My
Experience With The Bates Method
An
experience in driver's education was the first indication to me that
I was nearsighted because my instructor had pointed out that I was
squinting to see the street signs. She recommended I get my eyes
checked and in a short time, I was fitted with corrective lenses and
eventually relied on them to see permanently. I had wondered what
could have caused my eyes to become myopic because I had good vision
until then. Both my older sisters and brother had corrective lenses
as well as my mother so I figured it was out of my control. Years
later, I lost my glasses and went a week without them until I could
get an appointment to fit lenses. It was stressful to go throughout
the day with poor vision especially in college where it was necessary
for me to sit in front to see the white board. After my trip to the
optometrist, I was fitted with a powerful and uneven set of lenses
for compound myopic astigmatism I believe. The right being much
stronger than the left. Etched in my memory is the optometrist's
remark that I would not survive as a neanderthal with my poor vision.
Regardless of the absurdity of that statement, he was correct and I
kept wearing those lenses every day for the next three years.
Over
those three years I took a semester off school and transferred to
Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. It was during the last two
months of my sophomore year that I decided to relinquish my glasses
and revivify my eyesight. I remember taking off my pair of glasses
after playing guitar and realizing how blurry my vision was. This
was not a pleasing experience for me and I do not think it is for
many. Optimum health has always been of great importance to me and I
feel that it is so inaccessible, even in what people call a “first
world” country. Errors of refraction in the ocular system
certainly cannot be a sign of health. Money was also another
consideration for me because higher prescription meant new glasses,
which meant more money. My reliance on glasses was wearing on me and
I thought of a life-threatening situation whereby my lenses were
destroyed and I was left blind and essentially helpless. This did
not seem like paranoia to me and regardless, I thought it would just
be awesome to be able to say I cured my nearsightedness.
I
read Dr. William H. Bates work, The Cure of Imperfect Sight by
Treatment Without Glasses. I
didn't really understand a lot of the vernacular he used at first.
He talked about strain being the cause of errors of refraction and I
felt that relaxation blurred my vision, but once I tried the methods
of improving eyesight, I realized that the feeling was unique and
something that I must not be familiar with. I didn't know what
relaxation felt like because my eyes were in a constant state of
strain looking through my glasses. It took a mindful practice of the
Bates Method for me to discover that because when my vision cleared
up, I had feeling of relaxation and settling in my eyes that was
unlike when my vision blurred voluntarily. Swinging, is the
technique that first helped unfreeze my thought patterns of bad
seeing habits. I sat in my chair and gently swayed focusing on the
slightly blurry top of my laptop screen. As my focus shifted from
the background of a mesh fabric backboard on my desk to my laptop,
they swung against one another and began to become so distinct. I
noticed the depth between the laptop and the desk and marveled at how
vividly I could see at any distance without my glasses. The
improvement was minor but it convinced me that there was something to
the Bates Method. I practiced as much as I could for the next couple
weeks until I felt comfortable going to classes without my lenses.
Looking in the distance became a habit for me very quickly and often
replaced the subtle urge to squint, which was easy for me to stop
doing since it never helped my me see anything anyway. I spent the
last month of that semester without lenses. Since then, I had only
put them on a couple time to see what they were like and all I
remember is that it felt uncomfortable to look through them.
It
seems appropriate to introduce the Bates Method and its founder.
Ophthalmologist William H. Bates became curious in the cause of
errors of refraction and sought alternative ways of treating
imperfect eyesight. He developed ways of describing to individuals
how to think about seeing and relieve their ocular tension and thus,
over time, cure their errors of refraction. It is through his
studies that I have almost completely relieved myself of
nearsightedness.
The
method consists of variations and different applications of certain
principles of seeing influenced by the psychology of the observer.
Movement is essential to seeing clearly so many of the methods are
based on the perception of movement. Centralization of attention is
also important because it helps centralize the eye itself, which is
an act of movement. Other important key methods are palming, and
sunning, which are direct ways of gaining relaxation. Swinging is
essentially the act of perceiving motion to relax the eyes, like what
I did when I was swaying at my desk. Palming is the simplest and can
be the most beneficial way to relax the eyes and it consists of
gently covering the closed eyes with cupped and usually crossed
palms. The observer then waits faithfully for their visual field to
turn completely black and rests into it. Sunning is when the
observer allows the sun to glaze over their closed (very important)
eyes. This is a very simple overview of a few techniques. A more in
depth view can be found all over the internet but www.seeing.org is a
great resource to learn more about the variations on the method.
