Pt2020.txt Subject: A pilot works to clear his distant vision. This section discusses the details and experience of a pilot as he works to clear his distant vision to 20/20. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Chet Thor is a pilot who worked very hard with the plus lens and cleared his distant vision to meet the 20/20 (JAA 1.0) standard. A pilot working on clearing his distant vision will have many "concerns" with the process. This is rather long, but I think that Mr. Thor has identified most of them and recognized that the "trade off" of the plus lens (with all the difficulties) is a better solution, rather than use the minus lens. Perhaps other pilots can learn from the "struggle" that is involved in prevention. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Your Name : Chet Thor Your Age and Vision : 20/40, -0.5 Diopter Comment: Hi! Yes I will sign your guest-book. I am currently not so familiar with the 20/20, 20/40 method of telling vision. I am more familiar with the European way where 1.0 is perfect vision and 0.0 is no vision sharpness. Can I convert between them? Your Name : Otis Brown Subject : The Snellen Chart Comment: The basis of the chart is the assumption that we should see two points of light separated by 1' of angle. This analysis was translated in to the ability to see letters that subtend 5 minutes of arc. It is then essentially simple to create a chart. At 6.1 meters, use 0.88 cm letters for 20/20. Double the number for 20/40, and double again for 20/80. Best, Otis Your Name : Chet Subject : Plus Lens Use Comment: My opinion on using plus glasses. Well, I think it will work because I've seen results. But I'm afraid that when I'm using it and then stops for a while when for example driving that the eyes will go back then. Will they? Your Name : Otis Brown Subject : Response to Plus Lens Comment: The answer is partially, "what you see is what you get". If you are very aggressive with the plus lens, you will see clearing. If you stop, then the eyes will "come back" slightly -- but not to the previous level. Your Name : Otis Brown Subject : Sustained Effort Comment: Chet, You could do one thing for me. Keep me posted as to your thoughts and efforts -- the good and the bad. Some people will not properly understand the relatively intensive effort it takes and will stop after a week or so. While I understand this attitude, success depends on long-term systematic effort. At 20/40 or better the probability of success is good. Reading the eye chart: The requirement for "passing" a line on the chart is that you read 4 out of 5 characters on that line. So make that your standard. The process of clearing your vision from the -1/2 dioper is slow. You will hit plateaus where you stay at 20/30 or so. Be patient and keep up the effort. Your Name : Chet Subject: Clearing Vision Comment: I am concerned that my eyes will develop a positive focal state (sometimes called "farsightedness"). Is this part of the recovery process? I continue to use the plus lens most of the time. Your Name : Otis Subject : Clearing Distant Vision Comment: The term "farsightedness" is an out-growth of a bad theory. Eyes with 20/20 have focal states that run between +0.25 to +1.5 diopters. Clearing you distant vision is a process of changing your focal state from -0.5 diopter to +0.5 diopters. Monkeys who live in an "open" environment have focal states of +0.75 diopters. There eyes are not "defective", so the term "farsightedness" should not be used. It produces inaccurate understanding of both the problem and solution. Your Name : Keith Benson Subject : Clearing Vision with Plus Lens Comment: And I still have success with the plus lens. It's nice to know at this point in my life that I have some control over something. If I do 10 minutes of exercises almost every day I don't have a stiff back and neck from carrying, caring for, dragging kids around. If I read with the plus lens about 30 minutes per night when my vision is more blurry -- I regain clear vision quite quickly. It's nice to have the feeling that poor vision is an annoyance rather than a permanent condition. [Keith used a plus through high school and college and kept his distant vision clear by systematic use of a strong plus lens for all close-work. OSB] Your Name : Chet Subject : Astigmatism Standards Comment: Thanks for your letters. It helps me a lot. So I can't get more astigmatism from a plus lens? That's the thing that would calm me down. Because our flight rules doesn't want us to have more than 2.00 diopters of astigmatism. I have only 0.25 and 0.75. So I hope they will stay at those values. Your Name : Otis Subject : With-the-Rule Astigmatism Comment: From all that I know about the development of nearsightedness, it is stated that nearsightedness and astigmatism develop together... Again, from my judgment, you clear your distant vision to 20/20, and "normal astigmatism" ie, with-the-rule, will not be a problem. Your Name : Chet r Subject : Progress Comment: Well, this weekend I tried a stronger plus lens at home