Bit of background I have always been very short sighted think it has got slightly worse from childhood. At 17 to 20 I didn't think I would manage to pass the driving eyesight test even with glasses so tried to kid myself that I didn't want to drive. At 20 I decided to look into driving and find out exactly how far you had to read a number plate from and see if I could. It was 20 metres. I used my steps to measure distance it was about 28 steps. Every time I was out with glasses I would test myself with varying results, I was borderline to seeing the distance. I started driving lessons partly hoping to just get the keenness to drive out of me after having a go at driving. After a few month learning and doing ok my instructor insisted on me going to opticians for better glasses, I told her I had best ones but she refused to give me more lessons til I went opticians. I went and cos they couldn't give me better glasses tried contact lenses. I can't stand anything touching my eye so couldn't have them. Next may sound daft as I can't stand things touching my eyes I looked into having laser treatment. I thought that all I would need to do is force my eyes open to have drops then wouldn't feel anything else so would be OK. Well I was honest about why I wanted it done purely in hope to see a tiny bit further to pass driving eyesight test. I was told laser could give me slightly better or worse vision than I had with glasses so could mean not being able to pass eyesight test to drive. They did manage to give me slightly better glasses tho which meant I could drive. After all that I always managed to read number plates at required distance and even since then had a few eye tests for driving and easy manage it. Now if I was asked to read a number plate even 1m further away I would struggle.
Now I am wanting to try eye exercises to improve eyesight. I already don't wear glasses much only for driving and tv. I plan to blink more and few other exercises to see what works for me.]]>
Bit of background I have always been very short sighted think it has got slightly worse from childhood. At 17 to 20 I didn't think I would manage to pass the driving eyesight test even with glasses so tried to kid myself that I didn't want to drive. At 20 I decided to look into driving and find out exactly how far you had to read a number plate from and see if I could. It was 20 metres. I used my steps to measure distance it was about 28 steps. Every time I was out with glasses I would test myself with varying results, I was borderline to seeing the distance. I started driving lessons partly hoping to just get the keenness to drive out of me after having a go at driving. After a few month learning and doing ok my instructor insisted on me going to opticians for better glasses, I told her I had best ones but she refused to give me more lessons til I went opticians. I went and cos they couldn't give me better glasses tried contact lenses. I can't stand anything touching my eye so couldn't have them. Next may sound daft as I can't stand things touching my eyes I looked into having laser treatment. I thought that all I would need to do is force my eyes open to have drops then wouldn't feel anything else so would be OK. Well I was honest about why I wanted it done purely in hope to see a tiny bit further to pass driving eyesight test. I was told laser could give me slightly better or worse vision than I had with glasses so could mean not being able to pass eyesight test to drive. They did manage to give me slightly better glasses tho which meant I could drive. After all that I always managed to read number plates at required distance and even since then had a few eye tests for driving and easy manage it. Now if I was asked to read a number plate even 1m further away I would struggle.
Now I am wanting to try eye exercises to improve eyesight. I already don't wear glasses much only for driving and tv. I plan to blink more and few other exercises to see what works for me.]]>
I started wearing glasses at around 8 years old, give or take a year. I'm now 30! The prescriptions got stronger with every visit to the eye doctor, as is the norm when you wear glasses. When I got my driver's license at 18 (and still to this day), it stipulated that I need corrective lenses. Oh, and I *do* need them. For me to drive without glasses would be very unsafe!
I don't know my diopter, since it's been several years since my last exam and I've forgotten. The best I can remember is that my last set of contacts were labeled with -1.something or -2.something. There was a .25 or .50 difference between the eyes. I have a Snellen Chart, and on my first attempt to read it almost two weeks ago, I couldn't even make out the top letter (20/200 line), which suggests the diopter is at or stronger than -2.
I no longer have contacts, as they wore out, and I have a pair of glasses I bought when I was about 16. I always declined glasses any time I got an exam, since I only wanted contacts to have handy for special events when I wanted to be glasses-free - and not walk into furniture or small children!
