Bates eye training
Under the Bates Method comprises various methods and practices that take for himself, optical refractive errors (axial ametropia ) by training the eye muscles - in particular the ciliary muscle to reduce combined with relaxation exercises or even eliminate -. They were developed in 1919 by the American ophthalmologist William Bates (1860-1931) and described in his book right vision without glasses (original title: Perfect Sight Without Glasses ). However , it has never been possible to provide scientific proof of the effectiveness of eye training on optical ametropia, which is why the procedure is rejected by evidence-based medicine .
concept
The relaxation of the eyes through eye training according to Bates is said to be much more effective than sleeping, since the conscious exercise brings about a higher degree of relaxation than can be achieved through the sleep state. In order to achieve a healing effect, resting and sleeping are not enough to relax the eyes. The decisive goal is the complete release of existing tension and spasms in the eye muscles and eye nerves, which, according to Bates, are supposed to cause the actual visual disturbance .
The most important exercises are called “palming” and “big swing”. Repeating it several times over a longer period of time, together with other eye exercises (eye muscle exercises, neck training, etc.) or as part of an overall concept with further treatment measures and also a change in diet, should help to reduce or even remedy visual disturbances. These exercises should also be suitable for counteracting the overstrain of the eyes from computer work .
Palming and big swing
As palming (of English. Palm for palm) the reassuring locking of the eyes is called with both palms. Take a relaxed posture (e.g. prop your elbows on the table), cross your hands over the bridge of your nose and look for that position where the heels of your hands close your eyes tightly but still allow you to blink . It doesn't matter whether the eyes remain open or closed.
For relaxation, it is helpful to imagine a calm, relaxed situation, e.g. B. a ruminating cow in a green meadow. Slightly circling your hands also promotes relaxation. The Bates Visual Schools recommend palming for about 2 minutes. A good addition to this is sunbathing - i. H. expose the eyes to sunlight for 1–2 minutes with the lids closed .
In the big swing you stand with your legs slightly apart and let your arms hang down loosely. Then you swing back and forth, your eyes gliding evenly along the surroundings. The view should not swing more than ± 90 °, so that the shoulders and upper body can remain completely relaxed. The neck should turn only a little.
A full back-and-forth movement should take about 4 seconds. The exercise can take a minute or more and is also recommended for back pain or in short breaks between screen work .
criticism
The cause of axial refractive errors ( myopia , hyperopia ) is usually a disproportion between the refractive power of the optical media ( cornea , lens ) and the anatomically determined length of the eyeball , but not a disruption of the eye muscles . That is why the desired result of eye training according to Bates, which is to reduce or even eliminate ametropia by relaxing the eye muscles, is viewed by science as not achievable. Since a recognized proof of the therapeutic effectiveness of the Bates eye training for ametropia has not yet been provided, the procedure is rejected by evidence-based medicine .
Demarcation
The applications, exercises, procedures and objectives associated with eye training according to Bates are in no way connected or related to the diagnostic and therapeutic services provided in visual schools (ophthalmological, medical departments in practices and clinics) by qualified and state-approved specialist staff ( orthoptists ) which include, for example, orthoptic treatment for binocular vision disorders , pleoptic amblyopia training or occlusion treatments .
See also
literature
- William H. Bates: Right vision without glasses.
- German-language edition: Rohm, 1999, ISBN 3-87683171-7
- Perfect Sight Without Glasses English original online version (HTML and PDF)
- Janet Goodrich: See better, of course. Translated from the English by Michaela Schmidt, Golf Dornseif. 9th edition. Verlag für Angewandte Kinesiologie, Kirchzarten 2002, ISBN 3-924077-05-3 .
- Janet Goodrich: Seeing better by playing. ISBN 3-485-00746-3 .
- Aldous Huxley: The Art of Seeing. ISBN 3-492-20216-0 .
Individual evidence
- ^ A systematic review of the applicability and efficacy of eye exercises. Rawstron JA, Burley CD, Elder MJ. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2005 Mar-Apr; 42 (2): 82-88, Comment: p. 74, PMID 15825744
