Monday, December 25, 2017

Dr. William H. Bates Life & The Bates Method History

Dr. Bates started his career as an orthodox 
ophthalmologist following the old, long time rules 
of the practice; prescribing eyeglasses...

 During his practice, working with different 
patients, eye conditions, he realized that unclear 
close, distant vision, astigmatism and other 
conditions often cured itself, reversed back to 
clear vision, especially when his patients stopped 
wearing their eyeglasses. He noticed that wearing 
glasses weakened the eyes, resulted in stronger 
and stronger eyeglass lens prescriptions being 
needed in order to see clear through the glasses. 
He began his own studies on the eye and its 
function. This led him to discover that many of 
the old ophthalmologist, optometry ‘supposed 
facts’ about the eye, lens and its function and 
cause of unclear vision... are incorrect. Dr. Bates 
began teaching his patients to avoid eyeglasses, 
stop wearing their glasses. He taught them 
natural methods, including relaxation, correct use 
of the eyes, practice of normal, natural eye 
function to improve the vision. Dr. Bates cured 
his own eye-sight, close vision, presbyopia. 
Distant vision also clear. He wrote an Article in 
his book, magazines describing how he did it with 
Memory, Imagination, Relaxation. He controlled, 
changed the focus of light rays in his eyes with 
his mind.

 Dr. Bates performed experiments on the eyes of 
animals, and observed the function of thousands 
of animal, patient’s eyes under different 
conditions, situations, state of mind, body, 
thoughts and emotions. He used the retinoscope 
to see the refraction, focus of light rays in the 
eye under these various conditions. He proved 
that the refraction, clarity of vision changes often 
and when the eyes are left alone, eyeglasses 
avoided, the refraction, clarity returns to normal, 
clear vision. He proved that the state of the mind
thoughts change the refraction of the eye, clarity 
of vision. Example: when the mind, body is 
relaxed, positive, happy thoughts, emotions: the 
refraction is normal and vision is clear. When the 
mind, body is under stress, strain: the refraction 
is abnormal and vision is unclear. Dr. Bates 
discovered that the main cause of unclear vision
and other eye problems is: Wearing Eyeglasses, 
Mental Strain, Mental, Visual Effort to See, 
Incorrect Vision Habits (incorrect use of the eyes: 
squinting, staring, not shifting, lack of central-
fixation, low memory, imagination...). Perfect 
Sight occurs only with Perfect Relaxation (deep or 
active/dynamic relaxation - See Aldous Huxley’s 
book: The Art of Seeing). Relaxation occurs first 
and then the eyesight becomes clear.

 His experiments on the outer eye muscles proved 
that tension in these muscles disrupts their 
function, the eyes movement, accommodation, 
convergence, unaccommodation, divergence, 
causes pressure, tension on/in the eye, alters the 
eyes shape, (and lens), disrupts focus of light rays 
on the retina and the clarity of vision. Circulation 
in the eyes is also affected.
Mental strain, stress, strain in the mind, negative 
thoughts, emotions cause eye muscle tension. 
Neck muscle tension causes eye muscle tension 
and neck tension is caused by mental strain, 
negative thoughts, emotions, incorrect posture, 
injury: vertebrae out of alignment). Inner eye 
muscle tension; ciliary/lens, iris, tear gland 
muscle... also occurs. When the mind is strained, 
tense, the brain and retina do not communicate, 
function together at optimum level, function of 
the retina is lowered.

Dr. Bates proved that MENTAL STRAIN causes 
unclear vision. RELAXATION of the mind
produces clear vision. Dr. Bates used his 
retinoscope to show that the refraction/focus of 
light rays in the eye are disrupted resulting in 
unclear vision when a person lies. Lying causes a 
bit of mental strain. When the person tells the 
truth-no strain occurs, the refraction is perfect 
and vision clear. Many things can cause mental 
strain. Avoid eyeglasses, remove the stress, 
strain and vision returns to clear. Practice of 
Natural Eyesight Improvement can uncover old, 
forgotten stressful experiences, resulting in 
strong emotions, feelings being remembered, 
activated. Once the memory, feelings are 
acknowledged, released and new positive 
thoughts, emotions placed into the brain, system: 
often the vision immediately returns to normal 
20/20 and clearer. No other practice is needed. 
The eyes relax, move, ‘shift’... correct on their 
own.

