Overview

The Bates Method teaches people how to improve their eyesight without lenses or surgery. The concept teaches people how to increase their chances of healing in cases of degenerative eye disease.

The Bates Method recognises that visual problems are rarely static: vision is a dynamic process and needs to be worked with in a dynamic way. Dr Bates maintained that the key to most visual problems was central fixation.

History

Before the turn of the 19th century, New York City based Dr William Horatio Bates (1860 - 1931) had become increasingly dissatisfied with conventional ophthalmological practice, and he consequently began his own research into eyesight disorders, which led to the development of The Bates Method.

As early as 1891 he had learned how to help people out of their glasses.

His dissatisfaction had begun when he observed patients with a refractive error (eg short or long sight) that seemed to spontaneously change for the better, sometimes to the point of a complete reversal of symptoms.

This led him to question one of the most basic assumptions of the accepted practice of ophthalmology; namely, that once symptoms of refractive error were present in a particular patient, then nothing could be done other than prescribing glasses.

Dr Bates went on to formulate a new set of theories about eyesight and he developed a method to help people to improve their sight.

The theories developed by Dr Bates are continuing to be taught all over the world, with professional teachers in many countries helping people to see better without glasses, lenses or disease.

Benefits

As it is an educational method, everything depends on the pupil's ability and willingness to learn. However, most of those who take it up seriously do experience substantial benefit. Obviously, if you have a severe and longstanding problem it may take some time to see results.

The method is not only for people with poor sight. Apart from the value of prevention, 'normal' sight can be improved still further and many people with good sight have experienced such benefits as improved concentration, faster reading, and better all-round co-ordination.

Children from about five years can work very happily with a teacher. Younger children can be helped by their parents with a teacher's guidance.

Computer users: Looking at a computer screen can become tiring and uncomfortable ... if you strain. By learning to keep the eyes relaxed while working many problems can be avoided. Many professional computer users now regard the Bates Method as essential training.

Procedures

The method starts with simple exercises in relaxation - to learn the difference between strain and relaxation. From there we can progress to learning to recognise the ways in which we defeat ourselves in the attempt to see and to overcome them by learning how to keep the mind in contact with what we are looking at while keeping the eyes relaxed.

We also use movement exercises to further develop relaxation and to help the eyes relearn the natural movement patterns that are vital for central fixation*. When this starts to work correctly, the system begins to automatically recalibrate itself.

You can learn basic skills in a few lessons and you can spend a lifetime refining the way you put them into practice. How much of that time you want to spend with a teacher is an individual choice ...

*Central Fixation means that you see best the thing that you are looking at.
For this to happen:-

i) the eye needs to be able to clearly distinguish the centre from the periphery.
ii) the eye muscles need to be able to move freely and sensitively.
iii) the eye muscles and all other parts of the visual system need to be relaxed.

Source of information: The Bates Association for Vision Education (BAVE)