This was long overdue!
Writing here about the Bates Method has re-ignited my interest in it, and has compelled me to try out stuff in a different way. I'm looking to be able to find a simple way to do it that will work for most people, and be simple to explain. I think I might be onto something.
But first of all, a bit of theory.
*Central fixation.
The eye only sees clearly at a place at the center of the retina, called the fovea. Anatomically, the fovea is equipped with photoreceptors cells that are able to both interpret details, and see colors (cones). Away from the fovea, those retina cells are quickly replaced by others that see movement well, but in black and white, and with poor details (rods).
Most people with poor vision are consciously or not trying to see everything equally well at the same time. They think that they should be able to take a much larger part of their visual field than they are really able to.
To do so, they freeze their eyes and stare. This approach is doomed from the start, because, as we've seen above, the retina isn't equally sensitive in all its parts, like a camera film.
In fact, to be able to see an object, the eye is going over the details, follows the edges, use saccadic movements, etc... The elaboration of the object all takes place more or less unconsciously in the memory. This is the memory that gives you the impression that you are seeing the whole of this object equally clearly.
*Oppositional movement. This is very simple, but it probably won't be obvious to those who have 'bad' vision.
Perception depends upon change . It has been proved scientifically that a static image on the retina soon fades, and that the eye becomes blind to the static object (they used contact lenses with an opaque motif on it). Staring is also self defeating for this reason. The eye can only see well when it is constantly moving, even if it is only a little and can't be perceived consciously.
The illusion of oppositional movement is only the fact that when you are turning your head to the left, the scenery appears to move to the right, and vice versa. Same thing for moving your head up, things will appear to go down. In a movie, when the camera does a traveling, things appear to move in the direction opposite to the movement. Also, when walking down the street, you have the illusion that things are coming towards you, etc...
Now, if you have bad vision, this might not be obvious at all. You might have the impression that everything is unmoving. In the worst case, you might only be able to see things moving if you are looking at something close and are turning your whole body fast, pivoting from one side to the other.
*Double oppositional movement.
Download and watch this homemade video. (And sorry if that made you seasick)
There's a pen standing on a table, and a piece of paper on the ground. The camera is moving left and right. The pen is clearly moving opposite the direction of the camera. But if you look at the piece of paper, you have the impression it is moving in the same direction that the camera is moving.
Of course, it is not, it's simply that the paper being farther than the pen, its movement is slower, so relative to the pen movement, it appears to move in the camera's direction.
Great, I hear you say, and, so what?
Well, here comes the practical part. This is NOT a work out, please keep it fun.
Set up something thin and vertical on a table. Put a small object on the ground, or farther on the table. Set up the whole thing in a way that what you see is quite like in the video, and look at the small object. Position yourself so that you shall see two pens instead of one, because you have two eyes, and are focusing at the object.
If you have trouble seeing two pens, use the string and knot exercise above first.
Take off glasses, and rotate your head left and right so that the object on the ground appears to move in the same direction that of your head movement, like in the video.
The slower and the narrower the object movement, the better. If you have to move your head wide and fast to notice movement, so be it. Just try to slow down and narrows progressively, while still making that object move.
Best thing is if you can keep the object bouncing inside the 'gate' formed by the two pens. The pens are somewhat on your peripheral vision, don't concern yourself much about them, but at the same time, don't loose too much track of them either. If you inadvertently focus on them, and they become one again, notice that now you have two moving piece of paper in the background, and focus back on it. Keep it up for a little while, remember to BREATH and BLINK. I ask for you to keep it up for 30 seconds after the moment you will feel like stopping for no good reason.
You might start to see a halo around the pens, this is very encouraging. Also the object might start to blur, don't worry.
Now, look around you. It is better if you have taken some visual clues before, so you can assert there was an improvement in your vision.
Do this again, the farther the object is and the farther you are from the pen, while still seeing two, and still seeing the object move, the better. I'm myopic, for people having some kind of hyperopia, you might like to shorten the distances instead, maybe.
What I just described has been, for me, invaluable in the last few days. I've gotten incredible moments of clear vision and of relaxation from it. Worked heaven for a co-worker in a few minutes too. I am very much interested in your feedback and would be happy to answer any questions.
You might like next to hear what Bates says about the swing, now that you know what it is.  |