Dr. Bates published Medical Articles, Books 
describing his experiments on the eyes, eye 
muscles, the effect of memory on the eyes, vision 
and the effect of the clarity of vision on the 
memory: 1891 ‘A Study of Images Reflected from 
the Cornea, Iris, Lens, and Sclera’ & 
‘Memory as an Aid to Vision’. These Articles and
others are placed in his 1920 book: The Cure of 
Imperfect Sight by Treatment without Glasses, 
Better Eyesight Magazine and his Medical 
Articles E-Book.

Dr. Bates created Natural Treatments, Activities 
to cure: reverse, correct and prevent unclear 
vision and other eye conditions based on his 
discoveries. This became know as ‘The Bates 
Method’. Glaucoma, cataracts and other eye 
conditions were also reversed successfully with 
Dr. Bates Natural Treatments.

 Dr. Bates History - Dates

1860 - Born December, 23rd - New Jersey, USA.
1881 - Graduate - B.S. (Bachelor of Science) 
Agriculture - Cornell University in New York.
1885 - Graduate - MD (Medical Degree - Doctor of 
Medicine) - College of Physicians & Surgeons - 
Columbia University, New York.
1886 - Invented new operation for a type of 
deafness by incising the ear drum membrane and 
published article.

 Published more articles on the Eye, Eye Muscles, Lens, Cornea, Cataracts, Accommodation, 
Myopia...from this date onward.

Discovered and published Article on properties of 
the aqueous extract of the suprarenal capsule,
‘Adrenalin’.
1886 - First Natural Eyesight Improvement 
Application - Dr. Bates cures a medical student 
of unclear distant vision, ‘Myopia’ without 
eyeglasses, surgery, drugs.

1886 -1902 - Eye surgeon - Instructor of Ophthalmology - New York Postgraduate Medical School, Hospital.
Dr. Bates teaches the other doctors, medical 
students to stop wearing their eyeglasses and 
how to cure their eyesight, myopia with Natural 
Methods. Dr. Bates natural treatments were 
successful. He states, proves the natural cure for 
Myopia, unclear distant vision.

(1891 - Dr. Roosa, the chief director of the 
institution, expelled Dr. Bates in an attempt to 
hide Natural Eyesight Improvement from the 
public and maintain the practice of solely 
prescribing eyeglasses, surgery and drugs.)

Dr. Bates then opens his own office, clinic and 
works for better hospitals. 

Attending Physician, Surgeon, Clinic Assistant - 
Manhattan Eye & Ear hospital, Bellevue 
hospital, New York Eye Infirmary-Northern, 
Northeastern, Northwestern dispensary & 
Harlem Hospital.

Invented Astigmatic Keratotomy, an operation to 
correct astigmatism. He discontinued applying 
this operation after he realized through further 
study of Natural Eyesight Improvement that the 
operation eventually impairs the eyes function, 
cornea, vision, health. It works against the 
natural function of the eye. 

Dr. Bates discontinued his hospital schedules for 
a while and started experimental work, studied 
the eyes natural function at the laboratory at 
Columbia University.., Research at the Pathology 
Laboratory of Dr. Pruden at the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.

Dr. Bates goes to Grand Forks, North Dakota, 
(Medical License) and teaches his Natural 
Eyesight Improvement Method, correct natural 
use of Snellen Eyecharts in the schools, brings 
clear vision to the children and teachers. Elected 
president of the Grand Forks district Medical 
Society. 

Back to New York, worked as Attending 
Physician - Harlem Hospital in New York City. 
Teaches his method, use of Snellen Eyecharts in 
the schools, brings clear vision to the children 
and teachers in New York City.

