Better Vision

This was floating in a file and thought it would
be something good to share. I do not have a link~~

Better Vision Without Glasses: The Newest Methods of Building Perfect Eyesight Without the Use of Artificial Contrivances


We all want good eyesight— eyes that see clearly, that are bright and denote vitality.
We do not want to suffer from eyestrain, nor do we enjoy wearing unattractive and
bothersome glasses. Oculists and optometrists have been unable to give us healthy
eyes. In spite of the increasing numbers of eye doctors who have entered public
service in recent years our eyesight is becoming worse and worse. But this condition
is not without solution. Thanks to the work of Dr. William H. Bates, of the New
York Eye and Ear Infirmary, as well as other broadminded doctors and scientists,
we now have a system of eye care which is marvelously effective, one which is able
to give you excellent eyesight without the use of glasses.

Hygienists were the first to grasp the importance of the discoveries of Dr. Bates.
They quickly employed the techniques he recommended, and with good results. Patient
after patient has discarded his glasses after using the Bates system of the eye
training for a few weeks to a few months. But the oculist and optometrist, those
who should be most interested have shown practically no interest in Dr. Bates’
discoveries. They continue recommending and fitting eyeglasses to their patients
in spite of the overwhelming evidence that these are unnecessary if the more natural
hygienic measures are employed.


HOW FOOD AFFECTS OUR EYES

Now let us consider the eyes from the standpoint of the newer knowledge of hygiene
and the latest discoveries of Dr. Bates. First the matter of nutrition and its relation
to eyesight will take our attention. Prior to World War I it was not known that
food had any important effect upon the eyes. But when the armies who invaded Belgium
took most of the dairy stock, and fresh fruits and vegetables became very scarce
many of the Belgians developed hemeralopia, better known as night blindness. Many
things were tried to overcome this ailment, but all to no avail. Then came the summer
and a new supply of fruits and vegetables, together with more dairy products, and
the night blindness soon disappeared. At first this was quite a mystery but now
it can easily be explained. The fruits, vegetables and dairy products are good sources
of vitamin A. In recent years it has been shown repeatedly in experimental tests
that night blindness frequently occurs when vitamin A is lacking in the diet. Of
course this vitamin is no cure-all for every eye disease and its lack is not the
cause of all eye troubles. Nevertheless, it is of greater importance than any other
single element in determining eye health. If you want good eyesight you should refrain
from eating those foods which have lost their vitamin A through modern methods of
food preparation. Use plenty of green and yellow vegetables, which are among the
finest sources of Vitamin A.

The importance of vitamin A has frequently caused nutritionists to overlook the
effect of other elements upon the eyes. In reality, the eyes are helped by an abundant
supply of all the vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies of calcium, potassium and
sodium, in addition to vitamin A, have often produced blindness in animals. Then
these elements are added to the diet, and the animals regain their vision. Nursing
calves become blind if their mother's diet lacks certain essential vitamins
and minerals. In nutritional deficiency diseases such as pellagra we also find that
the retina of the eye is inflamed. Dr. Sydenstricker, of the University of Mississippi
Medical School, has shown a deficiency of riboflavin in the diet frequently causes
dim vision and bloodshot eyes. In addition, it is reported that a lack of riboflavin
frequently causes cataract in animals, and it may do the same in man. The eyes of
experimental animals also become diseased when vitamin C, vitamin D, paraminobenizoic
acid, inosital and certain amino acids are lacking in the diet. These facts should
speak for themselves and show you the importance of using foods which have not lost
most of their vital elements. You should use only raw foods in your diet, foods
which still have the elements the eyes need. Remember that vitamin A is easily lost
in the cooking process, that much vitamin C is lost when milk is pasteurized, and
that refined grains have lost most or all of their original content of riboflavin.
Use natural plant foods if you want good eyesight.


SUNSHINE IS GOOD FOR YOUR EYES

The second great need of the eyes is plenty of sunshine. Fish which live in dark
caves, into which no sunlight enters are blind. Their eyes atrophy and in many cases
disappear. Light, especially sunlight, will strengthen the eyes. If you have dark
sunglasses, discard them, for they do you more harm than good. Then go outside and
let the sun shine on your closed eyelids. Start doing this very gradually; a few
minutes or less the first day is enough. Eventually you will be able to let the
sun shine on your lids over longer periods of time. Blinking into the sun is also
good for the eyes but it should not be overdone. In the beginning stages this blinking
should be done in the late afternoon or early morning when the sun's rays are
not so strong. If you follow these instructions and give your eyes sunbaths you
will soon note that your eyesight is improving and that your eyes are less sensitive
to strong lights.


RELAXING THE EYES

The finest known method of relaxing tired, strained eyes is to palm them. Place
the cups of your hands over both eyes so as to exclude all light. Then completely
relax and try to see nothing except black. At first you may see gray or flashes
of other colors. But just keep trying until you see black, black and only black.
Try to imagine a black box or some other black object if that will help when they
are tired. When cataracts exist palming is especially valuable.

