Dr William Bates, a New York ophthalmologist practising at the beginning of the 20th century, attributed many eye problems to stress, tension and laziness and devised a series of eye exercises to improve eyesight without resorting to lenses or surgery.

Bates' exercises aim to 're-educate' the eye so that it adjusts its focus more efficiently - what he called 'central fixation.' The eye muscles need to be able to move freely in order to make the tiny adaptations necessary to centre on the object of your vision. But, according to Bates, many people habitually strain their eyes by keeping them in a fixed position, 'staring' at a whole scene rather than allowing constant movement. His exercises teach you to relax the eye muscles and optic nerve and use memory and imagination to improve co-ordination between the eyes and the brain.

The medical profession ignored Dr Bates' theories, but followers continued his work in the US, the UK, Germany and India. Many people, including the writer Aldous Huxley, have claimed remarkable improvements in short sight, long sight, astigmatism, squints and lazy eyes. Even children from about five years old are said to be able to practise the exercises and people with normal vision may improve concentration, reading skills and co-ordination.

Eye doctors agree that eye exercises can help some cases, particularly certain types of squint, but are highly sceptical about any claims to benefit macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. Dr Bates carried out research but there have been no recent clinical trials.

What to expect
At the initial visit, a teacher of the Bates Method will assess your eyesight and may suggest 6-10 weekly sessions. In turn you should be prepared to perform simple eye exercises for at least half an hour daily. For example:

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Exercises that improve eyesight