1911+ - Met Emily C. Lierman. Dr. Bates cured 
her eyesight, then hired her as his assistant clinic 
nurse -They worked his experiments in the 
Physiological Laboratory at the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons in New York and 
treated patient’s eyesight with natural methods 
in the Harlem Hospital, Clinic. Many years 
giving free treatments to the Public. They 
Married in 1928.

Dr Bates performs experiments on the eyes of 
Animals, Fish proving that the outer eye muscles 
when tense can alter the shape of the eye, lens 
and cause unclear vision, cataracts and other 
conditions. He proves the outer eye muscles, 
oblique can accommodate the eyes for clear 
close vision.

1918 - 1924 - Course, book ‘Strengthening the 
Eyes’ by Bernarr Macfadden & Dr. W. H. 
Bates - Physical Culture Publishing Co. In later 
book editions, Only MacFadden’s name was 
listed on the book.

1919 -1930 - Dr. Bates Published his Monthly 
‘Better Eyesight Magazine’ - Central-Fixation 
Publishing Co. -11 Years-132 Issues recording 
various Natural Treatments for many different 
eye conditions of the patients of Dr. Bates, Emily 
and other doctor’s... patients. A Gold Mine, 
History of Natural Eyesight Improvement
Methods, Applications.

1920 - Dr. Bates published his book: ‘The Cure 
of Imperfect Sight by Treatment Without 
Glasses’. 2nd print renamed: ‘Perfect Sight 
Without Glasses’.

Medical Article - The American Journal of 
Clinical Medicine 'A Clinical and Experimental 
Study of Physiological Optics with a view to the 
Cure of Imperfect Sight Without glasses'. Basic 
information on The Bates Method. Many 
Medical Articles proving the effectiveness of 
The Bates Method were published through the 
years.

Elected Vice President of Allied Medical 
Associations of America.

Stopped work at Harlem Hospital, Clinic and 
starts Free Clinic treatments day at new location.

1926 - Emily C. A. Lierman (Bates) writes, 
publishes the book: ‘Stories From The Clinic’ 
describing The Bates Method, various natural 
treatments Dr. Bates and Emily applied to cure 
many different eye conditions for patients in 
their Clinic.

1931, July 10th - Dr. Bates Deceased, age 70 at 
his home in New York City.
Emily Lierman/Bates, Dr. Harold Peppard, 
Dr. William B. MacCracken, C.S. Price, 
Clara Hackett, Margaret Corbett, Aldous Huxley 
and others continue to teach The Bates Method. 
Better Eyesight Magazine and Bates Books, 
Articles were Preserved. Bates Teachers work in 
Cities in the U.S.A., England, Germany, Spanish
Teachers, South Africa,..

1940 - Emily Lierman, Bates re-published Dr. 
Bates book with an additional chapter teaching 
The Bates Method’s Application: The 
Fundamental Principles of Treatment. (The list 
of treatments is placed in this introduction and is 
derived from Better Eyesight Magazine, June, 
1921 and other issues & Dr. Bates original
books). Sometime during her teaching profession 
she and others continued to bring the Bates 
Method to California and other states, countries. 
Thousands of person’s eyesight cured naturally. 
Emily and other teachers made a Movie on ‘How 
to Apply The Bates Method’. It is hard to find.

1940 -1941+ - Natural Eyesight Improvement 
Teachers are sued by the Optical, Medical 
Industry, Association in an attempt to stop them 
from teaching The Bates Method. (See Margaret 
Corbett, Aldous Huxley case in this book.) 
Optical Industry, AMA, Eye Doctors destroy 
Dr. Bates Books, Magazines, Articles, remove 
them from Colleges, Libraries, Bookstores...

