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Read
excerpts from correspondence sent by e-mail course students:
After
lesson 6: On March 9th at the DMV I passed my vision test
(hooray!!) It was really great to be able to pass the DMV vision
test and I believe that it was because of the work I have done with
you and the Bates method so far. I realize there is a lot more to
do, however all I can do is remember to blink, palm and relax.
Just now glancing through lesson #6, I see that it will be very
interesting. By the way, if you ever give a "live" class
please let me know. I would like to attend wherever it is.
Love, Betty
Betty Z, Half Moon Bay, California
(Betty is in her 70s and has a strong farsightedness
with astigmatism in one eye, and Macular Degeneration in the other.
Her goal for taking the email course was to pass the DMV test within
2 months, as her vision even with glasses was no longer good enough
to do so. Now, with glasses her vision is within the legal limit
for driving again, and she succeeded! ~ EJvdW)
After
lesson 4: Esther, I got a perfect vision for both eyes,
thank you again. Hope anyone who has the same problem like me could
find you and get a lot of help from you. I'll be doing your lessons
on and on, amazing resources. Thank you again and have a wonderful
life. Best regards, Judy
After lesson 6: This course has given me 20/20
vision both at distance and near. I'm not staring anymore. Also
my eyes are not tired out any more late afternoon. Also, I am comfortable
with both brightness and darkness. At last, my eyes have more tears
because they're shifting. The course was fabulous! My first confidence
about this course became real. In my opinion, this course has to
be the required course for people who see the eye doctor. Vision
can be improved naturally by taking this course. Eyes are one of
the most important organs in our body. But almost everyone gives
up improving vision because they think it's already fixed and it
is something that cannot be improved by our effort. This is the
very risky myth about vision. People have to change mind and have
to try this course. This course is not an 'extra' fun course that
they may or may not take if time is available. This course is a
life mandatory course really. If someone wants to take off glasses
or contact lenses, some credential helping guides are necessary.
I really want to encourage anyone, who has any interest of improving
vision, to try this course. In my case, I got the fastest result.
In three weeks my staring, bluriness and dryness were gone. But,
anyone can be the candidate for the better vision. Try it and don't
give up. It'll come. Thank you Esther.
Judy Cho, Berkeley, California
(Judy had lasik surgery 3 months before starting
the course and was struggling with very tired eyes and fuzzy vision.
~ EJvdW)
After lesson 1: I am enjoying reading your course....it
all makes sense....and I am having small improvements already. I
love your warm writing style....it is encouraging.
Barry K, Burnaby, Canada
After
lesson 5: That lesson has been the eye-opener. Even if I
already knew much of that material from Bates himself, It still
was quite awareness-promoting. I realized that that is the kind
of things I have to work on. I've never been too much a lover of
exercises. I'd rather like to go to the source of the problem. And
the sentence of Bates "every vision defect is related to a
thought, and once that thought has gone, vision becomes normal"
struck me in a particular way.
… So, the next day, I just "forced" myself to not
worry, not care about how I saw and start the day with a different
mindset. Just see, even if it wasn't perfect vision. Just relax
whenever that disturbing thought would come to my mind. And that
actually worked! I can much better control my astigmatism, just
by letting it go whenever it surfaces, through conscious mental
relaxation. A few blinking, close my eyes for a few seconds with
a deep breath, and it's quickly gone! Already towards the end of
that day, my astigmatism was gone. It still surfaces some time,
but it has definitely improved, meaning that most of the day it's
not there at all (or so little of it, that I won't notice it).
… Since having started with the described practices, I'm overall
more relaxed and happy.
I feel like I have hit one of the foundation stones of my vision
problem, and this is definitely encouraging!
After the course: Vision
seems for me to be a good "barometer" of my general health.
