More About Corrective Lenses
Humans evolved to have good vision because our ancestors were hunters and
warriors whose survival depended on it. People with poor vision were killed by
enemies and predators, so they didn’t survive. The fact that humans survived is
proof that we too are genetically programmed for good vision.
The problem is that mass education, TV, and computers force many people to
focus on close objects for long periods of time. This is exactly opposite to the
way nature intended and imposes a tremendous amount of “nearpoint stress”
on the visual system. This affects the focusing muscles and can even make the
eyeball go out of shape. The most common result of nearpoint stress is myopia
(nearsightedness). Muscular malfunction can also play a role in astigmatism,
crossed and lazy eyes, and presbyopia (aging eyes). Poor nutrition, junk food,
too much sugar, and prescription drugs can also make the eyes malfunction.
The traditional method of treating bad eyesight is with corrective lenses, which
compensate for blurred vision by modifying light before it enters the eye. These
products have been around for hundreds of years, so most eye doctors and their
patients assume that they are safe. However, there are major problems that you
need to know about.
- Problems With Corrective Lenses
No clinical studies have proven the long-term safety or effectiveness of corrective
lenses. All that is really known about these products is that most people who wear
them get worse and need stronger prescriptions every few years, sometimes every
few months. It is also widely believed that corrective lenses can cause dependency
and make the eyes weaker so they lose even more of their natural focusing power.
You probably know this to be true from your own experience.
Although corrective lenses have helped millions of people lead more productive
lives, they are basically an untested, unproven method of treatment with adverse
side effects. The fact is, corrective lenses don’t really correct anything. Just think
about it. If they did, you’d wear them for a short time until your eyes returned to
normal then discard them. In fact, corrective lenses merely treat the symptoms
– the blurred vision – but they don’t make the eyes stronger or healthier. And
they don’t tackle the underlying cause of the visual problem, which is usually
nearpoint stress, the aging process, or poor nutrition.
- Don’t Monkey Around With Your Eyes
Recent research suggests that the problems with corrective lenses are much
more serious than was previously realized, and that these products may cause
the eyeballs to become deformed. In a series of important experiments, Dr. Earl
Smith of the University of Houston College of Optometry fitted various types of
corrective lenses on young monkeys with normal healthy vision.
What he found was that monkeys fitted with the type of corrective lenses used
for nearsightedness adapted to the lenses and became nearsighted. Likewise,
monkeys fitted with corrective lenses used for farsightedness adapted to the
lenses by becoming farsighted. The same thing happened with astigmatism
lenses. When Dr. Smith removed the lenses, the visual problems vanished
and the monkeys returned to normal!
The implications of this research are of serious concern because the visual
systems of monkeys and humans are almost identical. What it means is that
in humans, corrective lenses may cause or aggravate the visual problems they
are supposed to correct. In view of the fact that people who wear corrective
lenses are much more likely to end up with glaucoma, cataract, or macular
degeneration, corrective lenses may be a risk factor for these diseases.
- Other Concerned Doctors Speak Out
We must emphasize that we’re not opposed to corrective lenses any more than
we’re opposed to crutches, wheelchairs, or false teeth. What concerns us is the
traditional method of prescribing corrective lenses, which often seems to do
more harm than good. As Dr. Young explains:
“The worst thing you can do for incipient myopia is to treat it with corrective
lenses. These increase the level of accommodation when used for close work
and cause further deterioration. If treated with stress-relieving bifocals or
eye exercises, myopia should be a transitory condition like a headache that
eventually goes away. Instead, corrective lenses aggravate the problem
and condemn the patient to a lifetime of dependency and deterioration.”
Many other doctors not affiliated with the American Vision Institute support our
point of view. Note that corrective lenses are also called “compensatory” lenses.
“The use of compensatory lenses to treat or neutralize the symptoms does
not correct or cure the problem. The current education and training of eye
care professionals discourages preventive and remedial treatment.” Gottlieb
R.L., Journal of Optometric Vision Development, 13(1): 3-27, 1982.
“The emphasis on compensatory lenses has posed a problem for many years in
our examinations. These lenses do not correct anything and may not serve the
patient in his best interest over a period of time.” Forkiotis C.J., Optometric
Extension Program, 53:1, 1980.
“I have yet to hear of a research paper confirming the beneficial effects of
prescribing compensatory lenses. I’m sure most optometrists will confirm
the clinical observation that patients who receive compensatory lenses for
full time wear are usually the ones who need a stronger prescription every
year.” Liberman J., Journal of the American Optometric Association, 47(8):
1058-1064, 1976.
“Concave lenses are the most common approach, yet the least likely to prevent
myopic progression. They increase the nearpoint stress that is associated with
progression.” May B., Optometric Extension Program, A-112, 1984.
“Spectacle lenses can create their own problems. There are frequently
ignored patterns of addiction to minus lenses. The typical prescription
tends to overpower and fatigue the visual system and what is often a
transient condition can become a lifelong situation, which is likely to
deteriorate with time.” Gallop S., Journal of Behavioral Optometry,
5(5): 115-120, 1994.
“Full correction for distance vision causes the myope to produce extra accommodation when viewing close objects with their lenses on. Since
excessive accommodation is implicated in the etiology of myopia, the eye
may become more myopic when fully corrected.” Angle J., Wissman D.A.,
Social Science Medicine, 14A: 473-479, 1980.
“Minus lenses used for full time wear produce accommodative insufficiency
associated with additional symptoms until the patient gets used to the lenses.
This is usually accompanied by a further increase in myopia and the cycle
begins anew.” Birnbaum M.H., Review of Optometry, 110(21): 23-29, 1973.
- How To Use Corrective Lenses Correctly
When people are fitted with a new pair of glasses, they often have to “get used to”
the stronger lenses. This seems to be the same effect that Dr. Smith observed with
the monkeys, that the eyes adapt to the lenses. We have discovered that the same
principle can be used in reverse. Instead of adapting to a series of stronger lenses
as your vision gets worse – which is what happens with traditional eye care – you
can adapt to a series of weaker lenses as your vision gets better – which is what
happens with therapeutic eye exercises.
We call this process “progressive undercorrection”. The therapeutic eye exercises
strengthen the focusing mechanism and help the eyes adapt to the weaker lenses.
When you can see well with the weaker lenses, you can use even weaker lenses.
In this way, corrective lenses can help you get better instead of making you get
worse. In most cases, weaker glasses from previous years can be used. If you
don’t have any, you will need to get some from an eye doctor. You don’t need
to buy new frames. Just replace the lenses in the frames you already wear.
It makes a lot of sense and it works.
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