20/20 Eyesight After 7 Day Vision Retreat
Dropped 2 Diopters In 2 Years
Before I started the Bates Method my prescription was -4.25 myopia in both eyes. I mostly wore contacts. One of the biggest reasons I was looking for natural improvement was my eyes were getting extremely dry. I was putting in 8 hour days working on my computer and at the end of the day I was started to get dry, bloodshot eyes. It got bad enough that I had a hard time sleeping at night as they were so itchy. Also, many times my eyes would hurt at the end of the day, which I just assumed was normal. When I found Nathan, I literally had 2 days until my scheduled LASIK eye surgery. I knew I needed to do something and thought that the contacts were the real problem. (I was mistaken, strain was the real problem) After hearing some testimonies and hearing Nathan’s story, I decided to give the Bates Method a try. What’s the worse thing that could happen? It’s now been almost 2 years since I started. I’m currently wearing -2.25 glasses and am seeing near 20/20 with them! There have been many ups and downs, but I have had many revelations of what healthy use of my eyes should “look” like. Besides my vision improving, I have made positive changes to my diet, my stress levels are much lower and my eyes don’t itch anymore! I have more energy at the end of the day too.
Nathan has been great to work with. His understanding of the Bates Method is very deep and always responded well to questions that I asked. This is such a foreign concept to people, that you can heal your eyes naturally, that it seems impossible to think that someone could do this totally on their own. Nathan has been a great encouragement and example to follow.
I’m confident that I will see more improvement in my eyesight. There certainly have been ups and downs, but the improvements speak for themselves.
Insights From Surfer’s Paradise
Dropped 1 Diopter in Less Than 1 Month!
Astigmatism Gone
Yesterday I had my eyesight checked and my astigmatism is all gone. Yay! That was fast. I wasn’t even practicing all that much. I still am very nearsighted and have been since I was 10, but I am experiencing a lot less strain. Hey, my life just got better! I want healthy eyes as much as I want healthy joints.
These vision improvement moves are so relaxing, such a nice way to start and end the day. Glad I found them. I like Nathan’s calm voice on his podcast. It’s very soothing. It gives me a feeling peace. Ahhhhhh.
Huge Improvement in Two Months!
Dear Nathan,
I will keep this as short as possible because I am hoping you will have time to read it and I’m sure you get many emails. I’m 56 and have worn glasses since the third grade. My prescription was O.D. -3.50 and O.S. -4.00 for the last six years and my lenses were progressives and had sunglass tint added to them.
In following your program the last two months, my prescription is now O.D. -2.50 and O.S. -2.75. Even this prescription seems a little strong.
I want to thank you for making so much information available. I’ve watched most of your YouTube videos and listened to most of the podcasts. Your book is an excellent resource, so thank you so much. My eyes feel alive now and I feel free without glasses on my face all day! And, I haven’t even started chapter 7 yet which is the vision building!!
I just wanted to mention a few of the things that have been most helpful to me:
- Just taking off the glasses
- Palming
- Visualizing and understanding the mental part of vision
- Getting rid of the stare
- Your podcast that does a 40 minute vision session
- Your podcast that introduced the alexander technique and the importance of neck and shoulder and breathing relaxation
- Vision stretching, at first my eyes wouldn’t even look to distant objects
- Positive affirmations and believing my vision can improve.
I look forward to even more improvements and I wish you the very best!
Jen Impressed Her Ophthalmologist!
Finally worked after 13 years!
I am Bhavesh from India. I started doing the vision practices in your book from December 2018. Today I got my eyesight checked at ophthamologist and was happy to know that my left eye improved by 0.25 diopter. I had been trying various methods to improve my eyesight since the last 13 years. But what worked was the routines and the principles you have presented in your book. Now I have a prescription proof for that. Thank you.
