The primary tool of Dr. Bates research was the retinoscope, an instrument of elegant simplicity, which allows direct assessment of refraction of the eye. The instrument was coming into regular clinical use while Bates was a student. He was intrigued by the possibilities of this new tool and made it his specialty. Bates was particularly interested in observing animals, children and adults, in normal activity in daylight, as opposed to the artificial surroundings of the consulting room. As his observations continued he began to suspect, then became certain, that the eyes of people seeing normally behaved differently from those who saw abnormally. Further more, whether the vision was on the whole normal or not, the refraction of the eye was constantly changing. Bates then realized that the changes reflected, among other things, the state of mind of the subjects, so the vision would always be nearer to normal if they were relaxed and interested or worse if they were tense, bored or worried.
Having observed that normal as well as abnormal sight was naturally variable, he noticed in people who wore glasses that the vision varied less and the eyes moved less freely. Bates reasoned that movement and variation were important aspects of normal vision and were interfered with by glasses - evidence for his suspicion that glasses make vision worse. He realized, moreover, that in order to see through glasses it was necessary for the eyes to behave constantly in the same way as when they were fitted.
Dr. Bates decided to regard the accuracy of the eye's focus (refraction) not as the starting point of the seeing process but as an end result. He became very interested in the - macula lutea - the yellow spot in the eye where vision is sharpest. Bates discovered that the function of the fovea in relation to the rest of the retina was crucial to all the operations of vision. The point of fixation is the point to which attention is directed at any given moment. Central fixation defined means that the point of immediate attention is always regarded directly by the - fovea centralis. This does not imply that the eye should be fixed in the ordinary sense: on the contrary, in order for central fixation to be maintained, the eye must be constantly moving.
Dr. Bates discovered that the tiny eye movements, which he observed in normal vision, were essential to stimulate the - fovea - properly. According to his reasoning, if the eye stares fixedly, the - fovea - becomes no more sensitive than the surrounding retina. If this happens all kinds of aberrations of vision follow, simply because the eye literally loses its sense of direction
The problem is circular. Lack of central fixation obviously leads to poor vision, however, poor vision also leads to loss of central fixation because those who do not see well either strain to see or stare blankly, expecting not to see, and both habits tend to fix the eye rigidly.
Wearing glasses confuses the situation even more as the lenses are adapted to the staring condition and provide clear vision without the benefit of central fixation. This encourages the sub-conscious belief that it is possible to see all parts of the field of vision equally clear at once, and reinforcing the staring habit.
Without central fixation the eye can neither focus nor track accurately, because the object cannot be centralized in the field of vision. Conversely, in a condition favouring increased central fixation, both the motor (muscular) control of the movement of the eye and the refraction (focusing) of the light within the eye tend to be more accurate. At the same time an observer notices a marked difference in the movement of the eye, while the subject - the viewer - is able to discern that a small area at the center of the field of vision appears brighter and clearer than its immediate surroundings.
Dr. Bates observed the following:
The above findings are directly opposite to the theories of, the founding fathers of ophthalmology; Young, von Graefe, Helmholtz and Donders and perhaps that accounts for the lack of interest by professionals who have dedicated their lives to improving eyesight. Sometimes scientists prefer to hold onto sacred theories and completely ignore simple and effective ways of restoring and maintaining eyesight.
Dr. Bates published his "Better eyesight without glasses" in 1920 and helped countless people recover their natural eyesight. However, the leaders of the medical community were not pleased with his obvious success and succeeded in having his licence to practice medicine revoked.
Today only are a few people are teaching the Bates Method. Mostly these are people who have regained their natural eyesight using Dr. Bates' discoveries. Virtually the entire profession of ophthalmology is, to this day, continuing in the old ways of prescribing corrective lenses. This is despite the fact that, they fully know lenses will only make the condition worse. The general accepted belief, (not only among professionals) is that eyesight deteriorates with age and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
The Bates Method is still practiced by a few in the US and in the UK. In India the late Dr. R.S. Agarwal founded the "School for perfect eyesight" at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, India.
William H. Bates, M.D. is considered the grandfather of vision training. Honoring Dr. Bates contribution and research Leo Angart has gone a step further and have included other aspects which makes Vision Training much more effective.
