Index

A

adolescents, computer use and, 201

adults

looking at details, 42

losing interest, 210

relaxation and, 201

vision compared to kids, 58

affirmation, positive, 158

age

cataracts and, 139

hyperopia (farsightedness) and, 94

aging

corrective lenses and, 216

farsightedness and, 94

vision improvement and, 13–14

amblyopia. See cross sightedness (amblyopia, strabismus)

amblyopic eye. See lazy eye (amblyopic eye)

anti-squinting exercise, 28–29

aphakic eye, 199

arms, stretching, 67–69

The Art of Seeing (Huxley), 8

astigmatism, correcting, 108–12

Australian Aborigines, 214

B

Bascom Palmer, 141

Bates, William, 31, 78

Bates Method, 5–7

beads on a string exercise, 123–25

beak glasses exercise. See two-color exercise (beak glasses)

beauty, enjoying, 38–39, 44–45

bilateral vision, 128

bleeding, retinal, 140, 145, 152

blindness

detached retina and, 182

glaucoma and, 155

Schneider’s early life of, 1–5

vitreous detachment and, 186–87

blind spot

development of, 186

finding, 191

in retina, 150

blinking

children and, 61

for cross-sightedness, 115

in darkness, 61–62

exercise, 60–63

inflamed, burning, and itchy eyes and, 78

one eye for presbyopia, 199

retinal detachment and, 183

sleep and, 59

blinking lights, for detached retina, 184

blocking strong eye exercise

cheap sunglasses, 54–57

for glaucoma, 163

how to do, 52–54

looking at details one more time, 57–59

blood flow

body and eye health and, 63

eye nourishment and, 15

to eyes and blinking, 60

to the head, increasing, 66–67

massage and, 31

optic nerve and, 160–61

rubbing hands to increase, 36

sunning and, 27

using warm towel to increase, 60

visual system and, 145–46

body

eye coordination and, 15

vision and, 15, 63–73

bodywork, 156, 174

bounce and catch exercise, 143, 144–45

bouncing the ball exercise

for myopia, 87

for presbyopia, 99

Braille, reading, 2, 4–5

brain

connecting to macula, 44

developing with curiosity, 208

plasticity of, 113

breathing

exercise and, 59

power of, 65

while palming, 35–36, 38

burning, in eyes, 78

C

card game exercise, 133–34

cataracts

beginning of, 142

bounce and catch exercise, 144–45

children of Schneider and, 11

and diabetes, 152

exercise program for, 143–44

looking into the distance to prevent, 22

looking into the distance with, 141–42

presbyopia and, 107

reasons for, 108, 139–40

Schneider and, 1

surgery for, 140–41, 143, 158

central vision

blocking, 25, 48, 49

cheap sunglasses and, 54

on eye strain, 23

facing the mirror and, 116

looking at details and, 55

retinitis pigmentosa and, 192, 195–97

using the computers and, 76

children

blinking and, 61

body power to heal, 204–5

with cataracts, 11–12

computer use and, 201

curiosity and developing brain, 208

eye glasses and, 207

hyperopia and, 94

plasticity of brain in, 114

working with, 200–212

ciliary muscles

controlled stress on, for strength, 101–7

relaxation of, 19

city lights, eye health and, 63–64

cold towel, applying

blinking and, 60

for correcting optic nerve damage, 178, 181

for fatigued eyes, 65

glaucoma and, 172

object and line, 133

using computers and, 75, 171

collateral circulation, 145

comprehension problems, with weaker eye, 52

computer use

eye strain and, 19, 75

relieving built-up fatigue and, 75–79

computer vision syndrome (CVS), 103–4

congenital disorders, nystagmus and, 135

contact lenses, 216

cornea, keratoconus and, 153

corrective lenses

dangers of, 216–22

myopia and, 83–85

removing, 22

cost, of vision problems, 219–22

cross-legged body rotations, 169, 170

cross sightedness (amblyopia, strabismus)

beads on a string exercise, 123–25

card game exercise, 133–34

correcting, 113–14

exercise program for, 114–16

holding double exercise, 125–26

Melissa exercise, 118–21

mirror images exercise, 116–18

object and line exercise, 129–33

red and green glasses exercise, 128–29

rotating the eyes, and looking into darkness, 115–16

two-color exercise (beak glasses) exercise, 126–28

curiosity

about details, 44

developing brain with, 208

Melissa exercise and, 210

vision and, 58

CVS. See computer vision syndrome (CVS)