1943 - Emily Lierman/Bates re-publishes Dr. 
Bates book with a new title ‘Better Eyesight 
Without Glasses’. Many treatments in the book 
are removed causing The Bates Method to be 
mis-understood by students.
Students confused Natural Eyesight 
Improvement with Eye Exercises. (The Bates 
Method uses relaxation of the mind, body, eye 
muscles and eyes. Exercise, hard effort is not 
applied.) 
Emily wrote this new limited book out 
of fear of Law Suits, Abuse, Imprisonment by 
the Medical People (Optical Industry, AMA...) 
that preferred to continue selling harmful 
Eyeglasses, Eye Surgery, Drugs and hide Natural 
Eyesight Improvement from the public.

Emily and other Natural Eyesight Improvement 
Bates Teachers, a few honest Eye Doctors 
secretly preserved Dr. Bates Original Books, 
Medical Articles, Better Eyesight Magazines in 
the U.S.A. and other countries. Memory, 
Imagination, Relaxation. He controlled, changed 
the focus of light rays in his eyes with his mind.

Dr. Bates performed experiments on the eyes of 
animals, and observed the function of thousands 
of animal, patient’s eyes under different 
conditions, situations, state of mind, body, 
thoughts and emotions. He used the retinoscope 
to see the refraction, focus of light rays in the 
eye under these various conditions. He proved 
that the refraction, clarity of vision changes 
often and when the eyes are left alone, 
eyeglasses avoided, the refraction, clarity returns 
to normal, clear vision. He proved that the state 
of the mind, thoughts change the refraction of 
the eye, clarity of vision. Example: when the 
mind, body is relaxed, positive, happy thoughts, 
emotions: the refraction is normal and vision is 
clear. When the mind, body is under stress, 
strain: the refraction is abnormal and vision is 
unclear. Dr. Bates discovered that the main cause 
of unclear vision and other eye problems is: 
Wearing Eyeglasses, Mental Strain, Mental, 
Visual Effort to See, Incorrect Vision Habits 
(incorrect use of the eyes: squinting, staring, not 
shifting, lack of central-fixation, low memory,
imagination...). Perfect Sight occurs only with 
Perfect Relaxation (deep or active/dynamic 
relaxation - See Aldous Huxley’s book: The Art 
of Seeing). Relaxation occurs first and then the 
eyesight becomes clear.

His experiments on the outer eye muscles proved 
that tension in these muscles disrupts their 
function, the eyes movement, accommodation, 
convergence, un-accommodation, divergence, 
causes pressure, tension on/in the eye, alters the 
eyes shape, (and lens), disrupts focus of light 
rays on the retina and the clarity of vision. 
Circulation in the eyes is also affected. Mental 
strain, stress, strain in the mind, negative 
thoughts, emotions cause eye muscle tension. 
Neck muscle tension causes eye muscle tension 
and neck tension is caused by mental strain, 
negative thoughts, emotions, incorrect posture, 
injury: vertebrae out of alignment). Inner eye 
muscle tension; ciliary/lens, iris, tear gland 
muscle... also occurs. When the mind is strained, 
tense, the brain and retina do not communicate, 
function together at optimum level, function of 
the retina is lowered.

Dedication to My Mom
 To Mrs. Nancy Oliver, Wilder. For raising me 
alone without a father, working for minimum 
wage in a hot laundry mat for years while we 
lived in a small apartment. We often did not have 
enough food. I would sneak outside and dig for 
empty soda bottles to cash in for money to buy 
crackers. I remember the day a man at the 
recycling store yelled at me, stating I cannot 
bring him bottles from the trash! Men would be 
cruel to Mom, try to corrupt her, but she would 
not break from her Catholic faith and favorite 
Saint, St. Anne. Mom saved her money and 
bought a Art Instruction Schools Course for me 
when I was 7 years old.

(The school that is advertised on matchbook 
covers and in TV Guide.) I remember thinking 
how boring it was to draw the stick figures of 
people, thinking its not helping my ability to 
draw and I wanted to go back to just copying 
cartoon pictures of Moose Miller, Fred 
Flintstone, Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck, Popeye, 
Dr. Strange… from the comics. I now realize at 
age 53 that the course helped me to draw the 
pictures in Better Eyesight Magazine and other
books.