I already notice the improvement also when I read without contacts
or glasses. I can keep the book farther from my face, and still
see it good. This is the only encouragement I needed. Now I know
it can and will get better, just a little work on my ways of living
and a little attention to my general health. I thank you sincerely
for your help. I'm spreading the word, so that other people can
take advantage of this wonderful technique (my family for a start,
since everybody wears contacts). Sincerely yours, Mirko
Mirko K, Bissone, Switzerland
During the course: I want to tell you that I practiced
Palming with your recording, and I LOVE it! You designed it
in a very professional and loving way. After such palming
session I could even look at the eye chart without usual discomfort
and tension, and the letters were truly blacker and clearer than
before. Sincerely, Oxana
Oxana K, Brooklyn, New York
After the course: [This course] makes your dream of new sight
come true, to achieve the impossible - "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE MADE
POSSIBLE". I am really grateful.
Paresh Dave, Mombasa, Kenya
After lesson 3: Dear Esther, I happily announce to you that my
vision has started improving. I am heading towards my second prescription.
Relaxing into seeing allows the rest natural vision habits to come
automatically. It will take some time to have clarity again, but I do not
worry about it, since I know what I have to do. Love, Christos
Christos K, Athens, Greece
After the course: Dear
Esther, I have read everything and practiced almost everything. You
have done a wonderful job! I
have improved a lot but I am going to continue until I can read everything
without glasses. I
am able to use #1 glasses when working on the computer and I have not used
my regular prescription glasses except twice since the first lesson. I
will let you know when I have reached my goal!!!!!!!!!! God
bless you! Love,
A
A.J., Pembroke, North Carolina.
(A. is in her early 60s and was using a
prescription of +3.25 for reading with -0.25 of astigmatism at the
beginning of the course.)
After the course: You
might describe Esther as one of Bates' apprentices.
Her email course is a way of reaching out to people like my son and
I who live far from her but need help.
This course clarifies and renews the principles of Bates, 80 years
after his death, so that we may benefit from the work that he
wholeheartedly believed in. I like
all her examples and the way she wrote.
It was just superb.
I think
there is an overall better understanding of the Bates Method and
it helped us figure out where there were holes in our methods.
[The
email course]
stresses many subtle points of the Bates Method and makes you understand
why we need to incorporate them into our everyday lives.
We were doing lots of blinking and palming but not enough
swinging and swaying and massaging and visualizations to help our
vision. Each
week we would then focus on new skills and it really made a difference.
I was struck by Esther's overall understanding of the method
and her skill in helping us to understand it better.
Esther is a breath of fresh air. Philippe
definitely saw better.
He didn't reach his goal but I think we've been trying too
hard.
That defeats the purpose.
Amy W, mother of Philippe (age 13), Stroud,
England
Here's our latest report: Eye
update:
6 May: Philippe saw line 10 (small letters) from 4-5 feet away
16 June: Philippe saw line 20 from 12 feet away.
That is huge progress! Philippe is so happy. I think he's
getting better than me. I went to the chiropractor last week and I
feel like it really helped my eyes so I am feeling better all the time
about them. I will keep working with them. Love, Amy
Amy W, mother of Philippe (age 13), Stroud, England
After lesson 2: Seeing
everything much more clearly with your guidance!
After lesson 3: My
vision continues to improve and I just threaded a needle without
magnification! TADA!!
After lesson 3: I checked my progress today and there is
measurable improvement! Yay! Nice to see the numbers change even though I
have not worn my glasses and sense I'm seeing more clearly.
The medium chart was
both eyes 12" / 5 (was 7
a month ago)
left eye 12" / 5
(was 10 a month ago)
right eye 12" / 3 (was
7 a month ago)
After the course:
I checked my progress today and there is
more measurable improvement!
Still room for improvement in reading fine print up close. It is pretty
magical to read your text that decreases line by line. Overall I look at
it and think this looks impossible but my eyes follow the words legibly to
the end and voila I have been able to discern it all!
More practice reading the fine print for me!
I am eternally grateful to you and Agoya too because he steadfastly
encouraged me to take the course and not judge it before completing it.
Such a wealth of information and so beautifully interwoven to support the
student. YAY!!! I am now an
avid ambassador for your vision course and hopefully many more will beat a
path to your door.
