Can We Improve Our Vision Naturally?

The health of our eyes and deteriorating vision is something we seem to live with. We may go to the optician and often end up buying a new pair of glasses or contact lenses. There seems to be very little we can do to help improve our eyesight once it starts to deteriorate. Or is there?

The work of American ophthalmologist William Bates has been hugely debated over the years. Through his own observations and research, he concluded that the way we use our eyes, even our state of mind, has an effect on vision. Being relaxed and aware are fundamental to his system. In fact, seeing is a skill, and if developed poorly would lead to chronic disturbance of vision. He observed that subjects who were tense, bored or worried suffered from poorer vision than those who were relaxed and calm. He also observed that good eye movement was necessary. Eyes often became strained either due to poor habits or by wearing corrective lenses, which kept the eyes fixed and prevented vision from improving.

However, the idea of improving vision through natural means has been given little regard over the years—despite many cases reported to benefit from Bates’ findings—due to intense opposition and a lack of trials. But this is not a good excuse to give up. With poor vision rife in our society I cannot help but think it unlikely any research will be carried out. After all, there are no financial benefits. Selling corrective lenses or eye surgery, on the other hand, is big business.

Bates theories seem perfectly sound and I see sense in his observations and as do many ophthalmologists. We live in an environment where myopia (short sightedness) and hyperopia (long sightedness) are practically endemic. Even the slightest hint of methods that may improve vision, I believe, should be given some credence and applied with further research being carried out.

Did you know that Britain’s Olympic athletes received comprehensive eye training? It’s not just about training the body; training the six tiny muscles at the back of our eyes are just as important. So if it is possible to learn preventative techniques which will improve eye health then perhaps we should give it a go.

You can easily put some simple eye exercises into practice. Start by establishing a daily routine, committing to regularly exercising your eyes. Circle the eyes clockwise and then anticlockwise ensuring you are relaxed and breathing normally. Then do what is called “palming”; rub your hands together and place them over the eyes, blocking out the light but without pressing on the eyeballs. Thirdly, ensure you regularly look around at different distances, not just focussing on close up work. If you can do these exercise without your glasses or lenses, even better. And of course ensure your eyes get plenty of natural air and light.

I advise my clients to combine eye exercises with eye nutrition as good preventative measures, which may also help improve vision. Commitment is essential if you choose to use natural vision methods as well as regular practice. The best thing is to just get going.

Rumana Zahn is a Naturopath and Medical Herbalist and runs clinics in Newcastle (within a GPs practice), Yarm and a Walk-In Clinic at Kingston Park Tesco. She is a leader within the field of Natural Medicine, writes and speaks extensively on the subject. She can be contacted on 0845 680 1418 or www.rumanahealth.com

Rumana is a member of the British Register of Complementary Practitioners.

 

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