Yoga of Perfect Sight

Questions and Answers on Hypermetropia

What is hypermetropia?

The other name for hypermetropia is farsight although the vision is not clear either for distance or for near. Why? Because in hypermetropia the eyeball is too short from the front backward, and the rays of light coming from distant objects and neat objects are focussed behind the retina and not on the retina.

Is hypermetropia a permanent condition?

Hypermetropia is not a permanent condition and this fact is evident from the various prescriptions of glasses which the patient gets from the doctors. Though the orthodox view is that hypermetropia is a permanent condition from birth, the fact is that hypermetropia is acquired at any age.

What are the symptoms of hypermetropia?

Usually the eyes are tired soon in reading, or one finds difficulty in reading some small print. Strain and feeling of pain and headache also are quite frequent. At times the letters of a book appear double or read wrongly. It is hypermetropia which causes many complications in the eyes in old age, as cataract, glaucoma, diseases of the optic nerve and retina. Therefore it is necessary to treat hypermetropia at least to relieve the discomforts and to prevent serious complications. Fortunately the treatment of hypermetropia is easier than of myopia and usually hypermetropic patients are greatly benefited in a short time.

It is often seen that hypermetropia is cured or lessened spontaneously. How does it happen?

According to the orthodox view it is not permissible to suppose that there has been a change in the shape of the eye-ball. Therefore, when hypermetropia disappears or is lessened we are asked to believe that the eye, in the act of vision, both at the near point and at the distance, increases the curvature of the lens sufficiently to compensate, in whole or in part, for the flatness of the eye-ball. But according to the discoveries of Dr. W.H. Bates hypermetropia is relieved by the relief of the strain on the eye and the eye-ball is elongated by relaxation treatment.

I had good eyesight at one time but due to proof reading in dim light my eyesight suffered and now I use plus bifocals, and the number goes on increasing almost every year. How?

According to the orthodox view there is no explanation for this increase in the number of glasses because the lens becomes hard in old age. But according to Dr. Bates hypermetropia is caused by a strain in near work. Due to such a strain the rectus muscles contract and shorten the eye-balls.

Can hypermetropia be produced in the normal eye if strain is the cause?

When the normal eye reads in dim light with strain, hypermetropia is produced. But if the myopic eye reads in dim light with strain, myopia is decreased and the vision for distance is improved.

How is the strain caused in near work?

By reading under, high power of electric light or in dim light; by staring at near point and no blinking; haste in reading; by reading bigger and unfamiliar writings, etc.

What is the best preventive for hypermetropia?

Reading of fine print with gentle blinking without or with glasses, and concentration on a candle flame while counting 100 respirations.

What is the treatment for hypermetropia?

Palming, swinging, shifting the sight on white lines in between the lines of fine print and reading of the Snellen eye chart placed in dim light at a 20 ft. distance. The editor of Mother India, Mr. Sethna, has discarded his plus bifocals after using them for about 20 years and can read fine print.

If some patients are not cured by the relaxation treatment, then what will you do?

When some persons are not able to rest their eyes sufficiently then I prescribe glasses also and tell them to do palming and read fine print with glasses.

What precautions do you advise for a case of glaucoma in its early stage?

1. Correct the habit of blinking.

2. Play with a ball, moving the ball from hand to hand. Shift the sight with movement of the ball.

3. Concentration on two candle flames.

4. Read small print in good light and candlelight alternately.

5. Often the prescription of glasses used by the patient is found high; better avoid glasses as far as possible and use correct glasses.

What is the treatment for detachment of retina?

The habit of right blinking, frequent palming and reading of fine print is the sure preventive for detachment of retina.

Eye education and mental relaxation exercises will cure detachment of retina. Even if the operation is advisable, the patient ought to be educated in how to relax the eyes to prevent any further relapse.