I have a 6.5 year old son that has now received his second pair of glasses, -3 left, -2.25 right, up from his first pair of -2 left, -1.25 right prescribed 8 months ago. I am desperately trying to reduce his dependency on glasses using the Bates method.
I first noticed him straining his vision 8 months back, and took him to an eye specialise to check for deformities/diseases, and none was found. The doctor then prescribed the first pair of lenses. I had read about the Bates method around 15 years back, but never practiced it. I quickly got a couple of books by Janet Goodrich, Tom Quackenbush and Jonathan Barnes. Having quickly read through the books, I thought that him not wearing his glasses all the time was enough for his vision to recover. He can read near distance with no problems. He only wears his glasses when he watches TV, which is probably an hour to two a day, and during classes (3 hours).
About 6 weeks back, he started his school holidays, which I thought was a good time to start practicing the Bates methods. I set up a Snellen chart in his room, and had him read that a couple of times a day. I also took him up to the balcony in the mornings to swing, sway, sketch, sun, palm and read the Snellen chart as often as I can. Over time, I could see that he could read more of the Snellen chart, and to make sure he wasn't remembering the alphabets, I sometimes make him read it backwards or have his sister point out words randomly on the chart. During this time, he uses his glasses for at most 2 hours watching TV, since there's no school.
A couple of days ago, because the new school year was beginning, I thought that perhaps his prescription could be reduced, and took him to an OD to check his vision. He reported that it was now worse. I then took him to another 2 different ODs on different days, and both confirmed the first ODs' findings. Needless to say, I was shocked.
Have I made my sons' vision worse by not having him wear his glasses all the time, as recommended by the OD? Obviously, now everyone wants him to put on his glasses all the time, including his grandparents, relatives etc, as a measure to stop his myopia progressing. What should I do? How can I find out if the problem is psychological, as I recall a site mentioning repressed fear as a possible cause of myopia? Should I look at herbal supplements? Should I improve the lighting in the house? Should I myself practice the Bates method to prove to him it works (my wife and I are both short-sighted, as are my parents who are living with us). Basically, what can I do to reverse my child's myopia?
If he's sitting on the chair, it's 12 to 13 inches away. However, he likes to lay down on the floor on his elbows and read, so it's about 8 - 10 inches away, which is the length of his upper arm.
I really wished we could do away with the lens, but:
- he's big for his size, the 2nd 'largest' kid in his class, so he's sitting right at the back of the class. The distance to the blackboard is probably 20 to 22 feet away, which means he can't see the blackboard without his glasses
- given that we've been minimising the use of his glasses the last 6 weeks and yet his vision has worsen, it's hard for me to convince anyone that he should still minimise the use of his glasses. And it's tough to be a kid that's told one thing by your parents, and another thing by everyone else.
Subject: Your personal checking of the child's Snellen
There is a tendency for an OD to over-prescribe the minus. They
love to impress you and the child with how sharp they
can make his vision. So before you continue, please have
him read this Snellen. Just click here:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/oph/ped/IVAC/IVAC.html">http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/oph/ped/IVAC/IVAC.html</a><!-- m -->
and then on "Display".
Starging with 20/60, determine the the line where he reads
1/2 the letters correctly (to your satisfaction.
If he can not read the 20/60 line (both eyes open, no lens),
then try the 20/80 line.
Actually, the OD mentioned he's undercorrecting the vision to 6/9, the reason being because the increase is so much, he doesn't feel comfortable correcting it fully. Thus, using the glasses, my kid can only read up to the 6/9 line of the ODs' chart. Then again, the testing room isn't really that bright, and the test chart is reflected in a mirror to get the required distance. I thought the standard was to have 2 100-watt bulbs shining on a 'real' chart.
He also recommended that my kid wear his glasses all the time. I did ask how about when he's focusing near, wouldn't that strain his eyes? Of course, his answer was an empthatic no. But get this. He also mentioned that if my kids vision worsens more in the next 6 months, he'll need to prescribe 'special' lenses to stop the myopia progression. Guess what those lenses are? Basically bi-focus lens for kids! So he's saying that near vision won't be affected by wearing the lenses all the time now, but if it worsens, he'll need to do something about near vision using reduced lenses. Am I confused or what.
There is no doubt that your child has a difficult problem.