Pamella
O'Dea, San Francisco, California
After the course: Hello Esther,
I have completely enjoyed taking your 6-week e-mail course,
"Visions of Joy".. The personalized generous body of course
materials arrived weekly on schedule. I looked forward to every
installment laced with "joy and humor" ready for my
comprehension and application. The Bates method embellished by your
presentation has and I know will continue to serve me relative to my
continuing responsibility to the knowledge and learned skills.
My vision has improved, initially by eliminating the the 1.25 drug
store specs. Then installing the Ott lighting is a vibrant boost to visual
clarity. Then from the full gamut of "tools" my vision has
improved slightly continuing in the 20/15 acuity by the eye chart.
In gratitude,
Agoya Killeen, Santa Cruz, California
After the course:
Hallo Esther,
I would like to share Jessica' s progress with you.
We are really impressed!!
Jessica doesn't use her contact lenses any more.
She brings her reduced prescription glasses to school and puts them
on only when she needs them. Her
vision is really improving. She
told me that she can read some words written on the blackboard without
glasses (and she sits at the back of the class!!!).
Last monday they were divided in groups and she sat closer to the
blackboard, so she didn't need her glasses at all!!!
She was really enjoying it.
She trains and plays football without lenses and she is doing fine.
I checked her vision on the eye chart last sunday (6th of september) and
she could read line 40 from 15 feet!!!
Three weeks ago she could only read line 80 from 15 feet distance.
She did 15/40 with both eyes
15/50 with her right eye (and some letters of line 40)
and 15/80
with her left eye.
And three weeks ago she could
only see
15/80 with both eyes
15/80 with her right eye
and
15/100 with her left eyeI
Thanks a lot.
After lesson 4: Jessica
is very happy with this course and she sees improvements every day. She
can read more and more things from the blackboard (without glasses) when
she is at school. One month ago she couldn't read anything from the
blackboard!! It's really amazing. Last
sunday (20/09) we checked her vision with the eye chart. Her vision is
getting better and better. I'm so happy.
It's amazing to see how she plays football or goes outside to play with
her friends without glasses or lenses.
I was really worried because her vision was getting worse every
year after she was prescribed glasses, but now I see how her vision is
improving and I'm looking forward to seeing the day when her vision is
back to normal again!!!
Thanks a lot. You are doing a really good job. I wish we had started the
course 3 years ago when her vision problems began...!!
Kind regards, Lucia
After lesson 6: ...
And thanks a lot for the vision course. It feels so good to see your child
improving her vision day by day. Yesterday she sat in the car and she
could see the time in a small clock at the front of the car. Amazing!
Go ahead, never stop teaching Bates method. You are doing a great
job, Esther!
Lucia G, mother of Jessica (age 12), Hilversum,
Netherlands
After the course: I
passed my drivers license without the restriction of corrective lenses!
I'm
so pleased about this! I never
anticipated the great feeling of freedom - free from my glasses - it is
wonderful!
Deb B, Eagan, Minnesota
After
the course: Hello Esther,
I want to sincerely thank you for your course and
your support. I have
definitely seen improvements.
Soon after beginning the course I started using glasses of
-3.25/-3.50, only when I really needed it. The 20-line on the chart
quickly became readable with these glasses, so last week I progressed
to a pair of glasses with -2.50 for both eyes. So besides seeing
a difference, it is also measurable! After I take the glasses off,
the flashes of clear vision come back faster, so the eyes can apparently
relax easier. Jurjen Grijpstra, Nieuwegein, Netherlands
(Jurjen began the course with
R -4.25 with -0.50 astigmatism, L -4.50 with -0.75 astigmatism.
~ EJvdW)
After
lesson 3:
Dear Esther, I did part of lesson 3 this afternoon and
when I did palming with the drifting swing story it really helped.