"I started the Holistic Vision Program on July 13. I have an eye chart which I look at as I'm rebounding. Previously, out of my right eye with the advanced cataract, I could not even see that there was a chart on on the wall! A few days ago I started seeing a dark "blob" where the large letter E is. Today, I started getting flashes of the actual letter E!
Another thing is that my optometrist prescribed a set of single vision glasses to give me something for driving, a -4.00 in both eyes. I also ordered a pair on Zenni for -2.00 in both eyes. Now, a month later, she wrote a new prescription for -1.00, because the -4.00 and the -2.00 are too strong! -Betty V.
"I took Nathan’s group class and then did a series of individual lessons with him. I find I always learn something when I have a lesson, sometimes subtle, sometimes quite remarkable. Nathan has been a good guide for me and I will continue to make use of my sessions with him. After about 10 lessons I made my vision practice my own. One month later I was able to easily pass my Driver’s License Vision Test so now after 15 years I no longer need to wear glasses when I drive!
The biggest help to my seeing clearly has to do with relaxation. I pay a lot of attention to any subtle tension in my eyes when I’m working with the chart or reading cards. I spend a lot of time doing exercises to relax my eyes: for me that’s sunning, palming (lots of it), picket fence, long swing and vision stretching. After about 2 weeks on my own I noticed that I could easily see the 20/20 line on the chart and it was immensely pleasurable. There was absolutely no effort involved. I let my eyes simply take in what is on the chart or the reading cards, rather than going out after it. I just let it come in with no resistance or need to figure it out. I let my eyes do what they do best, see! I don’t try at all. And when I do notice that I’m trying to read or see a particular letter, I take a deep breath, do a couple exercises and relax back into myself. This creates a great ease in seeing. I have no concern about what is not clear, I simply enjoy what I'm seeing, with a sense of easy wonder. This relaxation is allowing me to see both far and near. Thank you Nathan!"
-Nancy Pope, Plant-based Nutritionist, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Massage Therapist - http://www.ashevillehealing.net
When I began studying with Nathan my prescription was around -2.75. I had been getting reduced myopia prescriptions for about six or seven years, starting out at -5.75. After a year of working with Nathan my slightly reduced prescription (which I prescribed for myself and ordered from Zenni) is -.75. I use it only for driving at night and during rain or snow. I dumped my ever-present sunglasses after my first lesson with Nathan. Nathan has opened doors and blown away blurry clouds for me in many ways in the past year. He is clear and approachable in his teaching and prepares his students well to continue with the practice of relaxed seeing. I appreciate very much his holistic approach that weaves relaxation techniques from other modalities into relaxed seeing. Thank you, Nathan, for reminding me that my eyes are integrated with the rest of my body/mind.-Gwen DiehnArtist and art teacher
“Hi Nathan, I had a vision exam today. I am happy to write you that in less than one year my vision has improved from 20/70 to 20/30. The Optometric Physician almost fell off his chair as he told me my astigmatism is completely gone. He told me that he has never seen that before. Thanks again for all your help. I hope to write you again as my vision continues to improve from my (almost) daily vision work outs.”
-Andre Stellingsma
“Dear Nathan, Thank you for the excellent Bates Method Vision course. I passed the motor vehicle 20/30 vision test for the first time in 30+ years. Good-bye to ‘corrective lenses driving restrictions’. Now I am working toward 20/20 vision. Thanks again for your good vision training and coaching.” -Andre Stellingsma
"I started working with Nathan in less thank three months ago. I noticed significant improvements in the first few days and weeks. I moved from being able to read just the first two lines of my distance chart right down to the 7th line in just a few weeks. Now I can read the 8th and sometimes the 9th line.
On the near sight chart I can now read some of the smallest print. I am getting to the stage where I can start to use my computer without my glasses. I have progressed from the almost largest print on my Kindle to the 3rd smallest.
I can easily read shop signs and road signs.
Not only that but my eyes feel relaxed for the first time in years. The stress around them has gone and I am still seeing daily improvement.
