The Bates method is an alternative therapy. It's aimed at curing and correcting defective eyesight and eye diseases through a series of specific exercises. William Horatio Bates, MD (1860-1931) created this method of treatment after years of study and research. Bates observed that refractive errors such as myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism were caused by habitual strain on eye muscles and other poor habits of processing visual information. The Bates method incorporated techniques designed to restore perfect eyesight without any need for eye-wear, surgery, drugs, or any other orthodox medical practices. Bates believed that the mainstream methods of treating eye defects were, in fact, harmful. The techniques coined by Bates included palming, …show more content…
Accommodation is the process whereby the eye sustains focus on an object as the distance of view changes. Bates noted that there are six muscles surrounding the eyeball that are responsible for accommodation. These muscles temporarily alter the shape of the eyeball to maintain the focus on an object. Bates also detected that habitual strain on the six muscles, outside of the eyeball, was the primary cause for most of the eye defects and diseases. This habitual strain may owe its origin from physical stress, mental stress or incorrect visual habits. When these muscles strain, the eyeball squeezes and contorts thus making the vision blurry. The blurriness is induced since strained, and tight muscles alter where the field of vision lands on the retina. Bates method grounds on first determining what's causing the stress, and simply letting it go. Relax. The techniques integrated into the Bates method aimed at visualization and relaxation hence relieving the stress and the strain on the eye muscles. When the eye muscles are relaxed the eyeball will naturally attain its correct field of