for computer work and reading for about 30 minutes. And wow I saw a lot more improvement that still hags on more so than before. So I think I need to get a stronger plus lens and use it more often. Your Name : Chet Subject : Astigmatism Comment: The thing about astigmatism, I think it will go away when my nearsightedness go away. Because it developed when I got the nearsightedness. Your Name : Chet Subject : FAA-JAA Rules Comment: Now I know. Your rules are from FAA. My rules are European from the JAA. (Joint Aviation Authorities). Maybe they have different rules. Or it might be that there are no limits for astigmatism but the school that I am trying to get in have own rules for it? Anyway I'm way below the limits for it and hope it will stay there. Your Name : Dr. Steve Leung Subject : Astigmatism - Normal Range Comment: Don't worry about your astigmatism! You must keep on with the plus lens to regain your farsightedness instead of any amount of myopia. . Since you are of the power -0.50 and -0.75, I'm confident you can eventually pass the vision test Your Name : Chet Subject : Current Focal State Comment: I did check my focal state on our eye chart yesterday. And yesterday, I could see with each eye the 0.7 line. I tried it on our eye chart system. But it was very sunny day yesterday so the light helped a lot. How much light are you supposed to have when testing? Your Name : Otis Subject : Depth-of-Field Effects Comment: Sharpness of vision is affected by the aperture of the iris. You will get best vision in daylight. Please use the standard room-lighting to check the 1.7 cm and .88 cm letters Use this standard systematically. You will see day-to-day variation. What you are looking for is gradual improvement over the next four months. Your Name : Chet Subject : Vision - Both Eyes Comment: You asked about my vision with both my eyes. Well, it is almost 20/20 I can see about 50% of the letters. Your Name : Otis Subject : Start Date of April 20 2002 Comment: I believe that you started using the plus lens on April 20. As I stated, it takes 4 years to get to -1/2 diopter. I am pleased you are close to 20/20. But please plan for 4 months of effort on prevention. Your Name : Otis Subject : Vision response for next 3 Months Comment: Please review Figure 5 in Chapter 7, "Mathematical", specifically the Helmholtz-dynamic "F" curve. The figure presents the manner in which your eyes will respond to the proper use of a plus lens -- if you continue your effort with the lens. Your Name : Otis Subject : Keith's success with a Plus Lens Comment: Keith, I am pleased that you have maintained clear distant vision for the past 20 years with a plus lens. It takes skill and determination clear your distant vision to normal with a preventive lens -- when you must do this work under your own control. Your Name : Chet Subject : Gradual Progress Comment: I've noticed one thing that is that during these days I haven't been able to use the plus lens as much as ordinary days. Then I see that the eyes are going back a little. But when I then use a plus lens again I can see that the effect back to good vision again works faster back to my position where I was. I hope you understand me. Your Name : Chet Subject : Gradual Improvement Comment: Yes, I think it will take some time, but I fell happy every time I see some improvement. I found that when I'm at home putting on a strong plus lens and reading some text in a new paper for example. Then when I can read it at a distance I go more back and tries to read. After a while I can read it from that distance. Then I go back even more. That method seems to help the eyes a lot. Your Name : Rex Subject : My Successful Use of a Plus Lens Comment: I've been using the plus lens system for a few years now, and have been slowly improving my nearsighted condition. I had to take a DMV eye test the other day and to my surprise I scored 20/35 in the left eye and 20/25 in the right - not bad for someone who had 20/200 in both eyes a couple of years ago. [Rex discovered the "Plus lens" concept by reading a book by the pilot Brian Severson. He worked very hard to achieve his success with the plus lens.] Your Name : Chet Subject : 20/20 Vision, Focal State Zero Comment: 20/20 on both eyes? According to the flight school here I need 20/20 on each eye separately. But the flight school I'm trying to get into are having some higher requests than JAA requirements. But I think I already some days have 20/20 vision with both eyes according to my eye chart. But not with each eye separately. Your Name : Otis Subject : 4 Months to 20/20 with Buffer Comment: Yes, getting to consistent 20/20 is slow work. Since there is a normal difference between the two eyes of 1/2 to 3/4 diopters, it will be necessary to develop a positive focal state for both eyes. Please begin checking your eyes by looking through a +1.0 diopter lens, and tell me what you read. Your Name : Otis Subject : Normal Variation in Focal Status Comment: Chet -- please check Chapter 10, Table 1, in my book for differences in focal