NeNetwork,

The following texts may be of aid -

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THE THREE HABITS OF NATURAL VISION

The three habits of natural seeing are Sketching (Shifting),
Breathing, and Blinking.

THE THIRD HABIT - BLINKING

*When most I wink,then do mine eyes best see.*

-WIlliam Shakespeare, Sonnet No. 43

The third habit of natural vision is blinking.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

The eyelids, our "natural windshield wipers," sweep away particles
that enter the eye and protect the eye from external injury and
excessive light. Each eyelid has two or three two of eyelashes,which
help prevent dust particles from entering the eye. The eyebrows divert
perspiration, rain, and other particles from the forehead out toward
the temples away from the eyes.

THE EYELID MUSCLES AND BLINKING

The upper eyelid closes by contraction of the orbicularis palpebrae
muscle, which encircles the front of thee eye, and by the relaxation
and lengthening of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. The upper
eyelid opens by the opposite actions.

The lower eyelid, which has a smaller range of movement than the upper
eyelid, closes by the contraction of the obicularis palpebrae muscle;
it opens by the opposite action.

The upper eyelid is opened by the contraction of the levator palpebrae
superioris muscle (from the Latin *levator*, meaning "to raise," and
*palpabra*, meaning "eyelid). The levator palpebrae superioris muscle
is located above the superior oblique and superior rectus muscles. The
front part inserts into the upper eyelid, and the rear part attaches
to the back of the eye orbit.

*Blinking* is the action of quickly and easily lowering and raising
the eyelids. Like sketching and breathing, blinking is normally done
unconsciously but can also be done consciously.

PTOSIS, A DROOPING OF THE EYELID

*Ptosis* is a drooping of the upper eyelid. Ptosis can be caused by
deficient development, or paralysis, of the levator palpabrae
superioris muscle. In both cases, this muscle is unable to contract
sufficiently to raise the upper eyelid to iits normal position.

SECRETION PORTION OF THE LACRIMAL (TEAR) SYSTEM

The lacrimal gland (from the Latin lachrima, meaning "tear") is
located above the eye, toward the temple, underneath the eyebrow
ridge, and between the eyeball and the eye socket. this almond size,
sponge-like gland is controlled by the parasympathetic part of the
automatic nervous system and continually produce aqueous (watery)
*lacrimal tears*. Tears are delivered to the front of the eye by the
six to twelve lacrimal ducts.

Lacrimal tears are slightly alkaline, containing sodium chloride
(salt) and proteins. Tears provide moisture to the eyes and remove
dust and particles of dirt. They also contain oxygen  and other
nutrients for the cornea.

In addition to cleansing the eye, tears contain antibacterial protein
called lysozyme. This powerful enzyme protects the eye from infections
by dissolving the protective outer coats of harmful bacteria. Without
lysozyme in the tears, micro-organisms would grow on the cornea and
infections could occur on the eye.

Located inside the eyelids are about thirty schaceous glands
(Meihomian and Zeis glands), which secrete an oily lubrication, called
sebum. Sebum coats the eye and the eyelids, providing lubrication
between them, and prevents the watery lacrimal tears from running over
the edges of the eyelids onto the cheeks.

Together, the lacrimal and sebaceous glands create three different
layers of tears over the eye:

1. The layer of tears closest to the cornea, sclera, and eyelid is
composed of mucous proteins. It coats the eye evenly and allows the
second, watery layer of tears to easily adhere to the eye.

2. The middle watery layer, provided by the lacrimal glands, is the
cleansing and nutrient layer. It washes away foreign particles and
supplies the cornea with proteins, salt, and moisture.

3. The third outer layer is oily. It helps prevent the middle watery
layer from evaporating too rapidly and provides lubrication between
the eye and the eyelids.

These three layers of tears also help keep the front of the eye warm
in cold weather.

THE CONJUNCTIVA

A thin transparent membrane called the conjunctiva (shown in green)
extends along the inner surfaces of both eyelids, over the front
portion of the sclera, and over the cornea. The conjunctiva forms a
barrier, called the fornix conjunctiva, which prevents tears and
particles from traveling into the back of the eye orbit. Without the
conjunctiva, water could flow into the back of the eye socket when you
are swimming!