D

darkness

blinking in, 61–62

glow in the dark exercise, 109, 111–12

and light exercise, for detached retina, 184–86

for optic neuritis, 177

resting the eyes completely, 63–65

for sleep, 30

See also night walking

death and loss, glaucoma and, 159–60

dependency, on corrective lenses, 216–18

detached retinas

correcting, 182–83

reasons for, 182

details, looking at, 15

in beautiful scenery, 71–72

blinking and, 61

importance of, 57–59

practice of, 6

to stimulate the macula, 11

See also shifting exercise

diabetes

blind spots in retina and, 150

cataracts and, 152

correcting, 145

exercises for, 148–50

laser treatments, 152

patching the strong eye, 150

physical exercises for, 151–52

retina and, 145, 146, 150

tapping exercise, 149–50

waving exercise, 150

distance, looking into, 15. See also looking into the distance exercise

dominant eye, discovering, 21

double vision, 69, 118

dreaming, eye relaxation and, 30–31

dry eyes, blinking and, 60

E

ears, relaxing while palming, 36

emotional loss, glaucoma and, 159–60

emotional state

retinal detachment and, 183

vision and, 160

enjoyment

of the beautiful view, 71–73

of breath of fresh air, 22

of sun and dark, 213

of vision, 90, 91

exercises

for astigmatism, 109–12

blinking, 60–63

blocking the strong eye, 52–57

body, 9

breathing and, 59

for cataracts, correcting, 143–44

corrective lenses and, 83–85

for cross sightedness (amblyopia, strabismus), 114–16

for diabetes, 148–50

fo retinitis pigementosa, 193–98

for glaucoma, correcting, 163–74

for hyperopia, correcting, 95–98

for hyperopia (farsightedness), 95–98, 109–11

long swing, 16–19

looking into the distance, 19–22

macular puckers and holes, correcting, 189–91

for myopia, correcting, 87–93

night walking, 29–30

for nystagmus, 136–37

optic neuritis, correcting, 176–77

periphery, 23–25

for presbyopia, 99–108

for retinal detachment, 184–86

retinitis pigementosa, correcting, 191–93

suggestions for, 82–83

sunning and skying, 25–29

vitreous detachment, correcting, 186–89

See also palming; shifting exercise; small pieces of paper exercise; steps to better vision

exploring the periphery exercise

looking into the distance exercise, 23

paying attention to, 19, 22

small pieces of paper exercise, 24–25

See also peripheral vision

extension movements, 68–69

extreme close-up

for hyperopia, 95–98

for presbyopia, 99, 100

eyebright tea, 171

eye charts

blocking the strong eye and using, 54–56

for myopia, 87–88, 90, 91

eye/eyes

balanced use of, 15

dominant, discovering, 21

fatigue, computer use and, 75–79

function, changing, 13–14

muscles of, corrective lenses and, 216

pain, 9, 69

paying attention to, 59

resting, 63–65

sore, 60

stretching muscles of, 69–71

teaming, 206

See also cold towel, applying; eye fatigue; eye strain; pupils of the eyes; strong eye; warm towel, applying; weak eye

eye fatigue

cold or hot towels for, 65

computer use and, 75–78

eye glasses, children and, 207

eye-hand coordination, 71

eye pressure, elevated, 12. See also glaucoma

eyes rotation

for cross-sightedness, 115–16

for presbyopia, 99

eye strain

on central vision, 23

city lights and, 63–64

computer use and, 19, 75

invisible, 75

to look far, 218

using both eyes together, 53

F

farsightedness. See hyperopia (farsightedness)