So, that 14-year-old prescription has been my daily wear for all this time. And, wouldn't you know, my vision has not been deteriorating for as long as I've stopped get new exams and new stronger prescriptions! Btw, my main reason for not going is because I'm chronically broke, plus I've always hated my glasses and dread the idea of picking out new ones, and directing any of my time or money toward them. I have not always thought that a stronger prescription would be bad for me. Quite the opposite - I thought it was "good" to visit the eye doctor on a regular schedule and always have an up-to-date prescription! Now I'm glad I've always been "bad" to my eyes, because who knows how much my myopia would have progressed in these 14 years!
I have toyed with the idea of naturally healing my vision, as far back as my teenage years. But many times I'd get discouraged thinking it was a fraud. As the years went by, I became more and more inclined to believe it's real.
About two years ago, I bought the book "Relearning To See" by Thomas R. Quackenbush. I really loved it! Very informative and helpful! I took off my glasses and tried to practice all of the techniques, but I think I over did it. I was overwhelmed. I felt like if I didn't commit two hours a day to doing *every possible technique*, as well as keep my glasses off permanently, I'd never improve my vision. So, with such unrealistic standards, I burnt out and quit. I got tired of not being able to see my friend's faces when I talked to them, or see the screen on movie night. I've since learned a thing or two about moderation.
So, I'm at it again! I'm hoping that starting this thread will keep me from quitting too easily. Plus, I'm much more relaxed in my approach now. ("Relaxed", isn't that one of the keys, anyway?) I'll just do as much or as little as I'm able, and if it takes two months or two years, so be it. Any progress is good, and I won't pressure myself with an all-or-nothing attitude!
Okay, now that the history lesson is over, let's talk about the current progress!
I started up almost two weeks ago. I pulled out my Snellen chart, put it up in the kitchen, and tested myself at 20 feet. I wrote down the results. Then put the results and the chart away, and told myself not to check again for a week. Last time I checked the chart several times a day, hoping for improvement. I was just torturing myself, feeling discouraged whenever there wasn't an obvious change!
My results - without glasses:
Left eye: X ( couldn't make out a thing )
Right eye: X
Both eyes: X
With glasses:
Left eye: 20/40
Right eye: 20/30
Both eyes: 20/30
My only objectives for the next week were to keep my glasses off whenever possible (fortunately, that was about 80-90% of the time), and palm as frequently as I could. Some days that added up to hours, and some days it was only a few five minute sessions throughout the day. I tried to do some of the long-swing and other eye exercises (up-down, left-right, circles, etc.), but didn't really have any goals or worry too much about it. Oh, I also made a point of holding my phone or any other close work *just* beyond my clear vision. Just another way to give my eyes a break from always focusing on things that are close up.
One week later, and I checked the chart again!
Without glasses:
Left: 20/200 (*barely* but I could read it!)
Right: X
Both: 20/200 (so, so, so barely discernible)
With glasses:
Left: 20/30
Right: 20/20
Both: 20/20 (barely)
Cool! It looks like I can actually reduce my prescription for driving! I only need 20/40 in one eye by my state's laws (New York). Since I'm not sure what my prescription is, I ordered two new pairs of glasses online, both very low. One is -1 diopter, and the other is -.50. They might not be strong enough, but at least they'll give me a jumping off point to try to discern what diopter I might be ready for. That means, if they're not strong enough, I will not be driving with them - don't worry! I went with such low diopters because even if they're too weak, they should still come into play later on as I continue to progress.
After that test, which was on Saturday, I left the chart up on the inside of my cabinet door. Now it's out of sight, so I don't obsessively check it every time I walk by! But, I do open the cabinet and check it a couple times a day, just to gauge what makes my vision fluctuate. I don't expect a miracle every two hours, and I'm not being stressed or discouraged by it this time.
