Optimal Eyesight: How to Restore and Retain Great Vision

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would! Of all the many books I've read on restoring natural eyesight, this one is the best by far. The author did an outstanding job conveying her years of knowledge in a very conversational, warm, simple as well as practical manner. I walked away from the book with alot of peace and confidence knowing that if I pick 1 or 2 techniques that help relax my eyes then that is enough for now. I can always go back when I need some new "tricks" as this book has everything I'll need to guide me to the "finish line". Initially I was put off by the price of the book but the breathing exercises alone are worth every penny. Buy it. You won't be disappointed!! 8/4/21 - edited to add, now that I'm much deeper into this journey, I would like to mention that the key to fixing your vision has to do with calming your central nervous system so I wish there had been more focus on that. At the end of the day, if I can't calm my breathing calm, I won't see clearly. I've achieved clearer vision more from working on my breathe through keeping my tongue on the roof of my mouth all the time & inhaling through my nose as well as daily meditation more than anything else.

This book is my favorite on vision improvement and I’ve done a lot of research on the topic. Love it! Esther Joy van der Werf sticks strictly to the Bates method and also adds a lot of up-to date information on light, screens, and nutrition. The book is very practical: it contains an abundance of different techniques you can choose and try. It is also easy to read. I’ve been wearing glasses for 30 years and had severe myopia. Blur started 6in from my face. Now for most activities like reading, working on the computer, cooking, hiking, yoga, ping-pong, and badminton I do not need glasses anymore. My vision acuity improved by about 3 diopters and I keep working on it. Depth and color perception, night vision, 3D, contrast, overall eye health are also improved noticeably. It feels so nice not to be dependent on glasses! Highly recommend this book.

Through this book I am now convinced that relaxation is everything. Alas a result of doing several of her strongly urged suggestions, I now am very sensitive to in my eyes feeling “burnt out and “and I immediately do one of the several ways to relax them, which makes immediate an difference in how they feel. I now hate that over-used feeling that I never was aware of before, until I started practicing her and Bates relaxation methods. over a long period of time I do believe this alone would get me quite a bit improved, as My eyes are already better at night when I watch TV and can read the subtitles with my weak glasses. Before, I would get a headache and could barely make out half of the words. But, to make a huge difference in my eyesight, I do believe I will need to have a one on one with her few times, which I intend to do someday. I have only read a fifth of the book however, so who knows?

looks promising

I bought a paper version of this great book after I have listened to it on audio. The information is so important for everyone to know, that I have decided to start sharing it with others and learn from Esther. The format is very easy to follow, with plenty of real life success stories and technics that you could start applying right away and see improvements. It is a self guide eye care and a must read.

Great book

My wife bought me this book for my birthday. I started trying to improve my vision a year ago through the Bates method and my vision has improved from needing -2.00 glasses for myopia to needing only -1.00. My favorite part of the book is the stories Esther gives of students who improved their eyesight and how they did it. It has given me greater insight and good examples and helped me realize how I am holding strain in my eyes on a daily basis. Following what I've learned from his book, I've been releasing this strain and trying to relax completely and see without effort. I've noticed sharper vision as I look without effort and strain. Since my bad vision habits are pretty ingrained in me, it has taken me some time to relearn to see in a relaxed manner. I'm hopeful that I'll get to 20/20 vision in another year of putting into practice the Bates Method.

i just start to read it, looking promise. i wish the letters were bigger. i am happy i had bought that book the writer also have intersting videos in you-tube it is obvios that she is a professional.

One of the best bates method books.contains normal common sense and strongly clarifies why bates method is not eye excercise.

Tratta approfonditamente il metodo Bates, anche se non è sempre chiarissimo nelle metodologia da seguire per ottenere un miglioramento

This looks good and have started reading it. I haven't finished yet, but I already have hope for what it is. Great work Esther Joy van der Werf

Ce livre est très bien fait, très précis, très complet, facile à comprendre, très clair pour un sujet qui souvent est critiqué comme douteux, charlatanisme. Esther essaye de rester objective, le plus près de la vérité. Elle veut partager avec le monde une autre perception sur la cause des problèmes visuels. Le livre va parler à ceux qui veulent rester le plus près d’eux mêmes. Il n’est pas fait pour ceux qui veulent avoir une solution sans travailler à eux mêmes. Dans ce cas des lunettes qui compenseraient leur vue défectueuse sont une solution temporaire. En tant qu’optométriste fonctionnelle je rejoins les pensées du dr. Bates, ophtalmologue new-yorkais sur la nécessité d’apprendre à relâcher le stress mental pour récupérer de la vue. Pas tout le monde est près à faire ce changement. C’est un excellent livre intéressant pour avoir dans sa bibliothèque.

This was all new to me a year ago and I've started implementing things Esther mentions in her book. I feel so much better not wearing my glasses when I don't absolutely need to and dropping the diopters on my glasses. I'm working on the palming and relaxation and making some progress though vision does fluctuate day-to-day as the book mentions! There is a whole community of natural vision teachers and students and hope it will grow and the word will spread.