“The fact is that, except in rare cases, man is not a reasoning being. He is dominated by authority, and when the facts are not in accord with the view imposed by authority, so much the worse for the facts. They may, and indeed must, win in the long run: but in the meantime the world gropes needlessly in darkness and endures much suffering that might have been avoided”
-Dr. William Bates
When we hear of something that is out of the “accepted” norm it is common for us to resist, discount and deny. This is sometimes to the detriment of our greater good. I’m not suggesting that everything should be automatically accepted, however, I am adamantly insisting that just because something is thought to be absolute, does not mean it should never again be questioned. I am now questioning the “fact” that we are all doomed to have degrading eyesight and that the only hope is surgery or being chained to wearing glasses forever.
Dr William Bates was a questioning radical of his time. Like many pioneers in their various fields who have been denounced by the “experts” of their day for upsetting the status quo, he was vilified, discounted, and ridiculed. Status quo is a safe haven for many, but never safe forever, because if there is any measure of truth to an idea or discovery, it will eventually, like cream, rise to the top. Can vision problems be help or cured, by such simple techniques as relaxation and eye exercises? It is a worthy question.