I’m only using the words “astigmatism and cured” together, because Google.

People search for these things.

In reality, it’s not a cure, because of course Roy’s eyes were never ill in the first place.  Astigmatism, in the majority of cases, is not an illness.  Roy’s eyes were simply affected by artificial focal plane changes, introduced by unnecessary prescription complexity with his previous glasses.

Once Roy started working on the right kind of stimulus, and addressing prescriptions, his eyes adapted.  Astigmatism “cured” itself, and even his optometrist agrees.

Here’s Roy‘s forum post from today:

So just an update:

I started the myopia rehab in Jan 2015. My progress has been slow due to the life/work, but I have been making progress.

When I started, my initial prescriptions for contact lens were:
Right: -8.00 cyl: -0.75 axis: 010
Left: -8.50 cyl: -0.75 axis: 180

I went to the optometrist to get a formal exam and see the progress I made, which was in July 2015. The results are:
Contact lens-
Right: -7.50 (no cyl correction)
Left: -8.00 (no cyl correction)

[A definitive improvement! My optometrist took off astigmatism correction of my contact lens]

Glasses (or spectacle prescription)
Right: -8.00 cyl -0.75 axis 013
Left: -8.75 cyl -0.75 axis 176

Currently, my normalized contact lens are:
Right: -7.00 (no cyl correction)
Left: -7.50 (no cyl correction)

My question is:
1) can I continue to wear normalized prescription with contact lens WITHOUT astigmatism correction?
2) I wanted to purchase normalized prescription with glasses/spectacles (NOT contact lens). Should I have astigmatism correction since I don’t have astigmatism correction on the contact lens? Or can I do so without them?

Nicely done.

If you have forum access head on over to the thread, where I answered Roy’s questions about his remaining astigmatism correction prescriptions.

There’s also a whole blog section dealing with just astigmatism.  Take a look if you have astigmatism related questions.  And also, Cindi’s story from just a few days, overcoming her really massive -2.75 astigmatism prescription entirely.  That’s a truly impressive feat (full story here).

Another question in the forum today worth mentioning here, this one about child myopia.

Hiten posts:

Hi

Just wanted some help with my son. He is 7 years old and has been prescribed with -1.25 in both eyes. Obviously we are concerned for his well-being and have taken preventative measures such as only wearing glasses for long distance (TV, board viewing, etc), taking regular breaks when doing close up work, good lighting and plenty of outdoor time. We are thinking of getting started on Active Focus with him but are a little bit concerned we are doing the right thing and also have a few questions:

1) Is Active Focus suitable for a 7 year old and is there a rick of making his eyes worse?
2) How long should we spend on Active Focus with him and when is the best time?
3) Are there any tips / advice on ways of doing Active Focus with a child?

Also, what are your thoughts on combining preventative methods such as Ortho-K or multi-focus contact lenses with your methods?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Hiten

This is a topic we cover quite a bit, and in some detail.

In fact, there is a whole section of the blog, dedicated to child myopia.  If you have kids, that bears a quick visit.  Hundreds of articles, parent stories, how-to’s, it’s a fully stocked section of the endmyopia library.

While a few paragraphs won’t really do Hiten’s question full justice, it’s at least a starting point.  Here’s what I suggest:

I’d suggest against Ortho-K and even complex contact lens prescriptions. Not putting objects into the child’s eye, good policy. ?

Active focus is best introduced by playing games. “Can you see …?” “Can you read …?” Make it a fun competition. Outside, reading car license plates. Figuring out what kind of bird, or object or anything really that creates a natural focal challenge. Kids love games. Kids love a little competition.

If it was my child, I also would absolutely not get that prescription filled or use minus at any point whatsoever.

Start with distance active focus games, then move to plus lenses for close-up once the activity is familiar. Up to 50% of close-up time can be with plus, as high as -2 diopters.

Distance is key in avoiding my myopia progression. Avoid closer than 50cm distances.

The problem with these quick tips is that success always lies in the details.  Process is key.

It can be done though, and we have parents who are proof of that, posting in the forum all the time.  Remember Nate’s recent success story?

I have a daughter who just started kindergarten this week. She’ll be learning how to read this year. If she is anything like my other kids (or Me!), she will love reading. I’ve already talked with her about good distance while reading, taking breaks, doing other things-but she is 5 years old. I’ve also bought her a pair of +1.25 lenses for computer work, and also for reading when she starts to do it a little more. Is that a good prescription strength for prevention in a kindergartener? Any other suggestions?

We started my older son in the program back in November. At the time, his prescription was -1.25/1.00. His centimer measurement was 90. After 9 months of work, his centimeter is 175, and on the snellen he gets to 20/30. Also, he tells me that in class, the chalkboard is just a tiny bit blurry at first, and then he can totally clear it up, which I guess means he is at the right distance, and using active focus appropriately.

That story was just recently covered, in this post.

I do get quite a bit of e-mail on these topics as well, and my advice is always the same:  Read the blog (or get into BackTo20/20, if you have an invite link).  We have hundreds of articles covering just about everything there is to know about myopia, and you’re bound to found answers for most of your questions.  It does take time to piece together the full puzzle.

Alternately, there is my free e-mail guide, and the occasional invite to my structured BackTo20/20 program, and forum access.  Obvious benefits to that, although since that involves me spending time with students, it comes at a bit of a price.  I hope to cover the full range of preferences this way.  Time or money, whether you have more of either, I’m giving you all the options to get your eyes on track.  Spend more time exploring the blog, get the answers for free.  Or spend less time and get my structured approach, and in the process help me pay for the yacht and all the sexy girls.

Housekeeping items:

Video production is a little bit on hold, due to impending baby.  My life at the moment and for the foreseeable future is a bit distracted by all of that.  It will resume though, I promise!

I’m still hoping to get a few podcasts on the list of new things, though.  :-)

Related, I had to cancel Europe appearances for this year.  I really don’t want to miss any of the first few months of baby time.  I sent out options to come see me in Asia, I will be making day trips to various locales.  Check e-mail for schedule and options.

And of course, there is no yacht and just one sexy girls.  

Updating sessions.  A funny one today, throwback from several years ago (and the first iteration of the excellent Web course).  Check out this header graphic!

avoidprescmist

It’s good stuff too, now with several updates to that session.  Handy advice if you want to avoid the many mistakes made by me as well as some of the early students, years ago.  

Lastly, join-and-follow me on my new and yes-finally, Twitter bits.

Cheers!

-Jake