THE CAUSES OF DEFECTIVE VISION
1. MENTAL STRAIN
The main cause of defective vision is mental strain which sets up a corresponding
physical strain upon the eyes and their muscles and nerves – thus leading to
defective vision. A highly
nervous temperament, with a tendency to mental tenseness and rigidity of
thought, is the cause of most cases of serious visual deficiency. The degree of defective vision in
all cases vary with the temperament and nervous condition of the individual.
Consequently, Dr. Bates concentrated his efforts upon
methods of treatment which will remove the condition of mental strain, and the keynote of the " Bates Method ” is therefore relaxation.
If the mind of the patient can be relaxed, then his eyes (together with the muscles and nerves connected with them) will become relaxed in turn, and similarly, if the eyes and their muscles and nerves can be relaxed, then the brain (and consequently the mind) will become relaxed in turn; and so we see that the Bates method of treatment aims at mental and physical relaxation.
If the mind of the patient can be relaxed, then his eyes (together with the muscles and nerves connected with them) will become relaxed in turn, and similarly, if the eyes and their muscles and nerves can be relaxed, then the brain (and consequently the mind) will become relaxed in turn; and so we see that the Bates method of treatment aims at mental and physical relaxation.
2. FOOD
Not one of the millions suffering from
old sight (nor their medical advisers)
realize that the wrong feeding habits
of 45 or 50 years of living are responsible for this change in their visual powers ; but this is
undoubtedly the case and normal
sight can be restored to any sufferer from presbyopia simply by the introduction
of a sensible dietary and the carrying out of
a few simple eye exercises.
To emphasize the vital relationship between food and vision, it needs only to be stated that there are on record
many authentic cases of defective vision being cured
simply by fasting.
The increased
elimination induced by the fact has the effect of unlocking the
accumulated stores of waste
products which have been clogging the muscles and blood-vessels
surrounding the
eyes, and as
a result the muscles are
relaxed and vision improved.
The two chief causes of defective vision
are mental strain and wrong feeding,
but there is a third factor capable of affecting the sight of the individual—thin
is an improper blood and nerve supply.
Unless the eyes
are fully supplied
with blood and nerve force, the process of vision cannot be carried out
properly; and so any
factor capable of
interfering with either the blood-vessels or the nerves
of the eyes is a possible cause
of defective vision.
Of course it is understood that both mental strain and
wrong feeding interfere with the proper blood and nerve supply
to the eyes, but
there are some purely mechanical ways in which this
may be brought about.
The chief seat of mechanical interference with the blood and nerve supply of supply The chief seat of mechanical interference with the blood and nerve supply to the eyes lies in the muscles covering the upper portion of the spine at the back of the neck.
It is necessary, therefore, in all cases of defective vision
to make sure
that the muscles at the back of the neck are perfectly relaxed and loose, and that no spinal defects are present. [Better Sight Without Glasses pp 38-43]
AIDS TO VISION: READING
The practice of reading is supposed to be responsible
for much eye-strain, especially when carried out in a bad light; but in point of fact, reading
is one of the best ways of keeping the eyes active and healthy,
and can never cause defective vision, no
matter how much reading is done, providing the eyes are relaxed the whole
time.
People with normal
sight can read
in any light without harm,
but those whose vision is defective, and especially those
who wear glasses, are subjecting their eyes to an additional strain every time they read.
In spite of this, however,
one of the best ways to restore
normal sight to those suffering from defective vision is
to make them read (without
glasses, of course) a fair amount every day.
If the reading is
carried out properly, nothing but good can result, but if it is done in the usual
manner, matters will be made worse than before.
The secret of successful
reading is to read without strain, and this is accomplished as follows:
Palm for a few minutes, then take a book
or newspaper
and begin to read at the distance you see the print best. For those
with myopia, this may be anything from twelve
to six inches, and for those with hypermetropia, or presbyopia, two feet or more.
Read a few lines, or a line, or even a few words, as the case
may be until you feel
the eyes beginning to tire. then stop, close the eyes completely
for a second or two, and begin again. Keep blinking regularly all the
time you are reading, and in this way you will
find yourselfable to read with ease
and without strain.
Reading, carried out in this
manner improves vision, and gives
the eyes work that they want to do – it is their function to see – but they must never be strained. [Better Sight Without Glasses pp 56-57]
