Help Yourself to Better Sight [Paperback]

This book is amazing. I recently took part in a course, based on Dr. Bates' methods. In fact, my entire family i.e. wife and daughter attended. My number was -2.25 (each eye), while my wife had recently been prescribed reading glasses, and my young daughter (10 years old) had also been recommended glasses of -1 diopters.
After attending this course, my eye-sight improved within two weeks, and my power reduced from -2.25 to -1.5 (each eye). My Occulist couldn't believe this was possible, till he tested my eyes himself, and is now convinced of these methods. My wife and daughter got rid of their specs within two weeks !! Since they had never really worn them, it was easier for them. In my case, I am told that it will take between two to six months to reach that stage, so I am diligently practising all the recommended exercises, including sunning, palming and the various swings described so well in this book.
Once again, an excellent book.

This book, originally published in 1949, conveys Corbett's excellent understanding of the Bates Method. She was one of the people whom Dr. Bates trained extensively to teach the method to others. This is now one of the top books I recommend to other people interested in improving their vision, not because Corbett delves deep into any complexities, but because she presents the Bates Method in a very straightforward, truthful way, without making any of the mistakes that even well-meaning Bates followers often make. This book is a great starting point.

Corbett's book is simple and easy to read, and only about 220 pages. I am a presbyopic in my late 40s: I have age-related nearsight deterioration. When I started reading the book, I needed my prescription glasses (+1.50 in both eyes) to see. Today, Dec. 2007, I am writing this review without needing my reading glasses. It's amazing! I still remember the day I was able to read the newspapers again without needing reading glasses. I was able to see all the words very clearly in good daylight. I still use (weaker) glasses sometimes (+1.00), especially when reading under dim light. But the more I learn and apply from this book, the better my eyesight gets. I must confess--I don't do the exercises every day, but they still work.

I purchased this book in October 2007 together with "Relearning to See: Improve Your Eyesight--Naturally!" by Thomas Quackenbush, hoping that it would make it easier for me to get started on the method so I could read all the details and research later in Quackenbush's thick book. This turned out to be a great decision. I still haven't started to read "Relearning to See" yet, and I haven't attended any vision courses because there are none in my area. My amazing vision improvement is simply due to this little, inexpensive book that covers everything you need to know.

Chapters I and II explain exactly why Dr. Bates' simple techniques work--why such a simple method is so tremendously effective. It explains that one type of "seeing" is good, and another type will damage you eyes. We must learn how to apply and maintain good vision practices.

Chapters III and IV are dedicated to relaxation, explaining how to achieve the kind of physical, mental, and eye relaxation needed to reduce eye strain and regain good eyesight. They provide exercises anyone can do. According to Dr. Bates, once clear eye-sight has been compromised, the relaxation techniques presented are essential in preparing the eyes for achieving perfect vision. And it works because I was able to read newspaper text (in good daylight) without reading glasses after applying the techniques in chapter III and breaking the bad vision habits as explained in chapter II.

Chapter V explains why the bad way of using your vision damages your eyes and what part light plays in the vision restoration process. Chapter VI focuses on daily vision exercises for myopic (nearsighted) people, to re-educate their eyes to see clearly in the distance without prescription glasses. Chapter VII is for people like me, presbyopic (age-related diminished near sight) or hyperopic (farsighted); It provides techniques to help us re-educate our eyes to see close-up clearly for reading and detail work.
Chapter VIII presents exercises for people with unequal eyesight, where each eye sees differently, and for people who are crossed-eyed. These exercises teach the eyes to align with each other for improved vision. Chapter IX gives a summary of the basic daily drills suggested for the different types of eyesight problems. There are also chapters focusing on eye training for babies and small children, people with dim vision, and those experiencing color blindness.

The techniques presented are to be done as a daily program, meaning, it will require work, determination, and persistence. And don't underestimate the importance of the relaxation techniques, they are key to your success. Nowadays, when I feel my eyes getting blurry, I just practice some of the relaxation techniques: one of the swings, or palming, or both, and I'm good to go again. Really, do not underestimate the power of these very simple techniques.

Corbett does a good job presenting the Bates method. It works! I am still amazed that now I can read without having to reach for my glasses. I can't wait to see how my optometrist will react during my next eye-checkup appointment.

UPDATE, Feb. 6, 2012

In the meanwhile, I've been twice to my optometrist. Since doing these simple exercises (sunlight, palming, and body swings) I now only have to go once every two years. The great news is that my optometrist has NOT had to give me any new/higher prescriptions for my reading glasses. Eyes are healthy and I am still using my low (+1.00) strenght, inexpensive readers in dim light or at night, and nothing in bright/daylight. Her advice: Just keep doing what you're doing. The interesting thing is that I HAVE fallen off the bandwagon often, but I still try to get these light, darkness, and focus combination exercises in on a somewhat regular basis. I do have to say, that during the longer periods when I've been too busy to do the exercises, I've cheated and used pinhole glasses (and still do) for reading in dimlight at home and used my low strenth readers in public (I did research on these glasses for a college class--btw, these glasses DO NOT exercise your eyes or cure your eyesight as is often claimed, they just channel light to the center of your pupils to help you see better without damaging the focus ability of your eyes like glasses do); anything to avoid using the readers too often or too long. This way my eye sight has not gotten worse at all. I am still amazed that the weird exercises in this book have helped me so well for so long (with a little help from the pinholes when too busy to exercise.) I've noticed that the more I use reading glasses the faster my eyes deteriorate. But with the pinhole glasses, my eye sight stayed at the same strength and did not deteriorate. (NOTE: Just in case someone might consider them, pinholes don't work if you need glasses stronger than +6.00. Also, not everyone can adjust to the bee-hive vision AND it gives you a little headache in the beginning. So, it's not for everybody). The exercises in the book are the best way to go.

One more note, though, since I don't exercise as often as I should. I have lost the ability to read small print without glasses. I had regained the ability to read tiny print in 2007-2008. Today, I need a magnifier (not always but most of the time) when/if I come across small print. But, I am SOOOOOOO happy and grateful I found this book, it has made a long-term difference to my eyesight and my wallet (upgrading your reading glasses every year can become quite costly.)