Is Vision Improvement Becoming the New Norm?
by Irena Castle
THE BELIEF THAT EYESIGHT DOES NOT LAST
Many of us have heard about eye exercises and dismissed them without giving it a second thought. We dutifully schedule annual check-ups with our optometrists, but during the visit we seldom expect or even consider proactive measures to be recommended in order to enhance the health of our eyesight. There's a prevailing misconception that the quality of our vision is beyond our control. It is broadly believed that eyesight cannot be refined, honed, or restored once diminished.
EYESIGHT IS A SKILL
The truth, however, is quite the opposite. While clinical studies of the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention on eyesight are relatively scarce, there are thousands of testimonials out there shared by those who have successfully gone from blindness to seeing, or from wearing glasses to not wearing them. All that as a result of active implementation of vision development protocols. The experiences of those people demonstrate that vision is, in fact, variable, that it can change with practice and therefore, that seeing is a skill. As any skill, it can be learned and improved if one knows how. Various methods for vision improvement have their foundation in the works of Dr. William Bates, an ophthalmologist from New York, who in the early 1900s published the results of his life-long work introducing a eye & mind system of techniques that have the ability to reverse visual errors of refraction, and diminish or even cure many visual ailments. During his lifetime, and despite meticulously recorded and proven results, his teachings had been rejected by his fellow doctors. Instead, his work has been built upon by a handful of his followers and then the students of theirs. Through them the awareness of vision improvement methods is growing.
NEW REALITY
More and more people are starting to look into it, taking charge of their eye health instead of passively accepting symptomatic treatment, such as eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgeries.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), over 34% of Americans now actively engage in practices that optimize their well-being, vision included.
In the last 20 years and especially more recently, vision improvement has begun a new era, moving from alternative or complementary to mainstream. Elements of the Bates’ method combined with other therapeutic approaches have been adopted by a growing number of medical experts and their practices. Organizations such as the COVD have given rise to board certified holistic ophthalmology and broadened the reach of vision therapy. Increasingly more often the doctors of medicine are willing to incorporate well-being practice into the way they treat their patients and rather than prescribing glasses and contact lenses, they recommend steps that increase the chance of the eyes’ true healing.
On top of that, International Academic Consortiums for Integrative Medicine have started to take place around the world. Featuring the research results coming from renowned health institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, the Harvard Medical School, or the Stanford University and supported by the World Health Organization, they look for avenues that allow them to incorporate what used to be alternative and experiential health practices into the main curricula of their medical schools and establishments. One of the ways is looking for similarities between the two worlds and leveraging them as bridges for the integration of the orthodox and the complementary.
BRIDGING THE TWO WORLDS
In the field of eye care one of those bridges are eyesight therapy tools, equally suited for both, complementary and medical-driven vision development practice. An example of such a tool is a state-of-the-art product called the Overbound Clarity Eyesight Trainer. This patented vision occlusion system supports and enhances the effectiveness of any vision therapy approach and supports the therapy techniques used for the activation of suppressed eyes, the improvement of visual clarity and acuity at new distances, the release of astigmatism, and the development of binocular and 3D vision.
Overbound has historically operated on the alternative side of the spectrum, leveraging their tools within their own highly effective vision development protocol, which is based on the application of the Bates’ principles combined with their practice for sports vision development. Some of their techniques deliver improvement in as little as one session. Focussing on the root problem of limited vision, which is believed to be strain of the extraocular muscles and that of the whole visual system, Overbound promises an improvement or relief of conditions such as myopia, presbyopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, strabismus, as well as other causes of visual difficulties.
On the other side of the spectrum, Overbound offers their tools as effectiveness boosters for therapy approaches provided by holistic ophthalmologists and optometrists, which at the end benefits progressively more people.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR VISION
We stand on the threshold of a huge change in the world of eyesight care. Eyesight development and improvement is slowly becoming mainstream. That includes eye exercises, good vision habits and quality education of how to care for our eyes. Whether for preventative purposes or used to regain visual capabilities, these holistic therapeutic practices are taking charge. They are the future of vision care.
If you have read this far, chances are that there are glasses on your face. Do your own research of the subject. Let now be the time you improve your vision. Choose true healing instead of vision crutches. Look for a full scope program that is well structured and that combines eye exercises with other beneficial techniques. Find a doctor, a therapist or a natural vision teacher that you feel connected to. If you do not know where to start, begin by simply checking your vision habits, or enroll in a class and see.
May your eyesight be boundless.
IC
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