Can doing eye exercises help improve vision?
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free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:02 am

I've read that they can and wonder if anyone here as seen an improvement in their vision after doing them for a while. If so, how long before you noticed your vision had improved and which exercise in particular do you think helped?

free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:48 pm

Hi Sandooch many years ago, I came across Bates Method but I never used it long enough to even know if it works. There are people who swear by it, while others will argue that it cannot change the basic shape of your eyeball so will not correct nearsightedness or farsightedness--although that may also depend on the refracting index of the lens and the muscles that control it...so *shrug*

I guess you have nothing to lose trying the suggested exercises. I am naturally shy so feel "safe" behind my glasses and so don't even care to were contacts, so I'm not really pressed to get rid of my glasses, which might explain my lackadaisical attitude to the therapy. Neutral

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:06 am

Hi Sandooch,

I just found on Amazon a book you may want to read.

It's a remake of another book i've read many years ago in russian. The author is a bit extravagant, but it will be fun reading and it should contain exact description of author's method to improve vision. Many years ago he developed a set of exercises to improve vision and claim many successful stories.

He is practicing for several decades, mainly working with elder people, but he had several experimental groups of kids as well.

http://www.amazon.com/experience-fool-epiphany-about-glasses/dp/9549589986/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327423855&sr=1-1

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:36 pm

Thank you both for those links. I'm off to check them out!

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:44 pm

YB wrote:

Hi Sandooch,

I just found on Amazon a book you may want to read.

It's a remake of another book i've read many years ago in russian. The author is a bit extravagant, but it will be fun reading and it should contain exact description of author's method to improve vision. Many years ago he developed a set of exercises to improve vision and claim many successful stories.

He is practicing for several decades, mainly working with elder people, but he had several experimental groups of kids as well.

http://www.amazon.com/experience-fool-epiphany-about-glasses/dp/9549589986/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327423855&sr=1-1

YB That book looks so funny that it's already on my list.

OT: I am such a book fanatic that my hubby swears I need an intervention the way I buy books as if they are running out. And while I do like audio books for the convenience, I don't think anything can replace the feeling of turning pages...and the smell of old books. *sigh* The only reason I'd want a Kindle or Nook is so as to have the excuse to have more and more books without anyone telling me anything about taking up space. Neutral

Yeah, I probably need help...but I'm not asking for it just yet. Very Happy

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:13 pm

You might want to read this link as well:

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/eyequack.html

free skin care · Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:08 am

Thank you, Lacy.

free skin care · Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:48 pm

hey nonie I am with you on the books front, I have boxes of books having been read and yet to be read
Laughing

I also love the idea of turning the pages and the smell too, my husband thinks I am a "book hoarder"

But then I do have about 3 or 4 on the go at the same time, so maybe he has a point
Exclamation

Sorry for diverting the thread, but It was funny reading Nonie's post

free skin care · Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:03 am

Thread hijack alert! (Sorry guys)

Hey 10Sylvia5 *waves* It's a pleasure to meet a kindred spirit. At least when I end up in rehab, I can count on having a friend there: you! Smile

Yes indeed! When the people in white coats come to get me, I won't be going down alone. I'll be giving them your name too coz I refuse to do time alone! Laughing

It's all in love: we've gotta stick together! Razz

/Hijack over. Returning to the normal programming...

free skin care · Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:10 pm

Okay, I don't know if Bates was right about his *theories*--and I have read some scientific articles saying that Bates was wrong--but even if his theories and experiments were wrong, some of his techniques do work. Centralization and movement are the most important ones, in my experience.

I saw no changes in vision for 3 years, and now have seen some improvement. When I use the Bates techniques and it's during the daytime, I can use glasses with a prescription of -2.5 and see about 20/40. Otherwise, I require -3.5 glasses to see that well. But it took me about several years to get there (with sporadically trying it).

It's really not about the exercises. You're not going to see any improvement with just doing exercises. Rather, the exercises are a way to relearn the proper technique of using one's eyes, which leads to better sight. So it's really about using the techniques ALL the time. And the key thing is that you need to re-learn (1) how not to stare (movement) and (2) how to centralize/focus--those are the key ideas behind the Bates method.

Essentially, the eye is like a camera--it focuses on objects at very close difference and very far differences. People with sight problems are usually able to focus either at objects at near distances (near-sighted) or objects at far distances (far-sighted). What this means is that they no longer have the same "dynamic range" (scientific term); it's sort of like a runner who can only do sprints but has lost the ability to run a 5 K. They have a shorter range of abilities. But the key question in my mind is why can an eye adjust to see some things but not others? It's not that the eye is defective in all faculties, but rather it can't *adjust* to see at all distances. The key idea is that to see properly, the eye must adjust its focal plane over a wide range. Bates had an explanation for how the eye could do this through the eye muscles, and did experiments that he thought proved this. Though Bates's experiments might have been wrong, as many scientists/doctors claim, amazingly, scientists and no one else has a better explanation for how the eye adjusts its focal plane in order to focus. So I find it absolutely mind-boggling that we do laser surgery and cut into the eye ball, yet we have no idea about the physiology of what allows the eye to adjust its focal plane!!