When I sat about 5ft.
away I could only see about the 20/50 line but after my dad read
the story I could see the 20/30 line. Thank you,
Shirley M. (age 10), Lexington, Massachussetts
After
lesson 3: Hallo Esther, I've been using the reduced
prescription glasses for a few days now, and only after work. On the
computer, both at work and at home, I now use SwingWindows. Besides
seeing the screen better, the burning feeling that I used to have a lot in
my eyes is now almost gone! My light sensitivity has much decreased,
I can now look at the sun without any problems. Really nice,
especially since the sun is so low in the sky. Another thing I have
noticed is that the flashes of clarity also provide much better vision
close up. I have never looked at a sandwich with so much interest
before!
Jurjen Grijpstra, Nieuwegein,
Netherlands
After the course: I
wanted to let you know that I did take my drivers license eye test last
month and I did pass. It seemed like it was the worry about it that
was part of the straining of my eyes. It was a big relief after I
took it. Success! Of course, the whole course was very
helpful. Thank you!!!!
Barbara Fedors, Stillwater, Minnesota
After the course: This
course is an
answer to the frustration of wearing glasses or contacts.
A potential savior from the problems associated with refractive
surgery. I like the practicality most. I had the book Relearning
to See before being introduced to the class, but thought the information
was overwhelming.
The book now makes more sense to me, and is helping me to get deep
into the things that I needed help with with the course.
Tracey Dixon, Lithonia, Georgia
(Before the course Tracey was wearing -2
glasses all day long. She chose not to use her glasses at all during
the 6-week course and her vision improved steadily from 5/80 to 5/30 to
5/10 in that time. ~ EJvdW)
After the course: The
lessons you have taught me are with me every day. I have been
integrating them into new habits. I have more frequent glimpses of
improved acuity and definitely improved sun sensitivity.
I
continue to address areas of great importance, such as breathing,
relaxation and posture. I really like the depth and breadth of
material covered and the clear presentation of this material.
There
is power in all the information you sent. I keep referring back and
learning more.
Mark Seidelmann, Duluth, Minnesota
After the course: Blythe
has been reluctant at times but in spite of this, she has improved.
She was seeing 5/80 with both eyes at the beginning of the course
and now she is 5/50, almost 5/40.
She hasn't worn her glasses at all since the course began.
I
(Janet) have seen a lot of improvement.
I have been functioning well without my glasses except for driving
since the beginning of July.
There is a possibility I could now pass the driving test without my
glasses because I can barely make out the 40 line without my glasses.
Both
of my eyes have improved.
The left eye started at 20/80 and now is barely 20/40.
I started
wearing glasses for driving that are -3.5 in the right eye near the
beginning of the course.
At that time I could just barely make out the 20/40 line.
At the end of the course, I could see the 20/40 line clearly and
the 20/30 line just barely.
Also, at the beginning of the course I could clearly read average
sized print from only 7 1/2 inches from my eyes.
At the end I could read clearly from 10 1/2 inches.
Blythe
used
to get headaches but doesn't anymore.
She has stopped wearing her glasses at all and feels more
comfortable.
I
(Janet)
feel that I am able to relax more.
I think the course is excellent and
I will recommend it whenever I can. All
the information is very good and the teacher is eager to help and very
helpful.
The
course was very valuable to me because of the individual feedback and
encouragement.
You can't get that from simply reading books about natural vision
improvement.
Thank
you very much!
Janet
D, mother of Blythe (age 10), Leslie, Arkansas
After lesson 2: When we came home from vacation I noticed how
much better my eyes were. The TV is much clearer, and in the morning
as I lie in bed everything is clearer, things like that. It is a
little challenging, but luckily I am able to do my work without
glasses. It seems that each day it gets better. Many colleagues
said that I look so rested, and I think that is mainly because I relax the
muscles around my eyes. My husband also says that my face looks much
more relaxed.
Now that I have read lesson two I understand better what is meant by
staring and that I do stare. So that's a point of attention,
especially now that I'm behind the computer again all day.
Swinging was not easy at first, I used the thumb technique to let my eyes
glide, but now I can do it without the thumb. I love palming, that
is truly a great relaxation.
