Visions of Joy - Natural Eyesight Improvement - Vision Education
The School of Optimal Eyesight
Improve your vision and overcome the need for glasses or contacts while avoiding laser surgery

Lectures & Workshops
on Improving Eyesight

Esther Joy van der Werf loves to present interesting and highly educational talks on effective natural vision improvement. She speaks to audiences world-wide about the traditional Bates Method.
Here is an impression of what she talks about at international holistic vision conferences and similar events related to better eyesight.

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October 2021:

28th International Holistic Vision Conference
Nimes, France
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Lecture (1 hour):
Stress and Vision
A century ago, Dr. W.H. Bates emphasized (or "stressed") the significant role mental strain plays in visual challenges, and consequently, he also emphasized the importance of releasing this strain to achieve clear vision.  Since Bates, more studies have been done on the role that stress plays on eyesight.  In this talk, we take a look at some of the research, and at the solutions presented, both by Bates and others that promote both visual clarity and a more joyful life!

Workshop (3 hours):
Understanding the coordinated actions of eye muscles.
When William Bates dared to oppose the widely accepted theory of Hermann von Helmholtz regarding the action of the extraocular muscles versus the ciliary muscles in accommodation, Bates was a lone voice in a sea of 'believers.' Bates wasn't the first, nor the last, to hold the view that the extraocular muscles are responsible for focusing the eyes, yet it appears that very few in-depth studies have been done on this topic. In this workshop, we will go over some of the more detailed explanations I have come across that provide a better understanding of the coordinated actions of the eye muscles. When you have a better grasp of these muscle actions, your insights will help you work more effectively with your clients. Your ability to show them what their eye muscles are doing, can be both fun and enlightening!

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October 2020:

5th Association for Vision Educators Professional Conference
Virtual gathering online.


Workshop (2 hours):
Common misconceptions of the original Bates Method.
Over the past century, the Bates Method has been passed from one teacher to the next, with several generations now between the original techniques and the current methods being taught.  As is to be expected, the method has evolved and changed over time; new knowledge and information has enriched it.  Yet, some misunderstandings of Dr. Bates' techniques also crept in and have unfortunately persisted, despite being less effective than the original method.  This workshop not only points out the differences, but helps you understand why Dr. Bates' work was so effective and how we can get back to that level of success with our students today.

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October 2019:

27th International Holistic Vision Conference
Frankfurt, Germany.


Workshop (3.5 hours):
Eyestrain - What to look for and how to release it.
Eyestrain, according to Dr. Bates, presents itself in infinite ways, and the methods used to relieve the strain must be almost equally varied. When you learn to recognzie the most common ways of strain and know how to release them, you will be able to regain clarity sooner and you will be able to help others do the same.
Besides the obvious squinting and staring habits that many people have, there are a number of other common signs of strain that I look for when I work with a student; some are obvious and easily seen, some are subtle, some are mental rather than physical. In this workshop we will talk about these various forms of strain and discuss ways to release them and or help others release them.

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September 2018:

4th Association for Vision Educators Professional Conference
Damascus, Oregon, USA.


Two talks:
How to create measurable results in the first session. (1.5 hrs)
In our still controversial profession it is important to help clients/students achieve measurable results as soon as possible. Many of them are dealing with family and friends who are not supportive of their choice to improve their eyesight naturally, and they may not even be confident themselves that this is possible. So, if you are to encourage them in their choice and have them believe in you, believe in the method and believe in their own eyes, help them prove the effectiveness of this work to themselves in the first session. This may not always be possible, but if you can only promise results after six weeks or more, you will likely lose their interest before they even get started. Learn to become effective, learn to help them see the difference.

Extraocular Muscle Strain Brainstorm Session. (1 hr)
In this session we'll be going out on a limb; stirring the pot of what we think we know... How does muscle tension actually affect the shape of the eyes? Do we need a re-think or are we correct? Let's explore two theories (by William H. Bates and Robert Brooks Simpkins) and perhaps find a new way to look at eyestrain. Or not, as the case may be. Bring your open mind and as many brain cells as you dare to storm with.

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September 2016:

3rd Association for Vision Educators Professional Conference
Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Workshop (3.5 hrs)
How breathing and posture affect eyesight and astigmatism.
What I appreciated most when I was trained in Optimal Breathing Development(TM) was that, just like vision improvement, better breathing depends on relaxation. Learning how to let the diaphragm work without trying to force it into anything it isn't designed for, is similar to learning how to let the eye-muscles work without forcing them into anything they aren't designed for. There are some simple breathing practices that will get people out of shallow or reversed breathing patterns that anyone can learn and which are easy to teach. You and your students' eyesight will benefit from your application of this knowledge.
Posture affects both breathing and vision, so a basic understanding of good and bad posture will help you pinpoint where your students can make changes that will improve their sight. This will be a highly practical workshop that you'll be glad you attended!

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October 2015:

25th International Holistic Vision Conference
Alcala de Henares, Spain.

Lecture (1 hour):
The Bates Method is not Eye Exercises.
It is a very common misconception about the Bates Method, but Dr. Bates did not actually teach 'eye exercises.' Yet most people think you have to do lots of eye exercises if you want to improve your vision.
Dr. Bates never used the term Eye Exercises the way it is used these days, meaning a set of physical eye movements in order to ‘strengthen’ the eyes. Instead, he insisted his methods were simply nature’s way, and purely aimed at securing “physiological rest of the eyes, a condition which is found only with central fixation and perfect vision.”
So what exactly are the 10 main differences? Come discover the answer in this lecture!