The conjunctiva is extremely sensitive to pain, and one learns quickly
never to allow an object to touch the eye - our most important sensory
organ. A grain of sand in the eye is immediately flooded with copious
tears and expelled out and over the lower eyelid onto the cheek.

*Conjunctivitis* is an inflammation of the conjunctiva.

THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM

During blinking, the eyelids pump tears out of the lacrimal glands via
the lacrimal ducts into the upper outer corner (fornix) of the
conjunctiva. The tears cleanse, moisten, and disinfect the cornea,
scelra, and conjunctiva as they travel toward the lower, inner corner
of the eye. Some tears evaporate during this process.

THE DRAINAGE PORTION OF THE LACRIMAL SYSTEM

Excess tears drain from the eye through two small orifices at teh
inner corners of both eyelids. These two minute openings, called
lacrimal puncta, can often be seen by close inspection in a mirror.
The lacrimal puncta glide along the sclera collecting tears into the
lacrimal sac. By means of pumping action during blinking and a suction
action by the nose, excess tears drain from the lacrimal sac down
through the nasolacrimal duct into the nasal cavity, where they
evaporate due to respiration.

A THIRD EYELID?!

The small, round, inkish fold of tissue at the inner corner of the
human eye is called the lacrimal caruncle. Some consider tis to be the
remainder of an old *nictitans*, a third eyelid. Many nocturnal birds
and some reptiles have a nictitans, which is discussed further in
Chapter 17, "The Retina."

DRY EYE SYNDROME

Insufficient tearing from the lacrimal glands, overly rapid
evaporation of due to wind, or excessive heat can create dryness in
eyes. This can result in a burning sensation, hypersensitivity's to
light (photophobia), mucous discharge, corneal changes, and impairment
of vision.

Many people have dry eyes due to not blinking frequently enough. Some
estimate over six million Americans have chronically dry eyes. Many
natural vision students have eliminated dry eyes simply by relearning
correct blinking. Many have also lowered their sensitivity to light,
and have been able to discard their sunglasses completely. They now
feel relaxed in sunlight by simply blinking softly and frequently.

In strong wind or dry weather condition it is important to blink more
frequently to prevent teh eyes from drying out due to rapid
evaporation of tears.

Dry eyes can also be caused by undesirable effects from medication or
diseases. So, NeNetwork, consult with your eye doctor if you have
serious eye problems.

ARTIFICIAL TEARS - HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?

Moist, protective tear layers are essential for the health of the
eyes. However, one might question whether artificial tears are a help
or detriment if used on a long-term basis. Does continuous use of
artificial tears suppress the normal production of natural tears, thus
creating more of a dependence on normal tears? Are the artificial
tears truly an adequate replacement for natural tears?

Artificial tears may be needed for a short time in acute problems.
Again, consult with your eye doctor for any serious eye problems.

IRRITANT VS. EMOTIONAL TEARS

*The tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.*

-William Shakespeare

Lael Wetenbaker, in *The Eye Window to the World*, writes:

"While all animals that live in air produce tears to keep the eye
moist, man is the only animal that weeps. In 1957, intrigued by the
dual purpose of crying, chemist Robert Brunish analyzed the
ingredients of emotional and irritant tears. tears induced by onion
fumes and strong wind, he discovered, contained a lower concentration
of the protein albumin. In the 1970s, biochemist William Frey began
investigations into whether this protein was related to the chemical
changes in our blood stream caused by stress. Tears might well play a
role in filtering out the body's stressful chemicals. The machismo
ethic of suppressing tears, Frey thinks, might irritate peptic ulcers
and other stress-related diseases. By not allowing himself to weep;
the strong, silent male might not take advantage of natural relief."

Fritz Kahn, in *Man in Structure and Function*, wrties about crying:

All higher animals produce tear fluid to irrigate the cornea, but only
man cries as an expression of emotional disturbance. Only a thinking
and emotionally sensitive person cries. An infant yells, but it does
not cry. Children cry when they learn to think and to feel. Crying is
a process connected with speech; it is a substitute for speech; a
protective mechanism whereby  a speaking individual can still express
his feeling even though he may be prevented from speaking. People...
cry when they are unable to make themselves heard or to obtain justice
with the weapons of speech and though. When it has archived nothing by
means of logic, a speaking creature appeals to sympathy by crying.
Crying is a reflex which has extended its field of action from the
physiological to the moral realm - it is a new phenomenon in the
developmental history of life."