Another method of relaxing tired, strained eyes is to blink often. Whenever you
notice the slightest eyestrain blink your eyes about 20 times. Children blink more
often than adults do, and this is one factor which accounts for their better eyesight.
If you have a serious eye defect you should blink much more often than otherwise.
It is especially important to blink frequently while reading. Don't blink so
often that it interferes with your reading but simply stop occasionally and blink
gently a dozen times or more.


EYE EXERCISES

The use of eye exercises forms the basis of all modern hygienic systems of the eye
training. The eyes need exercise just as do the other parts of the body. When this
is lacking the muscles and tissues attached .to the eyeball become strained and
rigid. They are no longer capable of giving efficient service. Then, when a program
of eye exercises is employed, the muscles regain their flexibility, suppleness and
coordination. There is an increased flow of blood to the eyes, bringing greater
amounts of nutritive material. The tissues gain better tone and strength, and recovery
is facilitated. The following exercises should be employed by all who have weak
eyes. Blink several times between the movements. Blinking will enable you to do
more exercise and will keep your eyes from getting sore, especially where you are
doing the exercises for the first time.

1. With your middle finger very gently massage the closed eyes in a rotary motion.

2. Alternately close the eyes very tightly and open them as wide as possible. Do
this at least 20 times per day. When you squeeze your eyes shut, the tissues around
them are exercised, and this does much to prevent the formation of unattractive
lines in the surrounding skin. The muscles attached to the eyeball are also exercised,
and the tear glands, which supply an alkaline secretion which keeps the eyes bright
and clean, are stimulated.

3. Look upward and then downward as far as you can. Alternate the movement. Do not
move the head in doing this exercise; move only the eyeballs.

4. Look to the right and then to the left as far as possible.

5. Look up and to the right, then down and left. Reverse the movement and look up
and to the left and down and to the right.

6. Roll the eyes around in a circular motion. Look to the right, down, to the left,
upward and then to the right again. Repeat at least 10 times and reverse the direction
of the movement.

7. Hold a pencil or similar object about 10 or 11 inches from your eyes. First look
at the end of the pencil for a few seconds; then look at some object in the distance.
Do this alternately at least a dozen times.

8. Hold some object about 14 inches from your eyes. Then move it in every possible
manner- up, down, to the right, to the left, obliquely and in a circular path. Keep
your eyes on the moving object all the time but do not move your head. This calls
into action all of the six important eye muscles


GENERAL EYE CARE

Most of the things which optometrists tell us harm the eyes, are really good for
them. Reading fine print, reading in a dim light, reading in a moving automobile
or streetcar, reading while lying down- all of these have been claimed to weaken
the eyes. However, in reality, they do not hurt the eyes at all. You can read all
the fine print you wish and it will actually improve your eyesight. You can't
gain strong eyes by pampering them. The eyes were made for use and the more they
are used, within certain limits, the stronger they will be.

Now we come to the question of glasses. One of the first things most students of
eye gymnastics ask is: "Will I be able to discard my glasses?" In most
cases the glasses can be discarded; the only exceptions are those individuals whose
eyes possess mechanical deformities such as flattened lens. Simple eye ailments
such as nearsightedness and farsightedness quickly respond to eye gymnastics. It
should be remembered that eyeglasses in themselves never remedy eye troubles. They
are simply crutches, and the more they are used the weaker the eyes become. As the
eyes weaken the glasses must be changed. The new glasses have stronger lenses and
the eyes are correspondingly weakened still further. If the patient lives long enough
for this process to be carried to its logical conclusion, blindness is often expected.
So if you wear glasses and do not suffer from a mechanical eye defect the first
thing to do is to discard them. The longer you wear them the more difficult it will
eventually be to bring your eyes back to a normal, healthy condition.

After discarding your glasses begin an eye-training program which includes attention
to every hygienic measure that has been proven helpful to the eye. First go on a
fast in order to improve the general condition of your body and hence give your
eyes a better chance to become healthy. The length of this fast should depend on
the condition your eyes are in while being treated. If you have cataracts it will
be necessary to undertake a long fast. Other eye troubles do not often call for
long fasts. After the fast pay the greatest attention to your diet. Remember to
use only uncooked foods which are rich in vitamins and minerals. Give your eyes
daily sunbaths, palm them at periodic intervals, blink them as often as you can,
and use all of the different eye exercises everyday. By doing this you should notice
a distinct improvement in your eyesight within a few weeks to a few months. During
the fast there may be some improvement, and as you get well along in your eye gymnastics
you will notice that your eyes are stronger than ever. Don't expect miracles.
There won't be any. The possession of perfect eyesight does not come overnight.
But in the end, if you pursue your work every day, you should gain a set of normal,
healthy eyes which require no artificial contrivances of any kind to enable you
to see easily and clearly.


blessings,
Zoe

@_@