Recovery from psycho-physical disorders doesn't happen linearly. When improvement does come, it often comes in flashes. These "clear flashes", as they are commonly referred to by Bates teachers and students, are the common sign of improvement. They may be a flash of better vision or what seems like absolutely perfect vision, lasting for an instant or much longer. The improvement to normal vision can happen at any time with refractive errors (with disease states, it's hard to say). It happens whenever we let go of the strain to see, and it continues for as long as we don't fall back into strain. One day you might suddenly have a flash of clear vision and not have another for weeks. Or you might have a few most days, and eventually several prolonged periods of clear vision almost every day. The frequency, duration, and quality of clear flashes can be a good indication of how well you're progressing.

At times, you may look at something, see it just as blurry as you used to, and think that you haven't made any progress. That belief itself limits your progress, dragging you into a strained state that ensures a disregard of the progress in relearning to see that you've made up to that point. You already unconsciously learned how to strain in the past, worsening your vision, so don't be disappointed if you keep falling back into those old patterns. All it means is you're straining at tbe moment. Even people with perfect sight strain now and then, so don't worry about it, as it's nothing that you can't get over.

If you're used to trusting measurements as representations of truth, not going by them can sound dishonest. We don't have a means to check and record the quality of our vision at every instant of the day, especially since so much is included in "quality of vision" that is practically impossible to measure by any known means. Even if we did have such a method, the imposed pressure might make us too nervous to make any progress.

Clear flashes aren't the only things that indicate progress. They indicate your level of relaxation, and anything else that does so is a sufficient indicator. A memory of something seen or sensed in any other way, clear enough that it feels just as if you're experiencing right then, also indicates you're relaxed. If you can keep remembering it just as well with your eyes open, you're relaxed and can't help but see clearly. When you're relaxed, it's unmistakeable as being more comfortable. You feel looser and more at ease. Your eyes hardly feel like they are there at all.

Nothing comes close to teaching you better than your moments of clear vision. If you pay attention, you can learn everything from them about what it takes to keep yourself relaxed. Notice how your eyes feel, how the rest of your body feels, and how you feel emotionally. A strained feeling in your eyes is a common experience at first, and it often has to do with you simply becoming aware of the strain you've been putting yourself under and have blocked from consciousness. When you learn to drop and avoid the strain, you'll feel a lot better. There's no need to ask what technique is best, because it's easy for you to know what works for you by just noticing how you feel during or after utilizing a particular technique. The outer form of it isn't nearly as important as the inner experience.

You'll change if you go without strain, or with less of it. It's unavoidable. You might find that you think clearer, remember things better, read for longer periods without getting tired, sleep better, remain calmer, go about your day with more comfort, or any other improvement in general well-being. Everything should become easier.