which all these con-

us with the ditions, so

long held to be irreversible,

may

be reversed. It

has also been demonstrated that for

ent kind of strain.

is

a differ-

The study of images

from various parts of the eyeball confirmed what had previously been reflected

observed, namely, that myopia (or a

ening of hypermetropia)

is

less-

always associ-

ated with a strain to see at the distance,

by any investigator of the sub-

while hypermetropia (or a lessening of

it

the result in any such investigation must be largely determined by the conditions under which it is made. It is possible

ject; yet

•

it

errors of

from atrophy of the

be suffering

optic nerve,

all

may be

has never been taken

aware

into account

78

refraction disappear. The eye

every error of refraction there

of sight.

To

see,

muscles becomes normal and

exist.

Relearning to See

of

Perfect Sight Without Glasses, excerpted

below:

children.

Under

and

be able to

that the subject will not

get into the

Sight Without Glasses].

Noise

to take the best eyes in the world

myopia)

is

always associated with a strain

and the fact can be few minutes by anyone who

to see at the near point; verified in a

— Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

knows how

to use a retinoscope, provided

only that the instrument

not brought

is

nearer to the subject than six

In an eye with previously normal vision, a strain to see near objects always results in the

temporary production of hyperme-

one or

tropia in

meridians. That

all

the

is,

eye either becomes entirely hypermetropic,

some form

or

of astigmatism

is

and the vision improves. This interesting result,

produced

of which hypermetropia forms a part. In

increased in one or

the

myopic eye

the

myopia

is

all

meridians.

lessened and emmetropia a

may be produced, the eye for parallel rays while

near

When

near object,

strains to see a

still

being focused trying to see at

some

cases

the

emmetropia may even pass over

into

the

In

point.

hypermetropia

in

one or

meridians. All

all

we

be noted, is the exact contrary

when

get

the

myope strains to some cases the

see at the near point. In

hypermetropia

emmetropia

is

is

completely relieved, and

produced, with a complete

disappearance of This condition

evidences of strain.

all

may

then pass over into

myopia, with an increase of strain as the

myopia

the hypermetropic eye the hypermetropia is

will

it

of what

feet.

—Bates' View

increases.

In other words, the eye which strains to

becomes flatter than was before, in one or all meridians. If it was elongated to start with, it may pass from this condition through emmetropia, in which it is spherical, to hypermetropia. see at the near point it

in

which

it is

and

flattened;

if

these changes

take place unsymmetrically, astigmatism will

be produced

in

connection with the

these changes are accompanied by evi-

other conditions. The eye which strains to

form of

see at the distance, on the contrary,

dences of increasing

strain, in the

eccentric fixation (see Chapter XI) and

lowered

vision; but, strange to say, pain

Diffusion tal

is

way of seeing; it

meridians, and

it

was before

may pass from

in

one

the

flat-

emmetropia, to the elongated condition of

men-

Chapter

tralization," discussed later in

all

"diffusion."

the opposite of "cen-

is

or

tened condition of hypermetropia, through

a harmful, "spread out"

is

becomes longer than

marked

fatigue are usually relieved to a degree. ["Eccentric fixation"

and

10,

—

myopia.

If

these changes take place unsym-

metrically, astigmatism will again be pro-

duced

in

connection with the other

"The Second Principle Centralization."] on the contrary, the eye with previously normal vision strains to see at the distance,

conditions.

temporary myopia

has been removed. This operation produces

If,

one or

all

is

always produced

meridians, and

already myopic, the myopia

if is

the eye

in is

increased. If

the hypermetropic eye strains to see a dis-

What

has been said of the normal eye

applies equally to eyes

from which the

lens

usually a condition of hypermetropia; but

when

there has previously been a condi-

tion of high

myopia the removal of the

lens

duced or increased; but the hypermetropia

may not be sufficient to correct it, and the eye may still remain myopic. In the first

and the eccentric

case a strain to see at the distance lessens

tant object, pain

and fatigue may be profixation are lessened

the hypermetropia, and a strain to see at

Emmetropia (from and which

the

sure,

ops, the eye)

in

it is

stitutes

is

normal vision

in

mea-

that condition of the eye

focused for parallel

error of refraction point.

Greek emmetros, rays.

at the distance

when

it

This con-

but

is

an

occurs at the near

the near point increases

it;

in the

second

a strain to see at the distance increases the

myopia, and a strain to see

at the

near point

For a longer or shorter period after the removal of the lens many apha-

lessens

it.

Relearning to See

•

79

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION kic eyes strain to see at the near point, pro-

ducing so

much hypermetropia

that the

subject cannot read ordinary print,

and the

power of accommodation appears to have been completely lost. Later, when the subject becomes accustomed to the situation, this strain is often relieved, and the eye becomes able to focus accurately upon near objects. Some rare cases have also been observed in which a measure of good vision both for distance and the near point was

near point without

strain;

the eye does what the the other

These

why

it

but in one case

mind

desires,

and

facts

appear

sufficiently to explain

visual acuity declines as civilization

advances.

Under the

conditions of civilized

obtained without glasses, the eyeball elon-

men's minds are under a continual strain. They have more things to worry them than uncivilized man had, and they are not obliged to keep cool and collected in order that they may see and do other things upon which existence depends. If he

some

allowed himself to get nervous, primitive

gating sufficiently to compensate, to

degree, for the loss of the lens.

The phenomena associated with strain in the human eye have also been observed in the eyes of the lower animals. I have made many dogs myopic by inducing them to strain to see a distant object.

One

very

nervous dog, with normal refraction, as

life

man was promptly eliminated; but civilized man survives and transmits his mental characteristics to posterity.

when subjected respond to them as

do human

in precisely the

creatures.

became very much

sew, nor set type.

up his ears, arched his eyebrows and wagged his tail. The meat was then removed to a distance of twenty feet. The dog looked disappointed, but didn't lose interest. While he was watching the meat it was dropped into a box.

A worried look came into his

eyes.

He

of

and the retinoscope showed that he

it,

had become

strained to see what

had become myopic. This experiment, it should be added, would succeed only with an animal possessing two active oblique muscles. Animals in which one of these muscles is absent or rudimentary are

I

same way

have examined

many domestic and menagerie animals, and in many cases, myopic,

have found them,

excited, pricked

The lower animals

to civilized conditions

demonstrated by the retinoscope, was allowed to smell a piece of meat. He

although they neither read, nor write, nor

A decline in visual acuity at the distance, however,

is

lization than

point.

no more a peculiarity of is

Myopes, although they see better

the near point than they

do

never see as well as does the eye with nor-

mal

sight;

and

in

hypermetropia. which

more common than myopia, the worse

at the

near point than

sight

at the distance.

mental strain which underlies the imperfect functioning of the

eye at both points;

of cases that this can always be done.

the mind, and, as in is

a strain of the

all

is

a loss of

mental control. Anatomically the results of straining to see at a distance

same

•

it

has been demonstrated in thousands

a strain of

cases in which there

mind, there

may be

Bates' research begins to answer

Relearning to See

an object

titude of eyesight

problems experienced

the

at the

many

questions about eyesight, especially the mul-

industrialized societies. as those of regarding

is

is

The solution is not to avoid either near work or distant vision, but to get rid of the

circumstances. is

at

at the distance,

and

Primarily the strain to see

civi-

a similar decline at the near

unable to elongate the eyeball under any

oO

in

does not.

in

—

1

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

—Botes' View

Figure j-g: Straining to See at the Near Point Produces Hypermetropia. 10

No.

i

— Subject reading fine print

above the eye so as

to

was focused at thirteen the refraction. No. 2

teen inches,

and

in a

good

light at thirteen inches, the object

of vision being placed

be out of the line of the camera. Simultaneous retinoscopy indicated that the eye inches.

The glass was used with the retinoscope

—When the room was darkened the subject failed

the retinoscope indicated that the eye

conscious strain of considerable degree was

was focused

made to see,

the eye

to

to

determine the amount of read the fine print at

at a greater distance.

became hypermetropic,

thir-

When

a

the object

of vision being placed above the eye so as to be out of the line of the camera. Simultaneous retinoscopy indicated that the eye was focused at thirteen inches. The glass was used with the retinoscope to deter-

mine

the

amount of the refraction.

jl Figure j-io: Myopia Produced by Unconscious Strain to See 11 at the Distance is Increased by Conscious Strain.

No.

i

sion.

—Normal vision. No. 2 —Same subject four years later with myopia. Note the strained expresNo. 3

Myopia increased by conscious

effort to see a distant object.

Relearning to See

•

8

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

and Myopic Astigmatism Normal by Strain to See at the Distance. 12 Left—Boy reading the Snellen test card with normal vision. Note the absence of facial strain. Middle The same boy trying to see a picture at twenty feet. The effort, manifested by staring, produces compound myopic astigmatism, as revealed by the retinoscope. Right The same boy making himself myopic voluntarily by partly closing the eyelids and making a conscious effort to read the test card Figure 7-11: Immediate Production of Myopia in Eyes Previously

—

—

at ten feet.

Figure 7-12: Myopic Astigmatism at Distant Objects

No.

1

— Subject regarding the Snellen card

normal vision. No. indicated

02

•

2

Comes and Goes as the Subject Looks

With or Without Strain. 13

at ten feet without effort

and reading

—The same subject making an effort to see a picture at twenty

compound myopic astigmatism.

Relearning to See

the

bottom

feet.

line with

The retinoscope

A

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Figure 7-13: Subject Who

—Bates' View

Had the Lens of the Right Eye Removed for Cataract

Produces Changes

in the Refraction

14 of this Eye by Strain.

This subject had

had the lens of the right eye removed for cataract and was wearing an artificial eye The removal of the lens created a condition of hypermetropia which was corrected by a convex glass often diopters. No. 1 The subject is reading the Snellen card at twenty feet with normal vision. No. 2 She is straining to see the card at the same distance, and her hypermetropia is lessened by two diopters so that her glass now overcorrects it and she cannot see the card perfectly. No. in the left socket.

—

—

—

3 With a convex reading glass of thirteen diopters the right eye is focused accurately at thirteen inches. No. 4 The subject is straining to see at the same distance and her hypermetropia is so increased that

—

in order to

read she would require a glass offifteen diopters.

On the basis of the accepted theory that

the power of accommodation is wholly destroyed by the removal of the lens, these changes in the refraction

would have been impossible. The experiment was repeated several times and it was found that the more and sometimes less than

error of refraction produced by straining to see varied, being sometimes

two

diopters.

Releaming

to

See

•

83

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

A Family Group Strikingly Illustrating the Effect of the Mind Upon the Vision.

Figure 7-14:

No.

1

— Girl offour with normal

eyes.

No. 2

—The

child's

mother with myopia. No. 3

myopia. Note that her expression has completely changed, and

at nine with

mother's. Nos. 4, 5,

and 6

—The

brother at two,

girl's

affected by her personality of strain.

to take things hard, or

The boy has escaped both

theories about the relation of heredity to myopia, this picture

How Long Does It Take? Continuing

Without Glasses, Bates addresses the question of

how much time

is

is

required to improve

sight naturally:

influences. In view of the prevailing

must be continued few every for a minutes day to prevent relapse. Because a familiar object tends to cases, too, the practice

relax the strain to see, the daily reading

for this purpose.

permanent

to effect a

reversal varies greatly with different individuals. In

minutes

is

some

cases

sufficient,

coming when

is

it

improve everyone

five, ten,

and

I

will

tion of accumulating

be possible to

more

is

however, the

it is

and pre-

way that the At present,

quickly.

often necessary to continue

weeks and months, error of refraction may be no

practice

although the

them

only a ques-

facts,

senting these facts in such a student can grasp

or fifteen

believe the time

quickly. It

•

larly

when

It is

is

usually sufficient

also useful, particu-

the vision at the near point

is

imperfect, to read fine print every day as

can be done.

close to the eyes as

it

an improvement

complete

is

it is

When

always

permanent; but complete improvement, which means the attainment not of what

is

ordinarily called normal sight, but of a

measure of telescopic and microscopic vision, is very rare. Even in these cases, too, the education can be continued with ben-

for

greater nor of longer duration than in those

84

all three pic-

has been injuriously

particularly interesting.

of the Snellen test card

The time required

girl

exactly like her

cases that are improved quickly. In most

Chapter IX of Perfect Sight

in

now

and eight. His eyes are normal in

six,

The girl has either inherited her mothers disposition

tures.

is

15

—The same

Relearning to See

efit;

for

visual

it is

impossible to place limits to the

powers of man, and no matter how

good the

sight,

it is

always possible to

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Figure 7-15: Myopes

No.

1

—Myopic elephant

Who Never Went to School, or Read in the Subway. 16

in the Central Park Zoo,

other young animals were found to have

Park Zoo. No.

—Bates' View

New York, thirty-nine years old. Young elephants and

— Cape buffalo with myopia, Central the Central Park Zoo. No. 4 —Pet dog with myopia which

normal

3—Myopic monkey, also in

vision.

No. 2

progressed from year to year.

improve vision

is

it.

Daily practice of the art of

also necessary to prevent those

which every eye is liable, no matter how good its sight may ordinarily be. It is true that no system of training visual lapses to

will

provide an absolute safeguard against

such lapses in

all

circumstances; but the

daily reading of small, distant, familiar letters will

strain

and

do much

when disturbing circumstances arise, persons upon whose eyesight the

all

safety of others

to

to lessen the tendency to

do

carded

When

at the this

beginning of the practice.

cannot be done without too

when the person has work during the practice

great discomfort, or to continue his

and cannot do so without glasses, their use must be permitted for a time; but this always delays the improvement. Persons of

all

ages have been benefited by this prac-

tice ...

by relaxation; but children

though not

invariably,

quickly than adults.

If

usually,

respond much more

they are under twelve

depends should be required

years of age, or even under sixteen, and

who have never worn

reversed in a few days, weeks, or months,

have never worn

this.

Generally persons

more easily improved than who have, and glasses should be dis-

glasses, they are usually

year, simply

glasses are

and always within a

those

ing the Snellen card every day.

by read-

Relearning to See

•

85

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

Figure j-16:

No.

—Man of

1

One of Many Thousands of People Who Eliminated Errors of Refraction by the Methods Presented in

thirty-six, 1902,

He was relieved in 1904 later. No relapse.

.

.

this

Book. 17

wearing glasses for myopia. Note the appearance of effort in his

and obtained normal sight without glasses. No.

.

WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LENS AND CILIARY MUSCLE? Bates stated unequivocally the lens

is

Could the

2

eyes.

—The same man five years

erratic fluctuations in the sizes

of reflected images from the front side of the

not a

by

lens in Helmholtz's research, confirmed

is

Bates' research, be caused by changes in

not aware of any role attributed to the lens

intensity of the original light source or other

factor in

accommodation. Yet,

by Bates.

what

If

is its

the lens does not

this

author

accommodate,

changes

in lighting

during Helmholtz's exper-

iments?

role?

Is

there a reason that the

iary muscles are

The Ciliary Muscle Pumps Aqueous Humor The contraction and relaxation of the

chamber of the

and the

cil-

both circular muscles that

are nearly parallel to each other?

When the ciliary

muscle pumps aqueous humor into the pos-

iris

larger picture, ciliary

dilates in darkness,

by about 10%. Could

giving the lens

the Helmholtz lens theory.

iris?

it

its

flatter

be the

shape as stated

In true 19 nighttime vision, the cones

accommodation?

see a

This could pull on the edges of the lens,

the shape of the lens for a reason other than

eye.

we

muscle dilates simultaneously with the

Does the ciliary muscle have other functions? Does it change terior

iris

function,

and there

is

no

in

do not

central vision. Since

only the rods function in true nighttime

A Brightness/Darkness

vision, the best vision possible

Lens Theory

only in the peripheral vision. Peripheral vision

A book

18

1

read

many

years ago suggested

constitutes about

99%

is

20/400,

of the visual

and

field.

and give more cur-

The maximum concentration of rods is located in a circle, 18 around the fovea. Does

vature to the lens to aid in night and day

a flatter lens "spread out" the light rays onto

that

one function of the

be to alternately

flatten

vision, respectively.

86

•

Relearning to See

ciliary

muscle might

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

the peripheral rods for better nighttime

means

"to close;" opia

means

—Buies' View

"eye."

not possible to see better

Nearsightedness means the person can see

than 20/400 with the peripheral rods, perhaps

near objects clearly but not far objects. In

vision? Since

it is

a spreading of light by a flatter lens

more

is

—to pick up as much peripheral nighttime — than movement as possible important

at

when

nearsightedness,

the person

ing a far object, light rays

come

view-

is

to a focus in

front of the retina. As a result, the far object

focusing the light onto the retina for best acu-

appears blurry. Since

ity (20/400).

rectly "refracting" onto the retina, near-

In the daytime the pupil

is

smaller because

simultaneously, the

the

iris

iary

muscle contracts smaller around the

contracts.

If,

the lens could have

the light

more

more

lens,

curvature, focusing

centrally into the fovea for

a flexible lens

In

is

necessary for

and the

ciliary

muscles are

same nerve from the

brain.

Richard G. Kessel and Randy H. Kardon state, "Both the

[iris]

sphincter muscle and

the ciliary muscles are innervated [controlled] ciliary

of

gated along the visual

cornea

may have

too

all

is

axis.

cases of near-

abnormally elonIn rare cases, the

much

curvature, caus-

nerves and work in synchrony." 20

The Johns Hopkins Atlas of Human Func-

fall in

front of the retina.

According to Bates: "In myopia iris

controlled by the

by the

an "error" of refraction.

more than 99%

sightedness, the eyeball

this theory.

Both the

is

not cor-

ing the light rays from far objects to

sharp, 20/20+, cone vision.

Of course,

sightedness

cil-

light rays are

is

it

[the eye]

too long, and while the divergent rays from

near objects

come

to a point

upon

the retina,

the parallel ones from distant objects

reach

it."

do not

23

The following

fact

is

universally agreed

upon: The eyeball can elongate, and, when in this shape,

a person cannot see clearly in the

tional Anatomy states that, in addition to the

distance; only near vision

third cranial nerve supplying the levator (eye-

The orthodox explanation of what causes elongation of the eye in myopia is often omit-

lid)

and four extraocular muscles, "The

nerve also sends off a motor root to the

third

ciliary

ganglion, which furnishes the autonomic inner-

vation to the

[ciliary]

muscles within the globe,

including the constrictor muscle of the

iris."

May in Diseases of the Eye states, "The of

accommodation

is

21

act

ted or ignored.

offered

there

is

an explanation

is

myopia

is

usually stated that

it is

hereditary

When

is clear.

—the eyeball simply deforms. But

now sufficient evidence showing near-

sightedness

is

not hereditary.

accompanied by con-

traction of the pupil." 22

Do the iris and ciliary muscles contract and dilate in

unison based on brightness and dark-

ness?

Nearsightedness

The theory

is

Not Hereditary

that nearsightedness

is

deter-

mined by heredity has been one of the

great-

est obstacles to discovering the truth

about

MORE ON NEARSIGHTEDNESS

nearsightedness, and therefore discovering a

(MYOPIA)

way

Nearsightedness ness or

myopia

is

also called shortsighted-

— from Greek myops: my

to improve vision. Once nearsights are myopia is genetic, many stop looking for a way to improve their sight.

told

Relearning to See

•

87

—

—

.

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION One

of the most dramatic studies present-

ing evidence against the heredity theory of

nearsightedness was conducted 1970.

in

Alaska

researcher Jane Gwiazda, writes:

in

Wendy Murphy writes:

...

Department of Brain and Cognitive Science's

Until scientists discover ways to prevent

myopia, Gwiazda

for years ophthalmologists have

might want

says, parents

to advise kids not to

sit

TV

too close to the

insisted that nearsightedness stems from an innate anatomical problem. The experts

or read for hours without taking a break

may have been wrong. In 1970, for example, Francis A.Young of Washington State

tribute

practically nonexistent in preliterate soci-

University checked the eyesight of the

eties

inhabitants of the village of

Nuvuk

in

activities that scientists speculate

Point

He

parents and grand parents,

who were

erally illiterate,

edness, while

had almost no nearsight-

among the

villagers less than

25 years old, who all had been taught to read, about 60 percent suffered from this

impairment.

.

—

26

The "TV and reading taking a break"

for hours without

not the cause of near-

is

sightedness. According to Bates, the cause of

nearsightedness

is

the formation of strained,

incorrect vision habits.

not essential

24

It is

— a person

more

will

likely

of

my students

have been told that

the reason they cannot improve their nearsightedness or farsightedness

problems are

is

because these

"structural." The physical causes

of nearsightedness are anatomical

and

struc-

But they are not "innate."

tural.

when they improve

vision. Bates' research

showed

go of their chronic

that the eye

—

let

which

squeezing the eyeball out of shape

strain

strain

when correct vision habits are relearned. Murphy also discusses how it has been shown that the more education, from elementary through graduate school, a person receives in the

more mobile,

compared

"taking a break," the person simply has mobility.

Movement

is

the

By

activities.

first

more

principle of

natural vision.

An article entitled "In Debate on Myopia's New

Winner

York Times

Is:

Both Sides?"

The

in

states:

Yet

in primitive cultures,

where hunting

commonplace and illiteracy prevails, myopia is practically nonexisUpwards of 70 percent of Taiwanese tent and gathering

.

.

is

.

now

schoolchildren are

reported to be

Myopia skyrocketed among Eskimos when their children first started

nearsighted.

27

going to school

US or Canada, the greater per-

centage of those students become nearsighted. Fifty percent of graduate students

are nearsighted, "a proportion far greater

than

other,

their

muscles is

some

Origins, The

Natural vision students change the structure of their eyes

to

—but

form incorrect

vision habits during these activities

Many

is

She theorizes that the children's

work by elongating

found that gen-

.

which

eyes might react to prolonged close-up

Barrow, Alaska, an isolated community of people of Eskimo ancestry.

.

could con-

nearsightedness,

to

among people

of the

same age who do

not attend graduate school." 25

Rita Rubin, discussing the

work of

MIT

Kennebeck

states:

There are those

.

.

.

who insist that one

born nearsighted, that

it is

hereditary

to

See

is .

But it is not so It is not hereditary. It would make no difference if the parents, grandparents, uncles or aunts were or were

not nearsighted. Each and every one

Releaming

.

who

— Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction is nearsighted had to acquire it himself. There are parents having normal eyes whose children might be nearsighted, and there are nearsighted parents whose children's eyes are normal or farsighted. 28

improve in

—Bates' View

their vision along with their parents

my classes.

A holistic practitioner told me that when she was a child, during a period of high

stress,

she became nearsighted and was given

The blurred vision of a parent can, and often does, make a difference, because a child

glasses.

She refused to wear them. Several

months

later, after the stress

can emulate the parent's strained vision

vision returned to clarity,

habits. Still, the point

genetic.

It is

is

blurred vision

is

needed

not

ries

caused by the formation of

Due search,

to the

above studies and other

some orthodox

nearsightedness

The

fact that

improved

is

are

now

saying that

I

is

have heard similar

sto-

people improve their eye-

— without even knowing why im— important. Other than diseases it

is

and accidents, Bates showed that a person's

depends upon correct vision habits whether the person is aware of them convision

thousands of students have

their nearsightedness naturally

fact that

proves

only "probably hereditary."

additional indication nearsightedness hereditary.

sight

re-

I

from other people.

The

abnormal, strained vision habits.

glasses since.

had passed, her

and she has never

is

sciously or not.

not

have watched several children

UED1AI

BOTUS

HSU

SUPER10S

RKTU5 '.'.

Bra n "ITT

NORMAL, ROUND EYE

:

%-

NEARSIGHTEDNESS When

the superior and interior oblique muscles contract,

the net effect

is

a push

downward on

and a push upward on the bottom

the top of the eye

of the

Light rays from far objects

come

Q'JE

now

to a focus in front of the retina.

The diameter OBl

eye See inset

of the

eye

is

now

smaller from the front point of view

HJSOf

Figure 7-17: The Production of Nearsightedness.

Relearning to See

•

89

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Bates Explains Nearsightedness In normal vision, it

shape.

conventionally stated

is

When

the

two oblique muscles

the eyeball returns to

its

relax,

normal round shape.

accommodation

that the front side of the lens changes

from

This

a flatter shape for distant clarity to a

more

of the normal eye. This explanation for

curved shape for near

As

stated above,

universally agreed

that, in nearsightedness, the eyeball

—and that nearsightedness

long

mined by

age. In the

is

too

is

not deter-

US, nearsightedness

occurs very often at a young age.

nation for this

An

expla-

offered in Chapter

is

19,

Since the elongated myopic eyeball sees

up

flatter

and since the lens

close,

Bates' research was performed. In nearsightedness the two oblique muscles contract

close

and the person sees

clearly

up

—but the oblique muscles stay con-

tracted chronically. They

do not

release,

and

the eyeball remains elongated.