fear

as danger to eyes, 158

glaucoma and, 162

feeling, and not looking, 10–11

fine print, reading, 45–49

fingers, interlacing, 68, 69

fingertips, preparing for palming, 32

fist telescope, 21, 52

fitness, walking correctly and, 63

flexibility, long swing exercise and, 16

floaters, 86, 186, 187, 188

fovea centralis, and foveola, 217

fusion tests with paper, 204

G

genetics

cataracts and, 1

glaucoma and, 23, 160

retinitis pigmentosa and, 192

glasses

beak (two-color exercise), 126–28

reading, 98

red and green, 128–29, 136

See also eye glasses; pinhole glasses; sunglasses

glaucoma

cause of, 23

correcting, 154–63

exercises for, 163–74

low-tension, 155–56

palming with, 163

physical exercise for, 164–74

reduction of pressure, 156–58

vision and, 13

glow in the dark exercise

for astigmatism, 109, 111–12

for glaucoma, 167–68

group practice

details, looking at, 42

night walking, 29

H

The Handbook of Self-Healing (Schneider), 16

hands, palming and, 31–32, 33–34

happiness, 221

Happy (movie), 118

head

bringing blood flow to, 12, 66, 67, 93

lowering below knees, 17

moving in rotating movement, 11, 61

moving to the side, 6

headlines exercise

for astigmatism, 109–11

for glaucoma, 164

healing

good thoughts and good prayer for, 164

self-healing, faith in, 8, 9

true, 81

healthy vision, 15, 63

herbal tea soaked towels, 114, 171

high myopia, 85, 86, 140

high ocular hypertension, 161

high pressures in the eye. See glaucoma

holding double exercise, 125–26

hormones, sun exposure and, 215

Hoyt, Creig, 202, 203

Huxley, Aldous, 8

hyperopia (farsightedness)

age and, 94

astigmatism and, 108

blocking strong eye exercise and, 52–59

exercises for, 95–98

headline exercise, 109–11

presbyopia and, 98–99

preventing, 94–95

I

improvement, two ways to, 9

inclusion, concept of, 2

infants, development of vision in, 217

inflammation, in eyes, 60, 78

Injections, to stop bleeding, 152

ink is black and the page is white exercise, 49–52

insomnia, 26

insulin, function of, 145

integrative exercise, 16, 18–19

internal changes, importance of, 220

iris of the eye, 212

itchy eyes, 78

K

keratoconus, 153–54

L

laser treatments, for diabetes, 152

LASIK surgery

complications from, 155

keratoconus and, 153–54

lazy eye (amblyopic eye), 114, 119, 205, 207–8. See also cross sightedness (amblyopia, strabismus)

lenses. See contact lenses; corrective lenses; plus lenses (magnification) for hyperopia

lens problems. See cataracts

life improvement, glaucoma and, 165

light frequencies, adjusting to, 15

long swing exercise

computer use and, 76–77

for cross sightedness, 115

how to do, 16–19

as integrative exercise, 16, 18–19

for macular puckers and holes, 189

looking

into darkness, for foresightedness, 115–16

at details, 15, 16, 18, 143, 184

into the distance, 66, 95, 201

feeling and not, 10–11

looking into the distance exercise, 23

for cataracts, 143–44

discovering strong eye, 21

eye strain and computer use, 19

face massage and blink, 20

preventing cataracts, 22

look near, look far, for presbyopia, 100–101

loss, glaucoma and, 159–60

low-tension glaucoma, 155–56, 162

M

macula

cones in retina, 24

connecting brain to, 44

ink is black and page is white exercise, 48–49

macular puckers and hoes, correcting, 189–91

stimulation of, 11

sunning exercise and, 27

using weaker eye to strengthen, 56

utilizing, 46–47

waking up with shifting, 38, 40

macular degeneration, 44

macular puckers and holes, correcting, 189–91

magic wands, 174, 197–98

marching in place exercise, 167

Mask of Zorro exercise, 195–96

massage

around eyes for presbyopia, 100

blinking and, 61, 62

combining with palming, 32, 33

for detached retina, 183

for diabetes, 148

the face, and eyebrows, 20, 38, 166

keratoconus and, 154

palm, for glaucoma, 167

relaxation and, 166

tapotement, 146

tapping and, 149–50

treatments, 12

maturity in life, 221

meditation, art of, 31

melanin pigment, 214–15

melatonin, 30, 215

Melissa exercise

attracting curiosity, 210

computer use and, 77

for cross-sightedness, 118–21

curiosity and, 210

how to do, 69–70

for hyperopia, 95

for presbyopia, 100

variations of, 71

The Melissinia” Exercise, 121–23, 173, 174, 210

mirror images exercise, 116–18

multiple sclerosis, palming and, 37

muscles of the eyes, corrective lenses and, 216

myopia (near-sightedness)

astigmatism and, 108

correcting, 85–98

exercise for, 87–93

extending the point of focus, 218

glasses for, 83–85

high, 85, 86, 140

note about, 93

using computers and, 78

N

near looking, eye strain and, 20

near-sightedness. See myopia (near-sightedness)

