Ординатура / Офтальмология / Английские материалы / Relearning To See_Quackenbush_2000

40.K. N., again: I am so excited, I am really, every day, doing my vision habits—

brush, breathe, and blink. Things I could not read before I can read, and it is very exciting.

41. T. R.: I am thinking that my life is pretty hectic right now, and I do not think I will be attending the remaining classes. I think I have the basic gist of it. I know I will be missing valuable infor­ mation, but I feel like right now I have to make some major lifestyle changes, such as relaxing and breathing. I do have plans to go away for the next cou­ ple of weekends to make some money, which I really need, but I appreciate everything you have done. And, I do hope that through this gradual process things will begin to change for me. But, I see that it is really something very major. Like you always say, "It is not a trivial class." That's true. But I definitely have those three things down, and now I just need to apply them, and make changes in my life. So, thank you very much for your help, and I will be talk­ ing to you sometime in the future to let you know how things are going.

42.К. E: I had your course about a month and a half ago. My vision has improved. I went to the DMV and passed. Now I can drive legally without glasses. I thought I would call you and say "Thank you" for your class. You have helped me make great improvements with my eyes.

43.В. H.: Just wanted to let you know my husband and I are moving... I wanted to thank you for everything, and I feel very fortunate to meet you and take your class. My vision continues to

improve more and more every day. So, keep up the good work. Bye.

44.M. L.: I just wanted to tell you some­ thing really good is happening, because my eyes are getting so good, I can hardly believe it. My vision is improv­ ing a lot. I'm seeing a lot of things I could not see before. In the night, I can see my clock; I could not see it before. It was always blurry. I can see my tele­ vision without my glasses, and a lot of really good things. I just wanted to let you know about my progress. I must be doing good vision habits.

45.L. M.: This vision is a lot of fun. It really works, and I am really psyched, and I want to thank you.

46.M. I.: Boy, I must have had 20/15 today over in the Marin Headlands. It was incredible. I could count the houses on the streets in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Actually, I was seeing from Tennessee Valley, which is farther than the Marin Headlands. Thanks for your good work.

47.В. T. (again, before attending classes): I have decided I would like to be your last, ninth student in your course begin­ ning April 8.1 just had a realization that I cannot afford not to take your class.

48.M. L.: I just thought I would call you and let you know that I have been hav­ ing a lot of flashes. I mean, lots and lots and lots. I have just been noticing that I haven't been wearing my glasses for three weeks.

49.В. T. again: Reading on the trolley com­ ing home last night, I had an intellec­ tual appreciation that I would, could, will get better; that my progress is less

"iffy" now; it's more, like, definite. In my mind, it is definite. And last night I had a intellectual realization that it is definite. That I can do it. And then this morning I had the emotional realization

50. R- С: I thought I would give you a progress report. I went to my eye doc­ tor today, and I had a "micro" improve­ ment, which I was thoroughly excited about, and certainly congratulated myself Thanks a lot. I am very happy.

51. K. W.: I just wanted to let you know I had my first real flash. I saw clearly for a few seconds, and then I was staring at the thing I was looking at, and then it went away. But, it did happen. It was really magical! So, even though I have been really down on myself, and think­ ing that I was not doing well, something must be happening, right? Bye, and thanks.

52. F. G.: I just got a third reduction, which is getting pretty far down there. So, I am glad about that. Thanks, bye.

53. M. L: I just went to my eye doctor last week, and he said that my naked eyes are 20/80, and that I do not need any more reduced glasses for up close.

54. G. I.: I am really on this thing. I am doing so much better, you would have been proud of me. I even went to a fair, and I went on one of those incredible rides that spins around backward and goes up and down at the same time. And I went by myself, and I had the courage to do that, and did OK. I want to keep consistent with this, and want to be able to make sure I practice cor­ rect reading and writing habits. The reading is going OK. (Comment: G. I.

had serious difficulties reading before the vision class.)