What
I want to address now is my initial belief that my eyesight was not
treatable and that errors of refraction are not curable. What it was
based on and why that notion is so prevalent. Textbooks are filled
with different theories on how the eye see and what actually happens
when accommodation, or focal distance adjustment, takes place. It is
important to note that no theory on this subject, like many others,
has satisfactorily explained all of the facts. Nevertheless, the
public seems to think that the final word has been made and that the
world we live in is hopeless for the eyes as the rate of
nearsightedess is rising rapidly and glasses are now even accepted as
fashionable. There was a time when wearing glasses was not as normal
as people accept it to be now but with the rise of economic conquest
comes the displacing of values towards financial gain rather than
holistic and natural ways of improving upon society. Eyesight would
not be a societal issue if there was not an industry founded upon the
dangerous principle that lenses should be relied on and promoted to
relieve people of their poor eyesight. The danger of this principle
comes with the primary assumption that lenses, surgery or some
artificial manipulation of the eye will help the illness subside or
cease but this is rarely the case. In most, the vision deteriorates
and the patient is left getting stronger and stronger lenses. This
is a profitable advantage to companies, who are required to make
gains to remain in operation. Going back to theories, Dr. Bates
discovered an important part of how the eye sees at different
distances.
By
doing experiments on dogs, cats, fish, rabbits and humans, he
discovered that the activity of the external muscles of the eye
actually played a role in accommodation. Before going to much into
his theory I want to give an overview of the eyes structure. The
exterior, white part of the eye is called the sclera and it is
actually made of essentially the same material that the cornea or the
front-most part of the lens is made of. The difference that creates
the transparency in the cornea is that the fibers of the sclera are
less organized and spaced than the fibers in the cornea, which are
latticed together to allow light to pass through. Inside the front
of the eye a fluid separates the cornea from the crystalline,
oval-shaped, capsule-like lens, which is attached to the inside of
the eyeball by a tendon. Another jelly-like liquid fills the inside
of the rest of the eyeball and the outward pressure of this fluid
helps sustain the shape of the eye. The colored part of the eye is
the iris and it is furnished with a diaphragm that changes the size
of the pupil, which determines the amount of light that can enter
into the eye.
The
light hits the back of the eye on the retina, a structure that is
thinner than paper but consists of ten different cell layers that
help process the impressions of light rays. The endings of these
cell layers contain rod-like and conical structures that translate
electrical signals into chemical signals. Both have distinct primary
functions and distributed differently throughout the outer region of
the retina, macula lutea and fovea centralis. The rod-like
structures are more numerous and sensitive than the cones. They
primarily sense movement so they are important for our peripheral and
night vision. What they do not do well is detect color so they are
not as densely packed near the center of the retina where the fovea
centralis is. The macula lutea is the elevation near the center of
the retina where visual acuity begins to increase dramatically. Rods
and cones in this region are more evenly distributed and in the fovea
centralis, only cones are present. The fovea centralis is
responsible for the most acute vision but is essentially blind at
night. The conical bodies are divided into red, green, and blue
response types. The most numerous are red cones (65%), then green
(33%), then blue (2%). Blue cones are the most sensitive of the
conical bodies and are typically located outside of the fovea. The
rods and cones are essentially neurons, or brain tissue that send
electrical signals that have been translated from light rays to the
brain where (about 90%) are processed in the visual cortex and the
others take pathways to centers that deal with balance, audio-spatial
reasoning, and the position of the head. Other important parts of
the eye are the extrinsic eye muscles, which are primarily used for
moving the eyeball's focal direction. There are six for each eye.
The recti muscles are the complementary, vertically and horizontally
positioned muscles called superior, inferior, interior and exterior.
The two oblique muscles wrap around the eye in a belt-like fashion
and according to Dr. Bates are responsible for accommodation.
Moving
on to the actual phenomenon of vision, the image seen by the
observer would not be complete without the inclusion of the brain's
processes. A very interesting and helpful aspect I found to
understanding vision came from a talk by neuroscientist Wai H. Tsang
about how neuroscience, psychology and cosmology relate to each
other. Tsang states that an image detected by the retina of the
human eye is actually static and looks something like a 16-bit
representation from a Super Nintendo game. How can we see such
detail in objects then? The simple answer is that the eyes vibrate
quickly and the brain ends up integrating many images to create one.
