Improve Your Eyesight: A Guide to the Bates Method for Better Eyesight Without Glasses

Occasionally, someone who has experience improving their eyesight with the Bates Method writes a book to help clarify things for others. The Bates Method is comprised of many subtleties that just about everyone misses at first (and some people never get it). Many people who claim to understand it don't, so it's always refreshing to read a book by someone who knows what he's talking about, and this book is no exception.One unique offering is his explaining how there are two ways for the brain to block the visual process. One is to interfere with the mechanics of vision, by altering the eye shape with the extrinsic muscles, preventing proper blinking and shifting, and encouraging disease that impairs vision. The other way is what Barnes refers to as altering the consistency of the barrier between the subconscious and conscious mind. The first type of blocking (mechanical) tends to be more easily overcome than the second. The second is purely mental, when there is clear information that has made it through the visual system but it isn't recognized for what it is. So there are times when the eyes are working in an improved manner, but their signals are prevented from passing through the barrier (from the subconscious to conscious mind).That actually just summarizes one page, and the rest of the book is relatively simple. But if you're new to the Bates Method, read this text slowly, as you are going to miss important principles he slips in if you aren't careful.

As long as you are consistent with it, it seems to work. I have not been consistent. But again, it seems to work when applied.

If your eyes are young enough, this book may be of some help. If you're past 40, though, your eyes are going through a transition that nature cannot fix.

This short book (96 pages) was much easier to read than the original Bates Method. The educational information in how the eye works was just right - not too much and not too little. Also info on why we humans are prone to visual acuity, and why prescription glasses are not necessarily the best answer, at least not for healthy people without any type of eye disease was helpful.I'm only about 1/2 through with the book but already the techniques I've used have make a big difference, reducing my need or desire for sunglasses and making colors at night startlingly brighter and my far vision has returned to normal, so I can drive without glasses. Can't wait to use the other techniques and see if I can also improve my presbyopia (elderly eye far-sightedness).

I was already familiar with the Bates Method, but this book explains the method in a simple and understandable way.

Simple explanation of the anatomy of the eye with easy to follow exercises. Every year for the past 10 years my vision was getting worse and my last test it remained the same. I do feel it setting better though especially my peripheral vision which was deteriorating because of wearing glasses all the time.