When the two oblique muscles release the

"Brains and Vision."

clearly

Bates' explanation of

accommodation originated many years before

clarity.

it is

is

shape, a lens that

is

in the

accommodates

into

more curved shape would only create a greater amount of nearsightedness. This is why the nearsights are told they cannot see a

chronic tension they hold in nearsightedness,

myopia is reversed. The reversal of myopia and the subsequent return to normal vision and only an issue of the release is clearly

—

—

of chronically tight oblique muscles. Since age, heredity, and the lens are not the

clearly in the distance.

issues involved in nearsightedness, the ques-

Through the use of a diverging (-) lense, the image of a distant object is thrown far-

tion for Bates

ther back into the elongated eyeball. The dis-

and how do

tant object

is

now

seen clearly through the

corrective lense. Theoretically, the eye's lens

now

can

mally,"

continue to accommodate "nor-

i.e.,

when

the lens

is flatter,

the eye

now became, "Why do

oblique muscles I

become

the

chronically tense,

remove the cause of this chronic

tension?" Finding the answers to these questions

was the

tension

is

that strain

real brilliance of Bates.

caused by is

strain,

Chronic

and removal of

achieved by relaxation.

when the lens gains more cur-

sees distant objects clearly, and

accommodates, its front side

when

Bates said that

muscle contracts, top of the

the superior oblique

on the eyeball, pushing downward. When it

applies pressure

the inferior oblique muscle contracts, applies pressure

Corneal Refraction Procedures: Radial Keratotomy (RK)

Artificial

vature and sees close objects clearly

it

on the bottom of the eye-

Surgery, Ortho-Keratology, etc.

A nearsighted eyeball, because has a cornea with too

much

it is

elongated,

curvature.

each oblique muscle would rotate the eye

There are various artificial methods of making the cornea flatter to focus the light rays from distant objects more clearly onto

clockwise or counterclockwise. (You can

the retina.

ball,

pushing upward. Acting independently,

watch

this rotation

front of a mirror.) cles contract, the

by

tilting

When

eye

is

your head

Some

1.

both oblique mus-

squeezed into a long

Ortho-keratology, in which a series of contact lenses

cornea;

90

•

Releaming

to

See

of these include:

in is

used to

flatten the

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction 2.

Radial keratotomy (RK) surgery, in

which deep incisions are made

in the

peripheral parts of the cornea to flatten it;

3.

Photorefractive keratectomy

(PRK)

which the top central layers of

the cornea are vaporized to flatten Plastic ring,

which

is

it;

surgically

implanted into the cornea; 5.

Improvement of Nearsightedness Clara Hackett, in her book Relax and See, writes about her nearsighted students.

Many

students were referred to her by eye doctors

laser, in

4.

—Bates' View

Enzymes (under

to receive natural vision education.

The following numbers include students

who only had a few lessons and stopped, and students who were not diligent in relearning the proper vision habits.

research), in which the

Clara Hackett writes:

top layers of the cornea are digested to flatten

Of risks,

There were 1,584 nearsighted people, or myopes, with vision ranging from 20/30 to

it.

course,

some

all

of these procedures have

of which can be, and have been,

very serious. In all of these

cornea-flattening

artificial,

procedures the original cause of nearsightedness

is

not addressed. The refractive error

changes, but the eyeball remains chronically elongated.

The oblique muscles remain chron-

ically contracted,

due

to

and they are

chronically tight

mental strain. The real cause of the near-

sightedness remains.

The majority had

20/400, or one-

and sixty-nine regained at least 20/40, or half normal sight; 210 achieved 20/70; 163 attained 20/100 or one-fifth normal sight; 211 improved to 20/200 or one-tenth normal sight. In other cases there was lesser or only temporary improvement. All of those

who achieved

20/20 vision could dis-

pense with glasses as could most of those

who gained

20/40, the sight required for

passing drivers' tests in the states of

Bruce May, O.D., writes:

When

20/1000.

twentieth of normal sight. Five hundred

New

York, California and Washington. 30

processes like keratotomy or

Many of my students have passed their dri-

orthokeratology produce improved dis-

ver's test without glasses after having near-

tance acuity without the use of glasses, they

do not change the basic problem of myopia, only the refractive status. The change involves only the cornea, while the

depth of the vitreous chamber remains increased, and so does the eyeball length.

Thus, the [person] remains subject to

still

all

has myopia and

29 the risks of myopia.

sightedness (or farsightedness) for

many

Of course, not all students improve; some students do not practice the correct

years.

vision habits,

and continue

their strained

vision habits.

MORE ON FARSIGHTEDNESS (HYPERMETROPIA)

One reason popular

is

corneal surgery has

because

it is

a "quick

fix."

become Improv-

ing vision naturally takes a longer time

because the real cause of the problem addressed.

is

being

Farsightedness

is

also called hyperopia

hypermetropia (Greek: hyper means or "over"; metron

means

and

"far,"

means "measure"; opia

"eye").

Farsightedness means a person sees far objects

more

clearly than near objects. In far-

Relearning to See

•

91

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

NORMAL. ROUND EYE

FARSIGHTEDNESS When

all

four recti muscles contract,

they pull backward on the front of the eye

Light rays from near objects

come

now

to a focus °in back' of the retina.

The diameter larger

of the

eye

is

from the front point

now

of

view

Figure 7-18: The Production of Farsightedness.

sightedness,

come

rays

when viewing

a near object, light

back" of the

to a focus "in

retina.

As a result, the near object appears blurry. Of course, the light rays do not actually penetrate the back of the eyeball and come to a focal point in back of

would come if

it;

to a focus in

but the light rays

back of the eyeball

the back of the eyeball were transparent.

Since light rays are not correctly "refracting,"

referred to as presbyopia.

From "Introductory" of Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

...

In hypermetropia 3

— commonly

but

improperly called farsightedness], although the person with such a defect can see clearly neither at the distance nor the near

point

— the eyeball

is

too short from the

and all rays of light, both the convergent ones coming from near objects, and the parallel ones coming from front backward,

in focus,

onto the retina, farsightedness,

nearsightedness and astigmatism, as

is

like

classified

an "error" of refraction.

distant objects, are focused behind the

Conventional books describe two types of farsightedness:

1)

the eyeball

is

too short along

the visual axis (hypermetropia); and 2) the lens

inflexible

is

and locked

in the flatter

shape because of older age, an eye condition

92

•

Relearning to See

Both these conditions [hypermetropia and presbyopia] are supposed to be permanent, the one retina instead of

a

From and

the

Greek

ops, the eye.

upon

it.

hyper, over, metron, measure,

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction congenital, the other acquired. When, therefore,

who

persons

at

one time appear to

have hypermetropia, or myopia, appear

at

other times not to have them, or to have

them

in lesser degrees,

not permissible

it is

to suppose that there has

been a change

in

an elongated shape, a person

along the visual

become

axis,

is

way

a

chronically short

causing farsightedness.

also universally agreed that non-pres-

It is

point and at the distance, increases the cur-

vature of the lens sufficiently to compen-

age.

in part, for the flatness

not a factor in

In any case, everyone agrees there

byopic farsightedness

whole or

is

accommodation.)

case of the disappearance or lessening of

sate, in

be able to

(This assumes, of course, that a person agrees

with Bates that the lens

for the eyeball to

the eye, in the act of vision, both at the near

will

see clearly in the distance but not up close.

the shape of the eyeball. Therefore, in the

hypermetropia. we are asked to believe that

—Bates' View

is

not determined by

The conventional explanation of why the becomes foreshortened is that it is hereditary, and the eyeball deforms "somehow" the same as for nearsightedness. eyeball

of the eyeball.

The reason Bates took exception term "farsightedness"

is

to the

—

When one

because a fore-

rectus muscle contracts, the eye

one rectus muscle contracts chroni-

turns. (If

shortened eyeball cannot see clearly near or cally,

far.

The eyeball needs

be

to

in the

crossed eye can be produced.) Bates con-

"relaxed"

proved that when

clusively

round shape

in

order to see clearly in the

all

four recti

dis-

muscles contract, they pull the front of the eyetance. Bates felt the

term "hypermetropia"

backward, against the

ball

was more accurate than This distinction

is

eye

orbit,

and thereby shorten

it

from front

when it accom-

back. Chronic tension of the recti muscles simple, logical,

to see clearly

up

close.

For Bates, an

When

edness.

only see clearly in the distance;

it

In

these muscles let go of their

cannot see

close.

medium and

mal, round state, and with

high degrees of farsight-

edness where the eyeball

is

foreshortened

and both the near and distance vision are blurred, the conventional point of view

the front side of the lens cannot

is

that

accommo-

date (curve) enough to focus the fight rays of

near objects onto the retina, but the lens can

accommodate

to see clearly in the distance.

Bates states above that in hypermetropia

both distance and the near objects are not clear.

This

is

true

ened. However,

if

if

the eyeball

is

foreshort-

at first the eyeball

When

it,

normal

its

nor-

vision.

the four recti muscles release the

chronic tension they hold in farsightedness,

hypermetropia

is

—regardless of

reversed

mechanism of accommodation. Since age, heredity, and the lens

the

are not the

issues involved in farsightedness, the question

now

is

"Why do

cause of

this

become how do I remove the

the recti muscles

chronically tense, and

chronic tension?" The answers

to these questions are the

to nearsightedness

simply tension,

is

a

and straightforward explana-

chronic strain, the eyeball returns to

up

is

tion of the foreshortened eyeball in farsight-

eyeball that remains in the round shape can

clearly

to

important, because Bates

believed the eyeball elongates

modates

fatty tissue in the

"farsight."

—

same

strain

and relaxation

is

is

as the answers

the cause of the

the solution.

unable to change from the round shape into

Relearning to See

•

93

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Farsightedness

As with

is

Not Hereditary

nearsightedness, Natural Vision

ASTIGMATISM From Better Eyesight magazine, October 1920:

teachers have observed farsights improving their sight for

more than

Bates provided

seventy-five years.

many examples

of farsight-

Question: this

astigmatism reversible with

Is

method?

Answer: Yes. edness improving. Farsightedness, like nearsightedness and astigmatism,

problem and

is

due to

is

stress. It is

a functional

In most cases of astigmatism (Greek: a

not genetic.

Improvement of Farsightedness Clara Hackett, in her book Relax and See, writes about her farsighted students, "Three

hundred and forty-eight of my students were farsighted; 116 discarded glasses entirely; 194

could wear weaker glasses for reading; 38

made no enduring improvement." 31

means "without"; stigma means "a point"; light rays do not come to a single point of focus) the eye

is

twisted in an oval, lopsided,

or teaspoon shape from the front point of view. Since light rays

do not focus on the

retina clearly, astigmatism, like nearsighted-

ness and farsightedness,

is

The conventional opinion about astigmais the same as for nearsightedness and

tism

NORMAL, ROUND EYE

ASTIGMATISM In this

example

of

astigmatism, the superior

oblique and the superior rectus muscles contract, distorting the eye Into an oval shape.

Light rays trom far objects in front of

come

now come

to a locus

the retina, and rays from near obiecls to a focus 'in back" of the retina

The diameter

of the eye is smaller along

one aws.

but larger along the perpendicular axis

Figure 7-19: The Production ofAstigmatism.

94

*

Relearning to See

an "error" of

refraction.

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction farsightedness

—

cannot improve. This opin-

it

many

ion does not agree with

case histories

been observed and

still fewer have been allowed to get into the literature. Some

one have

improvement of astigmatism.

interesting facts regarding

From Chapter

nately been given by Davis,

of

I,

"Introductory," of Perfect

gated

Sight Without Glasses:

—Bates' View

it

in

who

fortu-

investi-

connection with the corneal

changes noted in the lensless eye. The case

The disappearance of astigmatism, 3 or changes

more to

in its character,

present an even

Due

baffling problem.

in

most cases

an unsymmetrical change in the curva-

ture of the cornea,

and resulting

in failure

any

to bring the light rays to a focus at

supposed to possess only a limited power of overcoming this con-

point, the eye

dition;

is

and yet astigmatism comes and goes

with as

much

refraction.

be produced

do other errors of known, too, that it can

facility as

It is

well

voluntarily.

Some

persons can

produce as much as three diopters. can produce one and a

I

myself

was that of a house surgeon at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, Dr. C. H. Johnson. Ordinarily

he could,

From

the

Greek

a,

gentleman had half

two

at will, increase this to

diopters in the right eye and one and a half in the left.

He

did this

many

times, in the

presence of a number of members of the hospital staff, and also did

it

when

the

were held up, showing that the pressure of the lids had nothing to do with the phenomenon. Later he went to Louisville, and here Dr. J. M. Ray, at the upper

lids

suggestion of Dr. Davis, tested his ability

half.

to a

this

a diopter of astigmatism in each eye; but

without, and stigma, a point.

produce astigmatism under the influence

of scopolamine (four instillations,

per-

Vs

cent solution). While the eyes were under the influence of the drug the astigmatism

From Chapter

III,

"Evidence for the

Accepted Theory of Accommodation," of

still

seemed

and a half diopters

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

in the left.

The voluntary production of astigmatism is

another stumbling block to the support-

ers of the accepted theories, as

it

involves

a change in the shape of the cornea,

such a change

is

and

not compatible with the

idea of an "inextensible" 3 eyeball.

... It

seems to have given them

less trouble,

how-

accommodation of the

lens-

ever, than the less eye,

to increase, according to the

evidence of the ophthalmometer, to one

From

in the right

eye and one

these facts, the influence

of the lids and of the ciliary muscle having been eliminated, Dr. Davis concluded that the change in the cornea was "brought about mainly by the external muscles."

What explanation others offer for such phenomena I do not know. Quoting Bates again:

because fewer of these cases have

Astigmatism was usually produced

in

com-

bination with myopic or hypermetropic a

Inasmuch adapt

as the eye

itself for

at different distances

of

its axis,

power of

is

inextensible,

it

cannot

the perception of objects situated

by increasing the length

but only by increasing the refractive

its lens.

— De Schweinitz: Diseases of

the Eye, eighth edition, 1916, pp. 35-36.

refraction.

It

was

also

produced by various

manipulations of both the oblique and

muscles.

recti

Mixed astigmatism, which

is

a

combination of myopic with hypermetropic refraction,

was always produced by

trac-

Relearning to See

•

95

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

No.

1

Figure 7 -20: Production of Mixed Astigmatism in the Eye of a Carp. 32 in the eye of a carp by pulling strings attached to the con-

—Production of mixed astigmatism

junctiva in opposite directions. Note the oval shape of the front of the eyeball. No. 2

of the strings the eyeball returns tion

on

to its

normal shape, and

the insertion of the superior or infe-

rior rectus in a direction parallel to the

plane of the

iris,

peared. Similarly after the superior or the

Advancement

of the two obliques, with advancement of the superior and inferior recti, always produced mixed astigmatism.

•

From Bates' Better Eyesight magazine, November 1927: who have astigmatism have When eyestrain. the eyestrain is relieved, All persons

the astigmatism disappears.

had been cut the hyperme-

tropic part of the astigmatism disappeared.

96

becomes normal.

so long as both obliques

were present and active: but if either or both of the obliques had been cut. the myopic part of the astigmatism disapinferior rectus

the refraction

—With the cutting

Relearning to See

Bates' viewpoint

convincing and his dation

is

on errors of refraction is viewpoint on accommo-

reasonable.

Chapter Seven: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

Notes 1

(New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1979), p. 101.

tron microscopy

The author [TQ] wishes

to minimize

showing 21

images of animals used 2

3

in research.

This caption and text are from Perfect Sight

Without Glasses.

Anatomy

These graphics, caption, and

text are

23

Without Glasses. Ibid.

6

Ibid.

These graphics, caption, and fect Sight

text are

from Per-

Without Glasses.

Ibid.

These graphics, caption, and fect Sight

text are

from Per-

for clarification. 27

12

These graphics, caption, and fect Sight

text are

17 18

Without Glasses.

Ibid. Ibid.

Ibid. Ibid. I

have been unable to locate

this

reference to give the author proper credit.

True nighttime vision in

is

is

Eye

World Report (June

21,

J.

Both Sides?" The New York

1994.

Kennebeck,

Why Eyeglasses are Harm-

Richard G. Kessel and Randy H. Kardon,

Tis-

(New York:

1969), p. 34.

Bruce May, Rx for Nearsightedness: StressRelieving Lenses, Optometric Extension Pro-

gram Foundation pamphlet (1981). Clara A. Hackett and Lawrence Galton, Relax

1957), P- 2531

Ibid.

32

These graphics, caption, and

discussed further in Chapter

17, "The Retina." 20

&

and See (London: Faber and Faber, Limited,

defined as any situation

which only the rods are functioning, but not

the cones. This

Joseph

Is:

1,

Vantage Press,

Ibid.

Unfortunately,

News

ful for Children and Young People

30

19

Inc., 1982),

Jane E. Brody, "In Debate on Myopia's Origins

Times, June

29 16

and Hearing

Rita Rubin, "Still in Diapers, and Off to the

The Winner

from Per28

15

the Editors of Time-Life

Taste, Smell, Sight

1993), PP- 69-70.

Ibid.

14

I,

Ibid., p. 78.

Doctor," U.S.

Without Glasses; numbers have been

11

13

Chapter

P77-

Ibid.

added

Wendy Murphy and

(Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books

26 10

Wood and Company, 1943), p. 364.

Perfect Sight Without Glasses,

Books, Touch,

25 9

From

"Introductory." 24

8

Functional

Charles H. May, Diseases of the Eye (Baltimore:

William

This caption and text are from Perfect Sight

5

Human

(Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Uni-

versity Press, 1972), p. 55.

from Per-

fect Sight Without Glasses.

7

Leon Schlossberg and George D. Zuidema, The Johns Hopkins Atlas of

22

4

—Bates' View

text are

from Per-

fect Sight Without Glasses.

sues and Organs: a text-atlas of scanning elec-

Relearning to See

•

97

Chapter Eight

Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

[Bates'J basic view of the underlying causes of

nearsightedness his

approach

the test

and other eye problems, and

to their remediation,

have stood

He

of time and new knowledge.

real sense, the spiritual grandfather

is,

in a

of all who

are involved in restoring functional vision.

—Optometrist Ernest

—Summary

some modern eye

doctors.

One

of

my

stu-

dents stated that her ophthamologist said that this is the case.

Recently another oph-

thamologist stated publicly that nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are

1

caused by chronically tense external eye mus-

V. Loewenstein,

Ph.D., O.D., 1982

cles,

and that

this

tension can be reversed.

Bates' ideas regarding errors of refraction

are simple, reasonable, and explain a multi-

BATES: NEARSIGHTEDNESS

FARSIGHTEDNESS

=

tude of facts that have not been adequately

=

ASTIGMATISM

=

explained in any other way.

From

NO ACCOMMODATION For Bates the issues of accommodation and errors of refraction are connected.

To sum-

tism, If extrinsic

eye muscles are chronically

producing nearsightedness, farsighted-

ness, and/or astigmatism, the

accommodate far.

When

the eye

eye cannot

to see clearly both near and

is

no

sightedness (including presbyopia), astigma-

marize:

tight,

the holistic perspective, there

difference between nearsightedness, far-

and strabismus, because

underlying cause of

all

The harmful vision

strain

is

the

of these problems.

habits a person acquires

when

creating functional problems are the

same.

As we

shall discuss later, the type of

blurred vision an individual acquires appears the external muscles are relaxed,

accommodates normally again by the

action of the

two oblique muscles.

Agreement with Bates'

to be correlated to a person's

dominance Vision").

hemisphere

and

(see Chapter 19, "Brains

No

matter what the hemisphere

position that errors

of refraction are caused by chronically tense

external eye muscles has been echoed by

dominance,

all

students in natural vision edu-

cation classes relearn the

same

correct vision

habits.

Relearning to See

•

99

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION Bates was too far ahead of his contemporaries for his

advanced

ideas to

be accepted

by the orthodox.

NOT A REASONING BEING"

"MAN

IS

Many

people have asked Natural Vision

teachers,

"With such compelling research and

evidence presented by Bates and others, why

work not embraced by the orthodox?" Perhaps the best answer comes from is

Bates'

Bates

in the last

paragraph of Perfect Sight

stated that his attitude of mind, ever since

he was a

was

boy,

little

about a subject and then

work on these

as a basis, rather than

is

is

that,

examining his eyes with the ophthalmoscope, he found that the patient was not nearsighted patient

all

of the time.

was looking

He

is

so

much

in the

They

long run;

needlessly in darkness and endures

much

been avoided.

stayed normal

how

may have been

the conventional system reacted to his

From Better Eyesight magazine, April

house-surgeon's nerves that he brought up a

ward patient who was nearsighted, and

with him Doctor Bates

Much

trying to find out

Dr. Bates suddenly

who were

notes which

decided to take I

will

now

unable

New

down

a few

try to compile.

He then commenced by telling how he made his first discoveries and cited the opposition he had to buck against.

Relearning to See

successes

New York Aquarium

at the

the laboratory of the

He

and

Columbia College

at

for

Physicians and Surgeons, and as a result he

discovered that the accommodation of the

eye

is

not brought about by a change in the

shape of the eyeball

lens,

itself,

but by the lengthening

When

to spherical] of the

as the bellows of a camera.

he explained and illustrated

to his doctor friends, greatly. The

the glasses

•

staff. These

and shortening [back

The chairman introduced Doctor Bates by stating that the Osteopaths take away the crutches and Doctor Bates takes away

100

became very unpopu-

with the rest of the

iments

2nd

York Association of Osteopaths, at the Waldorf Astoria on Saturday Evening, FebI

how he accomplished

nevertheless spurred him on in his exper-

to attend Dr. Bates' lecture, before the

ruary 17th,

to have

1923:

LECTURE

L. L. Biddle,

For the benefit of those

managed

to his surprise, instead

of the rest of the doctors praising him, and

lar

By

the time.

these heretofore impossible improvements,

research and discoveries.

DR. BATES"

all

Doctor Bates said that he then started boasting around the hospital about this improvement. However, it got so on the

equal success.

Bates' biggest discovery

this

eyes finally reached a point where they

but in the meantime the world gropes suffering that might have

were for

He persuaded

dominated

the worse for the facts.

may, and indeed must, win

the

patient to go without his glasses and his

by authority, and when the facts are not in accord with the view imposed by authority,

When

blank wall and not

at a

man

except in rare cases,

not a reasoning being.

a

commenced practicing medicine in 1885, one of the first patients who came to him had a slight degree of myopia or nearsightedness. Upon

short periods, normal. fact

on

guess or theory. When he

trying to see anything, his eyes

Without Glasses:

The

to find out all the

facts possible

surgeon

it

this

disturbed them

who had charge of the him and said: "Do you

came to know that you have proven that Helmholtz laboratory

is

wrong and furthermore

if

you wish

to be

Chapter Eight: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

— Summary

accepted by

scientific men you will have to show how or why he blundered?" This was

out glasses for 30 years, and who as the result of a remarkable series of experiments

quite a proposition, but Dr. Bates contin-

has been able to present evidence which

experiments and for two years tried

appears to invalidate most of the theories

ued

his

prove that Helmholtz was

Helmholtz blundered; which Doctor Bates

on which the present practice of ophthalmology is based. Dr. William H. Bates of New York is already well known as the dis-

has illustrated in his book. As a reward for

coverer of the properties of adrenaline, an

to

and

failed,

this,

right,

discovered

finally

but

how

he was expelled from the University.

extract

This was quite a handicap, but he obtained a small laboratory for himself and

continued

in his

from the suprarenal gland of the

sheep which as

work.

is

now used

all

over the world

an astringent and haemostatic; but

his

remarkable experiments on the eyes of ani-

mals and the

[Biddle then states that Bates gave a case

startling conclusions that

he

has drawn from them have, as yet, attracted

history.]