55.M. U.: I had this great insight, or con­ nection, in my own life. This thought came to me that I have to get focused in life, because I have been rather scat­ tered. I have had a hard time looking for a job; I haven't really looked for a job. Just kind of been running from one interest to the next to the next. So, the word that came to me—about the way I was leading my life was—it is time to get more focused. Well, this seems to have something to do with vision, does­ n't it?! WHiat do you know? So, anyway, that seems like a good thing. Thanks very much.

56.M. G: I want to thank you for the class. It is absolutely wonderful. I spent the entire day yesterday without my glasses on—even at work—which was a real milestone for me. I can't thank you enough for the class. It was really great. Thanks a lot.

57. K. N.: I just wanted to say that I love this class, and I am having such won­ derful experiences. This has been such a happy day. Actually, it started yesterday on the way home from class.

58.K. N., again: I wanted to tell you I am seeing so wonderfully well. A couple of things have happened recently, and that is: I have been thinking about the woman who put reminder stickers all over her house, and how you said she improved fast. I keep thinking every day, "I am going to do that. I am going to put up reminder stickers." And I have a whole box of stickers, but I can't decide which one to use. But, because I have been thinking about it so much, I

think about where I am going to put them, so I am always thinking about centralizing and sketching and stuff. So, it's working even if I don't have stickers up! The other thing is I was putting make-up on yesterday, and I looked up, and I realized my eyes are together— seeing. Usually when I am up close at the mirror, one eye is down, and the other is up—and I am using only one eye, while the other is not seeing. So now they are coming together. I feel like I am holding my head straight. And my eyes are coming together! It is really fun! Even my boyfriend noticed it, when we are looking at each other, that one eye is not wandering off. I realize that a lot of this is staying con­ scious of my blinking, because the more I blink, the more it brings my eyes together somehow. I'm not sure why that works, but it does. And my yawn­ ing mechanism is just going "nuts"—it's great! Every time I get into one of these yawning spells, I realize it is when my eyes have been under some sort of stress. Like right after my computer class, all the way home I am yawning. It works! Anyway, I am very excited about life, and all of the things you helped us relearn. At a conference where I was just helping out, I met a lot of friends I had not seen for a long time, and it was really emotional for me to get up and introduce myself I felt real powerful, just within myself; confi­ dent. I really attribute a big portion of that, of my excitement about life, and staying alive in each moment to the commitment I made when I started with your class. And I am really grate­

ful. So, I think that is long enough. I hope your tape does not run out. Bye.

59.T. N., again: I just wanted to give you a little success story. I came into work today after having my work done with my chiropractor yesterday. He made some wonderful adjustments. He really helped loosen up my neck a lot. I was amazed at how tight some of the mus­ cles had been for such a long time. At work I realized I could now see twice the distance as I could before with clar­ ity, because when I first took my glasses off, I used to be able to see my computer screen at about 18 inches. And now, I can actually stretch out my arm to about a three-foot length, and I can now see the computer screen very clearly. Obviously, I have more improvement to go, but it is very impressive that after these months, and all the different things I have been doing, and with chiropractic, I have made a definite step forward. So, just wanted to let you know about that. Take care. Bye. (Comment: T. N. is now a Certified Natural Vision teacher.)

60.K. L.: Thank you so much for talking with me for so long after the class. It was a real beginning of my understand­ ing. And now I can read the books and have a much better feeling for them. I am really excited about the centralizing principle, which I really got for the first time because of what you explained to another student. So now, when I look at the smallest thing, it becomes clear, and it's very, very nice. So, I just wanted to thank you for everything so much. Bye.

61.T. W.: I just wanted to pass on some good news. I just happened to be at the

DMV because I lost my driver's license. I requested a duplicate, and at the same time I asked if they could re-test my eyes because I had been taking a nat­ ural vision course. I took the test again, and I passed! So, I don't need correc­ tive lenses. I wanted to thank you very, very much. Best wishes.