Each shift is a different representation of the image and when these
are all combined, the result is the appearance of detail. Every
second about seventy shifts happen to help facilitate or create
create a clearer image. This quick, jittery shifts are called
saccades or saccatic movements. When the light rays hit ganglion
cells layered above the rods and cones of the retina, it appears as
though the stimuli must constantly change or “bleach out” in
order to maintain responsiveness. Constant stimulation makes the
ganglion cells unresponsive so the more the eyes move, the more
changes occur in the light rays, thus distributing stimuli more
equally over the cells. This means that the eye in a state of
stillness does not sense light rays as readily as a constantly moving
eye. This is one reason why staring is strongly discouraged by the
Bates Method. If a point is of enough interest to hold a gaze, it
must be examined and explored to avoid eye strain, otherwise the eye
will stall and the image will appear blurry.
Another
aspect of the seeing process is the act of accommodation.
Accommodation refers to the process that occurs when the eye focuses
at different distances. This process and the mechanism behind it is
typically the reason for people's dismissal or contingency with the
Bates Method. Many assume that the problem of even slight errors of
refraction are due to a congenital cause, mainly because their
optometrist or mentors tell them. What I have noticed is that there
is an incompleteness or outright dogma for any explanation I've been
given. For example, one of the primary dismissals of Dr. Bates'
Method comes from the theory that the lens and ciliary muscle are the
only factors in accommodation. This theory was based on claims made
by Dr. Heimholtz who stated himself that it was simply an idea and
not a proven fact. He died in 1894 and even before his death, he
never got around to positively asserting the validity of his theory.
Another problematic fact that many experienced ophthalmologists will
observe is that accommodation is still possible in an aphakic (lens
removed, usually to relieve cataracts) eye. This could not be
possible if the action of the lens was the only factor of
accommodation. What Dr. Bates discovered through electrical
experiments with the extrinsic muscles of various animal's eyes and
his own experiments done with the retinoscope was that the extrinsic
muscles change the shape of the eye in order to accommodate at
different distances. He did not arrive at this conclusion through
simple conjecture as Dr. Heimholtz did. This conclusion was forced
upon Dr. Bates through his own research. He realized that the only
possible way the eye could accommodate and change shape was through
the extrinsic muscles of the eye, so it made sense to him to focus on
the manipulation in his patient's eye muscles, as well as the various
animals. The oblique muscles (mentioned earlier, the belt-like
muscles) in fishes, cats, rabbits, and dogs were cut. As undesirable
as this act may seem, it helped to prove that without those oblique
muscles, the eye could not accommodate in any of these animals. Dr.
Bates had no choice but to assume that the oblique muscles are a
factor in accommodation.
Now
the mechanism of vision is beginning to look a bit complicated. By
now, it should be obvious that many factors are involved the process
of seeing and if any of them are out of balance, an error of
refraction will be produced. Dr. Bates noted that the eye is
configured for distant vision when the extrinsic muscles of the eye
are completely relaxed. This allows the eyeball to be more spherical
so the light rays can come to a point on the center of the retina
rather than in front of or behind it. The relaxed muscles also allow
the eye to make the saccadic movements necessary to perceive detail
and gain a clear image of what is observed. Along with these muscle
movements comes the way the shape and of the actual eyeball is
changed and how different errors of refraction are produced. A
normal eye changes focal length precisely, easily, readily and
quickly as the attention moves from object to object. Errors of
refraction are usually produced when seeing becomes a struggle and
effort is utilized towards a negative visual habit. Along with is,
daydreaming (perhaps having a daymare), worrying, squinting,
straining, and lack of breathing along with many other things can
produce errors of refraction.
An
important component in eyesight recovery, especially at higher
degrees of refractive error, is nutrition. That was one of my first
considerations in regaining my vision because I've grown up with the
the idea that food I eat should be my medicine and any illness
present was simply of lack of resources or nutrition for my body to
overcome it. Eating healthy was not an issue for me as I was
primarily living off of rice, beans, spinach, pumpkin seeds, fruit,
and really any raw food I had an appetite for. I still lacked the
integrity of a truly nutritional lifestyle however and neglected to
completely remove processed foods out of my diet. Nevertheless, the
reason eating healthy did not revivify my vision while wearing my
glasses was simply because my eyes were not in the process of healing
as they were constantly straining to see through the lenses. My body
and brain saw no need to heal them because the visual information was
registering clearly in my mind but really my eyes were in a state of
strain. This prevented my ocular system from learning the different
muscle configurations needed to see near and far and a crucial
missing component was my mind's intention. It was not until I
stopped wearing my glasses altogether that my eyes began to heal.
