But let me add this in support of Professor Bates advocacy
that you avoid that terrible minus.
He was condemmed when he said this in 1928.
Today, many professionals now agree that you should
get your vision back to normal as soon as possible
because of the "problem" with the minus. ???
In fact, David of Imagination-Blindness is doing everything
in his power to help you improve your Snellen so
you do not fall into the minus-lens trap.
==================
PROFESSIONAL PROOF:
No clinical or statistical studies have ever demonstrated the
long-term safety of a (minus) "corrective" lens.
In fact, a certain percentage of doctors believe that -- as the
second-opinion -- "corrective" lenses (also known as
"compensatory" negative lenses) usually create dependency and
make the eyes move more rapidly in a negative refractive direction.
These concerns have been voiced in the professional
literature by concerned doctors who support the concept
the "second opinion" to do work for the prevention of nearsightedness
with a plus lens.
Here are sample excerpts from the professional literature voicing
concerns about the safety of "corrective" lenses:
"The use of compensatory lenses to treat or neutralize the
symptoms does not correct the problem. The current education and
training of eye care practitioners discourages preventive and
remedial treatment." R.L. Gottlieb, Journal of Optometry and
Visual Development, 13(1):3-27, 1982.
"The emphasis on compensatory lenses has posed a problem for
many years in our examinations. These lenses do not correct
anything and may not serve the patient in his best interests over
a period of time." CJ. Forkiortis, OEP Curriculum, 53:1, 1980
"There are frequently ignored patterns of addiction to minus
lenses. The typical prescription tends to overpower and fatigue
the visual system and what is often a transitory condition becomes
a lifelong situation which is likely to deteriorate with time." S.
Gallop, Journal of Behavioral Optometry, 5(5):115-120, 1994
"Single-vision minus lenses for full-time use produce
accommodative insufficiency associated with additional symptoms
until the patient gets used to the lens. This is usually
accompanied by a further increase in myopia and the cycle begins
anew." M.H. Birnbaum, Review of Optometry, 110(21): 23-29, 1973.
"Minus lenses are the most common approach, yet the least
likely to prevent further myopic progression. Unfortunately, they
increase the near-point stress that is associated with
progression." B. May, OEP Publications, A- 112, 1984.
For more information on this "sea change" in attitude to
work towards effective prevention with the plus please read:
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mid15cowboy Wrote:Is nearsightedness caused by too much close work as a lot of people seem to subscribe to? For instance too much computer gaming... or is it induced by too much stress of any kind? ???
No, nearsightedness is caused by strain.
Close work and other adverse conditions have nothing to do with cause of myopia, and in fact can be beneficial if one can get accustomed do it without strain.
When playing computer games, some people tend to stare and strain, but other people begin shifting even more and benefit from it.
I don't think myopia is caused by too much close work.
I have a brother who is on computer all day( and even during the night). He is therefore focusing close for an extremely long time. Yet he has better than 20/20 vision.
I think it is not the close work itself that causes myopia, but the fact that many people stare, strain, blink less, and form other incorrect and strained habits while doing close work.
I don't think it can be close work or that computers are necessarily bad for vision. For example SwingBrowser works wonders for me. In seconds the blur clears up at several feet away and my vision is never better than in the minutes after I've been surfing the Internet with it. When I'm sitting closely to the screen, I still get the same physical sensations that I usually get when having a clear flash, so it is relaxing my eyes even at a distance that I didn't know they needed it. It just forces your eyes to move more in order to follow the text. If the habit or tendency weren't there to start with, people wouldn't strain at the screen.
