Testimonials from e-students

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.   

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