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Workshop (3 hours):
Sunlight and Eye Health
There are many concerns and fears about the effect of sunlight and ultraviolet rays on the eyes, yet our eyes need sunlight for optimal health. This workshop will explore this topic, will examine the fears and the facts, and will let you experience how to safely sun your eyes and get the most benefit from the full spectrum of light.

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May 2015:
Association of Vision Educators 2nd Professional Conference
Pacific Palisades, California, USA.

Lecture (1 hour):
Original Bates Method of teaching compared to current common practices.

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Workshop (3 hours):
Practical application of the Original Bates Method

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November 2013:
24th International Holistic Vision Conference
Gazzada, Italy.

Workshop (3 hours): 
Experience the Flow of the Bates Method Techniques

The Bates Method consists of a variety of techniques, all designed to help relax your eyes and mind. When these techniques are used in a natural order, one technique flows into the next which makes it easier to get into the deeper states of visual relaxation that allow for clear vision. To experience this flow for your own eyes is a real pleasure, and will likely help you maintain the progress you make on your path to clarity.

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Round Table Discussion / Workshop (3 hours):
Astigmatism: How the relationship between eye motion, head motion and posture affects vision.  

In this discussion I will briefly cover Dr. Bates’ views on astigmatism, and then combine that with Dr. Elliott Forrest’s views on astigmatism. The latter’s discoveries of the link between eye and head motion makes a very interesting addition to Dr. Bates’ work and helps you as a teacher to pinpoint your student’s main strain that contributes to his/her astigmatism. Once the correlation between head and eye motion is understood, the appropriate relaxation solution can be offered and astigmatism can be overcome more quickly and effortlessly. Your input and experience with astigmatism is most welcome!

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October 2012:
3rd British Natural Eyesight Conference
Felden, England.


Keynote lecture (1 hour):

Eye Diseases - How can the Bates Method help?

Early in his career Dr. Bates did not think his methods would be of much use in overccoming eye diseases, yet some of his patients surprised him. He witnessed cases of disapppearing retinitis pigmentosa, vanished cataracts, regained visual fields, returns to normal eye pressure, and other unexpected 'side effects' of using his visual relaxation methods. These unforeseen results motivated him to move even further away from traditional ophthalmology and to apply his natural methods for all visual challenges. Through case histories we'll delve into the value of the Bates Method for a variety of eye diseases.
I hope you will be inspired to use the Bates method for more than simple functional vision challenges, regardless of the apparent severity of a case. There is always a chance that you may be surprised...

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Workshop (3 hours):
Reading without Glasses at any Age 

In this workshop we go step by step through the various methods Dr. Bates used to overcome presbyopia effectively. Practice cards with various print sizes are provided, as well as an overview of the methods used.

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October 2011:
23rd International Holistic Vision Conference
Gazzada, Italy.

Sunday morning lecture (1 hour): 
Focus on Children's Eyes
- Dr. Bates & Emily
's legacy of vision work with the young ones

A repeat, with minor changes, of the lecture given at the 2010 British conference, see below.

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Workshop (3 hours):
Reading without Glasses at any Age 

In this workshop we go step by step through the various methods Dr. Bates used to overcome presbyopia effectively. Practice cards with various print sizes are provided, as well as an overview of the methods used.

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October 2010:
2nd British Natural Eyesight Conference
Felden, England.


Keynote lecture (1 hour):

Focus on Children's Eyes
- Dr. Bates & Emily
's legacy of vision work with the young ones

Dr. Bates and Emily worked together for many years to improve the eyesight of children. You will learn about their work with school children, their results with children at the clinic, and their great love for these young ones. Bates said that all children under the age of 16 who had not yet worn glasses, could be cured within one year, and often would be cured in just a few days or weeks. You'll find out how he did that. Esther will also give examples from her own work of teaching the Bates method to children. Hopefully you will be inspired to continue Dr. Bates and Emily's legacy; the delightful work of helping children to keep or regain their perfect eyesight.

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Workshop (3 hours): 
Astigmatism - How to regain muscle balance

Astigmatism is a very common vision problem.  As many as three in ten children between the ages of 5 and 17 are diagnosed with it and many wear glasses to 'correct' it. A number of studies have found that the prevalence of astigmatism increases with age. The use of lenses obviously does not help much, if at all, to reduce this problem.

I believe as Dr. Bates did, that astigmatism is the result of an imbalance between the muscles around the eyes.  Undue strain on a combination of the recti and oblique muscles creates a lopsided eyeball which results in seeing straight lines blurry at some angles of vision.

This workshop will look at how that imbalance begins, and at how to regain muscle balance so that the astigmatism reduces or clears and vision improves.  We will go over the techniques that Dr. Bates used with his patients and also draw from the research on astigmatism by Elliott Forrest OD.

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October 2009:
22nd International Holistic Vision Conference
Spa, Belgium.

Closing keynote lecture (1 hour): 
Relax into Seeing ~ Relax into Life
- Learning to let go of tension in our eyes and mind.

The 'Relax into Seeing' lecture notes can be read here. (PDF file)

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Workshop (3 hours):
The Physical and Mental Tensions 
We Can Release to Improve Vision

In this workshop we will explore the typical physical and mental tensions that interfere with clear vision.  As we play with letting such tensions go, we discover how eye-charts become useful tools rather than 'a test that we keep failing'.

 

As a participant you will become able to demonstrate to yourself how your mind influences your sight, and you will be given simple hints to use your mind to your visual advantage!

We will explore the natural order of movement for vision, and learn to see movement in the world around us from a different point of view.

 

With some simple mental and physical tools that do not require any special equipment, you learn to transform your vision.  In this way you can integrate your vision improvement practice into your daily life without needing to take time for specific exercises.

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