I’ve had the great pleasure to meet David De Angelis by accident after having read his book. An ophthalmologist myself, I already knew a lot about the issues his book deals with, but it was amazing to learn about the author’s personal experience. His “ex-myope’s experience” was incredibly interesting to me.
Despite the fact that David isn’t a physician, during our meetings I could see how vast his knowledge about sight is, thanks to his having read and studied specific medical literature. His experience is a clear and perfect example of being able to reach unexpected targets, putting into practice the synthesis of his bibliographic research. He wasn’t ready to surrender and accept only what the scientific-medical establishment states on the issue.
Worldwide, famous scholars have been doing research on refractive errors and especially on myopia for years. Unfortunately, a great deal of medical literature has always paid more attention to correcting visual defects rather than looking for their causes and intervening against them. Much work in ophthalmology development today has been dictated by economic interests, so that the greatest scholars have withdrawn from research on alternative methods that could control and even prevent the onset and development of myopia. The studies on visual treatments have been carried out since the early twentieth century, when ophthalmology became a real science. Unfortunately, after so many years, still only traditional correcting methods are offered for myopathy. Ophthalmologists have little interest in proposing alternative methods because it’s much easier to prescribe a pair of glasses and it’s more profitable to suggest refractive surgery treatment. On the other side, many opticians are interested only in selling ocular prostheses. In some cases the optometrists themselves, the professionals who cure functional disorders that hinder correct eye functioning, don’t care about this delicate issue. Our unique hope is that very soon, all the efforts of those who are interested in healing sight may converge to give people a chance of pursuing different, more “natural” but efficacious ways to control or prevent myopia development—the ways that are neglected at present because of personal advantage, profit, or whatever else.
I’m sure that (also thanks to David) visual therapy will continue to develop and will meet the needs of people who have realized how harmful modern society is for eye health. Together with David and all the others who are willing to take a part in this great challenge, I will work hard on spreading and acknowledging the principles and theories that are basic for clear, distinct vision.
—Dr. Lee Anthony De Luca, ophthalmologist