state between the two eyes. Figure 4 also shows normal expected changes in the focal status of the eye. This is normal for a control-system with one percent tracking accuracy. Your Name : Chet Subject : Clearing Distant Vision - New Technique Comment: Thanks for your explanation. I just got so excited because I could see some positive effects almost instantly. The binocular gives help very fast it seems. I got a little headache but it is the price to pay for clearing my vision. Today I also see a lot effect still remaining from the binocular. I think I will go out an use it more. Your Name : Chet Subject : Much Improvement Comment: The last days here I have seen more improvement than ever before. Can it be due to I have used the plus lens for a long time and now it starts to help more than before? In the morning it have always before been seeing double because of myopia when looking far away on thin objects. But the last mornings it was gone. I can still see some of it but it is much more better. It is more lighter with sunny days that also help. Your Name : Chet Subject : More Improvement Comment: One thing that I think is the tool for this that is that I have been reading a lot of PPL theory. Sitting outside and reading with the plus lenses. And combined with using the binocular just for fun looking around. I think that is a winning solution. It seems to work very good for me. And I hope the results I'm seeing will help me even more in the progress. Your Name : Otis Subject : Re: More Improvement Comment: Chet, I am very pleased that you are seeing improvement. Success always breeds more success. 20/20 is VERY SHARP vision indeed. From experience, pilots report that is much faster to go from 20/70 to 20/40, than it is to go from 20/40 to 20/20. Your Name : Otis Subject : Time to get solid 20/20 Comment: Chet, you have now used the plus lens for 1.5 months. It takes 4 years to go from very sharp 20/20 to 20/40. So four months is still a reasonable number. Thanks for talking with Dr. Steve Leung. He wants you to succeed as much I do. Your Name and Date : Chet Subject : Close to 20/20 and holding Comment: Well, its going fine. At the moment I can see that the level have stopped at this level now for some days. But I'm looking forward to see more results so I will keep working. It seems like it is harder and harder as more I come closer to 20/20 vision? Your Name : Otis Subject : Time and Effort to Reach 20/20 Comment: Thanks for your report. The hard part is to sustain the effort, when you do not see immediate direct results. From the information I received from other pilots, the movement from 20/70 to 20/40 went relatively quickly. To get the eye to go from 20/40 to 20/20 took a good deal more time. 20/20 is very sharp vision. There are many people who want to make recovery/prevention seem easy. It is not easy. But it is possible -- based on scientific judgment of objective, repeatable, experimental data. Your Name and Date : Chet, 6/02/02 Subject : Vision Status and Flying Comment: Thanks for your letters they are very interesting to read. Yesterday I was on an airship on ESOK (Karlstad, Sweden). It was great. Was also up on a little flight over Karlstad in a Saab 340 aircraft. It feels better with the eyes when it is so bright and sunny these last days. But it is then hard to tell the progress of the eyes when it is so sunny. On a bright day I see 20/20 without glasses. Comment_3 : Your Name and Date : Otis Subject : Leaders Solving Problems Comment: Chet, Glad you are back flying. With vision of 20/20, that is great. Depth of field between daylight and room illumination is probably about +/- 0.6 diopters to +/- 0.3 diopters. You may be 20/25 in a room -- but that probably varies. You may also be able to read some letters on the 20/15 line. That is generally taken into around in judging your 20/20 status. In any event, please keep using the strong plus lens, and pushing print. Remember -- you are going to become a leader in this process. Your success will encourage other pilots to duplicate your efforts. Your Name and Date : Otis, 6/7/02 Subject : Mission Statement Comment: This site is designed to help pilots use the plus lens BEFORE they require the use of a minus lens. At that stage, prevention can be effective. The pilots who can make very heavy use of a 2.5 diopter lens, and verify by checking their eye chart are successful. It takes about four months to go from 20/40 (-1/2 diopter) to 20/20 (+1/2 diopter). Your Name and Date : Chet, 6/12/02 Subject : Vision at 20/20 Comment: Have you got any more people on the plus lens effort due to my effort? Your Name : Otis Subject : Support for return to 20/20 Comment: It is nice to have some time to think about the issues involved, and to be at 20/20. To recognize that your motivation has paid off for your is the most important aspect of solving the problem. The answer is basically no. You wanted to get out of it, (to 20/20) and were willing to work very hard on the effort. Fortunately, you were only at -1/2 diopters, so that a