Also, if you want to try improving your vision, I suggest getting a prescription that under-corrects your eyesight, and it's very difficult (I'd wager almost impossible) to improve if you are using your current strong prescription. It would be like learning to walk again while using crutches all the time. I'd recommend getting one normal pair (that corrects you to between 20/20 and 20/40) and one undercorrected pair that corrects you to around (20/70 - 20/100) to use for closer distances. I use three different prescription glasses: one for close reading, one for daytime driving, and one for nighttime driving. I found several years ago that that helps protects my eyes from getting worse, because if you use a distance prescription for reading a book, that will only make your eyesight decline fast as your eyes will try to compensate for the "overcorrection" by making you even more nearsighted.

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:35 am

That is very interesting, cm. So since I only have trouble with farsightedness while reading (had laser surgery years ago to correct my nearsightedness) and my prescription is 1.75, should I get a pair that is 1.50 or lower?

Also, I'm confused as to how long to wear them: Always, half the time or occasionaly? Do I keep reducing the prescription when I feel my eyes sight is getting stronger?

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:01 am

Hey Sandooch,

What I am doing is very experimental. It has worked for me, but as Lacy points out, it's considered quackery.

I can only speak from my experience using the techniques. If your prescription is only 1.75, I think you could go down to 1.25 or 1.0 for close to moderate distances (e.g., in front of a computer, cleaning up in your kitchen), and still see most of what you need to see just fine. My basic formula for whether to wear the lower prescription is if I am just reading, working in front of the computer (which is most of my day), or just around the house, I use the lower prescription. For driving, seminars, anything that requires distance vision, or if I just feel I want to see a bit more for a while, I put on my stronger prescription. And for me personally, one of the benefits of this is that I have distance vision whenever I need it, but can read books and my computer without headaches or unhappy eyes after hours of reading. So it works great for me!

And yes, the goal is to reduce your prescription over time. But do not self-diagnose here, but rather have your eye doctor do it and determine whether your prescription is indeed improving. And I now always ask my optometrist to give me two prescriptions: one for distance vision (perfect distance vision) and one for computer use (from trial and error, I found that for me personally asking for 1 diopter less is perfect for me, so that's what I ask for). So that's how I work it. And finally, I buy my glasses from Zenni optical, which makes very cheap glasses, and makes doing all this more affordable.

That said, it makes me nervous to recommend something specific for someone else. One, none of this has been validated. Two, I only have my own experience to go off of. And three, I found out what worked for me through trial and error, which involved wasting money and time on some bad purchases over the years--it definitely took a while to figure this out. I wouldn't want someone else to go through the same unless they were willing to face these challenges and be persistent and patient for the long haul, and with the understanding that it may not work at all.

HTH Smile

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:18 am

It seems to work better for people with weak nearsightedness and as a preventive measure. My mother always told me look out the window every so often when I was reading. Just focusing near and far is good for the eyes. Staring at TV or the computer screen is bad for the eyes.

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:03 pm

Thank you both.

When I had my Lasik surgery done years ago, I was in Heaven that I didn't have to wear contacts/glasses for my nearsightedness all the time like I had been for the past 25 years or so. Then, not even 3 years later, I started to have problems reading small print. Lo and behold, my optometrist informed me that I was now farsighted. Bummer! Only a few years with perfect vision. Getting older stinks sometimes. Laughing

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:43 pm

Hi There,

Thought I would chime in here.

I have a girlfriend who went in for lasik. She is one of those "coke bottle" girls with her glasses.

It turned out the lasik didn't take. Her doc. (considered one of the best in the Bay Area), indicated that it must be that her muscles are weak. Basically, you can have one of two different issues. (excuse my lack of terminology, not my area). However, her doc. had her come in for what I would consider PT for her eyes. Teaching her various exercises. And low and behold MONTHS later, her vision improved drastically. Basically, she was a combo problem.

My point is that for SOME eye exercises will absolutely make a difference. For others it's NOT their problem, and will do nothing. I basically have NO idea how you would know which category you fit into short of trying it. If it works, then you know.

That said, we have a person in our family with a cranial disorder. His eyeballs are exposed in a fashion that is a bit "bart simpson" in appearance. I've WATCHED him work his eye muscles to literally zoom the eyeball forward. He has complete control over this. He thought this was a funny thing to do to kids that made fun of his appearance (which was rather alarming). He's has quite the personality!!!! Interestingly, his mother is nearly blind, he however has pretty good vision. Not perfect. But good.