My Aunt Betty is a very good artist, used to 
draw lifelike pictures of baseball players, boxers, 
my grandfather when he was a Middle Weight 
Champion Boxer, Police Sergeant in New 
England, Massachusetts. She also drew cartoons 
and now paints. She helped to teach me how to 
draw. I cannot draw as well as most artists,
but the basic skills helped to create this book.

 The Author’s Experience with Natural Eyesight 
Improvement

In 4th grade Elementary School I had to wear 
eyeglasses to see the blackboard from the back 
of the classroom. Mom bought the eyeglasses for 
me though she could not afford to spend the 
money. Stress can cause unclear vision. I was in 
constant fear at school due to a large boy that 
would bully me every day, wait to scare me, 
threaten to beat me up after school at the end of 
a long dirt road. I can still see him standing 
there, picking out kids to bully, knowing I was 
next along the line.

I do not remember him actually hitting me, 
mainly just coming up to me and acting like he 
was going to in order to scare me. Frazzled my 
nerves daily. During childhood and adult life I 
was hit in the head, face a few times by other 
children and adult men. (Snow, ice balls, and 
violent people.) I know this contributed to
unclear vision, and a very slight wandering eyes 
condition. Neck vertebrae, collarbone or skull, 
eye socket, joints, bones misalignment?

 My teacher also wore glasses. Children pick up 
eyestrain, incorrect use of the eyes, tension and 
lowered vision from being around people that 
wear glasses and stressful experiences in school
... I hated the glasses and threw them out in a 
couple weeks. I sat closer to the blackboard and 
this prevented strain, effort to see and the vision 
returned to clear. I could then see clear from the 
back of the class when necessary. Mom made 
friends with the bully’s family, then he decided 
to be my friend. We played ‘The Long Ranger’ 
make believe game together.

 Mom could not afford to pay for the glasses but 
was kind and let me go without wearing glasses. 
My vision remained about 20/20-20/40 for years 
and it never bothered me. (Wish I knew The 
Bates Method back then, would have had 20/20
and clearer vision.)

 In 10th grade high school Mom had to buy 
glasses for me again to read the distant 
blackboard in school. Learning Algebra and 
French, did not like these subjects. I threw the 
glasses out after 2 days. At this time I found 
Aldous Huxley’s book: ‘The Art of Seeing’ in a 
old bookstore in Brookfield, MA and practiced 
Switching and Shifting on objects at close and 
far distances with: both eyes together, one eye at
a time, both eyes together again. My left eye 
needed more vision improvement than the right 
so I practiced extra time with the left eye. 
Shifting was combined with the Switching. I 
understood and practiced a little Central-
Fixation. The first time, few seconds that I 
shifted on an object, distant tree, my vision 
improved. Within only 5 minutes my vision 
improved to 20/20 and in 2 days was perfect, 
clear. Vision was so clear in both eyes that I 
could not remember which eye used to have less 
clear vision. My mind felt more balanced, 
relaxed. It is often easy for children, young 
people to improve their vision.

Practicing the Bates Method, having the power 
to improve my vision on my own resulted in an
improvement in my mental, emotional state. It 
was easy to learn, remember at school, my 
grades improved, I gained confidence. The Bates 
Method activates, integrates, improves functions 
of the left and right brain hemispheres, all brain 
functions. I left a gang of kids that were a 
destructive influence and learned to have 
compassion for others and respect myself. I 
realized the mind has more functions, abilities, 
‘power’ than we are taught in school, including 
college. Went into study of Psycho-Cybernetics, 
other science and spiritual subjects. (Human 
potential seems to be suppressed by our leaders. 
Politicians and some religions are trying to 
remove history and other books from libraries, 
bookstores, schools, the Internet.)

 My vision remained about 20/20-20/30 for years 
and it never bothered me. Mainly 20/20, 
sometimes clearer.