The "testing" in an office, where your child is not comfortable can create very serious "tension" for
the child.
I would suggest your PERSONAL checking at home. It is going to be more accurate, and you
will be more comfortable with the results. (Select the Simple THO letters on the chart.)
If you can confirm your child at 20/60, then he can "work" with no minus lens
on his face. Ask the teacher to let him sit in the front row.
Quote:He also recommended that my kid wear his glasses all the time.
This is the WORST recommendation that could ever be made. Let me just say it is
a majority-opinion ATTITUDE -- not justified by science. Read the SECOND-opinion
about the minus from another expert:
<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chinamyopia.org">http://www.chinamyopia.org</a><!-- w -->
I did ask how about when he's focusing near, wouldn't that strain his eyes? Of course, his answer was an empthatic no.
Otis> again, standard majority-opinion fibbing. (Be your own judge of this.)
Quote:But get this. He also mentioned that if my kids vision worsens more in the next 6 months, he'll need to prescribe 'special' lenses to stop the myopia progression.
Otis> I know it is difficult -- but this OD is no help to you. (In my opinion.) You child has a difficult problem, and
must clear his Snellen to 20/60 or better. And if you (and he) is going to achieve that goal, then
he must avoid the minus lens. So your OWN CHECKING is of high importance. Do not rely
on anyone who tells you that the eye does NOT change its refractive STATE when
you place a strong minus on it. In science -- is does.
Quote:Guess what those lenses are? Basically bi-focus lens for kids!
Otis> If you are going to avoid the minus, then the "bifocal" is not the right answer. You can not
BOTH wear a strong minus and a plus and get results!!!!
Quote:So he's saying that near vision won't be affected by wearing the lenses all the time now, but if it worsens, he'll need to do something about near vision using reduced lenses. Am I confused or what.
Otis> If you are confused, then so are these ODs. The problem is that they are arrogant about it.
Otis> Dealing with a 6 year-old child is indeed very difficult. Just remember, that SOME ODs
have given-up on that minus, and insist that their OWN children begin wearing
a plus lens before the child's Snellen goes below 20/60.
Just some tips that I thought of, but I donât have kids. I have only improved my own eyesight with these methods. I ended up writing a lot more than I thought I would, my heart really goes out to your son.
First of all, donât panic too much. Children can sense the emotions of their parents better than anyone else. Everything will be fine, and you should tell your child that as well.
One thing you havenât mentioned that would be worth knowing is if your childâs Snellen chart reading has gotten worse or better during this time. If it stayed the same or got better, perhaps one reason for the test coming up worse at the eye doctor is that your child feels stressed out like in a testing environment. It is reasonable to assume with the Bates practicing and the apparent conflict amongst your family about using the Bates method that the child feels a lot of stress and pressure to perform correctly at the eye doctor. This would lower is visual acuity at the doctor. In some way you need to make your childâs visual acuity a lower priority (stress wise). Perhaps make Bates method practicing more like a game. Donât forget, the practice doesnât do any good if the child isnât putting the principles into action when he is doing other daily activities (with our without glasses).
Keep it simple, the only things he needs to really learn are 1. to not stare (keep the eyes looking around and perceiving detail), 2, to blink in a relaxed manner (put your fingertips lightly on your own temples closer to your eye, the skin shouldnât flinch when you blink), and 3. teach him not to hold his breath. Tell him that if he is focussing on how well he is seeing, to play a little game. A member of this forum wrote a thread recently about this kind of game you play where you notice a different color everywhere you look. For example, first you think of red, and as soon as you see something red, look for a different shade of it, or a different color. This keeps the attention off of actually seeing, and back to keeping the eyes moving in a relaxed and fluid manner.