BATES ON BLINKING

"The normal eye blinks, or closes and opens very frequently.
...By moving the head and eyes a short distance from side to side,
being sure to blink, one can imagine stationary object to be moving."

*Better Eyesight* magazine, April 1922: "Rest your eyes continually by
blinking, which means to open and close them so rapidly that one
appears to see things continuously."

Blinking is a rest for the eyes. Normal sight is based on relaxation.

*Better Eyesight* magazine September 1923:

"BLINKING

Usually unconsciously the normal eye closes and opens quite frequently
and at irregular intervals and for very short spaces of time. Most
people can demonstrate that when they regard a letter that they are
able to see quite clearly it is possible for them to consciously close
their eyes and  open them quick enough and see the letter
continuously. This is called Blinking and it is only another name for
dodging. Dodging what? Dodging the harmful tendency to look steadily
at things all the time. All the methods which have been recommended
for the improvement of the vision... centralizing, palming, swinging,
blinking, can all be grouped under the one word - dodging. "

As with many other aspects of natural health, natural vision is based
on continuous, easy movements. Here Bates refers to this constant
movement as dodging.

When relearning normal blinking, some students think that during the
blink, they will not be able to see an object of interest
continuously. This is not true. The period of time for a normal blink
is very short.

Better Eyesight Magazine, November 1923:

"BLINKING

The normal eye when it has normal sight blinks quite frequently. By
blinking is meant closing the eyelids and opening them so quickly that
neither the student nor his observers notice the fact... Blinking is
necessary in order to maintain normal vision continuously, because if
one consciously prevents blinking, the vision for the distance or the
ability to read fine print are modified. It is interesting to me how
blinking, which is so necessary for good vision, has been so
universally ignored by the writers of books on diseases of the eyes.
Blinking is a rest, it prevents fatigue, and very important, it
improves the sight in myopia, and helps to maintain good vision more
continuously."

Blinking, when done properly, is so quick and easy people with normal
sight do not usually notice they are blinking.

Better Eyesight Magazine, January 1924: In a remarkable article
entitled "My Young Assistant," Emily C. Lierman (who later married Dr.
Bates) writes about a three-year-old girl named Ethel, who was giving
a man vision lessons.

"Ethel complained, "You are staring. You shouldn't stare, that is
bad...You must blink your eyes. Just let me show you how." Ethel has
perfect sight. Her eyes are never still and she blinks unconsciously
all day long."

Better Eyesight Magazine, February 1924:

"Question: What one method of improving sight is best?
Answer: Swinging and blinking."
- http://www.central-fixation.com/bem/bettereyesight_1924_02.htm#question_mark

Better Eyesight Magazine, March 1924:

"BLINKING AND RESTING THE EYES.-By blinking is meant frequent closing
of the eyes.. It is usually done so rapidly that it is not conscious.
Many persons with normal sight have the illusion that they do not
blink. They believe their eyes are always at rest and that their eyes
are continually open all the time. When their attention is called to
the facts it is usually readily demonstrated with persons with normal
vision. In one case the patient was able to distinguish a small letter
on the bottom line at twenty feet, 20/10. He was positive that he saw
the letter, continuously. It was found by observing the movements of
his eyes that he did two things. First: He closed and opened his eyes
frequently, without being conscious of the fact. Secondly: He looked
some distance away from the letter and back again and did it so
quickly that he was not aware that he did it. The facts can also be
demonstrated, perhaps more accurately, with the,help of moving
pictures. In all cases where the sight was normal, blinking occurred
almost every second. In some seconds the eyes were opened and closed
five times. Blinking occurs more frequently with the normal eye when
the light is imperfect or when the conditions are unfavorable for
perfect sight. When the light is good or the conditions most favorable
for good sight, blinking occurs at less frequent intervals. Persons
with imperfect sight do not rest their eyes as often as those with
normal vision. When they are encouraged to blink more frequently their
sight usually improves."