 In the U.S. Army I was forced to wear glasses: 
distant eyesight 20/40 at times. (It’s normal for 
vision to fluctuate. Glasses prevent natural 
fluctuation back to clear vision.) I refused to 
wear the glasses. One day while in a foxhole 
shooting my rifle at the distant target, the 
Sergeant made me wear the glasses. I could not
hit the target after many shots while wearing the 
glasses. I got mad and took off the glasses and 
threw them in the dirt. Then aimed the rifle and 
hit the target easily for the remaining shots. 
Sargent then allowed me to permanently 
discontinue use of the glasses.

 Did not need glasses for the rest of my life until 
age 40, Year 1997 – unclear close vision – In the 
year 1995 the author of this book was listening 
to Robert Monroe’s relaxation tapes. I worked a 
very high stress job in a old hotel dealing with 
violent, abusive people, life and death situations. 
I suffered with dizziness from an assault, neck 
injury. Drank too much beer at times to block 
out the stress. The tapes produced a great 
amount of relaxation and also teach a variety of 
tools to improve function of the brain, body. At 
the time I was reading Aldous Huxley’s book 
‘The Art of Seeing’ to try and improve my close 
vision & remove eye floaters at age 40. 
Practiced Bates Method activities: shifting, 
central-fixation, switching... at close distances. 
Also read fine print in the sunlight with 
relaxation, shifting, central-fixation, memory,
imagination. It worked!

 One night after falling asleep listening to 
Monroe’s tape ‘Focus 10’, I heard a man’s voice 
in a dream say; “Write a book on Natural 
Eyesight Improvement”. The dream seemed 
very real and it woke me up. I remembered the 
man's voice and thought later that it would be a 
good idea to write a book on my experience with 
distant and close vision improvement for 30 
years. I began writing the book: ‘Do It Yourself 
– Natural Eyesight Improvement’ and searching 
for more Bates Method Natural Vision 
Improvement books to study. This led me to 
teachings of Janet Goodrich, Martin Sussman-
Cambridge Institute-The Program for Better
Vision course, Carrie Anderson training at the 
Learning Annex, then in person training course 
and books by Thomas Quackenbush in San 
Francisco, CA, and further study of Dr. Bates 
Better Eyesight Magazines and other books. 
Distant and close vision improved to 20/20 and 
clearer.

 Robert Monroe’s tapes teach spiritual 
development, spirit travel and improvement of 
brain, body functions and produce natural states 
taught by Natural Vision Improvement Teachers: 
Deep, perfect relaxation in the beta, alpha, theta, 
delta brain wave states, dynamic relaxation, left 
and right brain hemisphere activation/
integration, visualization of clear mental 
pictures, color treatment, creativity, imagination, 
memory, release of negative thoughts, emotions, 
energy strengthening, circulation, control. The 
activities on the tapes improve all functions of 
the brain. All of these conditions improve the 
clarity of vision. Listening to his tapes improved 
my ability to write and create pictures for this 
book. Many famous scientists, artists speak of 
entering into a deep relaxed state, contacting the 
subconscious mind to obtain greater power of 
the brain, improve skills, solve scientific 
theories, formulas… Monroe’s tapes activate 
this state. (See books by Dion Fortune for 
further study.)

 In Oct., 2009 I experienced a neck injury from a 
dishonest, inefficient chiropractor in Worcester, 
MA and it affected my vision: double vision, 
eyes divergence, converge, balance, hearing 
impaired, astigmatism... All from misaligned 
neck vertebrae and neck, back injury. Neck is 
healing with new doctor’s treatment for 15 
months and use of Natural Eyesight 
Improvement, Bates Method has returned the 
vision to clear. Occasional slight fluctuations in 
vision to 20/30 and eye movement problem 
returns a little when the neck injury flares up, 
sinus congestion in air polluted city. Neck
 muscle relaxation, Physical Therapy, Home ‘do 
it yourself’ noninvasive chiropractic, Clean air 
in Boston, MA by the Sea, less computer work, 
and The Bates Method always returns the vision 
to 20/20 and clearer. Vision remains clear at age 
54. I know from experience that The Bates 
Method works! 



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