Bates Method – Part 1

For most people their sight is their most important sense.  This is probably due to the fact that about 80% of the information we take in via our sense is through our eyes.

If you have impaired vision as I do, we all know the standard options:

  1. Glasses
  2. Contact lens
  3. Laser Eye Surgery

There is one more option, the Bates Method that most people aren’t aware of.  Developed by a New York ophthalmologist he published his method in 1919 (yes 1919!).   People with

  • Myopia or short-sightedness
  • Hypermertropia or long-sightedness
  • Presbyopia or “old-age” sight i.e. loss of reading vision as you get older
  • Astigmatism

have all responded to the Bates Method.

In 1957, C A Hackett a Bates Method Teacher (the Bates Method is a instruction manual), analysed 10 years of her work in which she treated 2180 patients with problems with their eye sight.  She found 75%  achieved lasting improvement and 45% were able to do without their glasses completely.

Right now you are probably thinking, “if this is so great, why haven’t I heard of it before?”.  That’s a good question, and the answer probably is because it’s a way of re-educating your eyesight.   Which means it takes time and definitely isn’t a quick fix.

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