Better Eyesight Magazine, June 1924. Article by Emily C. Lierman:

"Although weary and tired, after I had worked with Lewis for over two
hours, I was repaid a thousandfold when he read every letter of the 70
line and the 50 line as he moved the... [reading] card slowly from
side to side... blinking all the time. he was instructed to stand and
swing his body from side to side to lessen the tension of his body;
and also to blink his eye all the time to stop staring... On his
second visit he read the smallest letters on the card, the 10
line...."

Better Eyesight Magazine, July 1924. Article submitted by Natural
Vision teacher Dr. Edith T. Fisher, M.D., referring to one of her
students:

"I explained to him that by making an effort to relax he waas
increasing the strain. While he was talking I noticed that he had not
blinked. His forehead was deeply wrinkled and there was a constant
twitching of the facial muscles... First I explained about blinking,
but when he tried this he contracted all the facial muscles... [After
palming] I reminded him to blink, and though he did not contract all
his facial muscles it was still a great effort for him. He said, "I
don't tink I ever blinked before"... Three days later... his vision
had improved...He blinked easily now, but still stared at times."

TOM'S PERSONAL LOG: I had so much tightness in my eyelids that it was
impossible for me to blink easily and naturally in the beginning. I
was only able to blink hard. It has taken me many years to re-
establish soft eyelids and blinking.

Better Eyesight Magazine, August 1924. Emily Lierman writes about one
of her patients:

"As Frederick answered my questions he looked directly at me and... I
noticed he listened without blinking, for more than two minutes or
longer. As the normal eye blinks unconsciously every few seconds I
soon realized what his trouble was..."

The habits of poor vision are usually never thought about by persons
with poor sight. Both the correct and incorrect habits of vision are
primarily subconscious. It takes time to form poor blinking habits. It
also takes time to re-establish proper blinking habits.

Better Eyesight Magazine, August 1924: "BLINKING. Normal eyes blink
constantly."

Better Eyesight Magazine, January 1925. Article by Emily Lierman:

"At one time a young man.. came to us suffering from severe mental
strain. is large staring eyes would make anyone uncomfortable... His
eyes protruded and he stared without blinking...." -
http://www.central-fixation.com/bem/bettereyesight_1925_01.htm#stories

Better Eyesight Magazine, March 1925:

"Blinking is done quickly, and not slowly like a wink... Blink
consciously, whenever possible, especially when reading." -
http://www.central-fixation.com/bem/bettereyesight_1925_03.htm#questions

In spite of Shakespeare's words quoted at the beginning of this
chapter, winking is not the same as blinking. Winking is usually done
consciously with one eyelid. it is not a natural vision habit and
should not be confused with normal blinking, which is (usually)
subconscious and relaxed. Better Eyesight Magazine, December 1925:

"Blinking is necessary to maintain normal vision in the normal eye.
When blinking is prevented the eyes become tired, and the vision very
soon becomes worse. Some persons, without knowing it, will blink five
times in one second, as demonstrated by the [motion] camera. When
blinking they may fail to obtain relaxation, because they too often
blink with an effort... blinking is done easily without effort.
Blinking is very important. It is not the brief periods of rest from
closing the eyes which helps te sight so much, as the shifting or
movements of the eyes. It should be repeatedly demonstrated that the
eyes are only at a rest when they are shifting."

Here Bates emphasized the connection between the important principle
of movement and the habit of blinking. A student might at first guess
that the less movement one has, the less tired he will become. In
regards to vision, the opposite is true. the eyes are designed for
movements. Rigid staring lowers sight. Staring is almost always
associated with infrequent blinking and shallow breathing.

When a student begins to understand how the principles of normal sight
all support each other, he is will on the path of success.

At the beginning, blinking is often done with an effort by many
students. The eyelid muscles are relatively tense due to locking the
eyelids open for long periods of time and due to the harmful habit of
squinting. with practice, proper blinking become easy and automatic
once again.

Better Eyesight Magazine, August 1927:

"The normal eye with normal sight blinks frequently easily and
rapidly, without effort or strain. If children do not blink
frequently, but stare and try to see things with the eyes open
continuously, the vision is always impaired. At first the child should
be reminded to blink consciously but it soon becomes an unconscious
habit and the vision is improved."

Here Bates links blinking to the principle of relaxation. The three
vision habits are to be practiced easily - without any effort.

