Meir Schneider - Vision for Life

Praise for the work of Meir Schneider

“As an ophthalmologist, I always search for the best way to treat my patients. Based on the Bates Method, Meir Schneider’s self-healing system has complemented my practice in those cases where our traditional medicine has its limitations. The best treatment is the one that is directed to the patient’s needs, and the best medicine is the one that uses all knowledge and not only a part of it. Traditional science and complementary medicine are tools that should be used together, focusing on a more holistic health concept.”

—Leonardo Verri Paulino, MD, ophthalmologist and anterior segment surgeon at ABC Medical School, Brazil

“Schneider’s method is effective as a complementary physical therapy for the eyes.”

—Emília Ritsuko Yasuoka Assad, MD, ophthalmologist and acupuncturist, São Paulo, Brazil

“Working with my patients has verified that many sight problems get better and heal by taking up the right habits. Meir Schneider presents us with a complete guide to doing so. He helps us to regain our trust in the power we have over our vision and our lives. As he says in the book, ‘We all can take the time. We just have to decide that we are worth the time and that the process is worth our while.’ ”

—Amelia Salvador, MD, ophthalmologist, Alicante, Spain

“It is wonderful how each new book by Meir Schneider provokes us to incorporate more and more of the self-healing principles into our lives.”

—Laercio Motoryn, MD, ophthalmologist and homeopath, São Paulo, Brazil

“The knowledge and application of the self-healing method was very important improving my practice as an ophthalmologist. The results attained by my patients and with my own vision are proof of the importance of the union of traditional medicine with complementary therapies. I thank Meir Schneider for being such a marvelous instrument for my personal and professional improvement.”

—Ana Cecilia Gois Franco, MD, ophthalmologist and anterior segment surgeon and naturopath, São Paulo, Brazil

“I had the pleasure to meet Meir Schneider and use his method when I was finishing my apprenticeship to become a Bachelor of Optometry in 2005. His holistic approach toward visual dysfunctions changed me forever as a professional. His concepts remain present in my appointments, therapies, and lens prescriptions. Schneider’s work invites us to naturally preserve our organism and to practice healthier visual habits in this very technological world.”

—Fernando Nassif, optometrist with specialization in orthoptics and visual therapy, São Paulo, Brazil

“There are many kinds of patients, but those who get actively involved with their own healing process can surely go further. When I met Meir Schneider years ago, I started to apply some of his techniques to my work and was impressed by the results. We must imprint our will and optimism into everything we do, so we can go beyond it. Congratulations, Meir, for one more book that brings us simple yet useful lessons.”

—Mauro Rabinovitch, MD, ophthalmologist, São Paulo, Brazil

Copyright © 2012 by Meir Schneider. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written permission of the publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books. Published by Cover photo @ istockphoto.com/cinoby North Atlantic Books Cover design by Suzanne Albertson P.O. Box 12327 Berkeley, California 94712

Eye charts and red drawings courtesy of Flavio Kauffmann

Vision for Life: Ten Steps to Natural Eyesight Improvement is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a nonprofit educational corporation whose goals are to develop an educational and cross-cultural perspective linking various scientific, social, and artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences, humanities, and healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of mind, body, and nature.

North Atlantic Books’ publications are available through most bookstores. For further information, visit our website at www.northatlanticbooks.com or call 800-733-3000.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for general information purposes only. Individuals should always see their health care provider before administering any suggestions made in this book. Any application of the material set forth in the following pages is at the reader’s discretion and is his or her sole responsibility.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Schneider, Meir, 1954

Vision for life : ten steps to natural eyesight improvement / Meir Schneider.

p. cm.

Summary: “Presents ten simple steps to relieve eye strain, correct vision problems, and improve eye health; includes a full range of restorative vision exercises”—Provided by publisher.

eISBN: 978-1-58394-515-5

1. Vision disorders—Treatment. 2. Visual training. 3. Orthoptics. 4. Bates method of orthoptics. 5. Eye—Diseases—Treatment. 6. Blindness—Genetic aspects. I. Title.

RE992.O7S27 2012

617.7′5—dc23

2012011110

v3.1

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Foreword by M. Fernanda Leite Ribeiro

Preface

List of Materials for Getting Started

Introduction

Chapter 1

Healing Myself of Blindness

Discovering the Bates Method

Seeing the Light

Chapter 2

Ten Steps to Better Vision

Step 1:The Long Swing

How to Do the Long Swing

Step 2:Looking into the Distance

Looking into the Distance Can Help Prevent Cataracts!

Step 3:Exploring the Periphery

Periphery Exercise 1: Look at the Distance

Periphery Exercise 2: The Small Pieces of Paper

Step 4:Sunning and Skying

Sunning

Skying

Step 5:Night Walking

Step 6:Palming

Preparing to Palm

How to Palm

How Long Should You Palm?

Visualization While Palming

Breathing While Palming

Relaxing the Ears

Benefits of Palming

Combining Palming with Other Exercises

Step 7:Shifting

Practicing Shifting

Look at More Details

Read the Fine Print

The Ink Is Black and the Page Is White

Comprehension Problems with the Weaker Eye

Step 8:Blocking the Strong Eye

Cheap Sunglasses

Look at Details One More Time

Step 9:Blink

Step 10:Vision and Body

Walking Correctly

Rest Your Eyes

The Power of Breath

Loosen Your Neck

Stretch Your Eye Muscles

Enjoy the View

Don’t Squint

Ready to Move On

Chapter 3

Computer Use and Relieving Built-Up Fatigue

Chapter 4

Improving and Correcting Errors of Refraction

Suggestions for Using This Part of the Book

Where Do Corrective Lenses Fit into These Exercises?

Correcting Myopia and Hyperopia

Myopia

Exercise Program for Myopia

An Additional Note about Myopia

Hyperopia

Exercise Program for Hyperopia: 90 Minutes a Day

Correcting Presbyopia

Exercise Program for Presbyopia: 60–90 Minutes a Day

Extra Exercises for Presbyopia