The Origins
William H. Bates, M.D. was the founder of an approach to eye and vision care now taking his name: The Bates Method. He lived 1860-1931.
The Debate
There is much debate (some quite heated) as to the effectiveness of the program. Advocates on both sides tend to dig in, with eye care specialists, scientists, and vision professionals on one side and Bates enthusiasts on the other.
The Middle Ground
Middle ground is probably the best on this debate. For reasons which will be noted below, we only recommend certain parts of the Bates Method. On the other hand, we do not encourage an unquestioning use of modern eye and vision solutions. eg Glasses, contact lenses, and surgery. There is a time and place for all things, but nothing should be used without question.
The Eye Care Industry
The nett weight of our research suggests there is a vital role to be played by optometrists, and vision specialists. However, there is also too much blind acceptance (pardon our pun) of the solutions offered. Natural means of vision health should be the first, but make sure you know you are addressing the right issues with the best solutions.
The Bates Fans
The Bates Method has many followers, but do the exercises promoted really address anything beyond the basic vision problems? The Bates program may in fact lack depth when it comes to the muscles, suspensory ligaments, synchronization, and neural patterns and habits of many refractive or vision errors.
Of course, it must be said that some of Bates techniques are good. There is nothing wrong with relaxation techniques for the eyes and exercises which help eye muscle tone. However, there is a danger in this: people who place too much faith in such a system may delay seeking professional advice. There are some vision issues for which early treatment is very important. It is important to be sure what vision issues you are actually dealing with before locking into any solution, especially something like the Bates method where the exercises and routines are fairly basic!
The Power and Motivation of Both Industries!
There is a significant home grown industry promoting Eye Exercises. It is of concern that so much of what is being promoted contains very basic exercises. Many of which, while excellent for general well being of the eye and health, do not deal adequately with underlying vision issues.
People Want Help
There are many people who desperately seek a natural solution to vision issues, and so they should. I was very keen to find a natural solution also.
The Solution
It can be very difficult to sift out the facts from fiction! We suggest three simple steps:
First, know what vision issues you are dealing with. Don’t hesitate or be ashamed to have your eye and vision health checked.
Second, try to understand how your eyes work and the causes of your problem. We have a lot of easy to understand material on this site. Remember, if you don’t know why your vision is poor how can we be sure we have the right solution?
Third, Once you know the causes, find exercises, or treatment or both which deal specifically with your problem.
The Verdict on Bates
The negative side: Extract from Wikipedia (under Bates Method):
Although some people believe that they have been helped by following Bates’ principles, his techniques have not been shown to objectively improve eyesight,[2] and his main physiological proposition – that the eyeball changes shape to maintain focus – is demonstratively false.[3] In Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, mathematical journalist Martin Gardner characterized Bates’ book as “a fantastic compendium of wildly exaggerated case records, unwarranted inferences, and anatomical ignorance”.[3] Gardner suggested that Bates’ techniques may seem to work, to a limited extent, due to the eyes adjusting to seeing without glasses when they are put aside.[1]
Critics of the Bates method not only deny its efficacy, but go on to cite potential negative consequences for those who attempt to follow it, namely that they might overexpose their eyes to sunlight, put themselves and others at risk by not wearing their corrective lenses while driving, or neglect conventional eye care, possibly allowing serious conditions to develop.[3][4]=
The Positive side:
In spite of this negative view, there are many techniques from Bates which we believe are beneficial. For specific comment on some of the techniques used by Bates see our Review of Eye Exercises. Perhaps the negative press about the Bates Method comes because people either claim, or expect too much from it.
In short, the Bates Methods tends to be on a basic level, and should only be relied on as such. There are a far greater range of eye exercises available today. The Eye Gym is obviously our favorite, though we have researched and tried many many others. The Eye Gym, while a very easy and fun program to use, is a more intense program which deals with visual accommodation/focus clarity, and eye synchronization.
Eye Gym Download is just $24.95 Includes detailed 24 page Workbook, 12 Color Charts to take your eyes through every exercise they need (plus instructions on how to make your own unique Bead String and Popeye if you wish)
Copyright, Chris Barrett 2009
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