For this week, I've upped my game a bit. I do the long-swing every day. I do 100 swings/turns, usually three times a day. I do the up-down, left-right type of eye exercises daily, usually three times, and I continue to palm as frequently as I can. Also, keeping close work just out of clear sight.
This morning when I checked the chart shortly after waking up, I could clearly read the 20/100 line!! For about 2 seconds. Haha But it was there, and clear, and amazing! It kept being clear for a second or two after opening my eyes, and the clear moment got shorter and shorter each time I opened them, and was eventually gone. This was within about 5 minutes after getting out of bed. Oh, well, it was very exciting and I know it was a good sign, even if it's not here for good yet.
I'm only measuring my results on Saturdays, so who knows what that day will bring! I'll keep you all posted, though!
]]>I started wearing glasses at around 8 years old, give or take a year. I'm now 30! The prescriptions got stronger with every visit to the eye doctor, as is the norm when you wear glasses. When I got my driver's license at 18 (and still to this day), it stipulated that I need corrective lenses. Oh, and I *do* need them. For me to drive without glasses would be very unsafe!
I don't know my diopter, since it's been several years since my last exam and I've forgotten. The best I can remember is that my last set of contacts were labeled with -1.something or -2.something. There was a .25 or .50 difference between the eyes. I have a Snellen Chart, and on my first attempt to read it almost two weeks ago, I couldn't even make out the top letter (20/200 line), which suggests the diopter is at or stronger than -2.
I no longer have contacts, as they wore out, and I have a pair of glasses I bought when I was about 16. I always declined glasses any time I got an exam, since I only wanted contacts to have handy for special events when I wanted to be glasses-free - and not walk into furniture or small children!
So, that 14-year-old prescription has been my daily wear for all this time. And, wouldn't you know, my vision has not been deteriorating for as long as I've stopped get new exams and new stronger prescriptions! Btw, my main reason for not going is because I'm chronically broke, plus I've always hated my glasses and dread the idea of picking out new ones, and directing any of my time or money toward them. I have not always thought that a stronger prescription would be bad for me. Quite the opposite - I thought it was "good" to visit the eye doctor on a regular schedule and always have an up-to-date prescription! Now I'm glad I've always been "bad" to my eyes, because who knows how much my myopia would have progressed in these 14 years!
I have toyed with the idea of naturally healing my vision, as far back as my teenage years. But many times I'd get discouraged thinking it was a fraud. As the years went by, I became more and more inclined to believe it's real.
About two years ago, I bought the book "Relearning To See" by Thomas R. Quackenbush. I really loved it! Very informative and helpful! I took off my glasses and tried to practice all of the techniques, but I think I over did it. I was overwhelmed. I felt like if I didn't commit two hours a day to doing *every possible technique*, as well as keep my glasses off permanently, I'd never improve my vision. So, with such unrealistic standards, I burnt out and quit. I got tired of not being able to see my friend's faces when I talked to them, or see the screen on movie night. I've since learned a thing or two about moderation.
So, I'm at it again! I'm hoping that starting this thread will keep me from quitting too easily. Plus, I'm much more relaxed in my approach now. ("Relaxed", isn't that one of the keys, anyway?) I'll just do as much or as little as I'm able, and if it takes two months or two years, so be it. Any progress is good, and I won't pressure myself with an all-or-nothing attitude!
Okay, now that the history lesson is over, let's talk about the current progress!
I started up almost two weeks ago. I pulled out my Snellen chart, put it up in the kitchen, and tested myself at 20 feet. I wrote down the results. Then put the results and the chart away, and told myself not to check again for a week. Last time I checked the chart several times a day, hoping for improvement. I was just torturing myself, feeling discouraged whenever there wasn't an obvious change!