He then returned

to his seat, but

was so

comparatively

applauded and urged to continue that he finally stated that

if

anyone wished

attention.

little

only in a few isolated

way

yet found their

to

articles,

Reported

they have not

into the general liter-

remain and ask further questions, he would

ature of the subject and have scarcely been

be glad to answer them.

heard of by the lay public. Yet they promise to revolutionize the practice of ophthal-

New York Post

While connected with the

Graduate Medical School and Hospital, Dr.

many people

Bates improved myopia with the clinic. Those

who improved

in

their sight

included student doctors.

The May

1921 Journal

facts

came

to the

knowledge of St.

John D.

one of the most prominent oph-

thalmologists of the day, and were regarded

Donders and the other masters of ophthalmology had declared that myopia was [irreversible]. Dr. Bates was accordingly expelled from the faculty, even the privilege of resignation as highly discreditable, since

being denied to him. 2

Mary Dudderidge writes in the January 12, 1918, issue of Scientific It is

find

American:

therefore not a

one eye

understand

it.

his work deeply enough to Some of the principles involved

are very subtle, and,

the head of the institution (Dr. B. Roosa),

Another reason Bates' research has been ignored and rejected is because few people have studied

of the Allied Medical

Associations states:

These

mology and are at the present moment of tremendous import to the country. 3

little

specialist

who

surprising to

has actually

been [reversing] errors of refraction with-

on

first

encounter, even

appear incorrect. Optometrist Harris

book New Ways Whether

it

Gruman wrote

in his

to Better Sight:

was the

result of

such inves-

tigations that Dr. Bates hit upon his system of [improvement] or whether it was the other way around seems immaterial. In spite of his hypotheses and theories he did hit upon some worthwhile methods of aiding human sight. Time has proved their worth, and for this the world should be grateful.

4

Aldous Huxley,

after discussing the pos-

sible role of the external cles in

accommodation,

and internal mus-

writes:

Relearning to See

•

IOI

PART TWO: ACCOMMODATION AND ERRORS OF REFRACTION

My own

guess, after reading the evi-

dence, would be muscles and the

edness, astigmatism, and strabismus

lens play their part in

that these functional

accommodation. This guess incorrect.

cern

I

I it

may be

greatly care. For

my con-

may be

do not

correct; or

not with the anatomical mechanism

is

shape, producing nearsightedness, farsight-

that both the extrinsic

am

problems are

— and

reversible.

also convinced that normally func-

tioning external muscles can produce accom-

the lens and ciliary muscle have

modation.

If

any role

accommodation, and

in

if

that

mech-

of accommodation, but with the art of seeing

or

—and the

art of seeing

does not stand

with any particularly physiological

fall

hypothesis. Believing that Bates' theory of

accommodation was untrue, the orthodox have concluded that

his

technique of visual

education must be unsound. Once again

an unwarranted conclusion, due to

this is

a failure to understand the nature of an

or psycho-physical

skill

and the

first is

accommodate

it

me.

It

is

in the eat-

away.

answers a "multitude of

Still,

the physical mechanisms of accom-

issues. If a

sec-

person does not have any

pathologies or diseases of the eyes, the phys-

works. 6

mechanisms of vision do not matter. The is

how

to

improve

sight

—nat-

urally. I

With the limited information

I

had before

investigating the Bates method,

my

am open to accepting any other model of

vision, as long as

vision

after year. Glasses

it

explains

know about

currently

all

vision,

of the facts

I

and more.

and

contacts were not acceptable solutions to

And

to

facts," that

modation and errors of refraction are

test

ACCEPTING A NEW IDEA

vision problems.

makes sense

have otherwise been ignored or explained

primary issue

became worse year

the eye.

Bates' physical research

ondary

and most convincing that

believe normally

functioning external muscles can continue to

ical

of the system

is

I

s

The proof of the pudding ing,

art,

anism

interfered with,

my

the long-term conse-

quences of continuing along the conventional path were grim.

When presented with a new philosophy or I need to be shown how the new idea

THE PHYSICAL FOLLOWS THE IMAGINATION The

physical factors of

accommodation and

errors of refraction are only a part of the issues involved in seeing clearly

and

in

idea,

explains everything

and how

I

have experienced so

my previous experiences are

far,

relearning to see. Students do not need to

know the

more encompassnew idea when these two

improve

limited subset of the new, ing idea.

I

accept a

conditions have been met.

The main ideas presented by Bates have met these two conditions, and the benefits to

my vision — and

health

—have been immea-

am

thoroughly convinced that strained

external muscles squeeze the eyeball out of

met

several)

•

people

(I

to

have

who knew nothing about

the

Bates or any other method of natural eyesight

improvement, and who returned to nor-

mal vision. In each case, these people removed the strain in their lives that created Bates makes frequent references to

Relearning to See

work was not so

strain,

The brilliance of much his studies with

especially mental strain. Bates'

102

mechanisms of eyesight

their vision. There are

their blur.

surable. I

physical

only a

— Chapter Eight: Accommodation and Errors of Refraction

and eye muscles. This research simply allowed him to advance to more the eyeballs

important questions.

How

strained? tighten

What

causes the eye muscles to

around the eyeball, creating errors of

refraction? Bates unraveled the puzzle of the

mind-body- vision connection.

He

discovered

problems are caused

that functional vision

primarily by mental strain, and that they are

we

discuss the three prin-

ciples of natural vision discovered

Movement,

Centralization,

In the subsequent part,

by Bates

Whole

You Can Have Better March 1982, p. 16.

Life Times,

Journal of the Allied Medical Associations, Vol.

No. 2 (May

9,

1921), p. 21.

Mary Dudderidge. "New Light Upon Our Eyes: An Investigation Which May Result in Normal Vision for All, Without Glasses," Scientific American (January

Harris

12, 1918), p. 53.

Gruman, New Ways to

Better Sight

(New

Aldous Huxley, The Art of Seeing (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1942), pp. 33-34. Ibid., p. 36.

and Relaxation.

we

discuss the three

—

Sketching (Shift-

habits of natural seeing ing), Breathing,

E. V. Loewenstein,"Yes!

York: Hermitage House, 1950), pp. 176-77.

relieved by relaxation. In the next part,

Notes Vision,"

does the visual system become

—Summary

and Blinking.

Relearning to See

•

IO3

PART THREE

The Three Principles of Natural Vision

No one has as good sight as he might have. Therefore everyone can be benefited by practicing the principles presented in this

magazine.

—William H.

Bates, M.D.,

Better Eyesight, July 1920

The three principles of natural vision are Movement, Centralization, and Relaxation.

Chapter Nine

The

First Principle

—Movement

1995 Annie Buttons, Eagle»Eye/NEl

Figure g-i: "Movement."

Reprinted with permission from Annie Buttons.

.

.

.

there

is

no perception without movement.

—

T.

'

Ribot

cules flowing through the nose allow us to smell. Taste involves molecules

moving over

the taste buds on the tongue. In using only the sense of touch,

MOVEMENT Movement

is

if

you

rest

your hand on a piece of cloth or metal for a the

first

of the three principles

long time,

it

will

be

difficult to tell

which of

—

both physically and mentally, and that process

hand is on until you move either your hand or the object. Hot and cold temperatures on the skin are

move-

perceived not by the absolute temperature,

of natural vision. All living creatures move.

We

have a visual system to see the world,

includes

ment

is

movement. The

principle of

one of the key concepts Bates

covered about vision, and

is

universal principle of continual change:

only constant

is

dis-

a subset of the

"The

the two objects your

but by changes in temperature. ing experiment

is

An interest-

to put the right

bucket of cold water, and the

hand

left in

of hot water. Then put both hands in the

change."

in a

a bucket

same

on movement. Hearing involves sound waves, which

bucket of room-temperature water. To the

vibrate the eardrum. The semi-circular canals

hand the water

All sense perceptions are based

in the ear require

head and body movement

to maintain equilibrium

and balance. Mole-

right

hand the water feels

hot, but to the left

feels cold!

We sense changes—and changes are based on movements.

Relearning to See

•

107

— PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Even supposed

stationary objects are

when

they cannot see with their physical

always changing. Researchers have found that

eyes? The answer

very old windows in the churches in Europe

relaxing,

are thicker at the bottom than at the top. This

One

due to gravity pulling downward, albeit very slowly, on the molecules in the glass. is

Technically, glass stantly changing

The

a liquid! Glass

is

its

con-

is

and

best teachers of natural vision are chil-

healthy.

I

now moves. who have clear vision move. At this movement may be subtle and

and learning

times,

move much more than people who have blurred vision. To those who have blur, movement by peoimperceptible to others, but they

who have

movement; it

An infinite interest

to

our entire

lives.

and

grow and learn

physically, emotionally, mentally, tually

Movement

is

and

spiri-

necessary

for this natural process. If

you would

like to

me

course

was always moving during the

clarity

is

annoying and

movement

is

irritat-

not a hyper

a relaxed, casual

acquaintance of mine told

movement.

me he was member

considered to be the only "hyper"

He could not "sit still, like everyHe is the only member of his famwho has normal sight. People who have

of his family.

one ily

else."

learned to not

watch what natural

is

and/or subconsciously.

Natural vision

meant

my

Introductory Lecture. She

ing, consciously

are

natural,

student, a massage therapist, told

because

ple

We

is

People

dren. Children move, exploring

curiosity.

movement

she almost did not enroll for

shape.

about the world with

is:

ple

move

who move

often conclude that peo-

are hyper.

go to a playground and watch the children. They are continually

Another student who has normal vision and plans to keep it that way said in class,

moving. Notice that no one

"I'm squirmy."

vision students relearn,

to

move.

It is

tells

You may

also

on the bench

star-

simply natural.

notice their parents sitting

the children

ing rigidly.

A

mother rocks her

baby to it is

sleep.

Bates said

—

Aldous Huxley uses the phrase "dynamic relaxation" 2 to describe natural vision

movement without

effort.

dynamic relaxation

is

discovered

static stress creates

chairs

and other meth-

ods of promoting the "swing."

Quoting from Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

It is

Ray

ine anything, even for as

for

them

move because

any better?"

I

Oo

•

Wonder, and George

Do we think to ourselves, "It is OK

to

Why

they don't

know

do they move so much,

Relearning to See

blurred vision.

BATES ON MOVEMENT

Have you ever watched the continuous and even large movements of the blind musicians Shearing?

Bates

a mistake to dispose

of cradles and rocking

Charles, Stevie

The opposite of

"static stress."

impossible to see, remember, or imag-

much

as a second,

without shifting from one part to another, or to

some other object and back again; and do so always produces strain.

the attempt to

"

Chapter Nine: The

...When shifting is not done unconmust be encouraged to

—Movement

First Principle

ing illustration of the [automatic] mental

sciously, students

control necessary for normal vision.

do

requires perfect mental control to think of

consciously.

it

...A line of small letters test

may be

card

less

an inch

a quarter of

on the Snellen

than a foot long by in height;

and

if it

thousands of things in a fraction of a second; and each point of fixation has to be thought of separately, because

two

requires seventy shifts to a fraction of a sec-

sible to think of

ond

of one thing, perfectly at the

to see

apparently

it

all at

many thousands

require

all its

it

must

moving

eye with imperfect sight

same

tries to

time. The

accomplish

the impossible by looking fixedly at one point for an appreciable length of time; that

a second, as

is

done

in viewing

moving

pic-

must require a rapidity of shifting that

can scarcely be realized. Yet

is,

by

at

staring.

When it looks at a strange let-

and does not see

ter

an

in

it

it, it

effort to see

it

keeps on looking

better.

Such

admitted

always

that the present rate of taking

and pro-

the production of imperfect sight.

moving pictures

is

One

too slow. The

would be more satisfactory, authorsay, if the rate were raised to twenty,

fail,

efforts

and are an important factor

it is

jecting

impos-

twc parts

picture,

or trees, while to see sixteen such areas to

tures

it is

things, or of

detail of people, animals, houses,

the size of the screen of a

with

once,

to see an area of

It

in

of the best methods of improving to imitate consciously

results

the sight, therefore,

ities

the unconscious shifting of normal vision,

twenty-two, or twenty-four a second. The

human

eye and mind are not only capable

of this rapidity of action, and that without effort or strain, but

it is

only

when

the eye

able to shift thus rapidly that eye and

is

mind

are at rest, and the efficiency of both

at their

maximum.

It is

true that every

motion of the eye produces an error of refraction; but when the movement is short, this is very slight, and usually the shifts are

is

and to realize the apparent motion produced by such shifting. Whether one has imperfect or normal sight, conscious shifting and swinging are a great help and advantage to the eye; for not only may imperfect sight be improved in this way, but normal sight may be improved also...

The

last

few paragraphs come close to sum-

work on natural

vision

so rapid that the error does not last long

improvement. People with normal

sight

enough

unconsciously "shift" constantly with move-

its

to be detected

by the retinoscope,

existence being demonstrable only by

reducing the rapidity of the movements to less

than four or five a second. The period

during which the eye

is

at rest is

much

longer than that during which an error of refraction

eye is

shifts

is

produced. Hence, when the

normally no error of refraction

manifest. The

more

rapid the unconscious

shifting of the eye, the better the vision; but if

one

shift,

tries to

be conscious of a too rapid

a strain will be produced.

Perfect sight tinual shifting,

is

shifting

ment and This

is

life

centralization (attention to detail).

nature's design for the visual system.

Interference with these principles lowers sight.

Other than vision problems caused by

diseases

and

accidents, Bates

habits determine a person's

From

sight.

Better Eyesight magazine, January

"The normal eye moving

—

1924: it is

found that vision

is

only at rest

when

Better Eyesight magazine, February 1924:

impossible without con-

and such

marizing Bates'

is

a strik-

"Question: sight

is

What one method

of improving

best? Answer: Swinging and blinking."

Releaming

to

See

•

IO9

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Swinging

the

is

same

with normal eyes and normal sight do not

as shifting.

Better Eyesight magazine, March 1925: "Never look at an object for more than a few

seconds

at a time. Shift

blink,

it

When

I

your gaze."

look

at

When

an object and

appears to jump with each blink.

be considered the short swing? Answer: Yes. You unconsciously look from

Would

this

one side to the other of the object when blinking." Better Eyesight magazine,

at rest,

and when the eyes

are at rest, they are constantly moving.

Better Eyesight magazine, June 1925:

"Question:

concentrate or try to see by any effort. Their eyes are

November 1925:

MOVING The world moves. Let it move. People are moving all day long. It is normal, right,

the eyes move, one

able to imag-

is

ine stationary objects, in turn, to be

and

eyes.

It is

impossible to imagine, with

equal clearness, a

number of objects

should be emphasized. difficulty in

Many students have

imagining stationary objects to

be moving opposite to the movements of

.When

the eyes or head.

keep your head or one finger or one toe stationary, or keep your eyes open continuously. If you try to stare at a small letter or part of it without blinking, note what

other symptoms are present,

who have

tried

dis-

it

means

.

that the individual

strain.

.

shifting correctly.

.

What imagine stationary objects to be stationary. Better Eyesight magazine,

December

1925:

is

fail

the right

shift is to

move

.

effect

is

a

.One may shift in the to improve the vision.

way? The

right

way

to

the eyes [and head] from

one point to another

slowly, regularly, con-

tinuously, restfully or easily without effort

or without trying to see.

The normal eye

with normal sight has the habit of always

SHIFTING

The point regarded changes

The

.ever notice that they are constantly

wrong way and

People with blurred vision subconsciously

always

it

consciously or

.Very few people with normal

sight.

duced.

is

unconsciously trying to imagine stationary

becomes

pain and fatigue are pro-

pain, fatigue or

objects are not moving.

cover that the mind wanders, the vision less,

to be

moving at the same time, and an effort to do so is a strain which impairs the vision, the memory, or the imagination. To try to do the impossible is a strain which always lowers the mental efficiency. This fact

proper that they should move. Just try to

happens. Most people

mov-

ing in the direction opposite of the head

rapidly

and

continuously. .All persons with imperfect

moving or habit.

shifting, usually

When, by

an unconscious

practice, the eye with

.

make an effort to stare with their eyes immovable. The eyes have not the ability to keep stationary. To look intently at a point continuously is impossible. The eyes sight

will

move, the eyelids will blink, and the on a point] is accompanied

effort [to lock

by an imperfect vision of the point regarded. In

many

cases the effort to con-

imperfect sight acquires the conscious habit

of shifting [again], the habit

unconscious.

When

when one

objects] in the

wrong way,

a better knowl-

pain in

obtained. When the eyes are

•

Relearning to See

done

consciously, or intentionally [sees

edge of the right way to

IIO

is

memory, imagination, mental efficiency and vision are improved until they become normal. It often happens that properly, the

centrate

on a point often causes headache, the eyes, and fatigue. All persons

may become

the shifting

shift

may be

moved

to the

.

—Movement

Chapter Nine: The right, stationary objects

move

to the

good,

all

should appear to

And when

left.

the vision

is

is

again!"

made

them

to see

directly observed. In fact,

that in

all

better than those it is

always true,

cases of imperfect sight, the eyes

do not see best where they are looking and centralization

is lost.

To

shift

properly

requires relaxation or rest. To shift improp-

and lower the

erly

When

one stares

vision requires an effort.

without blink-

at a point

ing or shifting, fatigue, distress or pain

To continue

felt.

to stare without shifting

hard work. To see imperfectly cult.

requires

much

edly.

.

.until

and without

effort.

more than

.

continuously,

.

any object

improved from 20/50

The experience of this child is the same everyone young or old with per-

as that of

fect or imperfect sight.

an effort which always low-

and produces discomfort or

pain in one or both eyes.

It

has been repeat-

edly demonstrated that a letter or other

remembered or even

object cannot be

it

Not only does

ing.

fect,

to

be moving or swing-

the sight

become imper-

but also the memory, imagination,

judgment, and other mental faculties are temporarily lost

Better Eyesight magazine,

September

"Your head and eyes are moving

From

ary.

BLINKING .

.

.Usually unconsciously the normal eye

and opens quite frequently and at and for very short spaces

irregular intervals

Most people can demonstrate

when they regard a letter that to see quite clearly,

it is

tested the sight of a girl about

She read the Snellen card

at

with normal vision. She was asked,

"Do you see any

of the small letters

mov-

from side to side?" "Yes," she answered, all

moving." "Now can you imag-

one of the small

letters

is

stationary?"

At once she quickly looked away and frowned.

"Why

tinuously. This

is

that

they are able

them and open

possible for

to consciously close their eyes

them quick enough and see

10 years old.

day

ber 1923:

of time.

I

1927:

all

Better Eyesight magazine, Septem-

.

ine

is

ers the vision

able to imagine the

when he imagined objects moving or swinging, but very uncomfortable when he made an effort or imagined them to be station-

"they are

the sight

tates a strain,

closes

ing

When

normal and continuously good, to stop the swing of a letter or other object necessi-

of objects

caused by a stare or an effort to see all things stationary. .He was comfortable

10 feet

it

to

and demonstrated pain and mental depression was

Recently.

do

long."

not] look at

He became his

easily,

a fraction of a second. His

vision after that

all

to

one can imagine

mind or body can only be

[One student did

that

me

is

diffi-

trouble and hard work. This

obtained by shifting

20/10.

blurred. Don't ask

thoroughly convinced that rest

of the eyes,

movement

it

eyes and the letters

imagined perfectly and continuously unless

should be demonstrated repeat-

fact

for

is

my

a pain in

is

.Imperfect sight or a failure to see

.

me

became

not observed effort

gave

than those regarded [centraliza-

When the vision is imperfect, objects may be seen better, or an

tion].

father asked her. She replied, "Because

objects not regarded are seen less

distinctly

First Principle

the letter con-

called Blinking

and

it is

name for dodging. Dodging what? Dodging the tendency to look only another

steadily at things

all

the time. All the meth-

ods which have been recommended for the

improvement of the

vision

—

ing]..., swinging, blinking,

grouped under the one word

[centraliz-

can

be

all

— dodging.

did you look away?" her

Relearning to See

•

III

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION While teaching students to improve their

tence has been changed in another version

"Now Ahijah could not see, his eyes were

vision,

Bates emphasized head movement.

to

People

who have

dimmed with

blurred vision have a tight shoulders. These

neck, eye muscles, head, and

tensions are caused by rigid staring

and

shal-

4

It

lessons,

habits "If I

was being taught.

I

keep moving, how

anything?!"

I

am I ever going to see many people

thought, like

blurred vision, that

it

on an object to see

I felt it

was necessary

it;

in other

words,

that stationary objects

be stationary to see them.

to

discovered this idea

lowered

with

was necessary to lock

fixedly

must appear

my first vision

kept objecting,

I

is

way

into

movement is genwhen two people are

In our society, physical

movement concepts and

resisted the

I

its

scriptures.

erally not acceptable

Tom's Personal Log: During

appears that the pres-

byopia old-age theory has found

even stopped, breathing.

low, or

age."

not only incorrect,

I it

my vision.

talking

the

—

considered rude. Supposedly,

it is

moving person

not interested in what

is

said. Ironically, since

movement and

circulation are essential for

normal health,

is

being

two individuals may be able

communicate by being rigid. They can become fatigued, and even irritable, from their rigidto

less well

ity. Movement while conversing can lead more interest, e.g., by noticing the kind

clothes a person

More than

a

is

to

of

wearing.

few students have told

me

they could never catch a baseball. This can

THE PROBLEM OF RIGIDITY

be due to "freezing" when the ball

In a left-hemisphere-oriented society,

movement

is

often taboo. Children are fre-

quently told, "Sit still,"

command the

rigidity

still."

Even worse — "Be

adults

who have mastered

and blurred vision themselves. "Pay

when

attention

told sternly

I

speak to you," the child

by

is

— and the child freezes. "Don't

fidget!" Children chide other children, in

body

"Ants

One of my students was told

your pants?" his teacher in

grade school, "Head

straight.

toward them. They tighten up

mind

at the

their

is

hit

body and

movement

time flexibility and

are most needed. I

have observed many students who, when

sitting in class, lean

forward with their arms

and

Not only are the legs all the way around

legs crossed.

wrapped

crossed, they are

each other very

One

tightly.

video that demonstrates "eye exer-

cises" teaches the student to try to stop

on the TV

an

Eyes down!"

object

Maurice Sendak's charming children's book, Where the Wild Things Are, tells of a boy named Max taming monsters. Maurice

moving, from moving. This video continually

writes,

".

.

.

till

Max

said

'BE STILL!' and

tamed them with the magic into

all

once and they were

One ter 14,

•

all

frightened

version of the Bible,

Verse

see, for his

112

trick of staring

their yellow eyes without blinking

4, states,

eyes were

ist

"3

Kings, Chap-

"But Ahijah could not

set." Curiously, this sen-

Relearning to See

screen, which

continually

is

reminds the subject to "keep the head

and only move the

eyes. This

is

still"

incorrect,

unnatural, and harmful. If

you want to watch what natural vision

students are unlearning, take a ride on a bigcity

bus Friday

at 5 p.m.

and observe how

rigid

the passengers are.

One

of

my

me about On one trip, one of the

students was telling

her travels to Nigeria.

3

Chapter Nine: The

"You white people

natives said to her,

don't

move your heads!" At one of my review/support group classes, a student

who had taken my

two years

earlier

was

the entire class, he

in attendance.

as rigid as anyone still was obvious he was not

it

practicing correct vision habits.

end of the

class,

During

was

could be, and

living

course about

OPPOSITIONAL MOVEMENT— A VISUAL MASSAGE One

This idea in

depth

From

class,

him

four students

sit-

that he never moves. This

was a quite dramatic event to behold. Students who do not improve their vision are not relearning natural movement. They are holding on to the their

tight,

body and mind

way of using way that created

tense

—the

is

that objects appear to

alluded to above and

is

their blurred vision in the first place.

in this section.

Better Eyesight magazine, July 1920:

SEE THINGS MOVING

When

the sight

perfect the subject

is

able to observe that

all

A letter seen at the

appear to be moving. near point or

move

at the distance

appears to

slightly in various directions.

pavement comes toward one and the houses appear

to

in

move

Tom's Personal Log: After two years of

page appears to move of the eye.

in a direc-

still

improving

the simple realization

remain

came

to

one

tries to

become

eye muscles."