My acuity is now 10/30 both eyes, 10/40 right, 10/50 left, which is an
improvement from last week (10/40 both, 10/40 right, 10/60 left). I
was quite pleased.
Yvonne Garst-Koffa, Bracknell, England
After the course: This
email course is fabulous! When
I started doing investigation into natural vision, I felt disappointed
that I couldn't find a teacher in my area.
Thomas Quackenbush's book was good to read, but really overwhelming
- I didn't know where to start. So
I was so thrilled to find your online course - that was my lucky day
indeed!
Calvin
and I both loved the way the course was personalized for him.
The fairy tales were a nice touch!
I liked the Vision Targets at the end of every lesson.
I also liked the "Bates Method in a Nutshell" page and
the "Visions of Joy" practice card.
You do a good job of summarizing the most important facts. I
can't think of anything I didn't like.
Calvin
and I both benefited! Calvin's
visual acuity has gone back to 20/30 in both eyes, with a record reading
of 20/40 in both left and right eyes separately.
My eyes fluctuate between 20/30 and 20/20.
Thanks to this course, Calvin does not have to resort to and depend on
crutches for his eyes! Ever!
You can't beat that!
I
can't say enough good things about my experience!
Esther, you are truly a subject matter expert on the Bates Method.
Your lessons are well planned and broken into logical sections,
which made it so easy to follow. Your
care and devotion came across loud and clear in all emails, lessons and
phone calls. You were always
available for me, giving me detailed answers to every question.
I have learnt valuable lifetime lessons about vision. You
are a star!
Deb B, mother of Calvin (age 10), Eagan,
Minnesota
After lesson 5: Dear Esther, It
is.............!!!EASY!!!! I
wish that this lesson was first. I had the band contest today.
On the way up to the contest I had many flashes [of clear vision]. During today, I had
more flashes than I ever had. I AM making progress. I also
felt a divine touch, considering that God is answering my prayers on this.
I can obtain at least a small flash very easily now. I love the ant you
had in the lesson. The advice on being curious of distance detail and
imagination has went a long way today. I believe that a permanent
improvement is just around the corner. When
it comes, I WILL NOT put my current glasses on ever again. I'm not
putting them on anyway. They hurt my eyes and give me a drastic
headache. Thank you for your wonderful
help."
Greg J, Plantersville,
Mississippi
(Greg
is rapidly overcoming nearsightedness of -4.00 by following the
email course and by not wearing glasses at all. ~ EJvdW)
After the course: I
liked the simplicity of the instruction. Dr. Bates is often very
elaborate in his explanations and reading him you can get a different
sense of what he is saying each time you read his work. He is the
father of the field so one wouldn't expect less, but I appreciated how his
principles were distilled down into easy-to-grasp lessons.
David
Feigelson, Houston, Texas
After lesson 3: Dear
Esther, I practise a lot of sunning, strobing and shifting. These
have helped improve my acuity from 20/100 to 20/40 (seeing the chart using
both eyes). I can see 20/200 and 20/100 clearly but there is a
slight blur at 20/80. Lines 20/50 and 20/40 are blurry but I can
still see enough to figure out the letters. I am proud to say that I
am not sensitive to light any more. Sun light does not hurt my
eyes. Thank you so very much :-)
Shane G, Kalgoorlie, W. Australia
(Shane
reported seeing only as far as the 20/100 line with both eyes at the start
of the course, and he was very sensitive to sunlight. He is making
wonderful progress. ~ EJvdW)
After lesson 4: I
can now read well at 27 cm. I sometimes have flashes of good sight when
looking at the eyechart. Wednesday morning I could see 10/30
uncorrected in really good light, and on Thursday I could see 10/20
clearly for a long time with -2.00 contacts. I now enjoy my sunning
a lot and miss it when there's no sun. I even enjoy being outside
more.
After the course: Dear Esther. I must say that I am really glad I decided to take this course.
My eyesight has improved quite a bit since I started the course. I still have a long way to go but I know I will succeed.