My results - without glasses:
Left eye: X ( couldn't make out a thing )
Right eye: X
Both eyes: X
With glasses:
Left eye: 20/40
Right eye: 20/30
Both eyes: 20/30
My only objectives for the next week were to keep my glasses off whenever possible (fortunately, that was about 80-90% of the time), and palm as frequently as I could. Some days that added up to hours, and some days it was only a few five minute sessions throughout the day. I tried to do some of the long-swing and other eye exercises (up-down, left-right, circles, etc.), but didn't really have any goals or worry too much about it. Oh, I also made a point of holding my phone or any other close work *just* beyond my clear vision. Just another way to give my eyes a break from always focusing on things that are close up.
One week later, and I checked the chart again!
Without glasses:
Left: 20/200 (*barely* but I could read it!)
Right: X
Both: 20/200 (so, so, so barely discernible)
With glasses:
Left: 20/30
Right: 20/20
Both: 20/20 (barely)
Cool! It looks like I can actually reduce my prescription for driving! I only need 20/40 in one eye by my state's laws (New York). Since I'm not sure what my prescription is, I ordered two new pairs of glasses online, both very low. One is -1 diopter, and the other is -.50. They might not be strong enough, but at least they'll give me a jumping off point to try to discern what diopter I might be ready for. That means, if they're not strong enough, I will not be driving with them - don't worry! I went with such low diopters because even if they're too weak, they should still come into play later on as I continue to progress.
After that test, which was on Saturday, I left the chart up on the inside of my cabinet door. Now it's out of sight, so I don't obsessively check it every time I walk by! But, I do open the cabinet and check it a couple times a day, just to gauge what makes my vision fluctuate. I don't expect a miracle every two hours, and I'm not being stressed or discouraged by it this time.
For this week, I've upped my game a bit. I do the long-swing every day. I do 100 swings/turns, usually three times a day. I do the up-down, left-right type of eye exercises daily, usually three times, and I continue to palm as frequently as I can. Also, keeping close work just out of clear sight.
This morning when I checked the chart shortly after waking up, I could clearly read the 20/100 line!! For about 2 seconds. Haha But it was there, and clear, and amazing! It kept being clear for a second or two after opening my eyes, and the clear moment got shorter and shorter each time I opened them, and was eventually gone. This was within about 5 minutes after getting out of bed. Oh, well, it was very exciting and I know it was a good sign, even if it's not here for good yet.
I'm only measuring my results on Saturdays, so who knows what that day will bring! I'll keep you all posted, though!
]]>Thought I'll start a diary to keep track of any progress.
Absolute beginner, I really have no clue how to start this process.
I have myopia, it's pretty bad, it increased yearly, for over 10 yrs.
About time I reversed this trend.
What do I do?
Step 1: ???]]>
Thought I'll start a diary to keep track of any progress.
Absolute beginner, I really have no clue how to start this process.
I have myopia, it's pretty bad, it increased yearly, for over 10 yrs.
About time I reversed this trend.
What do I do?
Step 1: ???]]>
I'm starting this topic to mostly help me stay motivated to excersises and I want to also share with you my experience about the Bates Method to help everyone around achieve better vision faster.
@update 12.10.2015 starting things off again. -3.75 L and -4.25 R myopic. let's see what training regime will change!]]>
I'm starting this topic to mostly help me stay motivated to excersises and I want to also share with you my experience about the Bates Method to help everyone around achieve better vision faster.
@update 12.10.2015 starting things off again. -3.75 L and -4.25 R myopic. let's see what training regime will change!]]>
It's all going to be based on personal experience, as it should. Therefore, take everything said with a grain of salt. I am stating things that work for me, or seem to help in some way or another, maybe not vision related, but I'll try to stay on topic with it.
Also, I have a belief that if one is as honest with oneself as they can be -I'm talking almost brutal honestly, with very little regard for who is right, and with full regard for what is right, or what is a better way to do things- with this honesty one can make headway and progress toward a life worth living.
A little background.