As someone once the problem.

stated,

The problem

"You in

are not in

you!"

movement

This

dom it,

flexible again, so will the

in the eyes

imag-

at

is

once

may be

and head,

but in other parts of the body.

me, "If /

the eye muscles will also remain

rigid,

rigid; if /

my own vision,

oppo-

in a direction If

ine things stationary, the vision

produced, not only

The

walking,

own. In reading, the

tion opposite to one's

site to that

is

objects regarded

lowered and discomfort and pain

teaching, while

move.

discussed

Toward the

near him immediately and simultane-

ously informed

is

he volunteered that he had

end of the review

ting

of the consequences of natural vision

movements

not experienced any vision improvement. At the

—Movement

First Principle

noticed

but

it

till

may be

is

so slight that

the attention

is

it is

sel-

called to

so conspicuous as to be

plainly observable even to persons with

markedly imperfect

sight. If

for instance, hold the

hand within

such persons, six inches

of the face and turn the head and eyes

hand

be

rapidly

from

side to side, that

One of my students says she can model for a much longer time by incorporating small movements into her poses. She says she is

seen to

move

in a direction opposite to that

more relaxed and has more energy with less fatigue. Previously she would try to remain

in the eccentric [peripheral] field.

is

life!"

says

P. B.,

natural vision

student and yoga teacher.

"There tion."

is

If

it

does not move,

observing this

is

it

will

be

straining to see

movement

it

it

By

becomes pos-

sible to see or imagine a less conspicuous

as motionless as possible.

"Don't lock

of the eyes.

found that the person

will

only one disease, called stagna-

movement, and thus the person may gradually become able to observe a slight moveevery object regarded. Some persons with imperfect sight have reversed

ment it

in

simply by imagining that they see things

moving all day long. The world moves. Let

it

move. All objects

Relearning to See

•

1 1

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION move if you let them. Do not interfere with this movement, or try to stop it. This cannot be done without an effort which

Better Eyesight magazine, July 1927:

Acquire a continuous habit of imagining stationary objects to be moving easily, until

impairs the efficiency of the eye and mind.

it

Better Eyesight magazine,

becomes an unconscious

habit.

November 1921: September

Better Eyesight magazine,

1927:

[Students should practice] seeing things

moving all day long from the time the eyes are opened in the morning until they are closed at night, and going to sleep finally

Imagine that stationary objects are mov-

with the imagination of the swing....

walk about the room or on the street, notice that the floor or pavement seems to come toward you, while objects on either

The

best thing for a busy person

form a habit of constant

shifting

imagine that everything seen It is

is

is

to

and

to

ing in the direction opposite to the

ment of your head and

moving.

side

the habit of staring that spoils your

sight. If

shifting

appear to move

site to

you can correct this by constant and the realization of the move-

the

The importance

September

head and

eyes,

December 1927:

of practicing certain parts all

times, such

stationary objects to be

moving opposite

1922:

oppo-

of your body.

of the routine habits at as... imagining

Better Eyesight magazine,

in the direction

movement

Better Eyesight magazine,

ment produced by the shift, you can get well without so much palming and you will also be able to do your school work better.

move-

When you

eyes.

to the

movement

of his

stressed.

is

[While improving your vision, the] most important of

all is

objects are moving, in the opposite direction to the

A key concept intimately connected to the

to see things moving, or

rather to be conscious that stationary

movement

principle of

of the eyes. Unless is

this is

done continuously one

is

very injurious to the eyes

[Some peo-

complain that moving objects make them uncomfortable. It can always be

ple]

demonstrated that it is not seeing things move which is uncomfortable but rather it is

trying to stop the

movement which

causes the discomfort. .One of the .

things that

I

it is

have

my

first

students demonstrate

is

impossible to keep the attention

on a point and imagine it stationary for any length of time, and that the effort to do so is disagreeable and lowers the fixed

memory and

II4

•

imagination and

Relearning to See

is

oppositional move-

movement

one example of Bates' teachings

at first

apt to imag-

ine stationary objects are stationary which is

movement

ment. The theme of oppositional

seeming contradictory, or even incomprehensible. Bates discovered vision cannot be

normal without the experience of oppositional movement. Whichever direction we move with our sight, stationary objects

When

a person

trees, hills,

is

in

driving a car, the road,

and houses

all

seem

to be

moving

in the opposite direction of the car's

ment. Specifically,

moving north,

all

if

move-

the car (and you!) are

stationary objects outside

of the car appear to be sight.

appear to move

the opposite direction.

moving

south.

Con-

Chapter Nine: The

when

versely,

a person

is

backing his car out

of the garage, the garage seems to be

moving

forward. These are examples of forward and

backward oppositional movement.

As

moves upward on a trampoon a teeter-totter, the world seems to move downward; as the child comes back down, the world seems to move upward in the child

line or

—

covered that

First Principle

—Movement

—stationary objects

this illusion

move in the opposition direction of the head movement is essential for clear, normal sight. Movement and the illusion of oppositional movement are meant to appearing to

—

be occurring

all

day

The experience

long.

of oppositional

movement

a natural, automatic consequence of head

is

and body movement. Usually, oppositional movement is a secondary, subconscious expe-

the opposite direction.

rience.

Still, it is

an essential part of normal

seeing.

While improving

sight,

people with high

blur or serious vision problems

When we

spin round and round on a

merry-go-round or carousel, the world seems

movement. This

to spin in the opposite direction.

of staring they have learned.

When our attention is on a moving object, oppositional movement is an even more

sub-

concept because our primary attention

tle

on the moving object, and not on the objects that appear to be moving in the oppois

site direction.

bird

moving

in the

the illusion of the trees

field,

opposite direction

is

experi-

enced primarily subconsciously. If

our attention

is

and a car drives

street,

relatively stationary,

But

if

—

rather,

We

house across a

by, the

house seems

and the car "moves"

by.

it

is

seems to move

direction of the car's

really

a

on the car when it drithe house does not appear station-

our attention

ves by, ary

on

call

the Earth

evening "sunset," but shouldn't

appears to

is

it

The sun is The stationary sun not "setting";

rotating.

move

in the opposite direction of

the Earth's rotation.

Of course, stationary objects do not actually move but they seem to move. Bates dis-

—

is

because of the high degree

"The are

failure to

imagine that stationary objects

moving is always due

to a stare or strain."

Later Bates wrote, "Staring the problem

is

is

a strain.

.

.,"

so

strain.

After several years of teaching natural vision,

I

began referring

illusion of oppositional

to the effect of the

movement

as a visual

massage.

When

a person has

light rays

move

across the retina in the back

normal

vision,

of the eyeball and create a continuous, subtle,

energetic massage for the eyes and the

mind.

in the opposite

movement.

be called "earthrise," and "sunrise"

called "earthset"?!

take a

Better Eyesight magazine, January 1924:

For example, when watching a

across a

fly

may

longer time before experiencing oppositional

Movement and Oppositional Movement are Fun! I

once observed a father swinging

ter

around him many

times.

his

daugh-

When he finished

swinging her, she was dizzy and would even fall

down on

him

for

the grass.

more fun

Amusement

Then she ran back

to

swinging!

parks have

enjoy: roller coasters,

many

"rides"

we

bumper cars, carousels,

Relearning to See

•

115

— PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Unless you have normal vision, you probably will not experience the following activities

to the fullest extent the

them. That

is

fine for now.

first

time you do

often remind

I

my

students that no one experiences everything I

teach the

time they are taught. You are

first

Disneyland has spinning teacups. All of

in the process of relearning to see. All of the

movement. Movement and oppositional movement are fun!

following activities are experienced perfectly

etc.

these experiences involve

only

when

the vision

you experience

all

clear

is

and normal.

If

of these activities perfectly

Experiencing Oppositional Movement of Stationary Objects

first time, you probably do not need this book or classes! What we see in the world is mostly a con-

The following

scious process, but

the

activities are

demonstrations

how we

see the world

movement and oppositional movement. They are not eye exercises.

subconscious process. Therefore, there

They

habits

of the importance of

in

are examples or demonstrations of nat-

movements students need

ural

all

day long

order to have normal, clear vision. Ulti-

movements can be large, medium, movement is the key. The better the vision, the more subtle the movements become, and vice versa. Larger mately, the

small, fast, or slow but

movements

are usually emphasized in the

beginning to be certain the students do not slip

back into the staring

activities correctly.

Find a vision teacher to

show you how to do them correctly. Often, the mind resists the correct, natural vision experiences because of ingrained, incorrect habits. If

rience oppositional ties

many years of

you do not expe-

movement

in the activi-

described below, continue practicing

until

you

do.

The experience

will

them

occur with

Also, there are levels or "degrees" of expe-

more "fluid" with

IID

•

movement becomes

the practice of better vision

habits each day.

Relearning to See

a

when

practiced consciously. Vision, and

vision habits, cannot be perfectly

they are subconscious.

normal

Of course, the

until

idea

is

them consciously until they become automatic, subconscious habits exactly like they used to be when you used to practice

to have clarity.

How to see clearly is fairly simple to understand, but

it is

not obvious.

If

it

were obvious, their vision

without a book or teacher. If

you have health problems,

activities in the

all

vision

beginning should be done

very slowly and for brief periods.

As men-

tioned in the beginning of this book, the stu-

— and not the teacher, author, or publisher — assumes responsibility for any dent

responses generated by doing these

activities.

You may want

on

to read the section

sal processes in

Chapter

20,

rever-

"The Two Sides

of Health and Healing," before doing any

sufficient practice.

riences. Oppositional

is

some

tendency for the mind to avoid correct vision

many people would improve

habit.

you do not experience the effects described below, you may not be doing the If

is

activities in this

book.

Most students

will find

it

valuable to

receive instruction from an experienced Natural Vision teacher.

Chapter Nine: The

The Variable Swing

—Simple Oppositional

Object R. Object

Movement

from the

right,

C

right forefinger vertical, six

inches in front of your head, and six inches

move

how the

finger appears to

to the left in the opposite direction.

While moving your eyes and head to the

how the

notice

C moved

Of course, Object C

finger appears to

right in the opposite direction.

move

Repeat sev-

across the retina, placing object location

on the

C

its

R

When you shift your attention from Object to Object L, Object C again appears to

move from Repeat

left,

to the

new

in

While moving your eyes and head

to the right, notice

left.

did not move; only the light rays from Object

*TO EXPERIENCE:

to the right.

appears to have moved

through the center of your

visual field, to the

Hold your

—Movement

First Principle

left.

left to right.

this activity several

experience the oppositional

times until you

movement

of

Object C.

eral times.

Do

not look at the finger while moving

your head

left

and

right.

sweep along objects

Let your attention

Do this all day long with all objects! The idea is

in the distance.

This effect and illusion of the stationary

—continue

move, and never

to

stare.

move in the opposite of your head movement is called

appear to be moving.

Some

finger appearing to direction

simple

In this way, stationary objects will always

ment;

oppositional movement.

students say,

moved in it is

"Of course Object C

the opposite direction of

obvious."

It

my move-

may be obvious when

the student thinks about

it,

but

it is

usually

when the student is not thinking about it. The problem is that a person who

not obvious

has blurred vision returns to rigid staring dur-

Object Shifting

much of the day. Stationary objects do not appear to move when a person is staring, and

ing

*TO EXPERIENCE: Notice three objects in front of you, one on the right, one in the center, and one

Let's call the object

on the

left

on the

on the

right

Notice Object C.

Object L,

visual field.

center of your visual

Object

in the center of

Now, shift your attention

L. Notice that Object

C

is

your

attention

is

movement

one of the

keys to natural vision, and

eyes and the head

all

is

great-

one of the

day long.

Better Eyesight magazine,

November 1925:

in the

appears as

MOVING window and note

if

from Object

the

...Stand facing a

C moved from the center to the right.

Now, shift your

in truth, very subtle. It

est

to Object

no longer

field. It

is,

system.

principle of oppositional

subconscious consequences of moving the

Object R. It is

The

left.

the object in the center Object C. and the object

this strains the visual

relative position of a curtain cord to the

L to

OBJECT

OBJECT

L

C

OBJECT R

Relearning to See

•

117

.

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION background. Take a long step to the

right.

Observe that the background has become different.

Now take a long step to the left.

The background has changed

again.

Avoid

might notice there are two of each object in the background! This

is

due to stereoscopic

Chapter

vision, discussed in

18,

"Stereoscopic

Vision."

regarding the curtain cord. While moving

from side to side it is possible to imagine the cord moving in the opposite direction. .

Never imagine stationary objects to be stationary. To do this is a strain, which lowers

The enjoyment of the following Sway, Long Swing, and Infinity Swing can be enhanced by listening to relaxing music while doing these activities.

the vision.

The Sway Oppositional Movement—The Pencil

*TO EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE:

stTO

Hold

Part A: Swaying with

a pencil in front of

you

Hold

the

the eraser at the top.

vertically,

bottom of the

pencil near your mouth; the top of the pencil

should

now be

near the forehead.

as

if

and your

inally.

Blink frequently. The neck

pencil or your head.

move

the pencil and

Do

left.

not

Keep the

tilt

Do not look into the dis-

While you are moving to the appear to move to the

Now move the pencil and the

left, dis-

right.

head slowly

soft,

and the head

nose.

ever objects are

of you.

approximately 3-4 inches to the sweeping the nose-feather to the

distance.

objects

in front

to what-

Now, sway your body slowly and smoothly

now appear to move to the left. As you move your pencil and head slowly

as

balanced normally. Pre-

The nose-feather extends out

to keep your attenyou move! Distant

Remember

on the pencil

is

buttery

is

tend you have a feather attached to your

distance.

to the right.

about shoulder-width

from your head.

your attention on the pencil.

tion

feet separated

your pencil (and hand) were

the head together slowly to the

tant objects

and a -3.

a-i, a-2,

Stand with your arms relaxed by your sides

Relax your kneecaps. Breathe abdom-

attached to your head,

tance.

Move

See Figure g-2: The Sway,

apart.

the pencil out 8-10 inches

Now,

Open Eyelids

with

Keep your

left

left

while

a small

attention on whatever

objects the nose-feather sweeps along in the

Do

not

tilt

your body or head as

in

Figure g-2, b.The weight of your body sim-

upward together, distant objects appear to move downward. As you move your pencil and head slowly downward, distant objects

ply shifts over to one leg and then to the

appear to move upward.

Now, sway your body slowly and gently to the right, moving the head and nose-feather

Stated again, the illusion of stationary objects appearing to direction of the is

move

head and

called oppositional

•

Re learning

to

See

pencil's

opposite

movement

is

on the

While swaying to the

objects in front of

to the right.

pencil,

you

left,

pretend that

you are moving

to the right.

While swaying to the

right, pre-

tend that objects are moving to the Alternate swaying from

movement.

While your attention

Il8

in the

other.

left.

left to right

and

back, allowing the distant objects, which your

9

Chapter Nine: The

—Movement

First Principle

a-2

CORRECT SWAYING

INCORRECT SWAYING

Donot swayinone

Do not

direct ion wtile looking

tilt!

in

the opposite direct ion

Donot swayinone direct ion while in

tuning

the opposite direct ion

Figure g-2: The Sway.

Relearning to See

•

1 1

.

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION nose-feather

is

sweeping along, to move in

body

the opposite direction of that of your

a very valuable thing to use, because

motes relaxation, or

and head.

other methods. In sfe

conclusion that

Part B: Swaying with Closed Eyelids:

The above sway can be repeated with the eye-

trees in the dis-

are aligned in a

row from

you are swaying

to the

left

to right.

When

the nose-feather

left,

taps the trunks of the trees as they appear to

When swaying to the right, appear to move to the left.

to the right.

the tree trunks

and nose-feather

to the left while

their right (see Figure 9-2, c

their

move

students incorrectly

and

head

their

swaying to

d),

and move

head and nose-feather to the

left

while

When the sway is practiced, distant objects more or

are covered

why

explains

sway

is

rest

is

When a person walks down a hallway and on the

left,

both

body and the head turn and move natuThe body should move in the same direction as the head and nose-feather.

which

less completely,

obtained.

When

the

used properly, all stationary objects

regarded appear to be moving. Whether the sway erly,

is

short or long,

the vision

is

if

practiced prop-

usually improved. sight

.

have a

constant strain and tension of nearly

all

the

muscles of the body. The nerves are also

under a

strain

quently

lost.

right.

turns to walk through a door

rapidly or

and with a wide or a narrow motion.

and

By

erly, fatigue is

swaying to the

this

is

always try to have every

Most people with imperfect

Some

better than

general

starting lessons.

slowly,

tance, about 100 feet in front of you. The trees

much

The sway may be practiced

Pretend you are standing in a nice sunny

meadow with many redwood

I

rest,

fact, so

is

pro-

it

student practice the sway immediately

upon

lids closed.

move

any angle. The sway

zontal, vertical or at

their efficiency

practicing the

is

fre-

sway prop-

relieved as well as pain,

and other symptoms. The sway always brings about a

dizziness

from the

relief

effort of trying to see, staring, or

the

concentration. The normal eye needs relax-

rally to the left.

ation or rest.

Also, do not tighten your shoulders as

shown

in Figure g-2,

e.

The shoulders and

arms should be relaxed.

From

Better Eyesight magazine, February

sight

1930:

When one be moving

imagines stationary objects to

same or opposite direction to the movement of the head or eyes when both heels are resting on the floor, it is

in the

called "the sway."

lifted

from the

When

floor,

it is

both heels are not called the

sway, but "the swing." The apparent

move-

ment of stationary objects may be

120

•

Releaming

to

See

hori-

does not always have nor-

by the sway, provided

correctly....

THE SWAY

It

mal sight. When it is at rest it always has normal sight. Things which are done by the student to improve the sight do not always succeed. There are many ways of improving the it is

practiced

[One student] practiced the

sway with her eyes moving in one direction and her head in the opposite direc-

method of practicing the sway condemned.

This

tion is

to be

Better Eyesight magazine, June 1925:

Emily

"The head should turn

in the

C. Lierman,

same

direction with the eyes."

Chapter Nine: The

The Long (or Elephant) Swing "It

Don Mean a 't

Swing."

(title

Thing, IfltAin 't

Got That

of a song)

The image of an elephant's trunk swinging left

and

right

is

helpful to

many

The Long, or Elephant, Swing

students. is

simply an

"extended" Sway. See Figure 9-3: The Long (Elephant) Swing.

—Movement

First Principle

& Part A: The Long Swing With Open Eyelids Instead of swaying the body left and right, turn your whole body gently to the left, b, and then to the right, c. When you are turning to the left, the right back of the heel raises slightly; similarly,

when

the

slightly.

left

heel raises

turning to the right,

The head and nose-

room (or if you are outdoors). The arms remain relaxed by your sides; any movement

feather "swing" softly around the scenery,

of the arms

is

due to the turning of the

entire

body.

Figure 9-3: The

Long

(Elephant) Swing.

Relearning to See

•

121

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION

"Brush*' the objects with your nose-feather like a searchlight

sweeping across clouds

in

the sky at night.

This

is

not a physical workout.

It is

an

easy,

floating visual experience.

Many

students try to lock onto objects

while doing the

Long Swing. This

the staring habit.

Do not lock onto objects as

they

move

past you.

"float" past you.

Do

all

due

to

objects to

not "space out" or

dif-

a

circle.

While swinging casually to the

•

Relearning to See

left let

your nose-feather tap the trunks of the

trees.

Imagine a tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap sensation as the feather touches the trunks. Pre-

tend the trees are moving toward the

While swinging to the

fuse.

122

Allow

is

» Part B: The Long Swing With Closed Eyelids Same as above, except now pretend you are a hundred feet tall, standing in a beautiful, sunny meadow. Many redwood trees approximately fifty feet away extend around you in

right,

right.

pretend the trees

Chapter Nine: The

are

moving to the left. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tapThe sun warms your body as you

tap-tap!

swing. Breathe in the fresh, clean

Some

First Principle

students feel small vibrations in their

eyes, eyelids, and/or nose

when swinging the

feather along the pickets. This

air.

After swinging for a few minutes, sweep

sign,

—Movement

because normal eyes have

is

a positive

many differ-

your nose-feather along the many beautiful

ent types of movements, oscillations, and

and vibrant flowers

vibrations.

Continue to swing

in the field in front of you.

and

left

right with

your

The

rigid habit of staring causes

become locked

nose-feather.

About twenty

feet away, there

white picket fence that extends

all

down

the eyes to slow

tight.

movements and

their

Staring causes the eye

a

tall,

muscles to lock the eyeball into a

the

way

torted shape.

is

rigid, dis-

around you. Sweep the nose-feather along

When

the pickets from left to right and back, tap-

Tom's Personal Log:

ping the pickets with the tip of the nose-

Long Swing, I did not want objects in the room to move at all. As I turned my head to

When

feather. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

you are swinging to the ets sprout little feet

you are swinging run back to the

Do

the

to the

left.

When

to the left, all the pickets

right.

for several minutes.

to blink frequently

and breathe

first

did the

would lock my eyes on an object way) on the right side of the room, trying to keep everything from movthe

left, I

(in a diffused

ing.

Long Swing

Remember

right, all of the pick-

and run

I

Eventually, the eyes have to turn with the

head! Finally,

my

front part of the

eyes would

room and

jump

to the

lock there, while

objects will flow in the opposite direction. The

my head continued turning to the left. When my head had turned all the way to the left, my eyes would once again jump to the left

student can use the degree of fluidity as a

and lock on

gauge of progress.

had a very high resistance to movement and oppositional movement. The thick, coke-bottle glasses I wore were

abdominally. The

Long Swing,

more

the

more

The Long Swing can eyelids while 6:

a person practices the fluidly the distant

I

also

be done with closed

remembering the image

Long Swing

in Plate

that part of the

discovered

room.

I

proportional to

my rigidity.

Lake, or any other beautiful,

expansive scenery. Swing your nose-feather

from one side of the

lake, along the

moun-

and to the other of the lake. Pretend you are enjoying the fresh mountain air and the warmth of the sun. tains,

The purpose of the Sway and the Long Swing

is

to encourage, not force, stationary

moving in the oppoof your head and body move-

objects to appear to be site direction

ment.

Brush with the nose-feather as a habit day long!

all

Become a Sharpshooter with Oppositional Movement!

Tom's Personal Log: When in the service,

shoot a I

I

in basic training

was taught by experts how

to

rifle.

was instructed

to align the front sight

the rear sight of the

rifle

5

and

with the stationary

target, the "bull's

eye" in the distance. One's

initial inclination

might be to

try to lock the

front sight onto the target with

no movement.

Relearning to See

•

1

23

—

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION move

to

opposite to the

movement

of the

head and eyes. People with normal vision are not always conscious of the swing.

When

called to their attention, however,

they can always demonstrate always able to imagine

all

it,

and are

stationary objects

to be moving. In imperfect sight, the swing is

modified or absent. This

is

a truth that

has been demonstrated over a long period of years by a great

many people and no

exceptions have been found. The normal or perfect swing

tinuous. Figure Q-4: Movement During Target Practice.

Keeping

was

my

attention

move

told to

through the target

on the front

first slightly

slow, short, easy

the swing

is

and con-

normal,

it is

the vision nor-

is

memory, the

perfect, but also the

imagination or the mental efficiency corsight,

responds.

the front sight smoothly

—

is

always true that not only

mal or

I

When

to the left

When the memory

is

imperfect,

the imagination and mental efficiency and

the sight are also imperfect. .Severe pain, .

of the target. While moving to the target I

was

appeared to move to the

move

told to

left,

right.

the

Then

the front sight smoothly

back through the center of the target, and continue to

move

target then

appeared to move to the

slightly to the right.

"Breathe normally," they

Continuing

The

worry often prevent the demon-

stration of the swing.

.[and the illusion of

no

effort

to imagine stationary objects to be

mov-

.

ing....

LONG SWING .

movement

.

oppositional movement.]. .Make

left.

said.

this left-and-right

fatigue, or

.

when done before

.The long swing

retiring lessens eyestrain during sleep.

of the front sight through the target, they then

me

to slowly squeeze the trigger

moved the

front sight through the center

instructed as

I

Simply allow stationary objects to move naturally.

Do

not try to force the illusion of

movement. This

of the target. There was a continual move-

oppositional

ment

or defeat, progress.

of the sight through the target at

The rifle never stops moving! Not knowing any better, I followed

all

sible

I

slow down,

Better Eyesight magazine, October 1923:

times.

instructions exactly.

will

their

scored 58 out of a pos-

60 points.

Question: When does the long swing

fail

to

produce relaxation? Answer: When one

stares at objects [that

appear to be] moving.

To quote again from Bates and

his Better

Eye-

sight magazine, January 1926:

In other words,

SWINGING

When

the eyes

from side to

1

24

•

move

sitional

slowly or rapidly

side, stationary objects

Relearning to See

when

a person locks onto

an object, trying to stop the

appear

illusion of

oppo-

movement.

