Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Bates Method ?

The Bates Method is a system of vision education. It helps people with bad eyesight to improve their vision and relearn good visual habits.

According to Dr Bates, the good and normal eyesight depends on three principles; movement, relaxation and central fixation. The opposites of good eyesight are fixation, tension or effort, and diffusion.

The Bates Method is not a system of mechanical exercises. It is a way to return to natural eyesight through various techniques. The main goal is for the participant to integrate natural vision into their own routine. 


Who was William H. Bates?

William H. Bates was an American ophthalmologist (1860-1931). He realized that vision is variable and it can be improved. He developed the Bates Method, which is a method to improve people's vision by practicing a number of techniques.


He discovered that people with refractive errors use their eyes in a different way from people without refractive errors. He demonstrated that his patients could see better, even reverting their vision troubles, by changing some habits. How? By returning to natural vision and the normal working of the eyes we can recover it with eyesight re-education based in relaxation. 


What are the benefits of practicing Natural Eyesight Improvement?

  • A more relaxed way of being
  • A sense of greater balance and harmony
  • Being more present
  • Better balance and coordination
  • Better eye health
  • Enhanced depth perception
  • Increased clarity of sight
  • Increased mental clarity
  • Greater awareness
  • Greater connection with self
  • More connection with the world around you
  • More self confidence

Who benefits from The Bates Method?

Everyone! Adults and children. The Bates Method is useful for prevention and helping with eye conditions: 

  • Myopia or short-sightedness
  • Hyperopia or long-sightedness
  • Astigmatism 
  • Presbyopia or tired eyesight
  • Strabismus 
  • Amblyopia or lazy eye
  • Eye disease (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.). These diseases are treated with medicine, [LW1] 

How does it work?

On the one hand, we know that eyesight is variable. On the other hand, blurry vision develops due to stress. This is because we don't use our eyes correctly and we strain the eye muscles. Re-learning how to use our eyes correctly helps us to relax and return to natural and clear vision.


But... Really does it work?

Yes! It works!! It is a process, and everyone's process is different . The most important thing for success in natural eyesight is using your awareness


Who teaches The Bates Method?

Natural eyesight teachers teach people how to improve their eyesight.


Who are you?

My name is Marina Montiel and I am a natural eyesight teacher. You can read more about me here.


Why don't people know about natural eyesight improvement?

In the past, there has been a lot of opposition to the Bates Method from traditional medicine (opticians and ophthalmologists) and academics have tried to discredit natural eyesight improvement. Because of this, the Bates Method has not been very popular. Nowadays, however, we can find more and more professionals and people who are open to the Bates Method and Natural Eyesight. 



How long does it taken to learn?

The basics of natural eyesight can be taught in about six to ten lessons. But everyone's process is different, so, we can not generalize.   


Do I have to practice exercises every day?

First, we have to understand that the Bates Method is not an eye gym. The key is wanting to change our poor vision habits to good vision habits. Changing a habit requires interest, commitment and awareness (without effort). The techniques or "exercises" help us to integrate this change. So, it will be more beneficial if we practice natural eyesight every day because by doing so we integrate these habits into our lives more easily. However, if we practice every day with no awareness this will be harder. We are practicing unnatural eyesight every day; why not practice natural vision every day? This simply means using our eyes the correct way. It's not hard and it doesn't take too much time.


What's wrong with using glasses?

Glasses and contact lenses make your vision worse. You can see this when you go back to your optometrist  and you need stronger prescriptions. From a natural eyesight perspective, glasses limit movement and relaxation, they create tension in the eyes and they narrow the periphery. They are promoting the opposite of natural eyesight.



Do I have to stop wearing glasses?

To start with this may be possible or not. Every person and their personal situation is different, so this is a particular experience. Students should try to experience not wearing their glasses, in order to know how they feel without them and what activities they can do without them. They can start without glasses in some activities at home, or perhaps on walks in the country. Another option is to obtain reduced prescription lenses; this can be helpful in the process, especially for those who have high prescriptions and in particular situations like driving. Pinhole glasses are also useful in this process. It is important to know that the more you stop using your glasses, the better. 



Can the method be used with children?

Of course, children are very welcome. Kids from five years can work with a natural eyesight teacher with no trouble. Younger children can attend the lessons with their parents. It is important that parents be involved in the process anyway, and it would be useful that they too learn the Bates Method for working towards the same goals.