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Methods That Have Succeeded in Presbyopia

The cure of presbyopia, as of any other error of refraction, is rest,
and many presbyopic patients are able to obtain this rest simply by
closing the eyes. They are kept closed until the patient feels
relieved, which may be in a few minutes, half an hour, or longer. Then
some fine print is regarded for a few seconds. By alternately resting
the eyes and looking at fine print many patients quickly become able
to read it at eighteen inches, and by continued practice they are able
to reduce the distance until it can be read at six inches in dim
light. At first the letters are seen only in flashes. Then they are
seen for a longer time, until finally they are seen continuously. When
this method fails, palming may be tried, combined with the use of the
memory, imagination and swing. Particularly good results have been
obtained from the following procedure:

Close the eyes and remember the letter "o" in diamond type, with the
open space as white as starch and the outline as black as possible.

When the white center is at the maximum imagine that the letter is
moving, and that all objects, no matter how large or small, are moving
with it.

Open the eyes and continue to imagine the universal swing.

Alternate the imagination of the swing with the eyes open with its
imagination with the eyes closed.

When the imagination is just as good with the eyes open as when they
are closed the cure will be complete.
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Presbyopia Number
Better Eyesight
A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect
sight without glasses
Copyright, 1921, by the Central Fixation Publishing Company
Editor—W. H. Bates, M.D.
Publisher—Central Fixation Publishing Co.
$2.00 per year, 20 cents per copy
300 Madison Avenue, New York, N. Y.
Vol. IV - April 1921 - No. 4
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