You've given me all the necessary tools. Thanks a lot for guiding me along and answering my questions.
It has really helped me to be able to ask you all those questions that came up during the course.
I appreciate your time and dedication. I'll let you know any major improvements.
Regina Lindemann, Katwijk, Netherlands
(Regina's prescription had been -6.00 in
both eyes with astigmatism. She started the course using compensating
lenses of -5.00 for the right eye and -5.25 for the left. Within 6
weeks she was using -4.00, while on sunny days she uses -3.50 and she's
progressing into using -2.00. ~ EJvdW)
After lesson 3: My
eyesight is improving substantially, the blur has disappeared for a great
deal. I haven't used my glasses at all for the past 3 weeks, and it
is a great relief to be independent from them.
Jurgen de Jong, Middelburg, Netherlands (Jurgen
wrote this 3 weeks after starting the email course with -6 diopters of
nearsightedness combined with astigmatism. ~ EJvdW)
After lesson 2: Thanks Esther. The
first 2 lessons changed my mind, vision and life! I
am reading easier and easier thanks to blinking and strobing. : )
Your course is
golden. Bless you!
Dave Klein, Sebastopol,
California
After lesson 2: My reading is so
much better, I now don't need reading glasses at all. I can see
the tiny print font on the face of my watch (especially under sun)
which is good. My distant vision is slowly getting better,
especially under sun, but it gets blurred at night and in stores.
I know I need to be patient and continue to have correct vision habits
all along. I'm looking forward to lesson 3, thanks!
Jamie C, Ellicott City, Maryland
After lesson 2: Your hints for using the
chart in a relaxed way at the end of Lesson 1 were a big help, &
I've left it open to this page because I need constant reminders, as
my habit is still to tense up. I'm working my way through Lesson
2, which is excellent; I LOVE the facial massage! It's also a good reminder to me that I should be doing more
palming. I'm noticing that the letters on the eye chart aren't much
clearer, but they're definitely darker.
After lesson 4: There is a LOT of good
information here. Even though I thought I was doing all the posture
& movement stuff right, this lesson was very beneficial to me:
thanks!
After lesson 5: My depth awareness has increased: I am noticing much more what is in
front of or behind what, which is nearer & which farther, etc. I
practice this with tree branches whenever I'm outside. I know this is
good, as I used to see everything flat. My floaters really seem to be
clearing up. I've read a lot of Bates materials, but this course has
consolidated it all; you've put it together in one place. Thank you so
much!
After lesson 6: This lesson was a
great summary of the course & also a big help with driving, especially
at night. I have learned so much! Be assured I will continue to study the
lessons & will keep you informed of my progress.
The email course helped me a lot, is great
to have as a resource to refer to after you've completed it, & of
course the best part is the ongoing support of Esther as the teacher when
I had questions.
Nancy Neff, Fishkill,
New York (read
more on the testimonials page)
After lesson 5: Ik
vind jouw cursus fantastisch en je begeleiding en antwoorden ook.
Dit is nou precies wat ik zocht. Je blijft een echte Bates
volger, maar je integreert ook nieuwe wetenschap zonder te verwateren.
Frans
Postma, Alphen a/d Rijn, Netherlands
Translation:
I think your course is fantastic and so are your
personal guidance and answers. This is exactly what I was
looking for. You are a true follower of Bates, and you also
integrate new science without watering down [the Bates Method].
After lesson 6: Ik
zie heel veel resultaat met bepaalde dingen uit je e-mailcursus: ik kan
weer lekker lezen in een veel hoger tempo en geniet daarvan. En toen
ik in een zaal achterin zat kon ik op een beamer geprojecteerde tekst
lezen en meezingen. Een hele vooruitgang, gewoon door wat andere
gewoonten aan te nemen.
Hannah P-L, Alphen a/d Rijn,
Netherlands
Translation: I see great results with
certain parts of your email course: I can read easily again at a much
higher speed and enjoy that. And when I sat in the back of a room I
could read texts from a projector and sing along. A big improvement,
simply by using a few different habits.
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