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An engineer, fifty-one years of age, had worn glasses since 1896,
first for astigmatism, getting stronger ones every couple of years,
and then for astigmatism and presbyopia. At one time he asked his
oculist and several opticians if the eyes could not be strengthened by
exercises, so as to make glasses unnecessary, but they said: "No. Once
started on glasses you must keep to them." When the war broke out he
was very nearly disqualified for service in the Expeditionary Forces
by his eyes, but managed to pass the required tests, after which he
was ordered abroad as an officer in the Gas Service. While there he
saw in the Literary Digest of May 2, 1918, a reference to my method of
curing defective eyesight without glasses, and on May 11 he wrote to
me in part as follows:

At the front I found glasses a horrible nuisance, and they could not
be worn with gas masks. After I had been about six months abroad I
asked an officer of the Medical Corps about going without glasses. He
said I was right in my ideas and told me to try it. The first week was
awful, but I persisted and only wore glasses for reading and writing.
I stopped smoking at the same time to make it easier on my nerves.

I brought to France two pairs of bow spectacles and two extra lenses
for repairs. I have just removed the extra piece for near vision from
these extra lenses and had them mounted as pince-nez, with shur-on
mounts, to use for reading and writing, so that the only glasses I now
use are for astigmatism, the age lens being off. Three months ago I
could not read ordinary head-line type in newspapers without glasses.
Today, with a good light, I can read ordinary book type (18 point),
held at a distance of eighteen inches from my eyes. Since the first
week in February, when I discarded my glasses, I have had no
headaches, stomach trouble, or dizziness, and am in good health
generally. My eyes are coming back, and I believe it is due to
sticking it out. I ride considerably in automobiles and trams, and
somehow the idea has crept into my mind that after every trip my eyes
are stronger. This, I think, is due to the rapid changing of focus in
viewing scenery going by so fast.

Other men have tried this plan on my advice, but gave it up after two
or three days. Yet, from what they say, I believe they were not so
uncomfortable as I was for a week or ten days.

I believe most people wear glasses because they "coddle" their eyes.

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