Better Eyesight Magazine, August 1927:

"Question: I have found blinking and shifting to be of great benefit
to me but, although I have been practicing both for six months, it has
not become a habit. I still have to practice both consciously. What
means can I use to blink and shift normally?

Answer: Continue to consciously practice blinking and shifting until
you acquire the unconscious habit. It is merely a substitute of a good
habit for a bad one."

Better Eyesight Magazine, September 1927: "To use your eyes correctly
all day long, it is necessary that you: 1. Blink frequently...."

It is interesting that in his later years, Bates' summaries of proper
habits place the blinking habit first. Perhaps this is because
blinking is the simplest habit.

Better Eyesight Magazine, October 1927: "The normal eye blinks
quickly, easily and frequently."

In Better Eyesight Magazine, December 1927, Bates connects the habit
of blinking to the health of the whole person:

"IT can always be demonstrated that when a student with imperfect
sight looks intently at one point, keeping the eyes open constantly,
or trying to do so, that a strain of the eyes and all the nerves of
the body is usually felt, and the vision becomes imperfect.It is
impossible to keep the eyes open continuously without blinking. Each
time the eyes blink, a certain amount of rest is obtained and the
vision is benefited. For this reason, the student is instructed to
blink frequently while swaying... and at all other times... The
importance of practicing certain parts of the routine habits at all
times, such as blinking... is stressed."

Better Eyesight Magazine, February 1928. Article by Emily Lierman:

"To begin with, he blinked too fast, which is as [incorrect] as not
blinking at all. When... students acquire the habit of blinking too
fast, they are very apt to stare while they blink... I had emphasized
that he must not snap his eyes shut nor open them too quickly... This
new way of teaching him to blink without blinking too fast helped
him.... to blink one blink at a time, instead of blinking rapidly with
a nervous twitch..."

Better Eyesight Magazine, April 1928:

"Question: I notice that my [strabismic] eye does straighten after
palming, but reverts when I stop. How can I tell when and how I
strain?

Answer: Avoid staring after palming, and blink all the time. You can
demonstrate that staring is a strain by consciously doing it for a few
seconds...

Question: How can one overcome the stare if it is unconscious?

Answer: Blink consciously, whenever possible, especially when reading.
Never look at an object for more than a few seconds. Shift...

Question: By blinking do you mean shutting and opening the eys
quickly, or is it done slowly like a wink?

Answer: Blinking is done quickly, and not slowly like a wink. Watch
someone with perfect sight do tis unconsciously, and follow his
example."

Practicing frequent blinking helps to break the staring habit.

THE FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF NATURAL BLINKING

Normal, natural blinking occurs approximately every two to four
seconds (fifteen to thirty blinks per minute) on the average.

The duration of a blink, i.e., the time between closing and opening
the eyelids is very short - about 1/40 of a second.

And, of course, blinking should be done very softly.

NOTES ON BLINKING

- Normal blinking is automatic, rhythmical, soft, casual, easy and
light - like the wings of a butterfly, i.e., without effort. The upper
eyelid should come down completely and touch the lower eyelid during
blinking. Watch the blinking habits of people who have normal sight.

- Blink as you shift your attention from one object to another, and
from one part of an object to another part. Blink when you shift your
attention from far to near.

- Frequent, soft blinking is meant to be a subconscious habit.
Therefore it must be practiced consciously until it is a subconscious
habit again.People with normal vision do not know they blink
frequently - it is automatic. As one of my apprentices said, "Practice
makes *permanent*."

- Remember the staring contest in grade school, where we challenged
our classmate to "Make me blink!"? Those with the strongest corrective
lenses usually win the contest. Besides, "Tough guys don't blink."

- As mentioned above, blinking encourages shifting of our attention
form one point to another. The theme of one of the earlier Bates
teachers was "shift and blink." Blinking aids in the mobility of the
eyes, and helps prevent staring.

- Gesell, in his book *Vision: In Development in Infant and Child*,
referring to a twenty-week old infant, states, "Intent fixation
dissolves with a flash release, often accompanied by blinking..."

- Blinking is a free "massage" for the eyes all day long. Blinking
also encourages important micro-movements of the extrinsic eye
muscles.

-Lymphatic fluid around the eyes increases its circulation by
blinking.