Swinging,

when done

correctly,

is

relaxing.

—Movement

Chapter Nine: The

One Bates

teacher had a history of

migraine headaches until one day, while doing the

Long Swing, her headaches stopped and

First Principle

clockwise direction, turning the body to the

and then back

right

plete the circle,

to the middle as

where the

you com-

fingers touch again.

never returned again.

when you move your hands in the correct direction, you will always be moving the hands upward in the middle of the infinity sign, and downward on the outsides of the loops. If you are moving in the incorrect direction, you will be moving downward in the middle, and upward on the outsides. Do not go clockwise on the left loop and Notice that

The Infinity

The

(or Figure-8)

°°

Infinity,

or Figure-8, Swing

is

an excel-

Long Swing.

lent variation of the

s>

Swing

See Figure g-$: The

Infinity

Swing.

In the Infinity Swing, the nose-feather

brushes the

hand

tip

of the middle finger of each

as they alternately

move

in the

shape

of an infinity sign, «\ or the shape of a hori-

do not go counter-clockwise on the This

is

important.

Not

zontal "figure-8."

Continue the basic Long Swing movement, with the following changes:

a few students forget,

doing the Infinity Swing, go directions.

Begin with the two middle fingers touch-

is

Going

imately sixteen inches from your nose. With

rect directions

the nose-feather brushing the tip of the mid-

rect direction feels

to the left in a counter-

movement

is

very

moveor Tai-Chi master. The

graceful and easy, like the graceful

ments of a ballerina

head and the nose-feather follow the middle finger's

movement around

body turns of this

and returns

the regular

The

upper half

Long Swing,

to the middle at the completion

of the circle.

heel

this circle.

to the left during the

circle, just as in

Remember

when beginning

to

lift

the opposite

the turn of your body.

Breathe abdominally and blink

softly

and fre-

When the

circle is

dle fingers touch as

—even

move

you feel

if

It is

in the cor-

like the incor-

more "natural"

to you.

When

Tom's Personal Log: Infinity Swing,

it

was very

I first

did the

difficult for

me to

go the proper directions. In fact, it would make me nauseated. Moving in the incorrect

—down the middle of the —was more "comfortable" and

direction ity sign

in

infinfelt

more "natural." The reason for this is I was very unhealthy at that time.

When a person is out of balance,

the incorrect directions

seem

correct.

The

"comfort" of moving in the incorrect directions only

matched

my imbalance.

In time, especially with benefit of years of

quently.

body

when

moving the

dle finger of the left hand, begin

hand upward and

later,

in the incorrect directions

important to remember to

clockwise direction. The

and

in the incorrect

an indication you are not balanced.

ing each other in front of your body, approx-

left

right loop.

unbalancing. The proper directions are

completed, the two mid-

once again

you return to the

in front of the

starting position.

Now follow the tip of the middle finger of the right

hand upward and

to the right in a

natural healing, the correct directions began to feel comfortable tions

began

to

and the incorrect

make me

direc-

nauseated. Today,

I

begin to feel nauseated just to think about

going in the incorrect direction. This, of

Relearning to See

•

1

25

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OP NATURAL VISION

Am

Figure 9-5: The Infinity S*ing.

126

•

ReJeaming to See

Chapter Nine: The is

my

I

should

downward

I

in the

"uplifting."

middle of the

is

health.

infinity

like to think of

I

middle of the

Here

my

say dislike) to think of

in the

sign as "depressing."

upward

sign of progress, not

vision, but for all of

like (or

going

good

a very

course, just for

yet

is

objects

another way to

more progress

One advantage

It is

brushing the middle finger.

If

the attention

goes into the distance, distant objects

most

likely

not appear to

move

in the

will

oppo-

site direction.

The

Infinity

it

Swing

basic

in more Long Swing.

stu-

very enjoyable, relaxing, and even

movements, and allowing

move

Some

left

and balance the

is

a con-

shape of an

The above Sway and Swings

are used to

From

movement, even

more comfortable on is

in exactly the opposite

direction of the finger's

movement all the way

along the infinity shape.

When

the finger

Bates. Better Eyesight magazine,

1928:

Since a short swing improves the vision

more than

a long swing, the benefit of the

short swing of the period [or any other is

manifest.

Sway is more powerful than Long Swing, because the feeling of oppositional movement is more subtle. In the beginning, however, the Long Swing may be

background objects seem to move

the

more

beneficial,

because the feeling of oppo-

movement is more obvious as when doing the Sway (short swing). The nose-feather, described in more detail sitional

in

Chapter

12,

"The

First

is

moving upward, background objects seems to move downward: when the finger moves the finger

Long

Ultimately, the

In time, the student can comfortably expe-

moving

a "subtle"

at the

extremes.

students feel

is

small object] at the distance

common, and the movement becomes more balanced with practice.

when

hand no stop-

is

very

left,

is

in the

movement. The Sway

right

one side of the swing than the other. This

rience objects

There

station-

hemispheres. Another advantage

and

he

teach students the important principle of

in the opposite direction.

the continual flow of right

stroke.

movement

tinual flow of

Infinity pattern (in the correct direc-

left

Symphony,

how, when he

ping at the end of each stroke. There

March

is

tions) helps to activate

and

class

bow forward and backward,

end of each

at the

because they are not used

beginning. This

The

the

one

in

includes a small looping pattern with his

Swing.

ary objects to

the

One of my students, who was a cello musi-

Some students have uncomfortsensations when doing the swings in the

to natural

is

directions than the

cian with the San Francisco

an especially power-

is

Long Swing and most

energizing.

able

moving

to be

infinity sign.

ful variation of the

dents find

seem

No

moving,

of the Infinity Swing

neck releases

moves keep your attention

also important to

will

so on.

is

in exactly the opposite direction.

demonstrated

you are making.

move upward, and

to

background objects

gauge your progress. The more comfortable the correct direction feels, the

—Movement

matter which direction the finger

going

infinity sign as

seem

First Principle

(Shifting),"

is

the

Habit

—Sketching

Long Swing "all day long." movement principle is

Re-integration of the

the key. The purpose of

all

of the above, again,

right;

moves down, background

is

to eliminate the staring habit.

Relearning to See

•

1

27

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION OPPOSITIONAL MOVEMENT AND DEPTH PERCEPTION

Double Oppositional Movement

^EXPERIENCE DOUBLE

A cue the

OPPOSITIONAL MOVEMENT Perform the regular Long objects far in the distance. The distant

Swing, with

move in the opposite your head movement as usual. seem

to

objects

direction of

stick, in front

away. While you

a

of you about eight feet

are doing the

the pole will appear to

move

is

brain uses to gauge relative dis-

the observation of

ary objects

move

how fast stationwe move past

past us as

them.

As the car moves from right

Now place a tall thin vertical object, like pole or

tances

Long Swing

in the opposite

seems to move from also

"moves" from

left

to

left,

the tree

The house

to right.

left to right,

but

more

slowly than the tree's movement. Both the tree

and the house seem to move

faster than

behind them.

However, the objects in the disto move in the same direction as your head movement, relative to the pole's movement.

the

movement relative to the pole's oppositional movement creates a "double oppositional movement" or "same-direction" movement! In reality, even the distant objects are moving in the opposite direction of your movement, but

slowly than the tree, but faster than the

direction.

tance

The

now seem

distant object's oppositional

that illusion

is

diminished because of the pole

or stick eight feet away.

Figure o~6: Oppositional

1

28

•

Releaming

to

See

hills

Because the tree

is

"moving"

faster than

the house, the brain assumes the tree

is

closer

to us. The house must be between the tree and the hills because it seems to move more

In reality,

all

stationary objects

dle distance, or far

—

hills.

near, mid-

— move past you

at the

same speed. John

P.

Illusion,

Frisby writes in his

book Seeing

—

Brain and Mind:

Objects at different depths produce nal images which move

Movement and Depth

Perception.

reti-

at different rates

Chapter Nine: The across the retina

when

the head

is

moved,

a clue (or "cue") to depth called head-

movement parallax. The brain

is

quite

vivid depth perceptions

which can appear

equally as good as stereopsis. This

is

why

opening paragraph you were invited

in the

to walk

head movement when looking

around the room with one eye covit from a sinWalking ensures depth cue of head-movement par-

—Movement

far

and near,

respectively.

up

to the task of using this cue to generate

First Principle

It is

is

moves from far no "picture" out in

light rays

enter our eyes. The

mainly our

interest that

and back. There

to near

the world

—only

we

picture

The eye

see occurs primarily in the mind.

and the mind

sees,

perceives.

ered, rather than looking at gle stationary position. that the

allax

is

^EXPERIENCE THE NEAR-TO-FAR/ FAR-TO-NEAR SWING

available to the visual system.... 6

Sit in a

comfortable chair with your arms

propped on a While waiting to receive the

ball

server, professional tennis players

from the

move

con-

stantly to the left, to the right, forward, back-

ward, up and down. for

Movement

is

essential

normal depth perception.

table or cushion.

Close your eyelids and pretend you are

on a

ting in a cozy chair

sit-

nice, sunny, island

beach. You are holding a rope in your hands,

which extends out over the sea to another island.

THE NEAR-TO-FAR/FAR-TO-NEAR SWING

Brush the rope

at

your hands

in a figure-8

pattern. Feel the texture of the rope with your

nose-feather. Breathe abdominally. The neck

Another important application of the move-

very soft and mobile.

is

ment

principle

is

in

near and far vision. Not

we look right and left and up and down, we also notice objects up close and in only do

the distance. Since the head

is

not normally

moving forward or backward when we change our attention from tively,

far

the

movement

far to near, respec-

of vision from near to

and back occurs primarily

Usually there

is

a small, natural,

in the

mind.

up and down

Take

a breath in.

While exhaling, begin to

sweep out along the rope: twenty

feet, feeling the

feather as to

you

slide

five feet,

rope with your nose-

out over the sea. Continue

sweep out along the rope over the

feet,

500

palm

sea: 100

1000 feet, a mile, until finally you

feet,

reach the end of the rope, where a

ten feet,

it is

tied to

on a neighboring island. You have just completed the Near-to-Far tree

Swing!

Now, sea:

slide

back along the rope over the

back to 1000

feet,

500

feet, 100 feet,

and

slowly back to twenty feet, ten feet, five feet, finally

reaching the rope in your hands once

again. Brushing the rope at

have

just

completed the Far-to-Near Swing!

Continue near to

your hands, you

this

far, far

a few minutes.

swing along the rope from

to near, at your

The neck

is

own pace

for

released and you

are breathing abdominally.

Releaming

to

See

•

1

29

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Conversely, farsights have better vision

This swing can also be practiced with the

pretend you are holding a colorful yarn in

when regarding objects in the distance. They tend to stare and strain when their

your hands, and the other end

attention

eyelids

open

and blinking frequently. Simply

the other side of the

is

room you

from near-to-far and back

attached to in.

Swing

in the

same

are

habits

is

up

close. Farsights are learning to

have better vision habits more with close objects

As we

manner.

Chapter

shall discuss later in

19.

"Brains and Vision." seeing clearly up close

One of my students had about 20/40 sight when he started the vision classes In the third week he had a dream in which he was sitting on the side of a hill observing a waterfall on

He could see the sight. As he was listen-

the other side of the valley. waterfall with 20/40 ing to the

sound of water, he thought

self that if

water

one of the functions of the

left

Seeing clearly in the distance

hemisphere.

is

one of the

functions of the right hemisphere. So. in one respect, seeing clearly near lishes a

and

far re-estab-

balance between the two hemi-

spheres

to him-

he could hear the sound of the

clearly,

is

he should obviously be able to

At that moment in the became clear, and he could

motion sickness and dizziness? move:

see the water clearly.

Bates discovered that one cause of "motion

dream,

sickness" and dizziness

his vision

see the waterfall with perfect clarity!

In the

and

above Near-to-Far Far-to-Near

you feel any disAlways associate better

Swing, be sure to stop

comfort or fatigue.

vision with pleasure,

if

and not discomfort and

pain.

the unnatural strain

from moving.

A person in a rocking boat who gets "seasick" oftentimes

from

tilting.

stressful(l).

is

trying to stop the horizon

Trying to do the impossible

and when

is

applied to the visual

system, interferes with normal eyesight.

Integration of far

is

effort to try to stop objects

movements from

the

Similarly, some people get uncomfortable when attempting to read while in a moving

story-

car or train: they are straining to keep the

near-to-

and far-to-near throughout the day

purpose of the near-to-far. far-to-near

is

above.

words

For example, when walking down the street, you can brush or sketch flowers along

uncomfortable with movement need movement. The attitude that

the path. Then.

OK.

tant trees.

you can sweep out

When

you can

to the dis-

in the

book

stationary.

People

movement

is

who are not only

but essential and healthy, needs to

from

replace the mainly subconscious desire to

near cars or road signs to distant cars or road

The person with become comfortable with natural movements Several of my students have commented on how uncomfortable the Long Swing is when we first do it in the class. This is due to many years of staring. The mind and body have become accustomed to non-movement.

driving,

shift

signs.

Nearsights have better vision habits

doing

and

activities

strain

up

when

close.

They tend

their attention

is

tance. Nearsights are learning to

vision habits

when

distance.

130

freeze

moving

objects.

blurred vision wants to

•

Releaming

to

See

when

to stare

in the dis-

have better

seeing objects in the

— Chapter Nine: The

In vision classes, these students sometimes react, temporarily, to

discomfort diminishes as the student relearns natural, healthy

movements

Better Eyesight magazine,

all

day long.

December 1922:

One

student in

her

came life

to

me complaining that

had she been able to

Her vision

for the distance

was normal and

she was able to read fine print without trouble.

I

at

once took a ride with her

house elevator and told her to look

in the

from attacks of imperfect

a

good time because when

she was just as comfortable and happy as

she was

when

suffer

and produced headaches,

dizzy,

with pain in her eyes.

found

it

to

tested her vision

I

and

be normal both for distance and

for reading without glasses. To obtain

rode

in

the top to the

back again.

I

some

an elevator with her from

bottom of the building and

watched her eyes closely and

found that she was staring at the floors [seen through the iron gate] which appeared to moving opposite to the movement of the elevator. I asked her the question,

she did not ride in the

and

nausea and

me that riding in an elevator always

made her

which was stationary

down and had

dizzy, sight,

other nervous discomforts. An old lady, age

facts, I

she did not strain to see the moving floors

persons while riding

an elevator are always

at a bell

in the elevator and to pay no attention to the floors which appeared to be moving opposite to the movement of the elevator. We rode up and

Some

or near object.

60, told ill.

.

produced unconsciously.

It can be produced consciously, however, by staring or straining to see some distant

ride

an elevator without becoming very

in

caused by eyestrain. .Usu-

is

ally the dizziness is

in

never

—Movement

First Principle

DIZZINESS Dizziness

what would normally

be experienced as enjoyable movements. This

1

"Why do you stare

at the floors

which

appear to be moving by?" She answered,

elevator. "I

them move, and I am by making an keep them stationary. The harder

do not

like to see

trying to correct the illusion

(In the 1920s, gates,

many

elevators had iron

which you could "see through.")

Bates rode with the student up the elevator,

and she acquired a headache during the

ride.

Bates then told her to notice the buttons

inside the elevator

on the

ride

effort to I try,

the worse

I

that she look at

feel." I

and avoid looking comfort was

at

suggested to her

one part of the elevator

Her

at the floors.

dis-

once relieved

down. The

headache vanished on the way down. Bates

MOVEMENT— THE PHYSICAL

explained to her that the reason for her

CONNECTIONS

headache was that she was mentally trying to

When a person becomes rigid by staring, not

keep the

floors of the building

downward

(the illusion of oppositional

ment) when she was going up

When

from moving

move-

in the eleva-

she had her attention on the

only do the eye muscles contract

many

tight,

but

head, neck, and shoulder muscles

become

chronically tight.

Many people

have

enrolled for

my classes

buttons inside the elevator on the

the neck

tight for all

she was not trying to

blurred vision. They know, experientially, the

tor.

way down, keep the floors from

moving, and therefore the strain was relieved. Better Eyesight magazine,

is

as

soon as

people

I

mention

who have

truth of this statement.

December 1925:

Bates relates the elevator story again:

Relearning to See

•

1

3

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION

Figure g-y: The Vestibulo-Ocular Connection.

The Vestibulo-Ocular Connection

Light Receptors Need Change

The

The

three semi-circular canals in the ear reg-

movement along ciliary hairs to orient us in 3-D space. The lack of head movement,

ister

i.e.,

staring, slows

down

all

eye movements it

intensity of light.

how an

works

a long period of time

and then

looking away toward a blank white wall or is

to

paper.

An American flag, with its colors reversed,

keep the image of an object on the highdefinition fovea while the

head and body

are moving. This action

assisted

is

same color and

Several books on vision describe

image for

the vestibulo-ocular system;

not

"after-image" can be created by staring at an

Human Body states:

Most complex of

the

the normal func-

tioning of the vestibulo-ocular system.

The

light receptors in the retina are

designed to be stimulated continuously by

by the

is

often used as an example. After a person

locks the eyes

on the

flag for a

—

long enough

and blue-

vestibular apparatus in the inner ear, which

period, the true colors

provides the brain with a continuous flow

of the flag are seen by moving to a white

of information about the

head

is

way

in

which the

moving. 7

red, white,

background. (Illustration of

flag to practice

staring not provided!)

Another type of after-image

Non-Movement Creates Tension Tom's Personal Log: In 1996 I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing racquetball. My leg

was

in

many

casts for several

the last cast was removed,

I

months.

When

was surprised to

how tight and tense many of the muscles were in my foot and leg. Many months of discover

physical therapy were

normal

flexibility to

needed

to bring

back

these muscles.

Non-movement made my eye and neck muscles chronically

132

•

tight.

Relearning to See

when

a bright light

of a camera.

If

is

is

experienced

observed, like the flash

the eyelids are closed

imme-

diately after the flash, a small glowing after-

image of the

light

can be observed.

In her fascinating and beautiful book.

Animals

See,

Sandra Sinclair discusses how

important movement

The

first

How

is

to vision:

eyes could detect only light and

dark. The next step in evolution was an eye that could also detect

movement. In

fact,

movement is of major importance to all eyes. The human eye cannot focus on any

OPTIC NERVE

Plate

RETINA.

VISUAL PORTION

1.

The Eye.

ORA SERRATA

RETINA,

CANAL OF SCHLEMM

NON-VISUAL PORTION

Plate

2.

The Three Layers of the Eye.

CILIARY BODY

Plate 3. Suzie Q's

Red

Eyes.

Plate 4.

LENS

VITREOUS BODY/ VITREOUS HUMOR

Aqueous Humor.

TO BRAIN

TO LEFT EYE

TROCHLEA

RIGHT EYE

Plate

5.

The Six External Eye Muscles.

Plate

6.

Long Swing

Plate

j.

Lake.

"Dancer."

Plate

g.

Centralization

vs.

Diffusion.

Plate

io.

Cosmosis.

NOSE-PENCIL

-PAINTBRUSH

-FEATHER

Plate n.

Plate

-CRAYON

The Nose-Helpers.

12.

The Edge.

-LASERBEAM

INHALATION

As the diaphragm contracts and descends, the lungs

The abdomen expands

first,

fill

with

and then the chest a small amount.

EXHALATION

t

t

As the diaphragm relaxes and

The chest contracts

Plate

13.

air.

first,

rises, the

lungs empty.

and then the abdomen.

Abdominal Breathing.

wwwww

ww

Plate

14.

Eyelids,

Eyelashes,

and

Plate

75.

laris

Eyebrows.

F/2?

Orbicu-

Plate

Eyelid Muscle

16.

LEVATOR PALPEBRAE SUPERIORIS MUSCLE

^ View

77^ Levator

Muscle

(Front View).

(Side View).

LEVATOR PALPEBRAE

77.

The Orbic-

ularis Eyelid

SUPERIORS MUSCLE

P&tfe

*

Plate

18.

Blinking.

Plate

iq.

IV

&

The Levator

Palpebrae Superioris

Palpebrae Superioris

Muscle I Side View).

Muscle (Top View).

FORNIX

CONJUNCTIVA

*

LACRIMAL GLAND SECRETION DUCTS

CONJUNCTIVA

LACRIMAL SAC

SB

*

NASOLACRIMAL DUCT

FORNIX CONJUNCTIVA

It Plate 20.

The Lacrimal (Tear) System.

^ft

#& ^a ^n j& £&

Plate

21.

The Conjunctiva.

m

j*t

w

.

Chapter Nine: The

—Movement

First Principle

image for longer than two to three seconds

best by variation in light rays,

without the image fading. The image must

intensities: bright,

move on the

retina or

it

will disappear. The

human eye jumps every

three-tenths to

five-tenths of a second in an involuntary

tremor that nature seems to have designed to

keep our eyes

motion. Although birds

move their eyes, they

cannot

moving

their heads.

moves, the insect clearly.

in

is

are viewing

even more

it

we

a stationary

to function nor-

person (or eye) moves.

is if the

The

e.g.,

visual system cannot tolerate the expe-

rience of stationary objects appearing to be

more than a second or two. movement is necessary for normal,

clear vision.

A simple way of optically stabilizing the retinal image. [Referring to

of device not

shown

here.]

an illustration

The object

small photographic transparency)

on the eye on a contact exactly with

the eye

not changing,

stationary for

8

R. L. Gregory writes:

moved

is

have the variations they need

Continual

ried

dif-

only way the rods and cones can

chair, the

are constantly

able to see

medium, and dark; and

ferent frequencies (colors). If the image

mally

.Moreover, if an object

.

different

e.g.

it.

(a

is

car-

lens,

and

After a few seconds

becomes blind

to the stabilised

Ribot, considered the "Father" of

T.

the

new

psychological era of experimental

research, wrote

in

The Psychology of

Attention: If we keep one of our eyes fixed upon any single point, after a while our vision

image, some parts fading before others. 9

becomes confused; a cloud is formed between the object and ourselves, and

Mike Samuels, M.D., and Nancy Samuels

finally

we

see nothing at

hand fiat upon a

write:

all. If

out pressure (for pressure Psychologists have found that son's gaze

becomes absolutely

if

a per-

fixed while

looking at an object, the image of the object will extinguish within seconds.

ple are unfamiliar with this

Most peo-

phenomenon

because in the course of normal seeing they

unconsciously ously. Studies

move

their eyes continu-

off

and

ment, be organ

object that his

is

not moving.

If

a person fixes

gaze on a mental image, it likewise tends

to disappear.

Whereas

mental image as will find the

more

if it

if

a person scans a

were a perception, he

image tends to be clearer and

stable....

is

it

ever so weak. Every sensorial

same time both sensitive and

As soon

as absolute immobility

the functions of the other after a while

rendered

null. In a

word, movement

make

is

us understand the necessity of these

intermissions in attention, often imperceptible to consciousness, because they are

very

Bates' discoveries about vision. light receptors in

our eyes function

is

one of the conditions of consciousness. These well-known facts, of common experience, the condition of the change which

10

Researchers have independently amfirmed

The

move-

eliminates one of the two elements (motil-

is

an

a

The reason is, no perception without move-

at the

is

motor.

ity),

at

itself is

finally disappears.

that there

move-

ments even when they are looking

lay our

and with-

ment), by slow degrees the sensation wears

have shown that people move

their eyes in small, jerky scanning

we

table, motionless,

brief,

and of a very

delicate order.

As regards perceptions, there ficulties.

the

are

no

n .

.

dif-

All our organs of perception are at

same time

sensorial

and motor. To per-

Relearning to See

•

133

.

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION ceive with our eyes, ears, hands, feet, tongue,

Many Types of Natural Eye

movements are needed. The more mobile the parts of our body, the more

Movements

nostrils,

exquisite

is

their motile sensibility.

The

six external

their sensibility; the less perfect

in constant

power, the more obtuse their

Nor

is this all;

muscles keep the eyeball

movemenL Various types of eye

movements include high-frequency tremors,

without motor

movements, perception is impossible. We will call to mind a previous statement that if the eye be kept fixed upon a given object

optical drift, microscopic twitches, saccadic

without moving, perception after a while

ing sleep the eyes have REMs, or "Rapid Eye

grows dim. and then disappears. Rest the tips of the fingers upon a table without

Movements"

vibrations and, of course, larger eye move-

ments for seeing different

The Human Body

and the contact at the end of a few minutes will no longer be felt But a motion

objects.

