Better Eyesight

How I improve my eyesight.

First, understand that no one can tell you how, or how long it will take, or why exactly it works or doesn’t work; everyone is different. What I can do is to make a list of the things I’ve learned to have been most useful in improving my own sight. This isn’t provided as medical advice; please take it for what it is, a summary of my experience improving my eyesight, which can be read in it’s entirety by clicking on ‘Vision Diary’ to the right.

Eyesight improvement is about relaxation, increased awareness, taking responsibility for oneself, and letting it happen. Patience.

Keep an open mind as you learn, and return periodically to this page and Dr. Bates’s original writings to gain a deeper understanding.

Many people find that the writing of Dr. Bates gives them the clearest instruction. He himself said that the patient had to find the method that worked best for them. Almost all of his writing is free online and I will list the best sources here.

This is the easiest way to begin, by simply reading and trying what he wrote.  Keep in mind that the application of the Bates method is different for each individual because everyone relaxes or strains in different ways.  If you find that you aren’t having success by teaching yourself, or you don’t think you will have time to teach yourself, find a teacher to help you.

When I started this journey, I scoured many websites. The most useful are the following. Also, I found the links offered on these websites of high quality. I’m only recommending a few sites here, but these include many free books and there are actually dozens more websites that can be discovered through these sites that I found useful:

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http://www.central-fixation.com/

This website is a very comprehensive library of free eyesight improvement books, magazines, and medical articles.

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http://www.iblindness.org/

http://www.effortlessvision.com/forum1/

For a description of the Bates method, active forums, article library, evidence, how to find a teacher and more.

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http://www.cleareyesight.info/

Free eyesight improvement lessons. Bates method is explained as many modern teachers present it.

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http://www.visionsofjoy.org/home.htm

This is a gem of information. Her links page is comprehensive. Looking at dozens and dozens of teacher’s websites helped me. They all write their own view of eyesight improvement and the story of their own experience with it.

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http://www.self-healing.org/category/tips/

Meir Schneider’s site.  He recovered from blindness and provides a lot of articles and inspiration!

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http://enlightenedeyes.com/swinging.htm

more free info I found recently.  very simple instructions

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It was from extensive research of the content of these sites that I discovered the value of the Bates method for myself.  I saw immediate improvement, and the improvement hasn’t stopped yet!

There is a LOT of information.  Below is my summary of the key components to the Bates method:

BATES METHOD

The Bates method is as easy as 1-2-3.  Mastering step 1 brings temporary improvement; step 2 brings permanent improvement, and step 3 brings perfect sight.

Step one:  Learn each of Dr. Bates’s relaxation techniques, his method.  Demonstrate them to figure out what he means by each of his concepts:  central fixation, shifting, memory, imagination, etc.

Step two:  Learn how you respond to these relaxation techniques.  Which ones help the most?  How did the methods have to be modified to make them effective?  Be aware of how the body feels when success is had with a method.  Be able to repeat that method to gain continual benefit.

Step three: (this is the best kept secret of eyesight improvement by the way)  Use what was learned from step two ALL DAY long. Notice that when the body starts to strain, it is possible to do something about it.  All day long, take care to be comfortable, and if not, then do something about it.  All day long, use the eyes in a way that helps them to see more easily.

Reaching the next step doesn’t mean stopping the practice of the previous step.  I find it helpful each morning to demonstrate one of the methods to myself on the Snellen chart.  I then pay attention to what I learned that made my sight better.  I remember what I learned and keep it in mind the whole day to improve my sight all day long.

Here are some links to important articles describing important aspects of the Bates method:

The first visit

Central-fixation, my post about central fixation practice,

Swinging

Learn how to use a Snellen chart

Other useful thoughts

For me, I can relax deeply with yoga and I learned proper breathing while practicing autogenics. I also have increased my awareness by reading a lot from this mindfulness website:

What I find most useful is just looking into myself and discovering what makes me happy or relaxed and that usually improves my vision. Everyone is different. But I think in the back of the mind, one always has a vague idea of something they always wanted to do or try. Why not now?

Stay in the moment. Don’t try to do or learn everything at once.

Finally, when I was sure this method was working, I told my sister all about it and she started it as well and also writes her own blog. We have learned a lot from each other.

Share experiences with others to learn faster.

This brings me to the end, but really, I’m hoping it’s only a beginning. If enough people take responsibility for their eyesight and learn the truth about seeing, it is my hope that a greater awareness will lead to more directed preventative efforts so that parents aren’t deceived into making their children wear glasses. Dr. Bates proved myopia prevention. Here is only one example of many

He describes time and again how to improve the sight of children.

An independent study showed the same preventative results to be true.

One last comment, the reason why many people completely discounted Dr. Bates is because he writes articles about people looking at the sun without damage to their eye. This topic has been misunderstood by many, blown out of proportion by others, and fanatics love it. Please look past this and see the big picture: Eyesight problems have been proven to be preventable, reversible, and best of all, it’s easy and free to do.

An open mind facilitates peace, understanding and self-healing.