62. С В.: I just laughed yesterday, because I went to have my renewal of my driver's license at the DMV, and they gave me an eye test. So, she asked me to read the lines; and so, I read the lines. And then she looked up at me and said, "Are you wearing contact lenses?" And 1 said, "No." She said, "Have you had any corrective surgery?" And I said, "No." And she was just in puzzlement. And I guess she looked up my old files, and I guess it said I needed glasses. And I just sort of smiled. And she said, "Well, you are supposed to be getting worse!" And I said, "No! I am getting better!" And, so it was just sort of a funny thing. I said, "Yeah, your eyes can improve. You do not have to go nega­ tive in the other direction." So, that was just sort of an interesting thing. My

eyes are not quite 20/20 yet, but with all your support in fundamentals of nat­ ural vision, I have great faith that I will arrive at that point—20/20, if not bet­ ter. And, like everything else, it's all associated with good mind-health and mind-spirit and general health. OK. Thanks, Tom. {Comment: С. B. is a med­ ical doctor who teaches proper nutri­ tion to his clients. He gave me a gift of a T-shirt which says, "Sketch, Breathe, and Blink—Oh, I See.")

: I just had a check-up with my eye

doctor today, and my vision has improved once again. He was really amazed at how much my vision has improved. I am real excited about it. And the glaucoma test—he said that my pressure was like a teenager's. And I really attribute it to your class and all the good teaching I got. And my glasses keep getting lighter and lighter, and it's a wonderful feeling, so, I wanted to thank you very much for your good work. {Comment: H.T. integrates nat­ ural vision principles into the art classes she teaches to adults and children.)

64.S.T.: I have had a lot of vision improve­ ment and a lot of "Wow's" lately, but I am calling because I wanted to get a bunch of your brochures, because there is a lot of interest in your classes at the Feldenkrais training I am attending. I will see you at the Review class.

65.D. В.: I am playing with this nosefeather, and it is pretty amazing the stuff that is coming up. I am seeing so much about how my vision is one more metaphor, one more way of how I live my life. This is, like, totally wonderful and I am so excited, and thank you.

66.S. I.: I was at a training yesterday with some people I have been working with for the last two years, and it was inter­ esting what happened. I was relaxing and yawning, and the leader of the training apparently got very angry at me because I was yawning so much, and he accused me of not participating and being disrespectful, and, uh, I was not expecting that. So, I might want to have a talk with you about some of the social consequences of being relaxed. Maybe I am being an utter fanatic

about it, but it feels so good Л am hav­ ing a hard time stopping! I ended up leaving this training. It just wasn't worth it for me to be there. Also, my right jaw has been popping very loudly, which is something that happened when I was 18 years old. It was pretty bad at that time. It was sort of like lock-jaw, and I would try to put food in my mouth, and my mouth would not open. It is not that bad, but it is sort of reminiscent of that, and it reminds me of what you said about going back through layers—that if there was an old injury or illness, a person might re-experience it in order to release it. So, I figure that is what is happening, but it's a little strange, 'cause I haven't been in that place for 10 or 15 years now. So, lots of interesting develop­ ments. And I am having fun! And I just wanted to call and check in and make use of your "staring hotline." Hope you are well. Bye. (Comment: S. I. identifies his own reversal.)

67. B.T.: I wanted to leave you this mes­ sage of success. I had another reduction of my lenses. I am now using my origi­ nal 20/80 correction lenses as my 20/40 lenses, which feels really good. And the other thing that is really significant is that I have noticed that my blur with­ out any glasses is less. And when I noticed it, is when I just got my last 20/80 lenses. I just noticed that the blur without them is not that much worse than the blur with them. It was so neat to see that—that actually, I am really making progress. So, albeit it is slow, but I am really excited about that. This has been encouraging, and helps me to

not wear my glasses more often. So, just wanted to let you know things are mov­ ing. Take care. Bye.

68.D. В., again: I just wanted to tell you I just had this amazing, wonderful—I can't remember what you called it—but it was just like a real, absolute miracle in my vision. It kind of subsided back now, but it was just phenomenal. It was like—just the clarity and the color and—I'm kind of rocking and reeling from it at this point. And it was just incredibly wonderful. I just wanted to share that with you, because I knew you would appreciate it. Bye. (Comment: This was a flash of better vision.)

69.S. H.: I went to the DMV this morning and managed to pass the darn vision test. And so, I will be in touch with you before the next time the DMV test comes up again four years from now when I am 88. Whooaahhh! Ah, gosh, Tom. I am sure your course helped me.

