Yoga of Perfect Sight

Questions and Answers

If reading is not the cause of myopia, then why do so many hard working students suffer from myopia?

When the eye focuses itself at a near point as in reading, the condition is called accommodation. What happens in accommodation? The eye-ball is lengthened just like a camera when it focuses at a near point. When a student reads for long hours at a stretch, the eye is in a state of continuous accommodation and this condition is called excessive accommodation. After long study or, so to say, after excessive accommodation when the eye looks at distant objects, the vision is a little hazy, it takes some time for the eye to shorten its length so as to focus correctly and adopt the condition of rest. At this time if the eye makes an effort to see clearly, then the state of lengthening of the eye-ball continues and the eye becomes myopic. When this habit of straining becomes habitual, myopia sets in permanently. Some students escape because they do not continue to make an effort to see and are able to relax easily.

If after long study one can do palming and reading of the Snellen test card then the effect of the accommodation will pass away easily and quickly.

In accommodation the eye-ball is lengthened, in myopia also the eye-ball is lengthened; then what is the difference between these two conditions?

Accommodation is without strain, without an effort to see, while myopia is due to an effort to see distant objects.

If eye-strain is felt in reading, then what will happen?

The eye will become hypermetropic, there will be flattening of the eyeball. It is why reading small print in dim light helps to counteract myopia.

Why do eye specialists fail even to prevent myopia? My number has increased from -1.0 to -6.0.

It is because ophthalmic science regarding accommodation and errors of refraction is full of fallacies and falsehood. No attention is paid to minimise the strain to see distant objects and to relieve the mental strain which underlies imperfect functioning of the eye. Further, a myopic patient sees well at a near point and reads better without glasses, but the doctor advises him to use glasses constantly.

What will you advise then to a highly myopic patient?

Glasses may be used when necessary but not in reading. Palming may be done whenever convenient. Read the Snellen eye chart once a day without and with glasses, this will keep you aware about your eyesight. And read small print in dim light for a few minutes.

How can I adjust myself in the class if I don't use glasses? I have to see the blackboard and read also.

Glasses may be used at that time but after the class do palming and avoid their use at home and at reading time.

Why do you advise glasses for some and for some not?

Because some need their use, while others can manage without them and feel more relaxed.

How is it that one eye becomes highly myopic while the other remains normal or little myopic?

Each eye functions separately; one may strain more than the other.

What goes wrong in myopia and how can that defect be corrected?

(1) The eye-ball is elongated and is unable to focus correctly. To correct this defect read in dim light for sufficient time.

(2) Central fixation is lost. This defect can be corrected by central fixation exercises or by the memory of a small letter.

My vision is very poor even with glasses of -16 and I get temporary attacks of blindness. Gradually the vision is failing. Can your treatment help me?

I assure you that your eyes can be greatly benefited and you may come here for treatment.

I am shortsighted and using glasses for five years. The number of glasses has not increased and I feel quite comfortable. The only difficulty is that sometimes my eyes get tired after reading too much.

This is harmless myopia and you can continue with your glasses to see distant objects. While reading you should not use them because your reading sight is quite good without glasses. Do palming after reading. Read fine print.

My one eye is myopic and the other hypermetropic. Since I have been using glasses, I have developed a dull headache, my memory is also affected. What do you advise?

As you can see well at a distance with one eye, and read well with the other, you should not use glasses. You don't need them at all.

One eye conveys a bigger image, while the other conveys a smaller image when the glasses are being used; and the mind has to fuse these different images and then it goes under a strain.

I am myopic and I have to change my glasses quite frequently. Can you advise me something to check the increase of myopia?

(1) Read without glasses.

(2) Read in dim light.

(3) Practise palming several times a day.

(4) Read the Snellen eye chart at ten feet without and with glasses, with gentle blinking.

Why do you recommend to read in dim light? Everyone ridicules me when I study in dim light.

You are shortsighted. By reading in dim light for sufficient time hypermetropia is developed and hypermetropia neutralises the myopia. You can test this fact that by reading in dim light for sufficient time the distant vision is improved. While reading the distant chart you should blink at each letter. When reading in dim light is aided by central fixation, the improvement lasts longer.

I sit in the verandah to practise on the eye chart to improve my distant vision. You have advised me to read in dim light and then to practise on the eye chart in good light. How to make such an arrangement?

Take a bed cover of dark colour, fold it, then use it as a cover over yourself, adjust the cover in such a way that there is quite dim light inside and it is a little difficult to read at about 12 inches.

I see something flying before my eyes; the doctor says, “floating specks”, for which he has no cure.

Practise long swing and palming frequently and get the habit of blinking. Then the floating specks will fade away. Remember two important points:

(1) When floating specks appear, ignore them.

(2) Do not test whether they are still there or not.

Doctor, is your system of treatment an alternative, or a substitute or complementary to the orthodox system of treatment?

It is an alternative, a substitute as well as complementary depending upon the circumstances.

A person quite comfortable with his glasses, when he likes to undergo this treatment, it becomes an alternative.

Usually in lower degrees of errors of refraction, we substitute it (the relaxation method) for glasses.

In cases of high myopia, it goes hand in hand with glasses. Glasses aid the vision in those cases and the relaxation methods checks further deterioration.

I see a white image of the black letter when I close my eyes. Is it a natural or physiological phenomenon?

This is called after-image. It is not a natural or physiological phenomenon. After-image is the sign of strain. When one looks at the letter with central fixation, after-image does not appear, black or real image appears.