The Author cured his near-sight (myopia, distant vision) by studying, applying the Bates Method of Natural Eyesight Improvement. He teaches the original Bates Method and some new, modern practices that Bates Teachers have created, tested, practiced successfully through the years from Dr. Bates time to present.He simplifies the method to make it easy to learn, practice, incorporate into your daily routine.Eyecharts, palming, sunning, how the eye works and functions with the mind. Many interesting subjects, activities to gain clear vision.Fun, easy to read, even the scientific parts are written professionally but for all to understand. This is a small book while covering all of Dr. Bates practices.Favorite part of the book is how he explains different types of eye 'shifting', a main Bates method practice, normal eye function. This function is imitated, practiced to return the eyes, brain/visual system's normal, natural shifting and other perfect movements. Tracking, searching, scanning, healthy high frequency tremor of the eyeball, saccades are some of the eye shifts explained. This new way of thinking about, teaching shifting improves my understanding and ease of the practice!He talks about the eyes fovea (back center of the macula-retina) and how the eyes shift to move the center of the eyes fovea (actually the central fovea 'foveola', visual axis. It produces the true exact central field, most clearest area of the visual field, much clearer than 20/20) from object to object, part to part, point to point on a object to produce perfect clear eyesight.I like the dominos drills and the variety of eyecharts. The number chart with identical copies in reduction of the chart on left, right sides of the large chart. Helps me to see that 10 line at 30-40 ft. more consistently.There are many things in this book that explain additional practices of the Bates Method, how the eyes-vision works, and how to return vision to normal function, clear sight, how to use the eyecharts and test the level of clarity. Relaxation, the mental side of seeing, emotions are clearly explained.page 96; Interesting how the eye doctors, surgeries could not cure a chalazion cyst in his lower left eyelid but when Jonathan stopped wearing glasses it healed by itself.Only a couple things I don't agree with;Page; 55, 57... and other pages; another kind of pencil fusion and fusion figures;Some of this is the artificial 3-D auto-stereogram magic eyes pictures. For some people this can cause double vision, strabismus; a wandering or crossed eye. It is a interesting game, but; myself and others experienced impaired eye movement and vision problems from this practice. (The Bates method alone corrected the eye-vision problems the artificial 3-D caused us.) It's fun to see the illusions the artificial 3-D produces, and you can detect if the brain, eyes are communicating, eyes balanced, if vision is less clear in one eye at certain distances, BUT; the side effects are not worth the use of this practice. The Artificial Fusion/3-D pictures can cause sprained eye muscles, detached retina, vitreous and other eye, vision problems. There are other plain, completely natural fusion tests, improvement exercises that do not produce side effects.The auto-stereograms are used by some Behavioral Optometrists but they must be done a specific way, exact/perfect and different for each individual person's condition. (The auto-stereogram practice can be completely avoided by using the Bates method only. So if you need this to correct strabismus, amblyopia; try the Bates Method first.)Jonathan Barnes is one of the few teachers that provided more advanced details about this 'illusion'. I learned part of a question that teachers on the forums could not answer. What is the brain doing to create this illusion? Exactly what part of the brain, eyes, retina... is causing one color pen to appear, then the other color and then both together in the illusion when you think about each color or both?; I think only a ophthalmologist, optometrist or neurologist maybe can answer this completely, but it's hard to find one that will speak to me; they are always too busy and say you have to be an ophthalmologist to be able to speak with me on my level. Idiots!)On page 54, 55; A method similar to the artificial 3-D; this is also unnatural, can cause eye, eyesight impairment; Placing 3 to 4 objects (pens...) in front of the eyes, in the central field. This is ok. BUT; then the person is directed to stare into space at nothing beyond the objects or before the objects causing an illusion of double images of the objects to appear in the left, right peripheral field, and to hold onto these images. The eyes, mind are not on the object in the central field. The eyes, mind are on double illusions of the objects in the peripheral field and are using the peripheral field of the retina, vision to see them. This is harmful. This is the opposite of correct use of the vision; correct is to see a object clear by using the central field. The true, safe, healthy way to see is; place the object you are looking at in front of the eyes, (in the central field) and look directly at the object. The object appears as one object. Blink and shift part to part on the object. Look at one object at a time. This is normal, healthy use of the eyes, vision, brain (visual system). Dr. Bates' Central Fixation with Shifting. Two of his main practices.The auto-stereograms in the book are very interesting but I did not stay with that part of the practice due to my past unpleasant experience with it in 2 other books and on-line pictures and because it is not the original Bates Method. It definitely affects the way the brain, brain hemispheres, visual cortex functions with the eyes, eye muscles, retina. Dr. Bates used something similar but different.Barnes book contains other more natural fusion practices that are very effective. I leave the auto-stereograms in the hands of the eye doctor.