Even

dur-

states:

pressing,

of the eye, or of the finger, be will

it

ever so

possible save through

be easy to expatiate this

ligh t

re-arouse perception. Consciousness

only possible through change: change

. .

is

.

fresh parts of the retina.

is

As

moves over

a result, the

do not get overloaded with input and effective vision is mainreceptors at any spot

not

movemenL It would

at great length

.These involuntary movements. .make

sure that the image constantly

tained. 13

upon

subject for although the facts are very

Eye movements

manifest and of common experience, psy-

fluids in

also aid in circulation of

and around the

eyes.

chology has nevertheless so neglected the role sustained

by movements that

it

actu-

ally forgot at least that they are the fun-

damental condition of cognition

Posture: The Eyesight Con-neck-tion

in that they

The neck is a key part of the body for vision. The neck is the pathway of nerve message between the head and the rest of the body. The second cervical vertebra (2C) is espe-

are the instrument of the fundamental law

of consciousness, which

is,

Enough has now been

said to warrant the

relatively, change.

unconditional statement that where there is

no movement, there

The irony of trying objects

is

that

you

is

no perception. 12

to lock-on

cially related to

and freeze

lose them. The fact

is:

only

An interesting consequence of normal sight being dependent on constant

movement

Many con-

drawn by researchers on, and measurements of, eyesight are based on the subject's head being held still sometimes

—

When

eyesight

checked or measured, the subjects head often locked rigidly in a machine.

134

"

Releanung

to

See

tight

down the spinal

neck interferes with

this

important flow.

The same

clusions

for long periods of time.

A

from the head,

incorrect vision habits that tense

is

the validity of conventional approaches to studying and measuring eyesight.

fluid travels

through the neck, and up and

column.

when we are moving do we see best

the visual system.

Cerebral spinal

the eye muscles tense the neck muscles

students

tell

Many

me they see better after chiro-

practic or osteopathic adjustments,

therapy, or various forms of

massage

bodywork

that

release the neck muscles

The neck cannot completely release

its

ten-

is

sion until the staring habit

is

eliminated.

is

Recently, after only one lesson, a student

Chapter Nine: The told

me

First Principle

—Movement

her neck had released so much, she it fully to the right and left. She was one authority that she would never

could turn told by

have a

full

Tip:

Use

range of

movement

in her neck.

a shower head which "pulses" and

gives your neck

and shoulders a mini-mas-

sage.

The middle of the back of the neck is tight many nearsights. The two back sides of

for

the neck are tight for cal

many farsights. A

bifo-

wearer has an especially tense "bifocal Figure 9-9: Head

neck" and shoulders.

Do not tilt your head as a habit. This imbalance creates strain on the neck and whole

body.

It

also

makes

head movements

Tilt.

the practice of normal

difficult.

Telephones and Posture If

you use a telephone a

large part of the day,

a headset can relieve a lot of tension in the

neck caused by

tilting

the head against the

phone.

People with perfect sight telephone constantly

who

talk

on

a

shift their visual atten-

tion, subconsciously,

from one object

to

another, while their conscious attention

is

involved in the conversation.

People with blur stare "unseeingly," without moving. Subconsciously, their attention is

not interested in their surroundings.

June Biermann and Barbara Toohey write in their

book The Woman's Holistic Headache

Relief Book:

Are you if so,

a frequent telephone user and,

how do you

hold the phone?

One

executive talked on the telephone most of his

working day and had the habit of hold-

ing the telephone receiver between his

ear and his

left

shoulder.

He

chronic headache on the

left

developed a side of his

left

head. His problem was solved by purchasFigure g-8: The Eyesight Con-neck-tion.

ing a telephone microphone....

Releaming

14

to

See

•

1

35

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES Chairs

Many Americans have desk jobs. Most chairs are not designed to support correct posture.

Use a chair that is comfortable but also supports correct posture.

Posture During Sleep Better Eyesight magazine, February 1923:

Posture during sleep has been studied.

Lying on the face has generally been

accompanied by an increase of eye strain. Sleeping on the back with the arms and limbs extended with slight flexion is undoubtedly better than sleeping on the right or left side. A cramped [fetal] posture is

CORRECT

always wrong. The person

conscious of his

is

posture when

not always asleep. In a

number of cases observed by friends. .one or both arms were held behind the head .

while asleep and strenuously denied by the

person when awake.

The correction of this and other strained arms and limbs has been

positions of the

followed by decided benefit to vision.

Biermann and Toohey write

further.

Do you always sleep on your stomach? your head

If so,

is

one [neck] muscle

turned to one side and is

shortened. This

stiff-

ens the muscle to an extreme, especially if you sleep a regular eight hours nightly. The solution is to train yourself to sleep on your side or on your back. 15

Don't lock your neck hard as stone!

your head

all

day long

Aldous Huxley CORRECT

Figure 9- to: Use a Headset

In

Move

—even while thinking!

writes:

myopes especially, posture tends to be may be directly due in

extremely bad. This

some

cases to short sight, which encour-

ages stooping and a hanging of the head.

136

•

Relearning to See

.

Chapter Nine: The

First Principle

—Movement

my head was pulled my eyes were looking downward relative to my head. During my second visit to my chiropractor, I was shown an x-ray of how my neck and ing straight ahead, but

upward and

spinal

column were severely out of alignment.

The upper part of my body was curved, falling forward.

My head was pulled upward

backward, creating a very

large, unnatural

angle in the vertebrae of Figure g-n: Don't

severe, chronic headaches

Lock Your Neck.

may be due in part

I

bad posture. F. M. Alexander records cases in which myopic children regained normal vision after being taught the proper way of carrying the head and at least to the

neck

seem

I

vision will

I

had

years.

asked her

how long it would take

to bring

She said

it

would take about ten

years.

think she was trying to be nice by not telling

me

it

might take twenty or

thirty years.

My high-frequency hearing is gradually returning to normal.

to be sufficient of itself

The tremendous

Improvement in be accelerated by those who

normal

many

tions.

In adults, the correction of improper pos-

to restore

neck.

these distortions back to their normal posi-

in relation to the trunk.

ture does not

my

and neck tension

.

for

Conversely, the myopia

and

vision.

of the factors in

my

much

process taking

16 learn to correct faulty habits....

my

strain in

neck

is

one

improvement

vision

longer than for most

students.

Note again that vision improvement

is

not

about "eye exercises." Natural vision improve-

ment

involves the relearning of correct vision

habits

all

day long.

MOVEMENT— THE MENTAL/ EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS St.

When I began

Tom's Personal Log: a motorcycle,

annoying.

I

I

riding

found the engine noise very

discovered

I

could lower

this noise

by swallowing hard and frequently. This

tight-

my neck and eardrums, and lowered the engine noise. I lost much of my high-frequency

ened

hearing ability by learning to do

this.

I

was

also difficult to hold

could take a

lot

of the pressure of the wind

my head. When I began

off of

became aware

While physical movement

is

important for

normal vision, "mental movement" is even more important. The natural interest and curiosity of children teaches us about seeing naturally.

A child

first

thinks about, or imagines, what

he wants to do

my head against the wind. So, I learned that by bending my body forward and angling my head upward It

Jerome wrote, "Eyes without speaking

confess the secrets of the heart."

—

in his

mind

— and then

his

body follows through with physical action. A girl who wants to play on the swings at the playground

moves

first

desires to swing,

and then she

physically to the swing.

A boy first

wants to ride the bicycle, and then proceeds

improving

my

that while walking,

I

vision

was

I

see-

to ride

On

down

the street.

one of the

local cable

TV

channels.

Relearning to See

•

137

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION there

a station called The Discovery Chan-

is

nel. Interest, curiosity, discovery,

and explo-

ration are key concepts for clear vision. They

and normal. These

are natural

attitudes of

natural seeing occur mostly subconsciously.

Ellen Raskin wrote a charming little book-

Nothing Ever Happens On My Block ; it is all about interest and discovery. let entitled 11

Initially, this

was puzzling to me. For some-

one who has blur in the distance, usually everything from twenty feet out to infinity is not clear. This must have meant she was straining her sight with

poor vision habits only

She told me that long ago, she had

at 100 feet

a very stressful experience with the events occurring at 100 feet

book is listed in the Bibliography.) The average person who has lost a great deal of sight no longer looks around. He has

Tom's Personal Log: In the first grade

a fixed stare.

Walt Disney Elementary School in Anaheim,

So, instead of "checking out," "check it out!" Look around, with a head motion, in

California.

order to see. Point your nose at what you

was informed that when I was not supposed to, I could die and go to hell and burn forever. Not preferring that outcome,

(This

want to

see.

Relearn interest and curiosity!

Paul E. Dennison

states,

"The eyes must

move in order to really see. Whole body movement aids the ability to internalize " awareness and memory of objects in space 18 The issues involved in oppositional movement occur mainly in the mind. Some students find

it

the beginning stages

difficult in

of their vision improvement to allow stationary objects to move. The habit of rigid staring has

become

ingrained.

I

had

excellent eyesight while attending playful

In the third grade, I switched to a very strict

parochial school, where

if I

I

moved

in the

I

classroom

quickly mastered staring.

One of the few entertainments my fellow I had found involving no movement in the classroom was to choke ourselves and see how close we could come to passing out without passing out

classmates and

my first pair of glasses Comparing pictures of me from Walt In the third grade,

I

got

decided to "try" to stop objects from moving.

Disney Elementary School and the new ("Martyr") school showed a dramatic change in expression from one of happiness and play-

This can occur for a child during a period of

fulness to

Oftentimes students remember a particularly stressful

period of their

when they

life

one of seriousness and fear.

A holistic practitioner told me that in Chi-

moving to another city, childhood abuse). The person

nese health philosophy, the emotion most

who learned to stare often has issues of "try-

associated with kidney stones

emotional stress

divorce,

(e.g.

on tight" "If I try hard enough to keep everything from moving, then maybe

ing to hold

the situation will not get worse." Fear

is

often

a factor, especially for nearsights.

One of my students told me she could see

—except

clearly at all distances

I

is fear.

In 1982,

was hospitalized with an excruciatingly

painful attack of kidney stones. (I

would like to add at this point that I have

the most loving and caring parents anyone

could hope

for.)

at 100 feet.

Closer than 100 feet her sight was clear, and

Tom's Personal Log: For a long time

beyond 100 feet her sight was clear.

my

138

•

Releaming to See

nearsightedness was related, in

I felt

some

was voted most shy" in grade school.) "the I did not want other people to come too close to me. respects, to fear of other people. (I

One

me

of

felt

come too

eyes perfectly

Trying to do the impos-

still.

always requires a

strain.

which

body as With a mental strain, the memory and imagination become imperaffects all the nerves of the

well as the eye.

close

fect

and imperfect

sight results. Pain, fatigue

to her.

This

come

is

or dizziness are acquired or

very interesting. Both of us had

to the

This strain

can be demonstrated to be a mental strain

her (close) blur was related

to not wanting other people to

First Principle

sible

my farsighted students shared with

that she

—Movement

Chapter Nine: The

made

worse.

With relaxation of all the nerves, the sense

same conclusion, even though

of touch

improved, but with the stare or

is

the vision problems were opposite of each

other efforts to see the sense of touch

other!

lost

while

the

sense

creased. .There are .

THE PROBLEM

IS

STARING

Out of sight, out of mind.

been using the

seen,

is

in-

is

some people who have

stare to

improve

their vision

for a sufficient length of time to acquire the

—Proverb

habit without being conscious that an effort is

Seldom

of pain

being made.

soon forgotten.

—Proverb A fixed position implies we are standing

still,

Staring

is

defined as not moving the eyes,

A person must also be

we all know that our eyes move constantly and the only time they stop moving is when we're dead or when we are staring. And if we are staring,

blinking and breathing normally.

we're not really looking.

Why Do

that even the eye

is still.

Yet

—

—David Hockney From Better Eyesight magazine, June

1923:

more

head, and interest (with centralizing) for

than a second or two.

People Stare? one of the main causes of poor

Since staring

is

eyesight,

valuable to explore

it is

some

of the

causes of staring. Staring can easily occur dur-

When a person has normal sight the eye is and when the eye is at rest, strange say, it is always moving to avoid the stare.

at rest,

to

Better Eyesight magazine,

September

1927:

ing periods of fatigue, boredom, worry, fear, injury,

and

pain.

Our society has become so fast-paced and complex that many people have forgotten about relaxation, and

how

to relax.

"Time

is

money." Staring

is

a strain

and always lowers the

Mark Clements

writes in his article "Sex

vision.

in

Better Eyesight magazine,

May 1928:

America Today"

in

Parade Magazine:

"The population has gotten

older,

and

people have gotten busier," notes Shirley

THE STARE ...When a person stares, an effort always

made

to hold the eyes

moving them.

It is

still

is

without

Zussman. "Men and women today work harder than any other generation I've known. They're tired all the time...." 19

impossible to hold the

Relearning to See

•

1

39

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION The point

—many people, especially in

is

industrialized countries,

bum themselves out,

harm of staring and

With become sub-

straining to see.

practice, the correct vision habits

conscious and continuous once again.

and then due to fatigue, they stare. Worrying is another common cause of staring. The

person

is

not interested in the sur-

have mentioned issues of fear

You Get What You Think On a deeper level, visually, a person is getting

Accidents and illnesses can cause a person

what they are thinking of, or should we say, not thinking of. A person is not interested

rounding environment He locks the neck and diffuses. I

above. to stare. As long as the person stops the star-

in the visual world, so

ing after the excess stress, the vision can

doesn't really matter what the vision

return to normal. But, if the staring

a habit, vision

becomes

will lower. Also, if glasses are

put on a person during the stress period and staring, the glasses will likely

lower the vision

and reinforce the strained vision

it?!

(ADD) is caused by staring? bore them, especially in school?

How many become "bored stiff?"

is

dur-

—because the person is

is

no

reason for the vision to be clear during staring,

because the person

is is

not interested in not visually inter-

ested in the environment, the person really "seeing" in a

How many children are forced to do activ-

becomes blurred. It

not really seeing during staring. There

seeing. Since the person

habits.

How much of "Attention Deficit Disorder"

ities that

ing staring, does

it

becomes

not

normal, visually connected

way. The fact that the vision clear,

is

blurred, or even

is

irrelevant during staring.

As

stated before, people with blurry vision often

look "unseeingly." Staring "sneaks in"

The Staring Trap

looking.

It is

when

a person

is least

not usually the case that some

One of the problems with staring is that most individuals do not know they are staring while

consciously decide to stare, except for the

staring. They are

the goal

mind is

"gone" or "spaced out" The

usually out of present time.

While

staring, a

person

will

is

"spaced out."

is

to not blink!

Those with the

strongest glasses usually win!

not usually be

aware that the vision is lowering during that time because he

infamous children's "staring contest," where

He is not

usually aware of the state of his vision,

If

you want to

see, see! In other words,

never stare. See actively

with an effort This

is

all

day long, but never

normal and

natural.

and

therefore does not realize that staring

is

harmful to sight Students become well aware

Staring While Moving

of this relationship very early in vision classes.

Better Eyesight magazine, January 1924:

One

of the most important objectives in

vision re-education correct

is

to bring the issue of

and incorrect vision habits to the con-

scious leveL In this way, the student

is

the opportunity to relearn the correct

using the

140

•

mind and body, and

Releaming to See

given

way of

to escape the

".

.

.one can stare by trying to see with the

sides of the retina, [called] eccentric fixation." It is

This

is

possible to be

the case

if

moving yet still staring.

a person

is

diffusing while

moving. This is still a form of staring, because the student

is

not centralizing. Centralization

— Chapter Nine: The is

discussed in Chapter

10;

centralization

the habit of imagining the faces of the peo-

is

ple are

attention to detail.

A person can move the head but

still

moving from

side to side.

be

"spaced out." In order for someone to not be staring,

—Movement

First Principle

both movement and centralization

are needed.

Movement does not need to be large when One of the best ways to practice small movements is to conversing with another person.

nose-feather your face in a mirror. Practice

your nose-feather with small, slow

shifting

NON-MOVEMENT One

movements.

my students said that her friends did

of

not like her to

move when they were

talking

PERIPHERAL RODS FOR MOVEMENT "We

with her. She decided that she was not going

Sandra

movement and her vision stopped improving. Her sister decided to relearn natural movement and had excellent improvement of her sight.

of what happens on the periphery of our

to relearn the vision principle of

One

of

my students told me

movement used

that her hus-

Sinclair writes,

vision until a

movement

focus on that spot."

As ters,

will

aware

aren't really

there causes us to

20

be discussed

in

subsequent chap-

the rod light receptors in the peripheral

when

part of our retina are designed to pick up

she was speaking with him. She thought he

movement and they do so much better than the cones. The physical, and even more so the mental, attempt to make objects still called

band's

to bother her

was rude because he was not giving her as much attention as he could if he would remain still. She stood as still as possible when talking with him. tion glasses.

He

She wore strong prescrip-

has normal

Another of my would

tell

him

at

who had very me that some that

when he

moved

anything

work

talked with them, he never

staring

—

to perceive

movement in the peripheral vision.

OTHER NOTES ON MOVEMENT AND STARING Staring— and Blurred VisionEpidemic

except his mouth. His rigidity was so pro-

is

nounced, complete strangers would mention

In 1976,

it

—

interferes with the ability of the rods

sight.

students,

strong prescription glasses, told clients

—

51%

of the

US

population

(111

mil-

Better Eyesight magazine,

September

Many

are talking to

needed corrective lenses. By 1986, the percentage had risen to 56%. These numbers will be more and more underestimated as more people say they do not need

the proper thing to keep their

corrective lenses after doing corneal surgeries

lion people)

to him.

persons,

you, feel

it

when they

1922:

eyes fixed continuously on your face, that is

to say, to stare at you. Instead of

their eyes

from one stare at

from one eye

moving

to the other or

side of the nose to the other, they

one eye continuously, which low-

ers the vision

and may cause headaches or

some other discomfort.

It is

well to get into

or other corneal procedures. This

is

a 0.5% increase per year over a ten-

year period. These numbers do not include

people

who have

blurred vision but refuse

to,

or cannot, wear corrective lenses. There are

many

such people.

Relearning to See

•

141

"

PART THREE: THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION If this rate

of 1% increase every two years

continues, theoretically nearly every

izen will

US cit-

need corrective lenses by the year

now

to

Blur

is

epidemic

in this society

Anyone

who has blurred vision stares. Staring is based Blurred vision

movement than they

are with staring and rigidity.

They

also

want to become more accustomed to the

illu-

movement than the expe-

sion of oppositional

2100!

on

more accustomed

rience of objects being fixed.

We

had movement when we used to see

Movement is not an exercise; it is the way of living naturally with the visual

a reflection of the

clearly.

high strain most people experience in this

correct

society.

system, until 84 years old

strain.

is

—

So, relax

and dance!

If

at least!

you relearn natural movements, you will

never want to go back to staring. Staring manifestation of lowered health.

—

completely healthy or mentally

reader

is

a is

physically, emotionally,

—who has blurred

vision. If the

not interested relearning natural

movements

mend

is

No one

to

improve her

relearning

movement

sight,

I

recom-

to improve her

overall health.

An 84-Year-Old Child At my booth

in a health fair in 1983,

woman

elderly

with a lot of

an

spirit, interest,

came up to me and said, "What do you do here, sonny?" I said, "I teach students how to improve their vision and

positive energy

by relearning relaxed vision

"Very

interesting.

perfect vision

all

habits."

Do you know I

of my life?"

She

THE SOLUTION See Plate

Vision," are 1.

have had

left

happily and energetically,

moving her head and body with ity

down

exhibits

This

dren

lots

woman made a big impression on me. all his

students to see like chil-

see, for their entire lifetime.

become

like children

"Unless ye

"

Natural vision students want to become

142

•

Relearning to See

3.

is

a form of nat-

movement; and

Blinking

is

a natural

movement

of the

of curios-

like a six-year-old child.

Bates taught

Breathing abdominally

eyelids.

the aisle, exploring the other

—

Sketching (shifting) includes both a

ural

do understand.

Then she

based on movements:

movement of the head and eyes, but more importantly, a movement of the mind;

answered, "No,

2.

I

all

physical

I

it

think

"Dancer.

said,

years old." I

MOVEMENT

The three key habits, discussed more in Part Four, "The Three Habits of Natural

would not surprise me." Then she said, "But you don't understand, sonny. I am 84 but

7:

IS

In the next chapter the

more

—

vision

subtle,

we

explore the one of

mental principles of natural

centralization.

Chapter Nine: The 10

Notes 1

T. Ribot,

1890), 11

12

3

Aldous Huxley, The Art of Seeing (New York: Harper & Brothers. 1942), p. 37.

Maurice Sendak, Where

(New York: Harper 4

the

Row,

1

Kings, Chapter

The

front sight

14, is

&

John

P.

Woman's Angeles:

John

Facts

Headache Relief Book (Los

Tarcher, Inc., 1979),

p. 47.

Huxley, The Art of Seeing,

17

Ellen Raskin, Nothing Ever Happens

p.

273.

On My

Block (New York: Macmillan Publishing ComFrisby, Seeing: Illusion, Brain

pany, 1966).

and Mind 18

Paul E. Dennison, "Reading and Vision," Brain

Gym

Magazine, Vol.

19

Mark

Clements, "Sex in America Today," Parade

p. 141.

Sinclair,

Press, 1989), p. 258.

Magazine (August

How Animals See (New York: 20

9

p. 258.

16

439.

O E. Clark, consultant editor, The Human

Sandra

Holistic J. P.

Body,

Ibid.

the one at the end of the

Body (New York: Arch Cape 8

Human

15

Inc., 1966),

(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979), 7

p. 11.

Ibid., p. 46.

Clark, The

barrel. 6

Ribot, The Psychology of Attention,

June Biermann and Barbara Toohey, The

Wild Things Are

5, p.

Inc.,

14

1963).

Company,

Verse

the Mind's

Company,

13

Alexander Jones, The Jerusalem Bible (New York: Doubleday

5

&

&

1978), p. 59-

p. 11. 2

—Movement

Mike and Nancy Samuels, Seeing with Eye (New York: Doubleday

The Psychology ofAttention (Chicago:

The Open Court Publishing Company,

First Principle

on

File Publications, 1985), p. xv.

Sinclair,

II,

No. 3

(Fall, 1988), p.

1.

7, 1994), pp. 5-6.

How Animals See,

p. 81.

R. L. Gregory, Eye and Brain: The Psychology

of Seeing (New York: McGraw-Hill Co., 1966), p. 46.

Relearning to See

•

1

43

Chapter Ten

The Second Principle

— Centralization

CENTRALIZATION From

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

It is

impossible to see, remember, or imag-

ine anything [clearly],

even for as much

as

a second, without shifting from one part to

another, or to

some other object and back

again;

and the attempt

duces

strain.

Centralization

is

to

do so always pro-

the second key principle

of natural vision. The

human eye can see

one point

any moment. This

clearly at

anatomical

fact.

only

an

is

Since the point of clarity

is

only available in the center of the visual picture, Shift

your glance constantly from one point to

and when you

another, seeing the part regarded best

other parts not so clearly. That

look at a

chair,

do not

is,

try to see the

The peripheral

seen

Several demonstrations of this

clearly.

vision

is

never

fact are given below.

your glance from the back

legs,

seeing each part best, in turn. This

Centralization

is

the normal, natural, sub-

conscious mental habit, or

and other parts worse

shift

tralization].

impossible to see clearly without

whole

object at once; look first at the back of it, see-

ing that part best

it is

centralizing.

to the seat is

and

cen-

1

—William H. Bates, M.D., Better Eyesight, September 1927

skill,

of having

one's primary visual attention, or interest, at

one small, central point at any particular moment, and this central point of interest is the only place within the visual field that clear

and most

is

colorful.

Relearning to See

•

1

45

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Better Eyesight magazine,

December

1925

vision

never

is

(Repeated from the previous chapter on

humans

Movement):

tralizing.

clear. It is impossible for

to see clearly unless they are cen-

Peripheral vision

SHIFTING .

.

