The method Bates ¹ is a discussed system of which the goal is to improve the vision by the means of a unit of practices which are supposed to slacken the eyes.

The heart of this method rests on a whole of exercises that Bates qualifies “releasing” and of “mobiles” (to read the FAQ more). The term “exercise” must be included/understood in the direction of mental exercises and not like exercises intended to reinforce the muscles.

There are several points of view in connection with the exercises to deal with the problems of sight.

• the ophthalmologists and the optometrists recommend the ocular exercises for a limited whole of problems, particulèrement those caused by muscular imbalances and ocular problems of coordination.
• the orthoptists have recourse to the ocular exercises. They estimate that such exercises are useful to improve a large range of visual problems, such as accommodation. It seems that the exercises suggested are clinically proven and are the subject of publication in specialized medical magazines.
• the Bates method differs from the others by an approach which points out that of the Médecine Alternative. In spite of the favorable results reported by more than one person, traditional medicine rejects the explanations which underlie it.

This method, exposed in the book perfect Vision without glasses , rests mainly on a series of exercises, such as:

• palming: to use the hands crosses from there to mask the eyes of the light;
• swinging: to balance the body by maintaining the eyes slackened;
• black veil: to imagine or visualize the perfect black;
• sunning: to expose the eyes in the light of the sun as often as possible.

Packsaddlled estimates that the eyes not adapt by the action of the muscles ciliaires on the Cristallin, but well by varying the lengthening of the eye by the muscles extraoculaires. Although the eyes of certain animals behave thus, modern biology and medicine reject this theory for the human one.

The usual procedure of dilation of the eye during the ocular examinations consolidate the generally accepted position. This one is done by the means of a liquid solution deposited on the surface of the eye, which slackens the muscles ciliaires temporarily. As of this moment, the eye cannot adapt any more, although it can point in various directions, which shows that the solution does not affect the muscles extraoculaires. If the theory the Packsaddlled ones were correct, then accommodation would be made. The partisans the Packsaddlled ones maintain that the method functions, it does not matter that it is founded on a nonverifiable theory.

Martin Gardner   ² describes the book of Packsaddlled like one whimsical compendium of definitely exaggerated cases of cure, nonfounded conclusions and crass ignorance of the human anatomy. On the other hand, it estimates that the method can function under certain conditions, because it increases the skill of the followers to interpret and extract information which comes from the fuzzy images.

Criticisms of the method concede that the majority of the exercises of the method are without danger, except if it encourages the followers who suffer from serious visual problems not quickly not to consult the specialists to obtain the suitable treatment. (To take note that one of the original exercises consisted with directly looking at the sun, which is very dangerous for the eye. The revision of its book, made in 1940, rather indicates to let the sun light the closed eyes.)

One of the subjects carrying with controversy is the utility of the exercises to treat the Myopie, and if the wearing of glasses worsens this one gradually.

Packsaddlled affirms that the apprehension (or anxiety, according to some) causes myopia. He believed that the perfect sight is the way natural to function and that any visual disorder is the reflection of this apprehension.

The contraction and the relaxation of the muscles ciliaires make it possible a person to adapt the various objects, which they are near or far. The partisans of the method estimate that to read books, to look at screens of computers and to observe other objects which are close, the muscles ciliaires weaken. They affirm that the various exercises suggested can reinforce these muscles and that the glasses are a crutch. They point out that the chart Tibetan of the eye is a tool used for a long time to maintain the muscles ocular in health and that the techniques of Acupression are used to improve the sight and to increase blood circulation in the eyes.

The principal objection with this argument is based on the fact that the muscles ciliaires contract to adapt on the close objects and slacken to adapt the objects to far. It is the accommodation of close which makes work these muscles. Therefore, of the weak muscles anciliaires the Hypermétropie and not the Myopie would cause. The contact lenses negative used to correct myopia encourage the muscles of the eye to work more extremely than with usual and should, consequently, reinforce those. The muscles ciliaires slacken when the eye adapts on the remote objects. Accommodation is based on the crystalline lens and the elastic action of the ligaments of suspension. It is difficult to conceive how renforcissement muscles ciliaires could improve the remote vision.

The method affirms that myopia is not caused by weakened muscles, but by a misuse of those. It seems that when a short-sighted person adapts a remote object, the ocular muscles are not slackened any more. On the contrary, they are tended in the same way that if the eye looked at an object of near. Dr. Bates believed that it is impossible to consciously slacken the eyes under these conditions, which led it to develop this method to encourage with the relaxation in an unconscious way.

If the cause of myopia is the continual tension of the ocular muscles, ciliaires or extraoculaires, the theory preaches that it is possible to cure it (or, at least, to significantly improve the sight) by supporting the relaxation conscious of the muscles. It is to be noticed that the use of Atropine supports the relaxation of these muscles, but does not bring significant improvements to the sight.

The interest growing for a few decades for the alternative medicine has brought back the method to the center of the topicality. Some estimate that a change Holistique of the person would improve the sight better than any exercise. Other methods of visual drive seem to give good performances.