Yoga of Perfect Sight

Astigmatism Relieved by Eye Education

The belief about the incurability of astigmatism is a dogma but a true scientist will always resist such a conservative idea. Dr. A.S. Drooby M.D., a well-known psychiatrist of Lebanon, relates his experience to illustrate this fact:

"After only two days of Dr. Agarwal’s treatment the present writer had a beneficial experience, in which astigmatism of many years standing was relieved. But before this is explained in greater detail, it would be worthwhile to relate the history of the case.

"As there is a great deal of printed matter to be read in this modern world, a system of reading called 'Fast or Rapid Reading' has been developed. The principles of fast reading are that one keeps the head stationary and moves the eyes only, also individual letters are not observed but one views whole words only. However the main process to achieve fast reading is to fixate the eyes upon the middle of the printed line (of a standard book size), and to shift the sight down the middle of the page, thus diminishing the eye movement to a minimum.

"Owing to bilateral astigmatism the present writer has worn glasses for the last 23 years, this astigmatism being combined with myopia of -1.5 in both eyes. The left eye was more affected than the right, with the net outcome that without glasses only the right eye would see or do the reading.

"The treatment at The School for Perfect Eyesight starts with the application of Resolvent 200 in the eyes, then sitting facing the sun with eyelids closed and rocking the body gently from side to side. This was followed by 5 minutes' palming, then the reading of fine print in bright, dim, and candlelight.

"After only 2 days of treatment the writer had the following beneficial experience. Under the treatment one is advised during reading to move the head slightly with the movement of the eyes, and it was noted that by following this advice the print started to appear neater and darker.

"Another exercise consisted of reading through a hole of ½ inch diameter cut out of a card, this card is moved across the printed page so that one can only see a small length of the print at a time. By practising this exercise the print popped out as if enlarged from the hole, and there was no more blurring. For that moment the astigmatism was gone. Also reading with the left eye only and without the card, it was found that the print came out clearly and neatly.

"A comparison was then made between the new way of reading and the old, viz. reading with a movement of the head, and reading with head fixed. Reading with head movement was found to be easier, and without blurring of the print. Reading without head movement brought back the astigmatic effect, and the sensation of eye-strain reappeared.

"This experience makes one take the orthodox optometrist's management with a grain of salt. One also begins to question the wisdom of quickly correcting the refraction error with the use of lenses when a more natural and hygienic procedure is available. Furthermore a person applying the Agarwal method is given the chance, at least, (confirmed by others) to check the advance of myopia. With the use of lenses it is notorious that progressively higher dioptrics are required.

"The Bates-Agarwal technique is recommended whole-heartedly by this patient."