reasonable efforts could be successful. It is tragic, but most people at the 20/50 to 20/70 will absolutely refuse the proper use of a plus lens -- and with that rejection will be setting themselves up for permanent nearsightedness. Your Name and Date : Chet Subject : Offer to Help Other Pilots Comment: Otis -- There are one Swedish forum for pilots and for people becoming pilots. I could post some note there about your web site and the method and give it some support. Do you would like that? Your Name and Date : Otis, 6/13/03 Subject : Helping Pilots at 20/40, -1/2 D Comment: Yes. If the person is like you -- intelligent, motivated and willing to look at their own eye chart -- then he stands an excellent chance of clearing his distant vision to 20/20. The pilot should be slightly nearsighted (i.e., 20/40) and be willing to make a 4 month commitment to doing what you have successfully accomplished. The pilot should read your commentary that I posted. YOU solved the problem. Dr. Steve Leung and I assisted you with accurate technical advice and objective scientific data. Your Name and Date : Otis Subject : Further Clearing of Vision Comment: When your eyes are at -1/2 diopter you see the result on an eye chart. While you are at 20/20 you must continue the same work for another two months. As you said, the eye will "slip back" slightly. To prevent this, it is necessary to develop a +1/2 diopter focal state. If you had a lens of that power, you would be able to read 20/20 through that lens. Remove the +1/2 diopter, and your distant vision will be extremely sharp. Your night-time vision will be greatly improved with this 1/2 diopter buffer. Keep up the good work. Your engineering understanding and analysis will pay off for you. Your Name : Chet Subject : Vacation Comment: Long time -- no see. I'm currently continuing to use the plus lens. Soon I'm going on vacation. 4 weeks beginning 1 July. Actually if I take in count this holiday I start my vacation Friday afternoon. I'm going to see Paris. Then I wouldn't check my job mail so if you could send the letters my private email address. Your Name and Date : Otis 6/26 Subject : Keep up the good work Comment: Dear Chet, Great to hear you are continuing work with the plus lens. This is what Captain Fred Deakins (USAF) did to get out of -- and stay out of -- nearsightedness. Dr. Stirling Colgate did the same thing. Please keep up the good work, and keep me posted as to developments. Sincerely, Otis Your Name and Date : Chet, 9/23/02 Subject : Vision -- 20/20 Comment: Well, it is when I look outside on something. It can be anything I look on. Well, my vision is at about 20/20 but not in the dark still. But I will continue the fight. I've seen improvement in the dark as well but it takes time. When I look at something thin like a flag pole in a little dim light then I can see a little double flag pole but as soon as I tilt my head it is perfectly there. But I see improvement everyday so soon that will disappear also. Currently I'm combining methods. One thing is that I think I'm ready to go and buy a stronger plus lens for faster effect. Don't you think that is a good idea. Your Name and Date : OSB, 9/24/02 Subject : Vision at 20/20 Comment: I recommend the use of a stronger plus lens. I think it will speed up the process of clearing your night vision, as well as insuring permanent 20/20 vision for the JAA test. The current FAA requirement is only for daylight 20/20 -- to the best of my knowledge. I know that we are about 50 years away from that first step towards effective prevention with a plus lens. In the mean time, you must rely on yourself to conduct the type of preventive effort that is essential to remain qualified for flight duty. Your Name and Date : Chet 11/6/02 Subject : Sustaining 20/20 Vision Comment: Well, I'm a bit concerned about that when I stop for couple of days with the Bates exercises and the plus lens the eyes goes back. But when doing everything it is almost perfect. How to make it stable? Then I wonder why is it so important to check your own vision and to do exercises in front of an eye chart? Your Name and Date : Otis, 11/2/02 Subject : Reply to 20/20 Vision Comment: Just continue to use the plus lens to sustain 20/20 vision. It beats the alternative, of getting back into it. I know that sustained use of a plus lens may seem difficult, but I believe that it is the price we must pay if we value our distant vision -- or if you need 20/20 for your professional career. It is important to check your own vision so that you know exactly where you stand. Because of your consistency, your measurements will be very accurate -- and you can trust the results. Your Name and Date : Dr. Leung, 11/12/02 Subject : Improving 20/20, Part 1 Comment: I guess you are almost at the stage of a zero focal state. You could pass the standard eye chart at 20/20. As Otis pointed out, it is wise to develop some hyperopic reserve for your eyes. So please continue the use of strong plus lens for near use. Once you can pass the 20/20 line with the naked