Nathan’s logical approach and clear explanations of what to do and why it works distinguish him from many of the others I’ve tried over the years."
-Nancy Slessenger, Owner of Vinehouse LTD
"Great content and practice. I especially loved how much real practice we got. Lots to work on. I've already noticed myself treating my eyes and my vision differently."
-Michelle Smith, Ordained Inter-faith Minister - http://www.ashevillecelebrant.com/
"I want to thank you for all you have provided online for people like me. A few weeks ago I truly thought I was losing my eyesight, I could hardly even read a book no less the computer screen. Whereas my left eye has been consistently way worse than my right eye and the astigmatism marked, when I asked the gal taking my order for new glasses to compare the new prescription to the previous prescription, she stunned us both when she announced that 'your eyes seem to have changed shape, your astigmatism is much improved and there is a more equal correction for both eyes.' I am so thrilled, words are hardly enough to thank you (and Dr. Bates) or even express my full gratitude for what this feels like. I hope you have heard this before. I know I am without a doubt sold for life on your work and plan to continue to meld the practices you recommend into my life as well as spread the word. Since my life is already about learning of, furthering, and working with alternative health options, again I have to tell you this is the most wonderful discovery I can think of, that there is hope to improve and restore eyesight."
-Stephanie Wozniak
"Nathan presented a great workshop today. He is very knowledgeable about improving your eyesight. I knew it was a sign that I was to take his classes when my eyeglasses dropped on the floor a couple of days ago and I could not find one of the lens. I am looking forward to better eyesight!"
-Dawn Westmoreland, Life Coach, Hypnotist & Energy Healer

"So in amazement today, I can actually see things. Stuff goes in and out but it feels so freeing in my eyes and my brain. My eyesight did something in sleep and I woke up seeing trees, flowers, details, sharp edges. In comes in and out but I can't even remember when I could actually see....was wearing glasses at age 7. Bates Method class with Nathan gave me a huge boost to my efforts of 20 years. Now the world looks amazing. Noone can ever appreciate who has lost then regained their eyesight. I plan to keep going for 20/20 this year."
-Patrick Clark, Inventor of Footloose and Chairfree - http://footlooseandchairfree.com/
"Thank you so much Nathan for the vision lesson on Friday. My eyes were so tense and scratchy. I had been working on my computer too much and knew I needed some help. After you worked with me and we did swinging, palming and more, my eyes have felt so much better. I can see more clearly too! Plus I have started to incorporate some of the tips you shared with me. The 5-10-15 and the 20-20 exercises are helping as well as the centralization process. Thanks again! I look forward to working with you again!"
-Alicia Swaringen, Massage Therapist & Bodywisdom Therapy - http://www.bodywisdomtherapy.net/
“Nathan is an excellent, accomplished instructor who inspired confidence every step of the way. The course went beyond anything I could have imagined to touch every area of my life – a profound and enlightening experience – what joy.”
–Carol Wilson, Retired Professor
"I highly recommend Nathan as your wholistic alternative to regaining your eyesight. He's knowledgeable and passionate about vision and has a simple, yet comprehensive step-by-step program for you to follow. What adds even more credibility is the fact that it has so dramatically helped his own vision as well."
“This course is a real eye-opener in more ways than one. Nathan teaches great new ways to improve vision. He is a good and effective teacher with much compassion for people’s eye challenges. He knows how to guide you skillfully toward improved vision and has a gentle and kind approach to this issue that all of us face at one point or another in our lives. Many thanks, Nathan, for bringing this to Asheville.”
–Maariah McAndrew, Massage Therapist - http://www.atranquilhaven.com
“This course was excellent. Nathan teaches in ways that are engaging and helpful. Each class was well-paced with ample time to learn and practice the new material. The handouts were excellent, in content and professional design. Nathan’s dedication to teaching the Bates Method comes across in a style that is clear and confident. Highly recommended.”