How I was Cured of Presbyopia
Lelouch Lamperouge
How I was Cured of Presbyopia
By Francis E. McSweeny
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This patient was first seen on March 11, 1919. His right vision was
20/50 and his left vision 20/70, and although he was fifty-one years
of age, he read diamond type at eight inches. He had not worn glasses
for some months, and with the help of a cured patient had been able to
improve his sight considerably. His last prescription for reading
glasses was: right eye, convex 3.00 D. S.; left eye, convex 3.75 D.
S., combined with convex 0.50 D. C., 180 degrees.
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I am a church organist, choir director and music teacher. Those
familiar with the duties of my profession will understand what an
important part good vision plays in its successful practice. I
realized this, and from the first consulted the best oculists
periodically in order to preserve and protect my eyesight.
Notwithstanding my care, I was told upon reaching the "dead line" of
forty-five years that I had presbyopia, and would henceforth be
obliged to wear at least two pairs of glasses, one for near and one
for distant vision. I rebelled at this, but submitted for some years
to the annoyance with as good grace as possible.
I knew that braces and crutches never cured weak limbs, but that
exercise and use of the weak muscles, when the patient had the
necessary perseverance, had often made them strong and vigorous. I
began to think that glasses were like braces and crutches, and I
expected some day a method of treatment would be found that would
strengthen and build up the eyes instead of weakening them.
I was in this mood when Dr. Bates' treatment of imperfect sight
without glasses was brought to my attention. My father and sister had
received benefit from the treatment, and I believed that I could be
benefited too.
When I first took off my glasses I could see nothing on the front page
of the newspaper but the larger headlines. I could read down to the 30
line of the Snellen test card at 5 feet. My sister showed me how to
"shift" from the top to the bottom of the letters on Dr. Bates'
professional card. I read a column of the "Saturday Evening Post" that
day by this method.
At first I tried to wear my glasses for close work, but after a few
months felt that this was retarding my cure and I left them off
altogether. That was in January, 1919. With the exception of a few
Sundays at the beginning I have done all my work without putting on my
glasses even once.
It would be well for anyone who would follow my example to understand,
however, that this result was not accomplished without many mistakes.
I often misunderstood and lost valuable time doing things wrong. There
were many discouragements too. So many to tell me how foolish I was to
try to do the impossible. I had the consolation, on the other hand, of
knowing that my vision was improving all the time.
The exercises which I found most helpful were: 1. Palming—I think that
nothing so relieves strain as this exercise does. 2. Flashing—This
exercise helps particularly when one has been straining or using the
eyes wrongly. 3. Memory practice—This has been my best exercise. One
remembers a letter, picture, or other familiar object, at first with
the eyes closed, then with the eyes open. If he can retain the memory
of the object while looking in the direction of the test card he will
be able to read the letter easily. 4. Imagination—Imagining that the
white part of a certain letter is whiter than the margin of the card.
This has helped me greatly.
My present vision is: Distance (both eyes): 10/10, 15/15, some of
15/10, 20/20 and 30/30. Fine print (both eyes): best at 12 inches,
some at 20 inches, can see period at 20 inches.
I should advise anyone who contemplates taking up this treatment, to
first see Dr. Bates personally for diagnosis and to get right ideas in
the beginning. By doing this one would save much time and many
missteps.
To those who cannot do this I should say that the first thing to do is
to discard glasses altogether. Relax the mind and eye by palming.
Learn to know how the eyes feel when relaxed and when doing your
accustomed tasks try to keep this feeling of relaxation (lack of
effort) present at all times. Do not allow the eyes to become
strained. Let objects that you wish to see come to you, do not try to
go to them. You will fail sometimes. If you persist, however, your
failures will be less and less frequent and as your vision improves,
which it surely will, you will gain confidence. The exercises which I
refer to are described in Dr. Bates' book, which contains many
valuable suggestions besides interesting matter bearing on his
experiments and achievements.
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Presbyopia Number
Better Eyesight
A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect
sight without glasses
Copyright, 1921, by the Central Fixation Publishing Company
Editor—W. H. Bates, M.D.
Publisher—Central Fixation Publishing Co.
$2.00 per year, 20 cents per copy
300 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y.
Vol. IV - April 1921 - No. 4
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