Date: 06 Apr 2000
Regarding Question 16 on your list
of FAQs - Do I have to stop wearing glasses
completely? I was surprised at your advice.
I've just read "Better
Eyesight with Glasses" by Bates from cover to
cover. However, I was a bit disheartened to read in
Chapter 20 'Home Treatment' that: "It is
absolutely necessary that glasses be discarded. No
halfway measures can be tolerated if complete relief
is desired. Do not wear weaker glasses and do not
wear glasses for emergencies. People who are unable
to do without glasses for all purposes (my
emphasis) are unlikely to be able to cure
themselves".
Although, I was feeling a bit
disheartened by this, as I found it extremely
difficult to go without glasses all the time, I was
surprised (but happy!) at your less strict view on
the complete discarding of glasses.
Do you recognise Bates's view on
this as stated in the book? and how did you come to
your more lenient (contradictory?) conclusions about
leaving them off when it's convenient and having the
strength progressively reduced?
It's
important to note that your quote comes from a
chapter on Home Treatment - the implication being
that there is no teacher involved. Usually if a
person's eyesight is too poor to do without glasses
(for all purposes) then they would be very likely to
need professional guidance to help them to see
without their glasses and without strain. I think
Bates was implying that home treatment was not
advised for people in this condition as they would
strain too much while trying out the method.
In teaching such people I occasionally (as do many
other Bates Teachers in the UK) will help with a
program of reduced prescription lenses - thus the
person still has some room for improvement, without
the Method disrupting their daily tasks. Getting
reduced prescriptions can really only be safely done
in conjunction with guidance - there is an enormous
pressure to make an effort when things are 'almost in
focus' so learning to release the habit of strain is
paramount.
And of course, the reduced prescription glasses do
not have to be worn continuously, so the main
practice of the Method takes place without glasses.
©Studio Bates 2000
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