Prevent Short Sightedness

Over many years a teacher had observed that a lot of her students became more short sighted (myopic) nearer the end of term, so much so that they could hardly see the writing on the blackboard. She began to use the bates method of eye exercise using an eye chart on the wall. By the end of that term all children maintained their vision.

After eight years of using eye exercises few minutes each day with her students none of her students became short sighted. The school board and local opticians objected however and claimed that these eye exercises interfered with the school routine, and it was discontinued.

The bates method of eye treatment, as the name suggests, was discovered by opthalmologist William H Bates, M.D. Dr Bates was born in Newark, New Jersey, and taught in several universities during his career. The full bates method is a series of exercises that first relax the eye muscles and then retrain them to focus efficiently and without strain.

Bates found that most people get visual defects during school. The education system is one of duress where children are forced to sit for hours each day memorizing material that have no bearing on their lives. This type of education does not utilize all of the minds faculties and senses, therefore a “dulling” occurs. The same is of animals in captivity where the environment is concrete and closely enclosed; these animals develop myopia – short sightedness. Once the eyes have become “lazy”, the prescribed treatment are glasses or contact lenses. Bates described glasses as “crutches” for the eye. A habit of straining and tension is cultivated and persists unnoticed.

So what can you do? You can start exercising your eyes right now. You do not need expensive equipment – you don’t even need an eye chart. For example, try sitting relaxedly in a chair, maintaining good posture. Cover one of your eyes with your palm. Find some reading material such as a book or a magazine. Hold this about 6-8 inches away from your eye. Make sure there is a wall or something to focus on about 7 feet or so in front of you. Now, focus on the written material close up. Once you can see this, look at the object 7 feet in front of you until it becomes as clear, only spending a couple of seconds on this. Now alternate the two for a minute or two. Then change eyes. Simple!