(Special Note; myself and another person I met that had vision problems caused by the auto-stereograms had neck injuries. Mine was caused by a couple unprofessional chiropractors; they misaligned C-1, 2, 4, 6, many around the T-1 shoulder area and others along the spine, hips. These are dishonest doctors that did this on purpose in order to try to sell endless treatments for life. They wanted 240 more to start. I still suffer some symptoms from their treatment back in Oct., 2009.) Tension, pulling on the spinal cord, brain stem and nerves traveling from it can affect the brain and nerves that control the eye muscles, eyes. Anything else that also unnaturally interferes with the brain, eyes, eye muscles function can cause eye-vision problems. Some modern teachers are now warning students to not do the auto-stereograms if there is any, even a slight imbalance of the eyes, muscles or other health problem. Jonathan, like the rest of us, was probably never told this by teachers in the past. Many famous, long time teachers place the pictures in their books with no warning. Used by an expert doctor; it might activate part of the brain that needs 'fixing'. But; try the Bates Method first.Page 20; States that advanced cataract cannot be completely cured with the Bates method. I do agree that a doctor's care is a must. False hope should not be given, but; Dr. Bates describes in his book, articles, magazines many cases of cataract and other eye disease (glaucoma, conical cornea, retinitis pigmentosa...) being completely reversed. See his eye muscle experiments in his book. I know a blind man that cured his sight; myopia, glaucoma and cataract to 80% clear vision and reversal of the conditions by mainly stopping use of his very strong glasses and doing a few of the Bates Method practices. Later, he went back to glasses after going through a divorce, losing his home... (Stress, unhappy emotions can temporarily lower the vision.) The eye doctor then prescribed the strongest glasses he had ever worn. - 8 and higher. After about a year he started seeing blue and other colored flashing lights and soon went blind. A blood vessel in his retina burst and the cataracts came back. Lights were not the migraine headache type; these were different. He does not have migraines.)He has now gone back to the Bates Method and swears he will never give into wearing glasses again.I like Jonathan's experience; He writes it starting on page 92 and other areas of the book also describe his experiences.The other thing I disagree with is, page 91; Says any glasses prescribed before age 7 should be worn as the eye doctor prescribes;. Dr. Bates disagrees; glasses block, impair the natural, correct development of the eyes, brain, visual system, the memory, imagination, all of the left, right hemisphere functions. This lowers ability to learn. Glasses are addictive and lead to stronger and stronger prescriptions, often causing the child to wear glasses for life. If they find the Bates Method; it may take longer to be cured if glasses have been used for many years and are strong. Some do get quick cures.For children, I like The Bates Method, this book and Janet Goodrich and her daughter Carina's books. I avoid the auto-stereograms in their books but the other practices are very helpful; How to Improve Your Child's Eyesight Naturally: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide Help Your Child to Perfect Eyesight Without Glasses Natural Vision Improvement And always my teachers books; Relearning to See: Improve Your Eyesight Naturally! Better Eyesight: The Complete Magazines of William H. Bates and Dr. Bates;  Perfect Sight Without Glasses Jonathan Barnes book is a absolute MUST HAVE to this collection. Just avoid the artificial 3-D... and eyeglasses.In Oct 2015 I notice that a certain reviewer (Papa...) is stealing text from my reviews; coping and pasting my work into his reviews and letting Amazon, customers think it is his review. Note to Papa...; Amazon keeps a record of edits, past text and present in reviews. I can prove this review is my creation from 2012. It is not Papas...; He is also doing this to other reviewers on Amazon, other bookstores.

Very technical, but has a couple of excerices which are worth doing. But i'm sure there must be better books on the "how to methods" of dr Bates.

I got Improve Your Eyesight out of the library. It was so informative and made so much sense that I ordered a copy. The copy I received is easier to read than the one I borrowed from the library. I don't need my reading glasses to read so I am much more likely to refer to it.

Really good book. But price is too high.

Sosodisfatto con is servizzio !!!! Libro in ottima condizione . * * * * * Devo leggerlo ma sembra professionale .

This is the fourth copy I have bought - I keep lending and giving copies away to friends. Some of the simple exercises really work, and you can measure the change. A great book for those of us who sit day by day in front of one of these damned computers, looking in the same direction, at the same distance, at the same level of light source, until our eyes just start to give up hope of any exercise. Then our opticians give us a better set of crutches for our 'couch potato' eyes, and on it goes.... This is the book that can stop the rot, and turn back time without surgery. Some of the exercises are a bit far fetched, but the basic ones are excellent, and the charts let you see if you are making progress...

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in improving eye sight in a natural way. I have read quite a a few books so far and this is one of the best. Great exercises, easy to follow, aimed at normal people who are not professionals!