"There is a prevalent impression in the public mind that when any difficulty in seeing becomes apparent, there is no other help available but wearing of artificial lenses. This vague consciousness might be spoken of as a belief. But it is not a belief that is founded on any knowledge of the subject. The public mind knows very little of the factors or the mechanism of vision; it asks no questions, and it does not even consider the plain facts which are generally known. Just a little consideration of the many simple, established, obvious aspects of this most vital question arouses an astonishing reaction to a situation which is of national importance."

-Esther van der Werf  from "Visions of Joy" another source of info for my research.

She addresses the prevalent attitude towards poor vision very well.  She also addresses the damage our capitalist economy has on the cure of imperfect vision by stating:

"Whatever may be the belief of those who have glasses to sell; or whatever may be the individual attitude toward the question of wearing or not wearing spectacles, there still remains a problem which has a most vital public interest. Those who are concerned in the future of the United States will do well to analyze the situation. Every thoughtful American should consider the promise there is in this avowed purpose to make every citizen of his country helpless without a pair of artificial lenses on his face. It is certain that the longer glasses are worn the more helpless the wearer becomes if he is obliged to see without them. The vast number who are already in that condition is not so serious a
question as is the fact that in recent years this number has been increasing at a rate which multiplies itself each year. The strange and ironical and dangerous aspect of this subject which has a tremendous national interest, is that if  and when the eye is taught to be itself, the salvation of the eye will involve an interference with the merciless greed of commercialism."

One cannot deny the various forms of damage done to this entire planet through the greed of green paper and ultimately power.  One thing I avoid at all costs is the relinquishing of my life's vision in exchange for paper.  I understand that some people just need to use their glasses because their job requires clear vision and I cannot expect people to begin living without making money but even when I was driving at night after ditching my glasses,  I would only use them if I felt extremely uncomfortable.  All my effort was put towards the calming of my nervous system rather than trying to see because the more I relaxed, the more clear my vision became.  Some, including myself would call me crazy for going 3 months without using glasses. I was practically blind but it was that blindness that forced me to relax.  Nothing else mattered because I couldn't see anyway! I found myself being so grateful that I could ditch my glasses for good and tend to my eyes because my priority is my health... not money.  Once I began noticing results and being able to read most of what was on the chalk board at school... yes they still have chalk boards at my school... I realized that my efforts were bringing results!

Within 5 months my vision was back to functionality and I could be comfortable with the decision never to rely on my glasses again.  At first it was difficult to accept that what I was doing to myself was for the best.  Nowadays, relaxation comes naturally to me and I hardly have any problems with my vision.  Soon I will make the higher degrees of visual acuity a habit, which is the main idea.  Once you figure out what improves your vision at all, do it over and over and over until seeing poorly is automatically recognized and fixed by the mind.  I theorize that the decision to look at something begins a subconscious mental process that can be refined and quickened.  William Bates said it can be as quick as thinking differently.  I believe that people with perfect vision have refined that mental process so well and never lost it because they never got in the way of the natural process of seeing.

Interesting that the Bates Method was founded in America but seems only to have prevalence in Europe.  Way to go America... enjoying that fluoride in your water too?

http://www.visionsofjoy.org/ another great website and source of info.