Improving vision naturally: Beyond prescription glasses

For a long time, conventional medicine believed that vision was strictly a function of the lens inside your eye changing its shape. This medical consensus went largely unchallenged until William Bates, a pioneering ophthalmologist, began questioning why so many people’s sight continued to deteriorate despite wearing corrective lenses.

The role of external eye muscles in visual clarity

Dr. Bates demonstrated that the six external muscles surrounding the eye do more than just move the eyeball up, down, left, and right. These muscles actually help change the focus by subtly lengthening or shortening the shape of the eyeball.

This discovery shifted the understanding of vision from a purely sensory experience to a sensory and motor activity. When these muscles become habitually tense, they can prevent the eye from focusing correctly, contributing to common issues like:

• Myopia (Nearsightedness)

• Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

• Astigmatism

More importantly, chronic strain and severe nearsightedness are often linked to a higher risk of conditions such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. By learning to coordinate these muscles, you can address the root cause of the strain rather than just managing the symptoms with stronger prescriptions and medication.

The impact of stress and inflammation on eye health

Bates’ research also found a direct link between stress, anxiety, and eyesight. When we experience stress or anxiety, the body releases adrenaline, which enlarges the pupils and increases intraocular pressure.

Modern life places an immense "visual load" on our eyes, leading to chronic eye inflammation and tension. Over time, this habitual "fight or flight" response in the eyes can lead to degenerative eye diseases. By relaxing and retraining the eye muscles and enhancing peripheral vision, you can turn on the brain’s parasympathetic response to reduce stress and anxiety.

Retraining the brain to see better

While Bates was developing his theories, Moshe Feldenkrais was creating a somatic system based on the brain's ability to reorganize itself (neuroplasticity). He realized that "good vision" is a result of how the brain coordinates the eyes with the rest of the body.

From jumpy movements to macular clarity

In many people, the eye muscles are so tense that their tracking movements become jumpy or "darting." When your eye movements are not smooth, the light entering the eye fails to stay focused on the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision.

The result? Blurry vision, eye fatigue and headaches.
Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® lessons help to:

• Relax and retrain hyper-tense eye muscles.

• Smoothen tracking so the image remains stable on the macula.

• Improve image clarity naturally by reducing motor interference.

From legally blind to 20/20 Vision

The power of this work is best seen in the story of David Webber whose incredible recovery is featured in the New York Times bestseller, The Brain’s Way of Healing by Dr. Norman Doidge. After being declared legally blind due to severe uveitis and inflammation, Webber used Feldenkrais eye movements to regain 20/20 vision.

Take the next step for better eyesight and vision

If you find yourself reaching for stronger reading glasses or worrying about a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, it is time to look at the motor habits of your eyes.

In the upcoming Eye Workshop: Awaken the Hidden Gifts in your Eyes, you can expect to:

• reduce eye strain and tension headaches

• release chronic tension in face, jaw, neck and shoulder area

• improve eyesight and begin relieving degenerative eye issues and inflammation

• lighter, easier and more at home in your body

• a calmer, more grounded, less scattered mind

Here’s what we’ll cover in 5 weeks:

• smoothing jerky, darting eye movements into more fluid tracking

• gently activating and balancing all six eye muscles (inward, outward, vertical, diagonal, and peripheral)

• specifically awakening eye movements that counteract and balance the overtrained from screens and close-up device use

• integrating eye movements with coordinated head, spine, and body motion

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this saying glasses or medical treatment are wrong?

No. Glasses and medical care can be necessary and helpful. This work looks at a missing piece: how habitual tension and coordination of the eye muscles influence vision alongside optics and physiology.

Is there scientific support for this approach?

Yes. Research in neuroplasticity shows the brain can reorganize through movement and sensory input. The work of Bates, Feldenkrais, and modern neuroscience all point to vision as a learned, coordinated function—not just a fixed mechanical one.

Will this help if I’ve had poor vision for years?

Many people with long standing vision issues have experienced improvement or 100% reversal of their eye condition.

How soon might I notice changes?

Many people feel immediate shifts in eye comfort, eyesight and mental calm. Changes in clarity and coordination tend to build gradually over time.

Who is this workshop especially helpful for?

This workshop is ideal for people who:

• experience eye strain, headaches, or screen fatigue

• notice declining eyesight or worry about eye health

• feel jaw, neck, or facial tension

• want a natural, nervous-system-based approach to vision