- It is important to have correct blinking habits during computer
work. Blinking is far less frequent for those who experience eyestrain
during computer work.

- Many people do not blink enough while reading books.

- Humans are the only creature on this planet who squint and strain
with effort to see. Animals do not squint, even in the brightest
sunlight.

- When you are thinking about a problem, and seeing objects around you
is not essential, close your eyelids. Do not lock your eyelids open
for long periods of time as this creates a strain.

- Ever see a fish blink? No, because fish ahve no eyelids! The water
automatically cleanses their eyes. The eyes of fish are open while
they sleep.

- Some programs incorrectly teach students exercises in which they are
instructed to hold their eyelids open for long periods of time. This
is harmful. Blinking frequently is normal and essential for natural
clear vision. In one program, the student is repeatedly told to keep
his head still. While performing five different eye exercises he did
not blink for 39, 82, 41, 40,  and 41 seconds.

- An apprentice of mine, a yoga teacher, read in a book to first
practice not blinking for thirty seconds, and then to "build up" to
thirty minutes! She had serious vision problems.

- Nearsights tend not to blink for long periods of time when their
attention is in the far distance.

- Farsights tend not to blink for long periods of time while reading
or doing other activities up close.

- A person who does not blink looks *blank!*

- Sometimes students see more clearly during or just after yawning.
Yawning can create excess tears on the cornea and create a pseudo-
contact lens effect. The same effect is often experienced when taking
a shower. Usually this clearer vision will disappear within one or two
more blinks because the excess tears or water are swept away. Improved
sight can also be due to the relaxation provided by yawning.

- Oftentimes, a person will have infrequent or no blinking when
staring, fatigued, or breathing shallowly. The eyelids become tens and
locked. Everything becomes immobile. Immobility is the problem;
circulation is the solution.

- Contact lenses can interfere with normal blinking due to irritation
of the eyelids while passing over the edges of the contact lense. Some
contact lense wearers blink much less than normal.

- Some meditation techniques confuse the stilling of the mind with
rigidly stilling the body - including the eyes and eyelids. Some yoga
books suggest staring fixedly at the flame of a candle - without
moving the eyes and without blinking. This is very harmful to eye-
sight. One of my students who followed such instructions could not
understand why his vision was not improving.

One yoga book states "Vision has to be fixed at the tip of the nose
without winking the eyelids." This is a strain, is is turning the eyes
upward and/or inward in a fixed position. These are all contrary to
Bates' principles and habits of normal vision.

TV AND MOVIES - BLINKING ALLOWED

In regards to someone who is giving a speech on TV, ones study
suggests that a relatively high blinking rate (48-67blinks per minute)
indicates the speaker is more nervous, edgy, anxious, or stressed.
This study also suggests that a relatively low blinking rate (7-11
blinks per minute) indicates the speaker is enjoying pleasant feels,
feels "in control" or "extraordinarily confident," and has a higher
comfort level. This is contrary to Bates' findings on blinking also.

Many actors and actresses on TV have very low rates of blinking. Many
actors and actresses in the US are trained not to blink while
performing on television. A normal (not average!) rate is associated
with higher anxiety. Even some TV news broadcasters are told not to
blink too frequently when reporting the news.

There is a popular space travel series on TV in which many of the
actors do not blink for extremely long periods of time. With the high
number of hours Americans watch TV, one may be concerned about the
harmful influence of infrequent blinking habits on the viewers,
especially children.

A BUTTERFLY BLINKING STORY

An excellent way to enjoy this story is to have someone read it to you
while palming with closed eyelids.

Pretend you are sitting in a comfortable chair in a beautiful meadow,
while the sunshine gently warms your skin. A beautiful indecent-winged
butterfly floats softly over your shoulder and out in front of you.
This magnificent butterfly is so light, it seems as if it is part of
the air itself. The butterfly wings sparkle from the sunshine as it
floats to the right, and then to the left. Returning to the center,
our butterfly puts down one toe and spins around in the air like a
ballerina.

The butterfly then floats slowly out into the distance, over an ocean
of flowers. Five feet out it floats; ten feet and fifteen feet. Notice
how the wind creates waves over all of the colorful flowers. At about
twenty feet,, the butterfly notices a single, large, snow-white rose
in the center of the filed of flowers.