If you are to continue the method with the child, you should first demonstrate to him that his eyesight got better or stayed the same on his own Snellen chart (if indeed that is true). Make sure the child isnât focussing so much on seeing, and seeing everything great, make sure heâs not squinting when heâs not wearing his glasses. He should be relaxing if anything. I can imagine this is difficult to implement, but you know your child best. I have found that while reading the Snellen chart every day can be helpful and affirming, making it obsessive isnât a good idea. Give the chart a break for a while, and when he comes back to it, perhaps only read it once in a day, and maybe do that only once a week or so. To appease your family, you could simply leave it to your child. He could keep his glasses with him at all times, and if there are times when he feels he can see well enough without them (dinner time, reading, etc) he can take them off. When he wants to see something, he can put them back on. Then he will learn for himself when he needs them and not. This should pass the intuition on to him and that may be the click needed for the method to work. I am saying this because from your posts it sounded like it was regulated that he only wear his glasses for TV and class. I take my glasses on and off throughout the day. And with my growing confidence to leave them off longer, my eyesight has improved. But this canât be regulated, he has to learn by himself to trust when he doesnât need them. This may also reduce the pressure. What I would hate to see happen is for him to feel torn between choosing: wearing his glasses so grandparents are happy and not wearing them so you are happy. Trust me, thatâs how a child sees the world. When heâs at school you could discuss with the grandparents that the focus needs to come off of his visual acuity. If his own Snellen reading didn't get worse, then you can assure them that his eyes are not getting worse. When he comes home you can even tell him (if the whole family agrees to all play along together on it) âno more Bates method. Just use your glasses when you need them, and when you donât need them to see something itâs better if you take them off. Explain the color game, and each week introduce 1. not staring, 2. blinking, 3. not holding the breath. Donât forget, this takes time. Going to the eye doctor shouldnât be so stressful. Just tell him, your eyesight is what it is. Just smile and read the chart. Going to the eye doctor shouldnât be like a âdid it work or didnât it workâ thing. That is so stressful.
Read more about bifocals. So many Bates people have said they are bad because you start using your neck in a weird way to move your head when you see. Instead, why canât he just get two pairs of glasses, one that would be the lower one for near work, and one stronger one for the blackboard?
Finally, I read somewhere (sorry, donât know) that reading should be done at best sitting, and so that the head doesnât have to be held up while reading. For example, when lying down the neck muscles get tense holding up the head. When sitting, if the book is lower than the head and the head is looking down, this is also very straining for the neck. Use your intuition and donât make a big deal about it.
Again, donât panic. Find ways to reduce your own stress, and that may help you empathize with how to show him how to reduce his own.
Unless contradicted, I think the recommendation of this
group is that you child avoid the use of the
minus -- unless absolutely necessary.
I know this concept of prevention is new to you -- so
take your time and review these issues with us.
From my review of MANY studies, I know that
when you put a minus lens on a 6 year old, you
can expect ON THE AVERAGE that his refractive
STATE will go down at a steady -1/2 to -3/4 diopter
per year.
Thanks for all your suggestions. You are right, I am probaby pretty much stressed out by now. I don't think he was under any stress at the ODs', as we talked about it as just being a regular exam, but then again, I won't know what really went on in his head.
There aren't any Bates teachers over here in Malaysia. There appears to be one in Singapore (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.touchtraining.com.sg/Wht_sight.htm">http://www.touchtraining.com.sg/Wht_sight.htm</a><!-- m -->). Doesn't sound very convincing once they start talking about habits as exercises.
I stopped when I read that both you and your wife are myopic too. You can't possibly teach your son something that you don't understand well enough to apply to yourself and reverse your own myopia. He's going to pick up all the strain habits from you. So regardless of what you think you want to teach him, regardless of what you say, he will learn by what you DO. Whoever he spends the most time with is going to have to apply the Bates method with themselves, whether it's you AND your wife, or your parents.
Dave
Site Administrator
"Half of our funny, heathen lives, we are bent double to gather things we have tossed away." - George Meredith
Dave makes a great point. What do others on this forum think of correspondence lessons since there isn't a teacher in his area? Maybe then the parents can learn by telephone or video conversation and then implement the method themselves so that the son learns?
Otis - Legal blindness is defined as still having worse than 20/200 vision with the strongest power of lense in glasses possible. I don't think that "legally blind without glasses" is a good term to use. Nobody else uses it, and legally blind really does imply that without glasses a person is hopeless, and still much reduced with glasses. Huge difference.
Subject: If you child is at 20/200 -- then that is very serous.
My point is that the child will have a very difficult time functioning without
a minus lens to give him clear vision. Asking him to work with
no minus lens would be very difficult for him. :'(
Further, the father will have expectations from the results provided
by a Bates teacher, and that is that his Snellen will clear
to a reasonable level from 20/200. ???