70.L. G.: I just wanted to give you the good news. I did the 3 B's all the way to the eye doctor's office yesterday, and with my previously reduced glasses I could see better than 20/20. That's exciting, isn't it!

71.S. H.: It is the middle of the night, but I just had to call and let you know that I really think that my amblyopia and strabismus are disappearing. And I am just very happy. I was just looking in the mirror at my eyes and they just seem so beautiful to me now. And when I turn my head in a direction that before my eyes would always go funny, so to speak, now they seem to go "in synch" in synchronicity with each other,

and they don't look strange. So, I just wanted to call and share the good news. (Comment: Before vision classes, S. H. could not drive a car because of very poor peripheral vision. Now she can.)

p.S. C, again: I am still having such won­ derful improvement, and different things going on with my vision, and I am so excited about it!

73. S. I., again: I had another remarkable breakthrough today. At the gym, a very large gym in a large room, and I sketch the signs that are way against the far wall, and they are really teeny little signs, and I just sketch them because they are these brightly colored objects. And I noticed today that—um—I knew before that there were words on them, but they were just a total blur, just teeny little letters, and I had not even thought about the possibility of reading the words—it was enough that I could even see the signs. But, today I found myself reading the words! It was remarkable, I mean, there it was, "Unload all bars. Replace all weights."

And, I never even considered the possi­ bility of reading the signs, because the print just seemed so tiny; it's so far away! And there it was—I was reading it! It was just astounding! So, your pro­ gram really does work. I guess you know that already. But, I just thought I would let you know of one more suc­ cess story. Bye.

4 M. С: I am about 20/40 now—with just my own eyes—and I have not worn glasses for a whole year! Cool! (Com­ ment: M. С is now a Natural Vision teacher.)

7$- N. I.: My eyes are continuing to get bet­

ter. I will probably be getting my third pair of reduced lenses within, I would say, the next month, which I am thrilled about, because that will probably be my last pair of glasses! Thanks a lot,Tom. Take care.

76.N. W.: I did have something of a special moment this month, where I had for the first time a flash of 3-D vision— without my glasses! I will be happy to share that at the next month's Review class.

77.T. L.: I very much enjoyed your Intro­ ductory Lecture last night. And my friend Sue, who thought the whole thing was hogwash before, was very pleased and was already, all the way home, talking about referring her neighbor's three-year-old boy, who has coke-bottle glasses, to me. (Comment: T. L. is a Natural Vision teacher and loves teaching children natural vision habits. Also, due to back pain, T. L. was unable to jog for many years before taking the vision classes She now jogs again—pain-free.)

78.T. L., again: I have even—if it's possi­ ble—more enthusiasm. So, good!

79.F. N.: I had the most amazing thing hap­ pen this morning with my eyes when I was dancing. It kind of blew me away. All of a sudden my eyes began to cen­ tralize on their own completely. It's like the muscles had relaxed—totally relaxed. And, then I was dancing the whole time that way. I can't even do that blurry thing (diffusion) any more, because I feel it. And what was amaz­ ing, when I had to put on my glasses to drive home, I felt what the glasses do. They actually make me diffuse, because

they make my eyes lock up in a way that my eyes are pointing forward, instead of centralizing. And it creates this strain, when I want to just relax my eyes and centralize and everything— instead of the glasses, which tend to flatten them out and outward, if that makes any sense. But, it's amazing, and I am so excited, and I just wanted to tell you.

80.В. К.: I just have three things to say: Brush, Breathe, and Blink! And I will be at the next Review class.

81.L. С: I will be attending your Staring

Anonymous meeting (Review class) tomorrow night.

82.T. L., again: I went to the eye doctor on Monday because my eye was hurting me; my glasses were too strong. The right eye is now reduced to -1.00 DS from -1.50 DS the last time; of course, the left lense still has no correction. So that is very exciting.

83.A caller, but not my student: J. N: My тас^ех Wated YiexseM. - wti\ tn^ Bates method, and she is now 85, and she did this Bates program at age 20, and she still does not wear glasses.

