At the end of a particularly exhausting day in 1900, Dr William Bates, a New York ophthalmologist, sat and placed his palms over his eyes. After 10 minutes, he noted that his eyes were not as sore and that things in the room seemed sharper and brighter. These observations led him to develop the Bates method, a system of “eyesight re-education” now widely taught by natural therapists who aim to improve eyesight without artificial aids. To keep your eyes in good shape, practise these exercises 5 to 10 minutes a day: 1. Palming Sit comfortably at a table, close your eyes and rest your elbows on the table. Rub your hands together briskly for 20 seconds or so, then cup your palms over your eyes, without applying any pressure. Keep your back and neck level and don’t drop your head. Do this for 10 minutes twice a day. Tip: If you use a computer, rest your eyes by palming for at least one minute for every 15 you estimate you are looking at the screen. 2. Remembering While palming, try to recall an object in the brightest possible colours. Bates found that remembering things in the mind’s eye helped patients to see them more clearly in reality. 3. Blinking Make dozens of delicate, butterfly blinks’ for 10 to 20 seconds, several times a day; as you do so, turn your head gently from left to right, and back again. 4. Shifting Pick out an object just out of your vision. Imagine your nose is a pointer, and move your head slowly and gently as you trace around the object’s outline with your nose. Repeat in the opposite direction. 5. Splashing Gently splash warm water over your closed eyes 20 times, then repeat 20 times with cold water to improve circulation to the eyes. Do first thing in the morning and last thing at night. 6. Swinging Stand with feet apart and sway gently from side to side (to music, if you like), allowing your eyes to ‘swing’ along with your movements. This helps your eyes to become more flexible. 7. Focusing Hold one index finger at arm’s length and the other about 6 in away from your face. Use both eyes to focus on one, then blink and focus immediately on the other; repeat several times a day.
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