Does the Bates method work?
No. There is no high-quality clinical trial evidence that the Bates method corrects myopia. Its core theory, that eye muscles cause nearsightedness, isn’t how the eye actually works. It was a reasonable early-1900s guess at pseudomyopia, and useless for real (axial) myopia.
Is the Bates method the same as EndMyopia?
No. Bates is eye exercises and living in blur. EndMyopia uses your actual focal distances and lens adjustments to reduce myopia measurably, the way an optometrist would track it.
One member dropped the Bates method and reduced from –3.25 D to –1.50 D: see the case.
We Don’t Do Bates Method. Why? Because our darling eye guru is tired of hearing from people telling him how it doesn’t work. Yes, Bates was a pioneer, way ahead of his time, and if the path had continued, we likely would not have a myopia epidemic today. We hold William Bates in the highest esteem.
But we don’t believe that “Bates Method”, today, is doing the man any justice. This “method” you find online today, has little impact on multi-diopter, lens-induced myopia. It won’t do a thing to induce axial reduction in your eyeball. And it goes against many key things vision science has come to understand over the past century. Still want to read more? Here are some articles with Bates references.
Bates Drama & Why I’m Such An A**hole
There's been a huge pile of drama in the rapidly growing (about to hit a thousand members in just a few weeks!) @endmyopia Facebook group. Subject of all the drama? Bates. It all started with Cliff innocently enough posting about being contacted by an optometrist who saw his YouTube video about his improving eyesight. That, a great story, great (and rare) initiative, really the sort of thing we need more of. Unbiased perspective, first hand experience, level headed perspective, sharing experiences, [...]
Low Myopia, Plus Lenses, & Doubts About Progress
Do you have low myopia? Tempted to tinker with plus lenses? Wondering if you're actually making progress? Yes? Then this post is for you! Toshiki posts an interesting and highly relevant round of observations in the support forum (in response to another post, the whole thread is here). I'm reposting his comments here, since you're going to want to refer back to this, sooner or later: Objectively measurable long-term progress can be a bitch. I started in early February this [...]
Bates Method Eye Exercises
Hey, look. It's time for a Bates Method (and eye exercises) rant. Or is it? I should put a standard disclaimer on all Bates Method posts. I'm not anti-Bates Method at all. In fact, if optometry back in those old-timey, we-don't-know-much-about-biology times would have gone the Bates direction, I'd say we wouldn't have a myopia problem today. At all. Millions of people would be having other jobs, besides in optometry and lens making, and LASIK surgery selling, and retinal [...]
Bad Optometrist For Your Eyes? Check These Warning Signs
Warning signs of a poor optometrist include over-prescribing, brushing off your questions, and never discussing focal-distance habits or prevention. A good one measures carefully and explains your options.
Geeks! “Retina Its Own Sensorimotor Apparatus”
We're going to get super far off the regular corse today. If you're just here to get simple and actionable insights on natural myopia control, this post isn't the droid you're looking for. Inspiration for this delving-into-things post, from Andrea's e-mail: text version for easier legibility: Hi Jake, Wow. Although I am obviously super-expressive, I can hardly even begin to express how much this course has meant to me. And it's only the end of my [...]
Pro Topic: Double Vision Ruining Your Life?
Double vision after reducing your glasses usually comes from your eyes adjusting to a new correction, not from damage. Easing the change and giving the eyes time typically settles it.