The ability of the eye to adjust itself from near to a distant point and vice versa is spoken as “Accommodation”.
The eye works somewhat like a camera. Just as in a camera, same way in the eyes, the distance between the lens and the retina is shortened, if the object is distant and lengthened, if the object viewed is close.
The manner in which the change in distance is brought about is, according to medical books, due to expansion and contraction of the crystalline lens, by the action of ciliary muscles, and that the eye as a whole does not change its shape, but only the crystalline lens.
However, it was Dr. W.B. Bates, an American Ophthalmologist who proved that crystalline lens has nothing to do with accommodation. A person may have his lens removed as in a cataract operation, and still accommodate without it.
What does, then, cause accommodation? It is the six external muscles, which surround the eye-ball. They have the power to move the eyes in all directions. They bring the back of the eye towards the crystalline lens, when a farther object is being looked at and vice versa in case of a near object.
Thus refractive errors are curable and vision improved by correcting the malfunctioning of these external muscles. This can be achieved by suitable exercises and methods of relaxation of the body and mind.
According to the author, the use of spectacles only offers a quick and easy means and not a permanent aid to vision. The eye, instead of being allowed to accommodate for itself, has its accommodation fixed in an unchangeable manner. Thus glasses never improve the sight to normal.
Quoting his personal example, Mr. Lai writes: “I started wearing glasses (“R”-1.25 and “L”-1.75) at the age of 30. I wore them for 10 long years. At the age of 40, my number had deteriorated to “R”-3.5 and “L”-4.25. It was in 1962.
I was fasting at Sarma’s Nature-cure Sanatorium at Pudukkottai. Somehow Dr. Bates’ book “Perfect Sight without Glasses” fell into my hands. I read this remarkable work and that was the end of my glasses both long and short. I never wore them again and today my sight is near normal. I am 45 now.”
It may be noted that defective vision and diseases of the eye fall into two entirely different categories. Diseases of the eye occur as an outcome of pathological changes in the various eye structures, resulting from functional disturbances both in the eye, itself and also in other parts of the body.
Defective vision is not the result of such changes, but a disability of the eye as a whole, to accommodate itself generally due to tension and emotional strain. Short-sight and long-sight are the defects of vision, while cataract, Glaucoma, Iritis, etc. are diseases of the eye.
Treatment
For the diseases of the eye, begin with fast on orange juice and water for 4 to 6 days. This should be followed by restricted diet for a fortnight, which should not include wheat or rice or lentil, but raw or steamed vegetables, salads, nuts and sweet fruits.
The vegetables may be like spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips and cauliflower, etc. All this may be followed by normal diet. However, such regimen may be observed again also in short courses, later, if desired.
During the early stages of the fasts, warm-water enema, during the nights should be used and constipation avoided. Dry massage, hip-bath is also useful, walking and out-door exercise not excluded. All refined materials be discarded, as also toxic beverages.