When

.

the vision

is

tralizing;

good,

objects

all

ful

not regarded are seen less distinctly than those seen with centralization. vision

seen better, or an effort

made

them better than those

see

observed. In all

is

fact,

it is

ception

do not

a person has normal centralization

and normal

sight,

only the central object

all

is

peripheral objects are

much less clear and less colorful. When

a per-

less color-

makes attention where per-

less colorful,

best

—and that place

it is

is

it

only in the

is

very important

secondary to the central

centralize

who have

—they

vision.

blurred vision

diffuse. In fact, the

away from

instant a person diffuses

is lost.

seen clearly, and

and

Generally, people

tral

When

is

vision, but

do not where they are looking and cen-

tralization

less clear

center. Peripheral vision

cases of imperfect sight, the eyes

see best

is

to

in

and

less clear

sense to have our visual

directly

always true, that

simply

than the central vision. Since the peripheral

vision

the

imperfect, objects not observed

is

may be

When

it is

not ignored while cen-

is

the cen-

point of the visual field, clarity lowers

immediately true for a

— by definition. This

person who

has normal

is

equally

sight.

The

person with blur takes his attention away

from the only place

in the picture that

is

the central object nor the peripheral objects

—the center. The peripheral vision 20/400 unclear— become appar-

are seen clearly.

ent very soon that in order for a person to

son has diffusion and imperfect

sight, neither

clear

is

at best!

It

will

relearn to see, naturally and clearly, the individual must return the visual attention back

Centralization—The Searchlight Have you ever seen

to the center.

There

is

no other

possibility.

a searchlight sweeping

along clouds in the sky at night?

Or have you

ever shined a flashlight along objects in a dark

The Peripheral is "Not Clear"

room?

Often, people

If

you have, you have an idea of cen-

tralization. in the sky,

Although there are

lots

of clouds

you can only see one small area of

a cloud best with the searchlight;

all

the other

clouds are seen less clearly. Similarly, one

who have

perfect eyesight will

not say that their peripheral vision

Rather, some like to say

normal

on the

it is

is

"blurry."

"not clear." In

vision, the light rays focus correctly

retina.

The

rods,

which pick up our

moment when shin-

peripheral vision, are incapable of picking up

ing the flashlight along objects in the dark

peripheral objects clearly. Only the cones in

room. Adding the movement principle from

the fovea centralis pick

object

the

is

last

seen best at any

chapter, the searchlight

and

flashlight

are continually scanning or shifting to see ferent objects best

—one

dif-

at a time.

The human eye is capable of seeing only one point clearly at a time. The peripheral

146

•

Relearning to See

Mary Dudderidge

up

clarity.

writes in Scientific

American:

The fundamental

principle of this

system of eye training calls centralization.]

is

new

what Dr. Bates

The trouble with

the

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

he

civilized eye,

though

says,

is

that

we

camera can see everything which its

use

it

as

were a photographic camera. The

it

falls

human

eye

is

not built that way. The retina

has more nerve

where

else,

cells in

the center than any-

and therefore

is

designed to see

one point better than others vision. In other words,

direction in which

we submit

and

is

The cones

When

are designed for clarity and color

perception in

medium

or bright

light.

The

great majority of the cones are located in the

center of the macula lutea at the fovea centralis.

see best in the

—cones and

rods.

in its field of

are looking.

There are only cones exactly

ter of the fovea

number

—no rods. There

in the cen-

a small

is

of cones extending out from the

Cen-

fovea. Unlike the cones in the fovea, these

attained by two methods,

"peripheral" cones, like the rods, are buried

to this, the eye

tralization] practice

we

we

of light receptors in the retina

upon

sensitive plate equally well, but the

— Centralization

rest,

is

at rest

the latter

See Plate 44: How

coming

first.

2

under eight layers of vessels. Peripheral

We See.

retinal cells

and blood

cones do not pick up the

degree of clarity and colors that the high den-

CENTRALIZATION— THE PHYSICAL CONNECTION

sity

of cones in the fovea do.

The rods pick up "unclear" movements, and black/white shapes

grays,

in

our periph-

Unlike the cones, they can func-

eral vision.

tion in very

low

levels of light.

The rods

are

located outside of the center of the fovea centralis.

in

The cones and rods are discussed Chapter 17, "The Retina."

at length

THE STARING CONNECTION Generally, Diffusion

Diffusion

©1994PhotoLab s

there 10-1:

The Fovea

Centralis, Plate 30:

The Retina

(1), and Plate 31: The Retina (2). The explanation of why it is anatomically

impossible to see clearly without centralizing is

quite helpful to vision students.

ciple of centralization

is

The

is

is

during

it is

no point of interest

is

no

—

in fact,

visual interest at all

—and

impossible to be seeing clearly

this time.

son has normal cially

they diffuse.

confusion. During staring and

usually

therefore

stare,

one of the worst habits of vision.

diffusion, there

Figure 10-1: The Fovea Centralis.

See Figure

when people

is

This

sight,

is

true whether a per-

or the vision

is artifi-

corrected to 20/20.

prin-

primarily mental, and

THE LARGER PROBLEM

more subtle than the principle of movement. The intellectual agreement with the

When

principle of centralization motivates students

rection," the strain of diffusion

to relearn centralization faster.

has not necessarily been addressed, much

is

As

discussed earlier, there are two types

a person

is

chooses any other

given corrective lenses, or artificial

form of vision "cor-

and

rigidity less

removed. Worse, strained vision habits are

Relearning to See

•

1

47

— PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION often reinforced.

As

tion, blurred vision is

and body

that a

stated in the Introduc-

a message from the mind

person 's visual system

of balance with nature. Bates

proved

is

out

this fact.

Until natural clarity returns, the imbalance continues.

think the peripheral vision

they want

it

is

because

to be clear: "If everything

fectly clear simultaneously,

protected."

clear

is

an

It is

then

I

sight,

per-

is

am

better

illusion of security.

By approaching blurred vision with

methods, the unbalanced system

artificial

and even more so those with imperfect

is

given the message that the imbalance

is

some-

how "correct," because

is

avail-

sharp acuity

able. This artificial sight

confusion and strain, and the major reasons

can create more

may well be one

of

most people continue to

need stronger glasses

^EXPERIENCE CENTRALIZATION AND MEMORY

after they begin wear-

If

we

clearly.

notice the heart

Then, if we notice the

the right

we

see

the clear heart

CENTRALIZATION NOT OBVIOUS

clearly.

it

the infinity sign,

ing them.

on the

we

still

on the

left,

we

see

While interested

have the

in

memory of

Even though

left.

it

on

infinity sign

it is

INITIALLY,

impossible to see the heart clearly while see-

IS

ing the infinity sign clearly, the

People usually think about what they

how

see,

not

When

asked,

many people

believes

and wants to believe, the heart, out peripheral vision,

they see.

mind

is still

in the

clear.

with normal

you they see everything Of course, this stateincorrect. The principles of normal

vision will tell

simultaneously.

clearly

ment sight

is

may

not be obvious even to those

have normal

sight!

who

People with normal sight

CENTRALIZATION— ELUSIVE IN THE BEGINNING After learning about the cones in the fovea

and the rods

my

a time. They "shift constantly," as Bates stated,

straight in front of

from one clear point to another clear point.

posed to remain

One

reason people with normal sight think

they see everything simultaneously clearly

because they have the

memory of the

is

objects

they saw clearly before. For example, a per-

son with normal sight could be noticing objects in a room.

Each

many

individual object

is

his

students

thought that an object

still

that

was

off to his right (Object R).

the right to see

rays from Object

C were

center of the lens,

Another reason people with normal

148

•

Relearning to See

He

moved to Object R, somehow the fight

eral vision

currently noticing.

sup-

thought that even though his eyes

axis

is

is

posed to move, of course) to another object

subconsciously that the door in her periphjust as clear as the chair she

even after he shifted

eyes (but not his head; the head

the fovea for sharp

is still

him (Object C) was sup-

clear,

one by one. While seeing a chair, she knows that when she saw the door a few moments ago, it was clear. She can conclude clear,

one of

in the peripheral vision,

see objects clearly, of course, but only one at

still

clarity.

able to enter

No!

The point of clarity is always straight ahead of the direction of the eyes

from the fovea

—along the

centralis,

iris

visual

out through the

and cornea, and

straight

out to the object of interest. sight,

When

a student shifts his attention to

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

Object

R on the right, Object R is now the

central object,

R now

and the

light rays

from Object

enter the fovea for sharp

is

whatever

is

work, a great deal of trouble, and much effort, is a great benefit.

clarity.

C is now off to his left—in his peripheral vision. Object C is now much less clear. Object

Peripheral vision

—Centralization

outside the

exact center of the visual field at any partic-

Centralizing sion

is

based on relaxation;

based on effort and

is

diffu-

strain.

May 8, 1915, issue of the New York Medical Journal: Bates wrote in the

ular instant. I

have wondered for

many years why many

Bates teachers have not educated their students about the distribution of cones and rods

By eccentric fixation is meant the

ability of

the eye partially or completely to suppress the vision of the center of the fovea and to

see best [but not clearly] with other parts

in the retina.

of the retina. 3

INTERFERING WITH NORMAL CENTRALIZATION

Mary Dudderidge

writes in Scientific

American: Better Eyesight magazine, October 1923:

But when the eye attempts

When you

have imperfect sight and look

on the Snellen Card which you cannot read, you can always note that you do not see the first letter or any other letter better than the rest. Usually the whole line looks pretty much the same shade of gray. Why is it? Because you are trying to see the whole line at once ... If you hold the card up close where you can readily read the same fine you will notice, or you can get somebody with good eyesight to show you, that when you distinguish a letter you do not see any of the other letters so well. To see one letat the first letter of a line of letters

ter at a time

is

much

easier than to see a

number of letters all perfectly at the same time is impossible and trying to do it is a

whole

line of letters, in fact to see a

you

do the impossible, try to see the whole line of letters at once [clearly] you will always fail, because you

strain

will

try to

have to make an

thing at try,

if

all

to

not an easy

effort. It is

fail, it is difficult,

you have to

make an effort to do the imposorder to fail. To prove that imper-

or you

sible in

fect sight is

more difficult and requires hard

point in

its field

the central point, not only

lowered, but

to see every

of vision about as well as

it is

is its

visual

power

subjected to a severe

anyone can observe for himself

strain, as

by trying to see every part of any surface of four or five inches in extent, or even

much

less,

strain Dr.

equally well at one time. This

Bates believes to be

tom of most eye

One first

troubles.

at the bot-

4

of my students had normal sight in his

year at college. While playing basketball

he recognized consciously that he saw only at any moment. This, of how a person with normal sight sees.

one point clearly course,

is

Unfortunately, he began thinking about

changing his natural way of seeing. In discovering consciously that his peripheral vision

was not

clear,

he decided to

try to

learn to see everything clearly simultaneously.

He thought the clear

if

entire picture could

he practiced diffusing

become

his visual

attention throughout the picture. If he suc-

ceeded, he thought he would be able to see

all

of the other basketball players clearly at the

same

time,

and then he would be able to play

Relearning to See

•

1

49

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION how

she saw the world while walking

from school one eral vision

day.

was not

home

She realized the periph-

clear;

only the center was

She became very concerned about her

clear.

lack of peripheral clarity,

and concluded there

was something wrong with her

The memory of the

vision!

specific interference to

centralization often surfaces during natural vision classes.

ing

The interference

must be removed

One

of

to

to centraliz-

improve

sight.

my best students said, "I Choose to

Refuse to Diffuse!"

The Vision Halo, diffusion halo,"

is

also

known

as the "anti-

described in Chapter

18,

"Stereoscopic Vision." better basketball.

He

strained his vision.

ment was Notice

The

result of his experi-

his vision blurred

this

Some

and he got

glasses.

basketball player's motivation

for trying to diffuse ball.

practiced diffusion and

—to play better basket-

students assume that the circum-

stances present

when

their vision

first

blurred

must have been unpleasant, maybe even

trau-

The basketball story shows this is not necessarily so. He formed strained vision matic.

habits, but his

were

motivation and circumstances

positive.

RESISTANCE TO RELEARNING CENTRALIZATION

One

my

of

glasses

were

students agreed that off,

when her

the peripheral vision

clear than the central vision.

was

less

However, when

her glasses were on, for example,

when

dri-

ving her car, she said the peripheral vision

was just I

as clear as the central vision.

pointed out to her

that,

bution of cones and rods impossible to see

due to the

distri-

in the eye,

it is

objects clearly simulta-

all

—and there are no exceptions under

me he was driving a big "semi" truck for many years while enjoying normal sight. One day he realized

The following week she

he was always moving

drove home, she realized the peripheral vision

Another student

fic

told

his

head

to see the traf-

and the road and scenery, one point

He

time.

thought that

if

at a

he diffused and saw

neously

any circumstances, with or without

was not as clear

Many

stated that

glasses.

when she

as the central vision.

students resist the truth of central-

everything at once, he would not need to

izing in the beginning.

move

have become blurred without acquiring

his

head anymore! Not long

mastery of diffusion and ered,

how

and he got

after his

rigidity, his sight

his first pair of glasses.

low-

Notice

was learned simultaneously with non-movement. in this case diffusion

Another student said she remembered that, when in grade school, she thought about

150

•

Relearning to See

fusion. Diffusion

The

vision could not

becomes part of the

dif-

per-

sonality.

There are various

levels of acceptance stu-

dents

move through

vision.

The process of improving vision takes

time and patience.

as they

improve

their

"

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

CENTRALIZATION GOES WITH MOVEMENT; DIFFUSION GOES WITH RIGIDITY In the last chapter, tance

we

The person with

one point to another with a head movement.

Head movement

discussed the impor-

basic training,

we were taken

a medium-size

hill.

clear vision

is

constantly

Both the head and eyes are moving. the person's interest that shifts

it is

from one point

to another,

and the eyes and

head simply follow the "mental movement." Diffusion often goes with

when

a person

once, there

lem with

is

is

rigidity. Logically,

is

to

move. The prob-

the head, neck, and eye

muscles become abnormally and chronically tight.

The

strain

—and blur

Fritz set

visual system cannot tolerate this

Kahn, in

Man

his outstanding

to the base of

had many bushes,

hill

and large rocks on

Army

There were about

it.

a dozen soldiers hiding on this hill. Some were more hidden than others, and some moving more than others, but all of them were at least partially visible. as

We were instructed to find

many of the men

we could while stand-

as

ing at the base of this

hill.

Immediately, several of my fellow trainees

began pointing to one soldier I

became

frustrated, as

tried as

at all.

I

entire

hill

two-volume

and Function,

During the day one sees

states:

chiefly with the

central part of the retina. Spatially, the central visual field is restricted, it is

This

in

I

after another.

did not see any

hard as

I

men

could to see the

simultaneously in a very diffused,

"spread out" manner.

results.

in Structure

contained in

trees,

trying to see everything at

no reason

rigidity

When I was

Tom's Personal Log:

goes with movement.

moving from one point of interest to another. Actually,

releases the neck.

to normal, clear

of movement in regard

vision. Centralization

—Centralization

but everything

seen clearly and in

all its

The spatial limitation [of central clarity] is compensated for by constant movement of the eyes. 5

It

was only near the end of

when one started

soldier finally

waving

in the air, that I finally

to

wonder about combat.

jumped up and

hands back and forth high

his

in

this training,

saw a

my fate

soldier. I

if I

began

should end up

colour.

Conversely, locking the eyes and head often goes with diffusion. thinks, "If I lock

my head still, I

everything at once. In

move my head

A

or

my

fact, I

eyes

This attitude and practice

is

still

person with blur

can just see

don't need to

when

I

diffuse."

harmful to

CENTRALIZATION WITHOUT MOVEMENT; MOVEMENT WITHOUT CENTRALIZATION Centralization Without Movement is

Incorrect

Better Eyesight magazine, January 1924:

sight.

center of sight

The above assumes the person is interested in seeing at all when the head is locked. A locked head and neck often go with "spaced out" staring. Ultimately the natural vision student realizes

head movement "goes with"

ing. It is

It is

—

possible to centralize,

i.e.,

to notice

one

moving the head or eyes. It is not possible to lock onto one point for a long period of time without creating tension and point, without

possibly even pain.

centraliz-

necessary to shift our attention from

"One

can stare in looking straight ahead with the

ple

who

One problem is that peo-

have blurred vision often

try to lock

Relearning to See

•

151

— PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION One

of

my

move without

pie with blur often

for a long period of time.

on one point

students had great difficulty

ing.

centraliz-

For example, a person can be walking

with the centralizing principle of vision. In

along without noticing where they are going.

the last class of the eight-week course, he

After seventeen years of teaching natural

how he had finally succeeded

demonstrated

with great effort and rigidity

one

point.

Proud of

his

asked, "Now what should

now

he

—to lock onto

accomplishment, he I

do?"'

I

then another, and another.

He

did not like

my answer, since it had taken him eight weeks to finally lock onto

Notice his rigid

of seeing. This student did well

to centralize, but

ple

needed

to

now

the

ing out" are the cause of many,

if

not most,

accidents.

CENTRALIZATION VS. DIFFUSION— THE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION Diffusion can be a response to feelings of fear

and being overwhelmed.

one point.

how this student wanted to continue way

am convinced that staring and "spac-

suggested

another point of interest, and

shift to

vision, I

movement

princi-

be added to the centralizing.

More than one

of

my students has told me

they learned to diffuse in the subways and streets of

New York

City "to protect myself."

Some people had

significant stress

when

"dynamic

their blur started. Several of

my students have

Normal vision includes both movement and centralizing. In normal vision,

stated their vision blurred

when they were

Natural vision

is

a process of

relaxation."

the attention shifts (moves) to a

new

point

(centralization) of interest about every

one

or two seconds.

One

vision

children and

moved

that teaches

dents eye exercises says to

make

its

stu-

a "conscious

city, state,

or

country.

One

student said she began diffusing when,

as a child, there

program

to another

was a swarm of bees around

her.

The irony of trying

—

—

to "grab" everything at

As stated

effort" to look at "the entire screen" of a

TV,

once

while holding the head

this

before, the instant a person takes her atten-

program are

still.

Students in

also told to not blink. Unfortu-

nately, this type of incorrect teaching

uncommon;

not

completely the opposite of

it is

Bates' teaching

is

on natural

vision.

tion ter,

clearly

is

that clarity

away from where clear

peripheral vision

is

is

Incorrect

clear in the cen-

lowered. The

is

far less clear

than the cen-

tral vision.

Tom's Personal Log:

Movement Without Centralization

it is

perception

is lost.

I

found

frustrating to centralize in vision lessons.

It

was

scary.

I

it

extremely

my

beginning

thought

it

was

Better Eyesight magazine, January 1924: "...

essential to try to see everything at once

and one can

clearly to be protected.

stare

by trying to see with the

sides of the retina, [called] eccentric fixation."

Eccentric fixation

is

diffusion.

As mentioned in the previous chapter, it is move without centralizing. Peo-

possible to

152

•

Releaming

to

See

It

fuse

seemed as if no one could possibly difmore than I did. This realization was the

cause of extreme frustration. Yet,

my vision was improving, and I wanted

—

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle to continue

my improvement, so I continued

practicing centralizing better each day.

Centralization

in. Are we some of the quality of our lives for

countless activities to participate sacrificing

quantity?

An Eastern yogi was visiting a big superin the US for the first time. A sales

becomes easier and better with practice. Remember, children centralize intuitively and naturally. They point. Anyone can relearn to do something he used to do automatically and naturally and

just thanking

this includes centralization.

things."

CENTRALIZATION— THE MENTAL CONNECTION

One man I met kept getting more and more degrees in school just to prove to himself he was smart. Quantity was more impor-

Centralizing

—

Bates concluded that the process of seeing is primarily mental. Whether a person tralizing

is

cen-

or diffusing is a mental choice Usu-

ally centralizing

sometimes

it is

occurs subconsciously, but

conscious. The

same is true of

the harmful practice of diffusion.

To a great extent, the principle of centraldo with how we live our lives. Do we try to do a dozen projects equally well at one time, or do we put our attention primary on one project at a time? ization has to

One of my students, while programming his at work, was being asked a quesby a co-worker. Not wanting to be dis-

computer tion

turbed (diffused),

this

student stopped for a

moment, looked at his co-worker and said, "Not right now. But, when I finish with my work, you will get my complete foveal attention!"

Notice that

when

children are deeply

market

clerk asked the yogi

if

ing anything. The yogi answered, "No,

I am God I don't need any of these

tant than quality.

A great Eastern mystic once wrote, "Live a simple, happy, and relaxed

Our society often emphasizes quantity (left brain) over quality (right brain).

We produce

many material goods, and people are encouraged to accumulate as many of these goods as they can. Our society also provides almost

my health, I

A person can have a lot of projects and goals in

life,

but he cannot do them

—

equally high quality

The primary centralization

at

one

all

—with

time.

issue within the principle of

the attitude in the mind. Try-

is

do many projects

one time is diffusing and creates tension. Doing one project best at a time is healthier and more relaxing. ing to

at

A person may not accomplish as many tasks, but the quality of each task

will

be higher. On

the other hand, a person might accomplish

more tasks, because the relaxation associated with centralizing gives her more energy. With centralization, there is movement and

A person's energy

neled and conserved.

naturally.

many

are the same.

tracted. They are completely

"absorbed" in

In

have slowly realized these three adjectives

flexibility.

—

life."

years of teaching and healing

involved in a game, they do not like to be dis-

the game. Children centralize

he needed help in find-

is

properly chan-

Diffusion results in fatigue and a drain of energy. Fatigue

is

a major cause of staring.

Have you ever watched two people

talk-

ing to each other simultaneously? Neither

person is fusion,

listening. This is

and

it is

very

an example of dif-

common in this society.

Releaming to See

•

153

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION

CENTRALIZATION CONCENTRATION

=

RELAXED

Concentration, however, cannot psychologically be ignored, and recent psy-

Better Eyesight magazine,

December

1922:

chology,

Question: Has Dr. Bates'

word

is

commonly

is

very enlightening. Ribot says "that the

is

rarely use the

word "concentra-

classes because

this society associate

most people

in

concentration with

lowers natural vision.

effort. Effort to see

is artificial

in reality intermittent; the object of atten-

tion

is

merely a center, the point to which

der from cles.

of concentration and

relaxation as has Dr. Bates,

word has not been

said, as

and yet the

final

he himself would

All parts of the object, and then the

reflections inspired

Therefore, but with humblest intention,

which

who To

is

few thoughts upon the subject

of the utmost importance to those

are striving for better eyesight.

my

students

attention

ion." This

the

it

on the most trifling mateworks in just the same fash-

is

entirely in accord with Dr.

Bates' statement;

There

parts,

Even when

fixed

is

are,

it is

centralization.

however, two aspects of con-

centration to be considered

—voluntary and

involuntary. Voluntary concentration

is

an

effort and, as Dr. Bates has so clearly

I

fatigue.

The

highest grades of attention, to which

this brief

consideration

involuntary,

have forbidden the

lent of attention

attention

them modify the dictionary's definition. I have reasoned that if by concentration you mean, as Dr. Bates says, doing or seeing one thing better than anything else, you or else

I

bid

may speak of concentration; but if by conyou mean, as the dictionary

says,

confined, are

can be defined as "a psychological equiva-

very word suggests

strain,

is

and involuntary concentration

practice of concentration, saying that the

centration

by these various

shown, cannot be maintained without

undoubtedly avow. offer a

as often

it

rial object,

CONCENTRATION AND RELAXATION By Lawrence M. Stanton, M.D. I know of no writer who has clarified the murky philosophy

and again, to wanon ever-widening cir-

attention returns again

hold our interest by turns.

vision.)

Better Eyesight magazine, April 1925:

I

which seems continuous

relaxed, involuntary visual

concentration. Like most other Natural Vision

(Squinting

Bibliography and

dren and Schools"] statement of attention state of attention

my

in

additional excerpts in Chapter 23, "Chil-

is

tion" in

used, and Ribot's [See

Psychology ofAttention

centration.

I

worthy of our con-

Attention underlies concentration, as that

do with concentration? Answer: No, to concentrate is to make an effort. Dr. Bates' method is rest and relaxation, which cannot be obtained by con-

teachers,

is

sideration.

method anything

to

Centralization

new

believe, has given us a

I

interpretation which

tion

that

minus is.

effort." In

ordinary

in voluntary concentra-

—our thought holds the object

whereas

we

—

in involuntary attention

shall consider

in focus,

(which

synonymous with

invol-

untary concentration) the object holds our

thought without our volition, perhaps even against our

will.

"Spontaneous attention

is

doing one thing continuously to the exclu-

rooted at the very center of our being," and

sion of

things that hold the attention captive, as in

all

don the

154

•

other things, then you must aban-

practice as an impossibility.

