About Dr. Bates

William H. Bates, M.D., is the scientist and doctor who discovered the mental and physical habits of normal and imperfect eyesight. He wrote extensively about his discoveries. He wrote a book, published a magazine for 11 years, and had multiple articles featured in medical journals and publications. Besides his tremendous contribution to the understanding of how vision actually works, he also discovered adrenaline, or as he described it, the secretion of the supra-renal gland.

Along with his wife Emily Bates, nee Lierman, Dr. Bates taught thousands of people how to achieve normal eyesight regardless of age. Throughout his writings he discusses his surprise,  and then conviction, that many eye problems thought to be irreversible or incurable could in fact be cured by teaching a person the habits of normal eyesight.  

One of his most extraordinary discoveries is that our vision is 9/10ths mental. Though we need physical eyes to see, our mind and how we use it is the primary factor in how good our visual acuity is. Using his techniques, many thousands of people in the U.S. and overseas have improved their eyesight to normal or better than normal. 

He also taught at New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital.    

Doctors who studied with Bates were often surprised that they could also improve their eyesight naturally. Many went on to teach patients and colleagues to do the same. You can read about some of their experiences in the articles below.

Dr. Bates did extensive research showing that the predominant theory in use regarding how vision works is incorrect. He noted that most optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists are fully aware that eyesight gets worse with the use of corrective lenses. They too understood that the use of corrective lenses does not cure the underlying problem, and in fact, often makes it worse. By learning the habits that lead to perfect vision, a person with imperfect eyesight can achieve normal eyesight. In fact, it’s possible to improve the eyesight to better than what is considered normal, 20/20 vision.

Click on the links below to see a few introductory articles and excerpts from the writings of Dr. Bates. Included are articles written by other doctors who studied with Dr. Bates, those who saw firsthand the value and efficacy of his methods.

Clients who experience their vision improve in my classes will often ask why the Bates Method is not better known. They also ask why doctors, opticians, and optometrists are not using these techniques with their patients. The famous physicist Max Planck gives us part of the answer when he said, 

"A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” 

This website was created in part to help a new generation become familiar with Bates Techniques. It was also created to fulfill my personal mission of helping people improve their eyesight naturally without glasses, contacts, or surgery.