What is the scientific background for Vision Training?
Most Vision Training approaches originated with the work of William H. Bates, M.D. (1860 1931). Dr. Bates was a prominent ophthalmologist in his day working and teaching in New York. As many ophthalmologists have noted, Bates saw people spontaneously recover from myopia while others became worse. In some cases people who had their lenses operated out, due to cataracts, could still read and see normally without glasses. These phenomena are contrary to the theories prevailing at the time and still today. The scientific thinking today is that the cause of myopia is unknown. Possibly genetic in origin and it is structural. In any case the preferred remedy is to fit glasses or recommend refractive surgery. In essence Dr. Bates redefined the theory that excessive near point work, like a lot of reading, working with microscopes, doing needle point work etc. is the cause of myopia. This theory is known as functional myopia. After four years of intensive study of the anatomy of focusing Dr. Bat