Relearning to See

fascination,

fixed

contemplation, the

.

—Centralization

Chapter Tew The Second Principle

and revery are

meditation

Hindu's

instances of involuntary concentration,

involuntary concentration as the rising sun

—

it

is

and

ation of the passive kind usually ends in

by many

sleep or sleepiness, as experienced

as effortless

people after palming. Relaxation combined

Then,

with action, on the other hand, may also be

just happens.

there are those cases of [extraordinary

absolutely free from effort and strain.

quick reversals] of imperfect sight by one or another of Dr. Bates' methods, where

it

In any case

the matter of effort and

it is

strain that concerns us most, rather than a

was enough for the person to see the better course in order to be able to follow it, the idea and its realization occurring simul-

question of concentration or relaxation

taneously, without effort, without volition

ious,

see the better course and approve

I

follow the worse." Involuntary concen-

tration

is

it,

but

displayed in the case of the insect,

and quoted by Dr. Bates, hung downward for ten months, its whole life's span, and in this position performed all its functions, even to mating and laying of eggs, apparently

Obstacles to relaxation

may prove sources

of relaxation. An instance of which in the noise that is

we

wishing to go to sleep.

which

relax, if we accept the disturbance

without the least fatigue. instance

is

Still

that of Napoleon,

another

who

could

in spite of it,

is

found

keeping us awake when

related by Fabre

in captivity

.

and to be intense need not be to strain. Another thought about relaxation is this:

even. Contrast this with the attitude "No, I

.

nowhere is intensity so impressive as in calmness. To be calm is not to be oblivsurely

not only

is

If

sufficiently

and sleep

the obstacle over-

come, but because overcome it in turn becomes rather pleasantly associated with going to sleep. When again we desire to sleep, we find the noise soothing rather

than

work for eighteen hours at a stretch on one

annoying, and really a source of relaxation

work without the least fatigue. Napoleon speaks of his various affairs

instead of an obstacle to

arranged in his head "as in a wardrobe."

is

He

can achieve such equilibrium; if you can perform your mental functions without

piece of

says:

"When

I

wish to put any matter

out of my mind, I close

its

drawer and open

equivalent to relaxation in action. If you

little insect performed its you can, whatever your particular captivity, hang by your feet head downward without effort, then "be my

the drawer belonging to another. The con-

strain as

Fabre 's

mixed and they never worry me or weary me. Do I want to sleep? I close all the drawers, and

physical;

if

tents of the drawers never get

then

I

am asleep."

The question,

friend

then,

may be asked

it

Involuntary concentration without effort

and teach

me

to be thine."

Some of the quotations and some of its material are

[Stanton's] Note:

wherein does involuntary concentration

in this article

differ from relaxation. If involuntary con-

from "The Power Within Us," Charles Bau-

centration and relaxation are not always

douin.

one and the same

thing, they often are psy-

chological alternatives

nents

we

and not the oppo-

From

Perfect Sight Without Glasses:

think them.

To regard

all

purely passive

is

phases of relaxation as as erroneous as

that concentration of the kind

sideration

is

it is

to say

under con-

associated with effort. Relax-

As popularly means

to

understood, concentration only; but

do or think one thing

this is impossible,

impossible

is

and an attempt to do the

a strain which defeats

Releaming

to

its

See

own

•

155

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION The human mind

end.

is

not capable of

thinking of one thing only.

one thing does

so;

best,

but

it

It

is

can think of

and not to

and is only at rest when it cannot think of one thing

centralize.

Regardless of Bates' opinions on accom-

modation, he proved that mental and physi-

only.

movement and

cal principles of

centralization

are essential for clear vision, and that

Trying to think continuously best

is

is

of,

or see, only one thing

staring. To think of

move

a society that teaches children not to

one thing

centralization.

they

We unwittingly teach our children how to lose their sight

ishing

CENTRALIZATION— THE SOCIAL CONNECTION

if

are interfered with, vision will lower.

tion.

them

by discouraging—even pun—movement and

for

centraliza-

After studying the principles of natural

seeing,

no wonder so many people have

it is

blurred vision in this society.

Oftentimes this society

it is

the rebellious children in

who keep their normal sight. They

keep moving and pointing, regardless of the consequences. This

is

a subconscious, primitive

drive to maintaining normal vision

and

health.

CENTRALIZATION— THE HEARING CONNECTION Figure 10-2: The Pointer.

See Figure g-y: The Vestibulo-Ocular Connection.

Babies point. Pointing

is

natural.

No

one

teaches a child to point, or to move. Centralization

and movement are learned naturally

hearing

If

is

normal, we hear one

at a time.

you are attending

selectively "tune in" to

and automatically. In our society children are often told,

"Don't point." Pointing

man from

When

sound best

is

considered rude.

Africa once attended

my

A

intro-

time to hear

it

a concert,

one instrument

tively to the violin,

then the piano, then the

drums, then the trumpet,

etc.

You continue

to hear the entire orchestra, but

mented on how strange our culture

ment

not

When we watch the documentaries on teleof Brazil,

we

who live

in the forests

see that adults and children fre-

quently point. Pointing

is

centralizing.

In the previous chapter,

dren are often told to

I

stated that chil-

"sit still."

Add

the warning to never point, and what

I56

•

Relearning to See

heard

You can be

allowing children to point or yawn.

vision about the natives

is

to this

we have

at a

the best. You listen most atten-

ductory lecture. After the lecture he comis,

you can

one

instru-

best.

listening to the radio while dri-

ving a car, and hardly notice the noise from the engine.

When

a strange noise

is

heard

from the engine, the auditory attention

from hearing the radio best engine best. During

shifts

to hearing the

this time,

you may not

even be aware of the words spoken or what tune

is

being played on the radio. After

— Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

returning the attention to the radio, you are

tralization

hardly aware of sound from the engine. This

tal.

is

and

Diffusion

is

—Centralization

diffusion are primarily

confusion

men-

is stressful.

Now pretend you are listening to only one

called centralization.

Notice in both the above examples, the

sound waves reaching the eardrum are the same. The mind has the ability to centralize

of the conversations best. Let ant conversation!

it

be a pleas-

Do this now for about thirty

seconds, and for the rest of your

life!

how much more "centered" you

on one particular sound and it is designed to do so. Margaret Corbett, in her book Help Your-

now feel compared to the

self to Better Sight, writes:

describe this experience as peaceful, relax-

Sounds that do not bother normal ears do bother the defective ear because it hears so

many sounds, all

irritating.

distorted, confusing

Notice

diffused experi-

ence a few moments ago. Students often ing, possible, easy,

and so on.

The parallels are identical to vision.

and

6

The auditory system is designed to be used like the visual system.

CENTRALIZATION— THE UNIVERSAL CONNECTION From Chapter XI, "Centralization," in Per-

^EXPERIENCE CENTRALIZATION

AND DIFFUSION

fect Sight

. . .

Close your eyelids, and pretend you are in

Without Glasses:

Since centralization

is

impossible with-

out mental control, centralization of the

a large auditorium. Imagine there are a hun-

eye means centralization of the mind.

dred people around you in a large

means, therefore, health in

about

fifty

feet

circle

body, for

from you.

Now, imagine there are fifty conversations (two people per conversation) going on all

only the sight, but

of the conversations

now for about thirty

you can! To comprehend fifty conversations simultaneously is, of course, impossible to do, and if

do the impossible is stressful! Reactions described by students include:

the attempt to

strain, diffusion, confusion, scattering, effort,

parts of the

mechanism depend upon the mind. Not

fited

simultaneously. Do this

seconds,

all

the operations of the physical

all

the other senses

touch, taste, hearing and smell

simultaneously.

Try to comprehend

all

It

by

processes

—digestion, assimilation, elimi—are improved by The

nation, etc

ciency of the

The

—are bene-

centralization. All the vital

it

effi-

mind is enormously increased.

benefits of centralization already

observed are, in short, so great that the subject merits further investigation.

Centralization

is

a universal principle. Liv-

chaos, impossibility, freezing, locking, tension,

ing beings tend to organize and unify. For

breathing stops, the body freezes, and even

example, we have organs in the body that "specialize" in certain functions. The heart

blurred vision.

These reactions can occur just by thinking about diffusing hearing, showing

how cen-

pumps blood, the

digestive tract assimilates

food, the lungs breathe, and so forth.

Relearning to See

•

157

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION

When

any

living being dies,

fusion) begins. The

body

entropy

dissolves into

ments and becomes diffused

In the

(dif-

its

ele-

tives

is

board.

ashes.

game

of chess, one of the key objec-

to gain control of the center of the

Much

of the strategy in chess

is

based

Above, we discussed how centralization relates to sight and hearing. Centralization also applies to touch, smell, and taste. Move-

on control of the four center squares. From

ment and

to

ceptions.

centralization apply to

When

centralization

is

either

all

sense per-

movement

or

interfered with, sense per-

and are more powerful because they are

move

to

is

a concept called "food

combining." Certain types of foods do not

quickly to attack or to defend. Pieces placed

on the peripheral parts of the

For example, starchy foods do not digest well

squares;

stomach for starches

placed in the center of the board. Control of

in the

neither are digested well

—the stomach

confused. Similarly, fruits are generally best

eaten without starches or proteins. The concept

is

centralization.

the central squares often determines

Centralization allows greater

They go

together.

3s& 151

SI

H

SI

H

^^ (•J

i

Figure 10-3: Strategic Centralization.

•

Relearning to See

who

wins the game.

^M

158

in the center

to eight different

starches are eaten with pro-

with proteins. Different chemical environ-

is

move

when located in the corner, it can only move to two squares. The knight has four times as much mobility and power when

ments are created

teins,

mobility and are gen-

For example, a knight placed of the board can

If

less

erally less powerful.

digest well together with other types of foods.

and proteins.

free

any other parts of the board

board have much

ception diminishes. In nutrition there

the center, pieces have the greatest mobility

movement.

— Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

Centralization

powerful. Diffusion

is

is

weak. Centralization conserves energy. Diffusion wastes it erful because

A martial arts master

he

is

centered.

waste energy. Many people

for

truth of centralization, which

correct

is

the normal,

way of seeing all day long.

pow-

Pretending you have an imaginary pencil

does not

attached to, and extending out from your nose,

is

who meditate say

more relaxed and centered.

"sketch" the yellow penciL "Sketching" is sim-

sun, which provides essential energy

movement of your visual interest from one point to another. See Chapter 12 for more

on Earth, is

on sketching. The cones in the fovea pick up

they feel

The

He

—Centralization

life

ply a

at the center of the solar

system.

the sharp detail

"The eye of the hurricane

is

and color of this penciL With-

out shifting your attention to

calm."

it,

wiggle the

peripheral green penciL The rods pick

CENTRALIZING— THE TWO PENCILS

up the

Many students, before enrolling in the vision

movement and shades of gray from the green penciL If you did not already know

classes, would

that the peripheral pencil

probably answer the question,

"If you

had perfect clarity right now, would everything be clear simultaneously?" with "Yes." The enrolling student ing,

"Wouldn't

clearly again?"

it

may be

think-

be nice to see everything

He

thinks that

when he had

normal vision in the past, everything was clear simultaneously. This idea

is

incorrect,

and

unclear

not be able to say what

is

its

green, you might

color

is

now.

Now shift your attention to the green pencil.

Sketching the green pencil, notice

its

and colors which you could not see when you were sketching the yellow penciL

details

Now wiggle the peripheral yellow penciL The peripheral yellow pencil

is

now

almost, or

needs to change to improve vision.

maybe even completely, gray and it has much less detail compared to when you were

^EXPERIENCE CENTRALIZING— THE TWO PENCILS

sketching

See Plate

8: Centralizing

— The Two Pen-

in the beginning.

No peeking!

detail

and

color, but

you cannot see them

while sketching the green penciL Centraliza-

cils.

Hold two cally,

it

Of course, in reality, the yellow pencil has

different colored pencils verti-

about 12 inches out in front of you. Place

the erasers at the top. If there

designs on the pencil, face

is

lettering or

them toward you.

Separate the pencils horizontally by about 16

tion

is

the

acknowledgment and the mental

cooperation with the fact that only the central object is clear

eral vision has less clear

and most colorfuL Periphto no color, and is much

little

than the central vision.

myope, you can bring

There is some diminished color in the periph-

the pencils closer to you and closer together.

eral areas of the visual field because there are

held on

some cones in the peripheral part of the retina.

inches. If you are a high

In this example, a yellow pencil the

left,

is

and a green pencil is held on the right

Remember to breathe abdominally, blink frequently,

and have a mobile neck as you do

perception

is

always best in the cen-

More on this in Chapter 17, "The Retina." As stated above, people who have blurred

vision diffuse; they try to see everything

this activity.

Note- This

Stul, color ter.

is

not an eye exercise. The pur-

pose of this activity

is

to demonstrate the

equally clearly simultaneously.

pointed out

many times, this

is

As Bates

impossible to

Re learning to See

•

159

— PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION do.

The attempt

to

do

this strains the visual

Alternate sketching each pencil, proving

you see best

where you

Now try to see do

—by —only far

both pencils equally clear

simultaneously.

The

best

you can

to place the attention in the center,

is

between the two

pencils,

and then spread out

your attention, trying visually to grab both images cil is

at

Now bring the pencils a little closer to each may now notice more of the it is still

the pencil

less clear

peripheral pen-

and colorful than

you are sketching.

Continue

bringing the

and alternating

sketching one pencil at a time.

A person with

excellent centralization skills will be able to

notice the other pencil

is

less clear

— even

they are touching!

Practice centralizing

day

until

The

Is it?

it

becomes

better each

a habit.

than the

Place two pebbles about 14 inches apart,

one to the

left

and the other to the

two pencils

of centralization

Sketch the

you so

more

I

DO

left

is

activity,

right.

This

except the area

smaller.

pebble with your nose-pencil.

a high myope, bring the pebbles closer that the

one you are sketching is seen

clearly than the peripheral pebble.

•

left

pebble you are

right pebble!

Relearning to See

and sketch

it.

say out loud. "The other pebble

The

Is it?

pebble should

left

Some

While noticetc.,

less clear."

is

now be

cantly less clear than the right pebble

signifi-

you are

sketching.

the peripheral pebble seems equally or

more

clear than the central pebble,

fusing

and need

If

to practice this

you are

game

dif-

frequently,

you experience the peripheral pebble

as

than the one you are sketching.

your vision

are sketching

^EXPERIENCE CENTRALIZING — THE TWO-PEBBLE GAME

to

less clear!"

ing right pebble's detail, texture, colors,

If

more and

CENTRALIZING— THE PEBBLE GAME

If you are

is

look the same to me!" This is not how the game is played! Once you notice that the left pebble is more clear than the right pebble, shift over

until

like the

and so on,

pebble should be significantly

right

No peeking over to the

less clear

is

pebble's detail, tex-

say out loud. "The other pebble

to the right pebble

this activity, slowly

pencils closer to each other

when

left

students peek, and then reply, "No, they both

other and sketch one at a time as before. You

but

While noticing the

sketching.

diffusing.

cil,

head movement.

to have a

ture, colors, three-dimensionality,

now be obvious that when you are

should

sight lowers instantaneously

to

game. The

this

Breathe abdominally and blink frequently!

less clear

It

you may want

clear than the peripheral pebble.

one time. Notice that neither pen-

clear now.

farsight,

pebble you are sketching needs to be more

Remember

centralize.

and sharp

you are a high

use your reduced glasses for

system, and always lowers sight.

to yourself that

If

is

is

such that the pebble you

not clear at this time, do not

clear

It is more important, at you notice the other pebble than the one you are sketching.

If this is still

not true because of serious vision

be overly concerned. this point, that is less

problems, then pretend vision

is

it is

true.

Remember,

primarily mental. Natural vision

teachers have seen

many types of vision

prob-

lems improve. Alternate back and forth three or four times,

spending about 15-20 seconds on each pebble.

CENTRALIZE! Figure 10-4: The Pebble Game.

Relearning to See

•

l6l

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION Be

sure to say out loud "The other pebble

less clear"

is

consistently less clear than the one

sketching,

each time you sketch a pebble.

move

you are

the pebbles another inch

closer to each other. Sketch each pebble alter-

The main

principle in this

ization. Centralization

that

you see one

is

game

is

central-

the attitude of

thing else out in the peripheral vision nificantly less clear.

[I

realize

repetitive, but this principle

is

am

I

eral pebble to

is sig-

you began

being

much

extremely

same theme.

At some point you will notice the periphbe more clear than it was when

mind

and every-

central point best,

nately, continuing the

this

game. However, it

will

still

be

than the pebble you are

less clear

sketching.

important.]

Notice

we do not say "The other pebble

gone." Peripheral vision

is

is

essential vision,

Do

not continue this

game

if

you become

fatigued or feel any discomfort. Take a rest

and come back to

and we want to have excellent peripheral awareness with the rods. Rods pick up move-

important to associate natural vision habits

ment. However, since peripheral vision

and principles with pleasure and

much less clear than the eral vision

agree that

it

sfe

only makes sense to

have the primary visual attention where vision

is

best

—and

that place

center of the visual

is

exactly in the

Continue playing

ing the

asm Is

the

is

you

feel

tendency to diffuse, do one of the

fol-

Wow!"

(Enthusi-

the other pebble less clear, even though

when

closer to each other?

Do

Simply move the pebbles farther away

dent, "I

the natural vision stu-

wonder what the ultimate outcome

game is going to be, as those two pebbles come closer and closer to each of this pebble

Alternate sketching each pebble, spending 10-15 seconds with each pebble

"The other pebble

Once you

•

and saying,

little

closer tries to

before diffus-

i.e.,

grab

Close your eyelids and play the same

game left

in

and

your mind.

Move your head

right alternately, exactly as

if

your eyelids were open. Say out loud,

"The other pebble breath

in,

less clear."

and open your

"zooming"

Some

is

Do this

one minute. Then, take to

a

eyelids,

one pebble and sketching

students feel a powerful

less clear."

notice the peripheral pebble

Relearning to See

a

both of them equally,

it.

is

them

together before the mind

for at least

other?!"

same

ing; or 2.

the pebbles were farther apart?

"Hmmm," thinks

equally. If

game. The second time, you may be

you notice more of the peripheral pebble than

162

dif-

two pebbles

important!)

two pebbles are

to each other.

feel

closer together again playing the

saying out loud, "The

less clear!

you may

able to bring is

fun.

from each other, and slowly move them

closer to each other. Just like before, sketch

other pebble

It is

lowing: 1.

left,

necessary.

your mind

point

fuse over the

the pebbles about one inch

the pebble on the

if

game, gradually mov-

this

two pebbles closer

At some this

field.

Continuing the pebble game:

* Now move

later

central vision, periph-

secondary to central vision.

is

You may

is

it

"siphoning" or "funneling" effect conis

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

necting

them

this effect

to the pebble. If you feel

a step forward in

it is

relearning centralization. If feel this effect,

you

will

with continued

In time, you will be able to bring the peb-

enough that they touch each other.

Sketching one pebble, you

be able to

will

notice that the peripheral pebble, even though it is

primary visual attention where nature it to be in the center. While

much

clearer,

is still less

clear than the

When you reach you have progressed a very long

this point

—

intended

it is

important to

remember that you do not lose your peripheral vision (in this case, the other pebbles).

The study of the

and "The Retina," will help you further understand and appreciate the many differences between your central and distribution of the cones

Chapter

rods, in

pebble you are sketching!

way

its

it is

We want to retrain the mind to have

relearning centralization,

practice.

bles close

OK for only one point to be the clearest, desired

you do not

—Centralization

17.

peripheral vision. in relearning centralization. If you

In the above Pebble

Game,

does not continue to move, eral pebble will fade away,

if

the student

movement

is

we

first

the periph-

and then even the

discussed

how important

to natural vision.

lots

of

students missed the class with

the pebble game, so he played the "raisin

game"

at breakfast, receiving a delicious

reward for each centralizing students,

ble game, he said, "I have

Are they?

The peripheral pebbles should be

skill!

W

B., said

to O.D. -2.50. with 0.50 less clear

pebbles closest to the one you are sketch-

had pebble vision all

since the seventh grade, increasing in strength

than the one you are sketching. However, the right eye

three

D of astigmatism, and

by age 38. He had 20/70 sight

months after completing the eight-week

him his sight

vision course, his optometrist told

ther away.

Only the

you are sketching The light rays from

single pebble clear.

was 20/25

m his right eye. He has since passed

the California driver's vision test without glasses,

and is no longer required

that single pebble enter the very high density rective lenses

of cones exactly in the center of your fovea centralis.

That

is

when

vibrant, colorful,

sharpest acuity.

Now shift from one pebble to another, like other pebbles are less clear." Not only

is it

scuba diving

in

to

wear cor-

driving.

C. Y. reports that fish are

where you see with the

stars in the night sky. saying out loud, "All the

in the

and 20/200 sight in the left eye. Within

clear than the pebbles far-

can be absolutely

he did

we played

week!" He had worn glasses and contact lenses

O.S. -3.00

more

from a

the pebble game. In the class following the peb-

While sketching one pebble, say out loud, "All

ing will be

my

Another of my

of pebbles out in front of you.

the other pebbles are less clear."

One

not really "get" centralization until

^EXPERIENCE CENTRALIZING — THE MULTI-PEBBLES GAME Spread

centralization, seek out instructions

Natural Vision teacher.

central pebble will begin to fade away. In the last chapter,

need assistance with the principle of

much more

and three-dimensional while

Hawaii.

Tom's Personal Log: After about two years of improving

my vision, while exercising in a

Relearning to See

•

163

PART THREE THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL VISION could

In the bottom rectangle, centralize on a

centralize on a pebble about ten feet away,

small group of dots approximately the size of

place that had lots of pebbles,

and the pebble touching

it

I

noticed

was

I

less clear!

the circle

shown

in the

bottom

left

corner.

(Those with farsightedness and astigmatism

may need

to use corrective lenses to see this

The Color Centralizing Game

round

An excellent form of centralization is pick-

round area of sharp

ing out any color

you

like, e.g.,

green, and then

with your nose-

it

paintbrush. After painting the

a second color,

e.g.,

feast."

color, select

and then

blue,

paint that color everywhere paint a third color,

first

you

Some

it.

students notice that the small round

area of sharp dots appears to be three-dimensional, like a small

mound. When you see

this

and

small round area of sharp dots you are expe-

Then

riencing the area of the fovea centralis and

find

find

able to see a small

dots, while all of the

peripheral dots are less clear.

finding that particular color throughout your

environment and painting

may be

area.) You

and so on. Have a "visual

on your

the macula lutea

Vision loves variety, but, of course, one

retina!

See Plate 9: Centralization

vs.

Diffusion.

at a time.

It Is Not Clear Everywhere Centralize -^et!

But The Counting Centralizing Game Another simple centralization game is to count similar objects. For example, you can count the number of light posts along a street, the number of windows of a house or building, the number of trees in a field, and so on. This

is

day.

stare or diffuse. Centralize within

laser

beam

vision. Illuminate

place you are centralizing

each

on with your nose-

beam! Always have a head movement.

laser

Even

a small

the neck

is

movement

why (most

is

correct, as long as

released and mobile.

Most

Centralization Patterns

at all distances.

with the objects in the top centralize

on the smaller

objects in the middle rectangles.

164

•

Relearning to See

For nearsights the distance

is

is

not clear.

the concept of centralization that

is

is

It

impor-

tant at this time.

When centralizing at a point that is not clear, orfully

where

am centralizing. All peripheral

I

objects are less clear and colorful."

my vision were centralizing at this point.

I

normal

right

would see had

if I is

And, "If

now, where

I

am

perfectly clear only

My peripheral

vision

would be

clear vision right now."

essential for

improving eye-

becomes true when the student has normal sight again. You are retraining your mind to centralize. It is the only way to return to clear sight; and it is exactly what you used to do when you used sight. Ultimately,

In Figure 10-5: Centralization Patterns, prac-

Then

while improving your vision,

likely,

This attitude

tice centralizing

you are reading

the point of centralization will not be clear

20/400, at best,

rectangles.

likely)

think to yourself, "I see most clearly and col-

a smaller area each day.

Have

is

book!

not clear; for farsights the near

excellent centralizing practice.

The idea is to form the habit of shifting from one point to another throughout the Never

But that this

I

it

— Centralization

Chapter Ten: The Second Principle

• • •

^41

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