As the butterfly floats around the rose, it becomes intoxicated by its
wonderful fragrance. Finally, the butterfly lands softly in the center
of the white rose. As we brush the butterfly's soft wings, they remind
us of how soft the eyelids are as we blink frequently all day long.

The wings open and close every two or three seconds. This reminds us
of the frequency of natural blinking.

After this story, stop palming and open your eyelids. Practice
"butterfly blinking" while using your imaginary extending feather to
brush objects around you. Remember abdominal breathing. Brush,
Breathe, and Butterfly Blink!

SQUINTING - A HARMFUL HABIT

Squinting is a conscious narrowing of the eyelids, forming a small
horizontal slit. This narrowing of the eyelids blocks part of the
peripheral light rays entering through the pupil. Although a person
can often see better artificially,  squinting is a harmful habit. One
Bates teacher refused to continue lessons with a student who kept
using this type of "trick vision". A natural vision master never
teaches squinting.

By the way, the word "squint" used here does not refer to the "squint"
used by Bates and others in reference to strabismus. There is no
connection between these two different usages of this word.

Better Eyesight Magazine, July 1917:

"Partly closing your eyes brings on a strain which increases your
imperfect sight... it injures your eyes."

Better Eyesight Magazine, December 1917:

"Question: Why do some people see better by partly closing their eyes?

Answer: People with poor sight can see better [artificially] by partly
closing their eyes, but when they have perfect sight, squinting makes
it worse."

Squinting, in *all* its variations, always involves an effort, and
therefore has nothing to do with seeing clearly naturally. Since
effort to see always lowers natural sight, vision is worse after
squinting.

It is also possible to see more clearly again by bending the head
forward and downward, while raising the eyes. The narrow angle of
light along the eyebrows, or eyebrow ridge, creates a partial pinhole
effect. This is not only a harmful vision habit but creates a strain
on the neck. Additionally, the eyes would be looking in the opposite
direction (up) of the head direction (down). Do not do this.

Worse than the tension created in the eyelids, face, and neck by any
type of squinting, is the mental harm. Vision is primarily a right
hemisphere activity and is based on trust. People who squint do not
trust their sight to be clear automatically and easily. Straining to
see is a distrust of natural vision.

BLINKING - THE SOCIAL CONNECTION:
Many people with poor vision think it is impolite to blink when they
talk with someone. Notice the similarity to believing it is impolite
to move when talking with someone discussed in Chapter 9, "The First
Principle - Movement."

One of my recent students stated that, in the past, when she had
normal sight, she felt self-conscious blinking frequently (normally)
when talking with people who did not blink frequently. As a result,
she practiced blinking less, and her vision become blurred.

BLINKING - THE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

Similar to the poor vision habit of staring, many people with poor
vision think that if they close their eyelids - even for a fraction of
a second - they will not be protected from potential danger.
Ironically, a person is *less* protected by not blinking frequently,
since vision lowers with infrequently blinking.

BLINKING AND FLASHES

Better Eyesight Magazine, May 1923:

"Question: I am practicing the methods in your book to reverse myopia
and astigmatism. Sometimes, for short periods, I see perfectly, then
things fade away. Can you explain this?

Answer: This is what we call getting flashes of perfect sight. With
continued practice these flashes will come more frequently and
eventually will be permanent."

Many students have flashes while improving their vision. In the
beginning, flashes are usually brief moments of dramatically improved
or even perfect sight. This can be quite startling - so startling that
many student return immediately to incorrect vision habits - staring
with non-movement and diffusion, stopping breathing, and stopping
blinking. The student thinks that if he remains still enough, she can
keep, or "lock onto," this clearer vision. The student should continue
normal blinking when she has a flash.

Students are very happy when they have a long flash, and it remains
clearer even while blinking.

Squeezing the eyelids very tight can also create a flash for some
students, but it is an incorrect habit. A student should never
associate any type of vision with his vision.

Not all students have flashes; for some, the external eye muscles let
go slowly while improving vision.

FINAL NOTES ON BLINKING

Blinking is one of the keys to normal, clear vision. It should be
apparent from this chapter that the simple habit of blinking is of
great importance. Blink frequently and softly all day long. practice
correct blinking until it becomes a subconscious habit - again.

=================================

Kind regards,

- W.H. B