neck, loosening

exercises for, 167–69

glaucoma patients and, 165

retinal detachment and, 169

techniques for, 66–69

neurological problems, vision and, 174–76

night walking

clear vision and, 64

for correcting myopia, 86

exercise, 29–30

relaxation and, 64

for retinitis pigmentosa, 193–95

See also darkness

nystagmus (involuntary rapid eye movement), 18, 134–37

O

object and line exercise, 129–33

obstruction glasses

over strong eye, bouncing the ball exercise, 87–93

for strengthening weak eyes, 54–57

obstructive lens, seeing and, 88

optic disk, 155–56

optic nerve

blood flow and, 160–61

correcting damage of, 177–82

glaucoma and, 160–61

inflammation of, 176

losing, 15, 23

weakness, glaucoma and, 155

optic neuritis, correcting, 176–77

orientation, sense of, long swinging exercise and, 19

P

palming

for astigmatism, 109

benefits and duration of, 36, 37

breathing during, 35–36

for cataracts, 143

combining with other exercises, 37–38

computer use and, 77

for correcting myopia, 86, 87

for cross sightedness, 115

ears relaxing during, 36

with glaucoma, 163

how to palm, 34–35

for hyperopia, 95

for macular puckers and holes, 189

for nystagmus, 136–37

preparing to, 31–34

for retinal detachment, 184

for retinitis pigmentosa, 193

Schneider’s early use of, 6, 7, 10, 11

short, 30

shoulders relaxation and, 59

for sore or dry eyes, 60

visualization during, 35

palm massage, 167

parents, working with children, 201–2

partners, exercising with

ball throwing, for retinitis pigmentosa, 194

card game exercise, 133–34

dark and light exercise, for detached retina, 184–86

headlines exercise, 109

night walking, 29–30

walking backwards, 115

Peppard, Harold, 8

peripheral chart, 173

peripheral exercise

for glaucoma, 163

for hyperopia, 95

for myopia, 86, 87

note about, 198

for presbyopia, 99

peripheral vision

blinking and, 62

exercise, using the computer and, 76

long swinging exercise and, 19

research study assessing, 203

waving lights in the dark exercise, 197–98

periphery

computer use and paying attention to, 77

exercises, 23–25

expanding, 15

exploring (See exploring the periphery)

