If you suffer from eye problems, you may be interested in the opthalmologist Dr. William Bates who looked into the causes of eye problems back in 1891. He investigated beyond the normal physical eye defects and looked at such factors as:
1. Habits
2. Stress
3. Emotions
4. How the body and mind interact
The Bates Method came to fruition in 1920 when he published a book called, “Perfect Sight Without Glasses.” Basically, the book proclaims that wearing eyeglasses can actually make your eyesight worse, not better.
Bates believed that stress was a major contributor of poor eyesight and he conducted research on Eskimo children which suggested that their eyesight became worse when they entered school. He believed that mental strain was the cause for this deterioration.
This research became known as, “The Bates Model” and it calls for a variety of relaxation exercises and techniques to reduce eye strain.
These techniques include:
1. Sunning: directed light is shone onto your face, eyes closed, and you move your head from side to side.
2. Palming: covering your eyes with your hand to relax them.
3. Color Days: looking for a specific color during the day so that your perception is increased.
4. The Swings/Sway: trying to focus on an object held in front of you as you swing and sway – this forces you to experience movement around you.
Some of this might seem rather far-fetched, but there is some evidence to suggest that there might be something in these theories. It’s true that the evidence is a little thin on the ground and lacking in depth, but there are many health professionals who feel there is value in these ideas.
Of particular interest is the notion of stress and the interaction of mind and body. Today, we are becoming aware of the importance of the mind on our physical bodies and our physical health. The two are no longer seen as separate entities (something that many older civilizations have always known).
The bottom line, is to seek help from a professional if you are experiencing any kind of eye-related problem or disorder.