84.M. S.: Wanted to say that we both had really good success, and really appreci­ ate your work. I have not used the reading glasses for any application for the last two weeks, and that includes the small print on the computer and all the fine print work that I have to do. And it is not perfect, but I certainly understand how to keep working toward that goal. I thank you very much. Bye.

85.S. I., again: I have not seen you in half a year or longer. I am still blinking and

breathing, and what's the other one?— sketching! And my vision is actually excellent these days.

86.N. I., again: I went to the DMV today and I missed by one letter! So, 1 am dis­ appointed, but I can tell I have come a really long way. And, I will be going back at some point, and trying again.

87.D. S.: I wanted to let you know I had my eyes re-tested today, and the eye doctor said there was a 5% improve­ ment. (Comment: This was after only two classes.)

88.M. H.: Just a note to thank you for your course. It has allowed me to get the most out of my vision. Vision continues to improve and has affected my life for the better. I've given up a "Big Bucks" computer job which I had for 15 years. I will be looking for work more suitable to my body and the Earth. My good vision will see me through and I am confident I will find something in which I can work happily at. (Comment: M. H. now has a very successful San Francisco pet-sitting business.)

89.А. О.: I started wearing glasses for dis­ tance when I was fourteen years old. My vision was such that I would not cross the street if I did not have glasses on. By 1983,1 was wearing bifocals and was having severe head and neck pains. I took Tom's class in 1984 and threw away my glasses and the severe head and neck pains were gone. I am sixtyfour years old now and do not own a pair of glasses for either reading or dis­ tance. The Bates method really works.

90.L. N: Thanks again for a really illumi­ nating and life-changing course. It has affected my life in every direction.

HUNDREDS OF C A S E HISTORIES

NOW IN LITERATURE

There are hundreds of case histories of natural vision improvement in the references listed in the Bibliography. Several of these books are written by ophthalmologists, optometrists, and one medical doctor.

Most people who offer natural vision dasses are private teachers.

"OUT OF THE NIGHT"—

A VISION POEM

The poem on the next page was written by Adam Schwartz at the conclusion of the 1993 Natural Vision Teacher Training Program.

NOTES

1 W. B. MacCracken, Use Your Own Eyes (Berkeley, California: Published by the author, 1937), p. ix.

2Ibid., p. 227.

3Ibid., pp. 232-36.

(Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts, 1985), pp. 187-91.

7Mary Dudderidge, "New Light Upon Our Eyes: An Investigation Which May Result in Normal Vision for All, Without Glasses," in Scientific American (January 12,1918), p. 61.

HOW CAN I F I N D A N A T U R A L

VISION TEACHER?

For referrals to Natural Vision teachers, please contact us at:

www.NaturalVisionCenter.com TomQ@NaturalVisionCenter.com

HOW CAN I O B T A I N I N F O R M A T I O N ABOUT BECOMING A C E R T I F I E D NATURAL VISION T E A C H E R ?

A very common phenomenon of imperfect sight is the one known to medical science

as muscae volitantes ox flying flies. These

floating specks are usually dark or black, but sometimes appear like white bubbles, and in rare cases may assume all the colors of the rainbow. They move somewhat rapidly, usually in curving lines, before the eyes, and always appear to be just beyond the point of centralization. If one tries to look at them directly, they seem to move a little farther away. Hence their name of "fly-

ing flies."

See Appendix E, "Becoming a Natural Vision

Teacher."

WHAT ARE THE L I T T L E S P E C K S I S E E FLOATING IN F R O N T OF MY E Y E S SOMETIMES?

Bates has this to say in Perfect Sight With-

out Glasses:

The literature of the subject is full of speculations as to the origin of these appearances. Some have attributed them to the presence of floating specks—dead cells, or the debris of cells—in the vitreous humor, the transparent substance that fills four-fifths of the eyeball behind the crystalline lens [This is correct.] Similar specks on the surface of the cornea have also been held responsible for them. It has even been surmised that they might be caused by the passage of tears over the cornea. They are so common in myopia that they have been supposed to be one of the symptoms of this condition, although they occur also with other errors of refraction, as well as in eyes