permeable contact lenses, 216. See also corrective lenses

physical exercises

for diabetes, 151–52

for glaucoma, 163, 164

research study assessing, 203–4

pigments, in the eye, 135, 214, 215

pinhole glasses

for macular puckers and holes, 189, 190–91

use of, 84–85, 86

plus lenses (magnification) for hyperopia, 94

positive affirmation, eye health and, 158

presbyopia

astigmatism and, 108

computer vision syndrome and, 103

controlled stress on the ciliary muscle, 101–3

correcting, 94, 98–108

exercise program for, 99–108

unfreezing, 107–8

prescription lenses. See corrective lenses

pressure in the eye, high. See glaucoma

print

fine, reading, 45–49

large and small, 104–7

“large and small,” 93, 98, 104–5, 106, 109

professions, changing, 220

proteins, cataracts and, 139

psychotherapy, glaucoma and, 165

puckers, correcting macular, 189–91

pupils of the eyes

breathing and, 38

expansion and contraction, 6

light and, 212

muscles of, 64

at nighttime, 29, 213–14

relaxation and, 60

strengthening of, 27

sunglasses and, 27

sunning and, 10

R

reading

computer use and, 77–79

in dim light, for presbyopia, 100

fine print, 45–49

with pinhole glasses, 84–86

reading glasses, 98

retention, the weaker eye and, 52

red and green glasses exercises, 128–29, 136

refraction errors, improving and correcting

astigmatism, correcting, 108–12

corrective lenses role, 83–85

healing, understanding, 81

hyperopia, correcting, 94–98

nearsightedness and farsightedness, 85–98

presbyopia, correcting, 94, 98–108

relationships, glaucoma and, 160, 165

relaxation

activity and, 67

adults and, 201

blinking and, 18, 60, 61

computer use and, 78

deep, 15, 65

dreaming and, 30–31

eye strain and, 204

facial, 53

glaucoma and, 166

night walking and, 64

palming and, 34, 59

resting your eyes, 63–65

research study, assessing visual and physical exercise, 203–4

retention, weaker eye and, 52

retina

blind spots in, and diabetes, 150

developing, with shifting exercise, 38

diabetes and, 145, 146

laser treatments and, 152

melanin in, 214

retinal puckers, 187

sunglasses, danger of, 213–15

See also detached retinas; retinitis pigmentosa

retinal cells, losing, 58–59

retinal detachment, 86, 169

blinking and, 183

exercises for, 184–86

retinal pucker, 187

retinal tears, correcting, 182–83

retinitis pigmentosa

correcting, 191–93

exercises for, 193–98

rubeosis, laser treatments and, 152

S

Schneider, Meir

Bates Method, discovery of, 5–7

beginning of healing, 6–7

children of, 11–12, 43–44, 199

early family life, 1–5

early use of palming, 6, 7, 10, 11

The Handbook of Self-Healing, 16

seeing the light, 7–14

strabismus, 117

teaching others, 11

working with children, 199–212

Yoga for your Eyes, 188

School for Self-Healing, 83, 119, 123, 178, 191, 200, 204

scotomas, 122

self-acceptance, happiness and, 221

self-healing, faith in, 9

“The Shifter,” 38, 92

shifting exercise

for correcting myopia, 86, 87

details, looking at, 42–44

for diabetes, 148

fine print reading, 45–49

ink is black and the page is white exercise, 49–52

for myopia, 87

practicing, 40–42

purpose of, 38–40

reading the fine print, 45–49

for retinitis pigmentosa, 193–95

weaker eye, comprehension problems with, 52

short palming exercise, 30

shoulders, relaxing in preparation for palming, 31–32, 59

Sight Without Glasses (Peppard), 8

skying

exercise, 28–29

for macular puckers and holes, 189

sleep

adults and, 201

blinking and, 59

darkness for, 30

rest for the eyes and, 26

See also insomnia

small pieces of paper exercise, 24–25

social services, dependence on, 3

sore eyes, blinking and, 60

squinting

glaucoma and, 166

necessity to stop, 73

palming, benefits of, 37

skying exercise, 28–29

steps to better vision

step1: The Long Swing, 15–19

step 2: Looking into the Distance, 19–22

step 3: Exploring the Periphery, 22–25

step 4: Sunning and Skying, 25–29

step 5: Night Walking, 29–30

step 6: Palming, 30–38

step 7: Shifting, 38–52

step 8: Blocking the Strong Eye, 52–59

step 9: Blink, 60–62

step 10: Vision and Body, 63–73

strabismus. See cross sightedness (amblyopia, strabismus)

stress

on the ciliary muscle, for strength, 101–7

releasing in preparation for palming, 31–32, 35

retinitis pigmentosa and, 192

vision loss and, 192

strong eye

blocking, 55–59

blocking exercise, 52–59

children and covering, 11, 12

discovering, 21

patching, diabetes and, 150

sunglasses

cheap, blocking the eye with, 54–57

danger of, 213–15

pupils of the eyes and, 27

sunning

for astigmatism, 109

blood flow and, 27

for cross sightedness, 115

exercise, 6, 7, 10, 25–28

for glaucoma, 163, 165

for hyperopia, 95

for macular puckers and holes, 189

nystagmus and, 136

for retinitis pigmentosa, 193

surgery

cataract, 140–41, 143–44, 158

performed on Schneider’s eyes, 1–2

reattachment, 183

See also LASIK surgery

T

tapotement massage, 146

tapping

for diabetes, 149–50

on your neck, 66, 171

teachers reactions, Schneider and, 6

teaching others, Schneider and, 11

three-dimensional vision, 128

Tibetan yogis, 30, 31, 37, 63

toxoplasmosis, 206

trampoline for exercise, 70, 93, 120, 121, 144, 178, 205

two-color exercise (beak glasses), 126–28

U

unfreezing eye and body exercise, 107–8

universe, paying attention to, 50, 59

V

views, enjoying, 71–73

vision

body and, 15, 63–73

care, 219, 221–22

central vision, 23, 58, 76

curiosity and, 58

debate about, 59

double, 69, 118

emotional state and, 160

enjoying, 90, 91

glaucoma and, 13

healthy, 15, 63

integration of, 37

loss, glaucoma and, 162

neurological problems and, 174–76

problems, cost of, 219–22

See also peripheral vision; vision improvement

vision improvement

difficulties in, 10–13

plus lenses and, 94

practicing, 216

visual acuity, 203

visual exercises, research study assessing, 203–4

visualizations

during the ink is black and the page is white exercise, 49–52

inner rhythm and, 72

in the long swing vision improvement, 6, 8, 10, 13

during palming, 35

during sunning, 26

visual problems, causes of, 204

visual system, 58, 203

vitreous detachment, correcting, 186–89

W

walking, correct, 63

walking backward, for cross sightedness, 115

warm towel, applying

glaucoma and, 172

to increase blinking, 60

using computers and, 171

waves, looking at, 19, 20

waving exercise, 150

waving lights in the dark exercise, 197–98

weak eye

brains attention to, 48

comprehension problems with, 52

reading with, 53

retention and, 52

Y

Yoga for your Eyes (DVD), 188