Today, more than ever, inappropriate response to stress is being cited as a primary cause of many ailments that plague modern humanity. Whether it's caused by environmental, cultural, or psychological factors, anxiety can lead to a great number of mental and physical problems. Indeed, recent research indicates that stress is a major contributing factor in disorders of the eye as well.

Such findings can have wide-ranging implications. After all, at least half of the population in the United States currently wears prescription glasses or contact lenses. Furthermore, possibly as many as 70°70 of Americans have visual pro blems of which they're not even aware. In a sense, you might say that good eyesight is no longer normal!

Yet, very few folks are born with visual abnormalities. For the most part, defective eyesight is acquired. If that's so, can poor vision be corrected? According to studies done by Dr. William H. Bates, a distinguished New York ophthalmologist who pioneered in the field of visual training, eyesight can be dramatically improved . . . without the aid of corrective lenses!

WHAT IS VISUAL TRAINING?

In the past, most vision experts worked from the theory that the eye is able to focus on varying distances solely because it can change the shape of its lens . . . and that most seeing problems are due to a permanent deformation of the eyeball and lens. However contrary to these widely held beliefs-Dr. Bates's research has indicated that the whole eye, not merely the lens, adapts itself to focusing by means of the muscles of the eyeball. When habitual tension and strain tighten them, then, a sight dysfunction may occur . . . and teaching these uptight muscles to relax, through a program of visual training, can remedy many seeing disorders.

It should be noted here that few eye professionals support this theory, and even fewer offer visual training to their patients. (To find out the names of optometrists in your area who do offer such programs, write to Ms. Jerriann J. Taber, Vision Training Institute of America, Dept. TMEN, 11303 Meadow View Road, El Cajon, California 92020. Please enclose a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope.) Most eye specialists continue merely to prescribe the wearing of corrective lenses for refractory errors, which-in effect encourages the eyes to maintain abnormal vision by allowing them to become permanently adjusted to a constant degree of error.

Practitioners of the visual-training method suggest, however, that a person gradually decrease the amount of time spent wearing corrective lenses during the day . . . and that fundamental training exercises be performed (without wearing glasses or contacts) to lessen dependency on mechanical aids.

The purpose of this article is not to debate the merits of the Bates stance against those of standard practices, but simply to present the ideas of visual-training advocates so that readers who wish to can try out this lesser known health care option for themselves. Consequently, the following information offers strictly the Bates school's point of view.

The following techniques, then, are based on these premises: First, that the art of seeing-like other fundamental skills such as talking, walking, and using one's hands-is acquired. Second, this skill is normally learned through unconscious self-instruction in childhood. Third, for many of us in today's pressure-packed world, the only way to keep perfect sight is to practice techniques of conscious eye relaxation. Finally, if the exercises are performed correctly for a sufficient length of time-in conjunction with a proper diet and a physical conditioning program-eyesight will show permanent improvement. (The corollary to this is that the stronger the lenses you wear now-and the longer the time that you've worn them-the more time and effort you'll have to put forth to achieve better vision.) All right, let's begin.