I for one am afraid of lasik. When the doctors won't have themselves done... forget about it. I can't see my own face in a bathroom mirror without contacts. Don't regularly wear glasses as I can't stand to see only forward with zero peripheral vision. Not a safe driving situation for example!

free skin care · Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:45 pm

sandooch wrote:

Thank you both.

When I had my Lasik surgery done years ago, I was in Heaven that I didn't have to wear contacts/glasses for my nearsightedness all the time like I had been for the past 25 years or so. Then, not even 3 years later, I started to have problems reading small print. Lo and behold, my optometrist informed me that I was now farsighted. Bummer! Only a few years with perfect vision. Getting older stinks sometimes. Laughing

OMG... I HEAR you! I went in for my eye exam to get a new RX for contacts and my doctor just went on and on... "Says here you're almost 40! You're gonna need reading glasses soon" Seriously? Contacts AND reading glasses?

free skin care · Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:50 am

Yeah, I just found out from my optometrist a while ago that EVERYONE has to get reading glasses at some point. That blew my mind, I had no idea. Neither of my parents ever got them, and they read a ton! But I know they couldn't read the fine print.

And not that I do a lot of eye exercises, but I'm a big believer in them. Not just for vision, but for the look & health of my eyes in general now.

free skin care · Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:21 pm

I'm 60 and I can read a dime. I'm also a addict to reading. But I'm nearsighted. In any case, not everyone needs reading glasses past 40.
My father, who always had excellent vision, told me that when he got bi-focals for reading, his eyesight worsened immediately.

free skin care · Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:25 pm

Well, silly me. I thought getting Lasik surgery would give me perfect vision for the rest of my life: Nearsighted and farsighted. Guess I should have asked the doctor about that before I had it done.

Oh well, it was nice having perfect vision while it lasted. Wink

free skin care · Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:16 am

Wow, thanks MA. I'm not surprised, but quite shocked that my optometrist would give me false information. Don't like the sound of that AT all!

My right & left contacts were different strengths, but the little dots wore off the right ones so I didn't know which were which and just used them interchangeably. When I went in for an appt a few years later (I didn't have access for a while), they said my eyes had become the same. I think this is evidence that your eyes adjust.

Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:03 pm

sandooch wrote:

Thank you both.

When I had my Lasik surgery done years ago, I was in Heaven that I didn't have to wear contacts/glasses for my nearsightedness all the time like I had been for the past 25 years or so. Then, not even 3 years later, I started to have problems reading small print. Lo and behold, my optometrist informed me that I was now farsighted. Bummer! Only a few years with perfect vision. Getting older stinks sometimes. Laughing

Really? I had my Lasik eye surgery done more than 5 years ago and to this day I still have perfect vision. My eyesight wasn't that bad to start with before though, I think it was 150?

free skin care · Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:34 pm

Katarinaduchess wrote:

sandooch wrote:

Thank you both.

When I had my Lasik surgery done years ago, I was in Heaven that I didn't have to wear contacts/glasses for my nearsightedness all the time like I had been for the past 25 years or so. Then, not even 3 years later, I started to have problems reading small print. Lo and behold, my optometrist informed me that I was now farsighted. Bummer! Only a few years with perfect vision. Getting older stinks sometimes. Laughing

Really? I had my Lasik eye surgery done more than 5 years ago and to this day I still have perfect vision. My eyesight wasn't that bad to start with before though, I think it was 150?

Oh, my nearsightedness is still perfect. It's just that now, 5 years later, I am farsighted. The doctor told me that the surgery that corrected my nearsightedness wouldn't have any affect, as I got older, in helping me not become farsighted. Crying or Very sad

Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:48 am

If you want to improve your eyesight naturally, you should know first the eye exercises that can strengthen the muscle of your eyes & reduces eyestrain, eye exercises such as Call The Ball, Follow Your Thumb, Palming, Bead And String, Look Away. Healthy diet is very important too, eat foods like Carrot, Eggs, Milk, Apricots, Berries, Black Currants, Cold-water Fish, Collard Green, Grapefruits, Grapes, Lemons, Plums, Spinach, Fish Oil, Raw Garlic(fresh).

bit(dot)ly/HowGetRidOfYourGlasses
♣ ♣

free skin care · Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:33 am

Thanks so much, Mike!

Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:09 am

Hi there! Im just a newbie here and I just want to add some thing up about eye exercise. Ive known 5 steps and here it is, Blinking, Palming, figure of eight, near and far focusing and lastly zooming. I hope this has stimulated your interest in natural vision exercises and it leads you to research this subject more. I am by no means an expert on this subject so please do your own research. I can only tell you what works for me. Thanks

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