The Bates Method was created by Dr. William H. Bates, an ophthalmologist. He graduated at Cornell University in 1881 and received his medical degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1885.  He then entered a residency at Columbia University Hospital in New York.  It was during this time that he first began to develop what is known as The Bates Method.

Dr. Bates started seeing a lot of patients with eye problems and became increasingly dissatisfied with conventional ophthalmological practices.  He consequently began his own research into eyesight disorders.  He had observed patients that had difficulty seeing both near and far which seemed to spontaneously change for the better, sometimes to the point of a complete reversal of these symptoms.  This is when he started to create many vision improvement methods.  He believed that anyone could see without the use of glasses.  His methods were soon developed which taught the eyes ways to improve and heal themselves.

He specifically was interested in helping school aged children.  He felt they could absorb more knowledge without straining their eyes.  He soon learned that most bad habits as well as eye problems actually start in school age children.  Children have a natural curiosity to learn new things.  Unfortunately, when they are forced to learn material that has no interest to them, their mind gets tired and their eyes start to strain.

Whenever you are presented with new information, this causes the eyes to strain so that your mind can memorize the material.  Each and every day, children are forced to absorb new information, whether they find it interesting or not.  Due to this everyday occurrence, their eyes aren’t able to relax or take a break.  This is how The Bates Method has been able to help.

By creating a large chart full of common shapes and letters and placed on the wall in front of the classroom, the children were encouraged to look at the chart whenever they felt discouraged or overwhelmed.  When the children looked at the chart for just three minutes a day, it took the strain away from their eyes.  This method was implemented in a few schools and the teachers noticed a vast improvement in their concentration.  Unfortunately, the school board felt the method was too distracting so the method is no longer in practice. China is now the only country that still teaches students vision training.

The Bates Method has proved that by practicing these simple methods, just about anyone can be helped.  It’s as simple as creating your own chart and placing it in your office.  Just by glancing at the chart several times during the day will help keep the eyes relaxed which will alleviate strain on the eyes.  By training your eyes to relax will help improve your vision today and for the rest of your life.