When
I say healing, I mean the relearning of how to use my eyes the way
they were specifically designed to be used. Seeing as a skill is
unique from person to person because there a certain principles that
must be present from the eye to function properly, but each principle
can be applied in different ways and different orders. Each person
has their own idea of what is relaxing or helping their vision but
the end result is typically relaxation and smooth, precise movement
of the eyes. So the healing process includes the practice, however it
may be performed, of good vision, nutrition and healthy ways of
living. Going outside on a hike can be a healing activity for the
eyes, or not if you don't like the idea of that. Maybe reading a
book on computer is relaxing to somebody. That person could use
reading as a way to incorporate good seeing habits into their life.
After all, a good portion of the reading process requires you to see
clearly and your intention to centralize will influence the way your
eyes move along the letters. Allow precise movement to happen, do
not force it.
Going
back to nutrition, I want to talk about what foods are healthy for
the eyes and the brain so that you can have the necessary nutrients
to facilitate the rebuilding of your ocular system. Antioxidants (go
figure) such as Vitamin A, E, and C are necessary in proper retinal
function. Vitamin A can be found in the form of beta-carotene in
carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, basically any fruit that is orange
and vegetables that are green, like kale. Dark green, leafy
vegetables are also high in Vitamin C as are citrus fruits. The
short way of presenting this would be to say, “eat foods that
contain high amounts of diverse nutrients like antioxidants, fatty
acids, fiber, and minerals”. These are present in most unprocessed
and raw foods, which is why diet is such an important component in
the curing of disease. If your body does not have enough nutrients
it does not function at it's highest performance. I would suggest
consulting my sources or others for more information on eye
nutritional health because it is a dense topic.
What
I'm doing nowadays to save money and still get the necessary
nutrients for my eyes to be healthy is sprouting brown rice (cooked),
green lentils (raw), and combining them with leafy greens, carrots,
olive or coconut oil, turmeric, Himalayan Pink Salt (diverse in
mineral content), beans, salmon, etc. Sprouted brown rice cooks
faster (10 – 15 min) and has a higher nutritional content than
brown rice that is simply dried. It has 475% more antioxidants, 964%
more vitamin E, 614% more magnesium and 120% more fiber than regular
white rice. Sprouted Green Lentils are a good source of Vitamin C
This means less is required to provide the same amount of nutrients.
The taste is also better in my opinion. I try to keep my diet diverse
but steadily nutritious. I've also added a thrice-a-day tonic of
apple cider vinegar, turmeric and water, sometimes with minced
garlic. This helps maintain a variety of health benefits such as
lowered blood sugar and pressure, healthier skin, better digestion,
detoxification, more energy, and the preventing of common illness.
Vitamin supplements I have found helpful but not nearly as effective
as vitamins from food. When I first began my practice, I was able to
afford these two types of dried algae called Chlorella and Spirulina.
These are considered “superfoods that are highly rich in basically
every nutrient according Mike Adams AKA the health ranger. They're
in a capsule, powder or pressed form typically and are taken as food
would be eaten. Adams insists they are a complete food, which is
really convenient when you think about it. So I took 3-6 of both
kinds 3 times a day during the first three months of my practice.
This, I believe, was a large factor of my rapid improvement in
eyesight and understanding the Bates Method.
I
found the easiest and most practical way to practice the Bates Method
is by incorporating it into my subconscious daily habits. Besides
the science of the eye and the nutrition necessary to facilitate
healthy eyes is the actual practice and ways of thinking about
seeing. The healing will most likely not begin unless good habits of
seeing are practiced and bad habits are relinquished. Walking down
the street, sitting in a waiting room, driving, every single daily
activity is a chance to explore more of what you can see. It took me
three months to go from being terribly nearsighted to having
functional eyesight, granted my daily life did not require much
distant vision so I usually did not have a reason to strain. I also
took whatever opportunity I could to practice good sight. These
days, I do not strain to see and have a much higher degree of visual
acuity than I did before. The one thing I have not done is see an
optometrist about my eyesight and I most likely will not until I feel
I have perfect vision. I am confident that my vision is improving
and I believe that renders the optometrist's main job – prescribing
glasses – moot.
