084: Glasses - To Wear or Not To Wear? + Does The Bates Method Really Work?

084: Glasses - To Wear or Not To Wear? + Does The Bates Method Really Work?

Author: Nathan Oxenfeld: Certified Teacher of the Bates Method, Yoga, Meditation, a May 25, 2025 Duration: 45:00

In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld shares the audio versions of the two videos he filmed while in Italy.

Part 1 is the Natural Vision Vlog #6 about the role that glasses play in the natural vision training process. Quitting cold turkey is not always the best way to go about improving vision naturally. Sometimes it is better to gradually wean off glasses over time by wearing full correction or reduced prescription lenses. It is important to avoid blur adaptation, which could be an impediment to improvement.

Part 2 is the Bates Method 101 section addressing the basic question of whether the Bates Method really works and if it is really possible to improve vision naturally. Sometimes the prospect of seeing clearly without glasses seems too good to be true, which can lead to doubt, skepticism, and disbelief. Not only is it possible to improve vision naturally, but oftentimes the more someone believes it is possible the more results they obtain.

One thing you can do to begin believing even more is reading the new book A New World Of Seeing: Practices and Perspectives of Natural Vision Improvement, which features articles from 43 authors from 16 countries - all of whom have experienced improvements in their vision naturally. It is available now in paperback or eBook versions, and the audiobook version is coming soon too! Click here to get your copy: https://amzn.to/3VIpRz8 

You can watch both the above videos on Nathan's YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/nathanoxenfeld as well as the previous 5 Natural Vision Vlogs covering topics like swinging, sunning, dry eyes, peripheral awareness, and more.

Listen to the Better Eyesight Podcast at https://bettereyesightpodcast.com or join the Better Eyesight League at https://patreon.com/bettereyesight

Stay tuned for more information about Nathan's next 3 Day Vision Retreat in Vermont in August 2025 and his next 6 Month Vision Improvement Program.

Music by Audionautix & Filo Starquez


What if the strain you feel in your eyes isn't a life sentence, but a habit you can change? The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries moves beyond conventional eyecare to investigate a holistic path. Hosted by Nathan Oxenfeld, a certified teacher of the Bates Method, yoga, and meditation, this podcast delves into the often-overlooked connection between how we use our eyes and our overall mental and physical state. Each conversation is a deep dive into practical, natural vision improvement. You’ll hear detailed discussions on techniques like breathwork and specific visual relaxation practices, all framed within the understanding that eyesight is not a static condition but a dynamic sense intertwined with stress, posture, and attention. The goal here isn't just to see a clearer chart, but to cultivate healthier eyes and a more insightful relationship with your own vision. Nathan guides listeners through principles that challenge the assumption that blur is permanent, offering a thoughtful exploration of how alternative methods can lead to tangible changes in daily life. Tune in for a nuanced perspective that redefines what it means to care for your eyes, focusing on the innate capacity for clarity that exists without external aids. This is a space for anyone curious about the potential of their own vision, eager to learn from a teacher who approaches seeing as an integral part of well-being.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
Podcast Episodes
066: The Paula Method with Michal Mehler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:25
*** Sign up for the special Vision Panel on December 1st, 2022 @ 2pm EST called "Preserving Eye Health In A Screen-Filled World" with Nathan Oxenfeld and Dr. Ainhoa de Federico - https://color-buresch.at/webinar/december…
065: Recap of a 7 Day Natural Vision Improvement Conference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:35
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld introduces you to the 2-dozen speakers featured in the 2022 Association of Vision Educators (AVE) Conference, which went from October 10-16. This will be t…
064: Vital Vision with Dr. Sam Berne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:21
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Dr. Sam Berne about his new book Vital Vision (coming in February 2023), which answers the internet's most commonly asked questions about holist…
063: Why Eye Exercises Don't Work (and What Does Work!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:53
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld shares a few upcoming opportunities to participate in natural vision improvement talks, workshops, and panels this fall and winter, and teaches a 20 minute…
062: Bates Fundamentals and Procedures with Dr. Ray Gottlieb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:45
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld is joined by Dr. Ray Gottlieb as they review some key parts of his Bates Fundamentals & Procedures document, which you can download at https://integraleyes…
061: Free Your Mind and Shift Your Eyes with Gloria Ginn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:07
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Gloria Ginn who has been teaching natural vision improvement for over 40 years. Gloria tells us the story of how she improved her own vision, ov…
060: Don't Forget To Back Up Your Data! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:05
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld explains why a new episode hasn't dropped in March (hard drive crashed!) and reads recent success stories from two of his vision students instead to provid…
059: Mitigating Artificial Blue Light with Dhruvin Patel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:01
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Dhruvin Patel who is an optometrist and a founder of Ocushield. His mission is to help eyes thrive in the digital age, so he has created a line…
058: The Principles of Natural Vision Improvement with Meir Schneider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:27
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Meir Schneider about his amazing story of going from 1% vision to 70% vision with the help of the Bates Method, bodywork, emotional healing, and…
057: Winter Solstice Palming Party [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
You're invited to my Palming Party! Since this Palming Party happened on the Winter Solstice, we will be reflecting back on all 12 months of 2021, and project ahead into the 12 months of 2022. After about 30 minutes of p…