Yoga of Perfect Sight

Schoolchildren

It is estimated that in big cities one-tenth of the schoolchildren wear glasses and their defects go on increasing in spite of all care. It is believed by many that the cause of defective eyesight in schoolchildren is the use of small print in the text books. When some schools experimented to use only large print for the children, eye-strain and headache and other troubles became more numerous than when small print was employed; repeated trial of books in which large print was used always failed to prevent discomfort. Just as many children wore glasses after the use of text books with large print as when the books were printed in small print. Evidently, the cause of imperfect sight in schoolchildren was not connected in any way with the size of print used in text books.

It has been generally believed also that the imperfect light of classrooms is the cause of imperfect sight in schoolchildren. In fact, the amount of light has nothing to do with the cause of imperfect sight. Children with myopia or hypermetropia have been benefited or cured within a few weeks or earlier by eye education when a poor light or a bright light was used. They have been cured of their discomforts by reading very small print in good light as well as in candlelight or poor light.

Dr. Cohn has done an enormous amount of work to determine the cause, prevention, or cure of imperfect sight in school children. He recommended what was considered to be the best form of lighting in schools and also devoted a great deal of his time to desks and seats. He believed that he had made a valuable discovery towards prevention of imperfect sight when he recommended an apparatus which prevented school children from leaning far forward when they were studying or writing. After his method had been in use for some time, the vision of children was tested. Much to the surprise of the parents of the children, the vision was not benefited. A friend asked Dr. Cohn for his statistics on children who were benefited: he said no children were benefited and that the method was a failure.

Dr. Bates has proved repeatedly through various experiments and clinical observations that any effort or strain to improve the vision always lowers the vision. Straining the eyes to see at long distances always produces near-sightedness or myopia. When efforts are made to see at the near point continuously, the eyes become farsighted or hypermetropic. It can be demonstrated that the normal eye with normal sight becomes imperfect by a strain to see. When the eyes are relaxed the vision always becomes normal.

Dr. Bates recommends a system of eye education for the prevention and cure of imperfect sight in schoolchildren. A Snellen test card is used as a means to prevent and improve imperfect sight. Children suffering from defective vision may read it frequently and do palming.