Probably like 8-10 years ago, I first started getting into vision improvement, bought Bates' Book, started practicing a bit, but didn't seem to catch on or anything. Throughout the years I would get back into NVI, drop out, come back to it again and then again. I think what brought me back to it was social anxiety honestly, and having trouble making eye contact with people and also I felt like I had trouble concentrating in class and comprehending what people were saying to me. I became hyper aware of my eye movements while interacting with people, and this seemed to be part of the cause for me having trouble concentrating.
So, I'm back to this. This time I go most of my time without glasses, and this seems to really help me keep it on my mind throughout the day. It's great. Overcoming the fear of needing glasses for certain situations has given me some confidence in this process. I can see a path toward improvement fairly realistically this time.
My prescription is somewhere around -4.00 in both eyes.
=================================
So, present moment discussion.
I think this practice of getting into the present moment has helped me to actually start looking at things more.
Things which I've found help me get in this state of being:
-Watching my hands. Watching them touch each other, or massage each other. I usually feel like I can't look at them too long before I desire to look in the distance, so then I do that.
-Riding my bike without glasses. My eyes have to be doing their job well in order for me to not hit anything in the road and make sure I can see people or bikes ahead of me. Now, I know this isn't the safest practice, and I'm not saying to try this, but for me it makes things intense, and my vision becomes more intense. I don't have time to daydream or get in my mind too much.
Last though. I realize many times when my attention desired to move my eyes but I hesitated for whatever reason. I also realize times when I move my eyes very forcefully, forcing the situation onto them. I feel like neither is effective/efficient/helpful. Tuning into and following my intention and attention, combining mind/thoughts/attention with my eyes feels right when I'm actually in that state.
I think......I think, that the process should be that attention shifting and physical eye shifting happen simultaneously. Can anyone confirm this confidently?]]>
It's all going to be based on personal experience, as it should. Therefore, take everything said with a grain of salt. I am stating things that work for me, or seem to help in some way or another, maybe not vision related, but I'll try to stay on topic with it.
Also, I have a belief that if one is as honest with oneself as they can be -I'm talking almost brutal honestly, with very little regard for who is right, and with full regard for what is right, or what is a better way to do things- with this honesty one can make headway and progress toward a life worth living.
A little background.
Probably like 8-10 years ago, I first started getting into vision improvement, bought Bates' Book, started practicing a bit, but didn't seem to catch on or anything. Throughout the years I would get back into NVI, drop out, come back to it again and then again. I think what brought me back to it was social anxiety honestly, and having trouble making eye contact with people and also I felt like I had trouble concentrating in class and comprehending what people were saying to me. I became hyper aware of my eye movements while interacting with people, and this seemed to be part of the cause for me having trouble concentrating.
So, I'm back to this. This time I go most of my time without glasses, and this seems to really help me keep it on my mind throughout the day. It's great. Overcoming the fear of needing glasses for certain situations has given me some confidence in this process. I can see a path toward improvement fairly realistically this time.
My prescription is somewhere around -4.00 in both eyes.
=================================
So, present moment discussion.
I think this practice of getting into the present moment has helped me to actually start looking at things more.
Things which I've found help me get in this state of being:
-Watching my hands. Watching them touch each other, or massage each other. I usually feel like I can't look at them too long before I desire to look in the distance, so then I do that.
-Riding my bike without glasses. My eyes have to be doing their job well in order for me to not hit anything in the road and make sure I can see people or bikes ahead of me. Now, I know this isn't the safest practice, and I'm not saying to try this, but for me it makes things intense, and my vision becomes more intense. I don't have time to daydream or get in my mind too much.
Last though. I realize many times when my attention desired to move my eyes but I hesitated for whatever reason. I also realize times when I move my eyes very forcefully, forcing the situation onto them. I feel like neither is effective/efficient/helpful. Tuning into and following my intention and attention, combining mind/thoughts/attention with my eyes feels right when I'm actually in that state.
I think......I think, that the process should be that attention shifting and physical eye shifting happen simultaneously. Can anyone confirm this confidently?]]>