eye and can read 20/20 through a +0.50 to +1.00 diopter lens, you will have developed a valuable protective visual buffer. Congratulation! That means you have the "hyperopic reserve" required for excellent vision. Your Name and Date : Dr. Leung Subject : Improve to 20/20 - Part 2 Comment: It is the fundamental vision for all kids at ages 4 to 6. That is why I encourage my own child to put on +1.50 for reading and writing to preserve her moderate hyperopic reserve -- to avoid becoming nearsighted. When you reach a moderate level of hyperopic-reserve, you can quit the use of a plus lens. However, continue to check you distant vision and hyperopic reserve. If you see you are losing your hyperopic reserve, just start using the plus lens for prolonged near work -- "pushing print" as required. Your Name and Date : Otis Brown, 11/02 Subject : Vision from 20/40 to 20/20 Comment: Over the past several months Dr. Steve Leung and I have assisted Chet Thor in his work to clear his vision from 20/40 to 20/20. Chet has been successful in this effort. Dr. Stirling Colgate achieved the same result as discussed on this site. Chet's results simply confirm Dr. Colgate's statements about effective prevention. If you need to pass the FAA exam, then achieving 20/20 is possible. Your Name and Date : Chet, 11/5/02 Subject : Night Vision 100% Comment: Currently my wish is to continue using the plus lens and use it hard because today I've seen wonderful improvements. I know it is not recommended that you wear the plus lens on all the time -- But that was what I did this morning. When I was looking out with the plus lens at another distance than on my computer. When I got to work my night vision was almost 100%. So I was really am happy. And there were no ghosting either. Your Name and Date : Chet, 11/14/02 Subject : 20/20 and Ghosting Comment: In checking my distant vision I see some ghosting. I see this at dusk, and when I verify my vision to be 20/20. Have other pilots reported this type of anomaly? Your Name and Date : Otis, 11/15 Subject : 20/20 and Ghosting Comment: Chet -- No, you are the first pilot to report this slight shadowing of images. There are several reasons for this. 1. After your distant vision cleared you began to notice ghosting that was always there. 2. As the eye changes its focal state by 0.8 percent, the slight re-adjustment takes time to settle out. 3. Now that you understand what it takes to sustain clear distant vision for flying, I doubt that you will allow yourself to get into nearsightedness again. 4. I regard the plus lens to be a requirement for flying. If you must keep physically fit (weight lifting etc.) then why should we object to keep our eyes physically fit by systematic use of a plus lens -- if that is the price we must pay to keep our distant vision. 5. All natural (primate) eyes set their focal status to their visual environment. The development of a negative focal state is completely reasonable and logical -- and directly confirmed in the experimental data. Why should we argue about that basic fact? Your Name and Date : Chet, 11/16/02 Subject : More details on ghosting Comment: That is that the ghosting disapears almost completely after normal use of plus lens and then doing Bates chart work. By blinking at each letters corner at different distances the ghosting is reduced. The exercise if done 5-10 minutes will take the ghosting away and keep it away for about 1-2 hours. Your Name and Date : Chet, 11/27 Subject : Variation in plus lens use Comment: I've been without plus lens now for 3 days and when sitting at work at the moment I can see how easy the myopia blur is getting back when I sit in front of the computer. Vision clears instantly and I can see good again when taking them of. It is especially fast when sitting in front of the job computer when it goes back. But I could see after 3 days that the ghosting have been reduced a lot. So it is reducing when taking the plus lens off. Your Name and Date : Otis 11/28 Subject : Vision clearing, Part 3 Comment: The process of clearing our distant vision, relies on the fact that our eyes adapt to their near environment. While slow to take effect, our eyes will adapt to a distant environment (by clearing) if we completely end our near environment. When you recognize this basic truth, then you can do what you have done -- to keep your distant vision for life. Your Name and Date : Chet, 12/7/02 Subject : Why not just do it? Comment: I clearly see that the plus lens help and I'm very happy with it. I don't know really what happens in the eyes that helps me but I can surely see that it helps. So why do so many people argue about effective prevention? Or refuse to even make an attempt at recovery from 20/40? Of course they can argue in the beginning because it is a new wonderful thing. But eventually they should make a decision. Your Name and Date : Chet Subject : Scientific verification of prevention Comment: Are not scientists supposed to be completely neutral on all new preventive methods and just research and see if prevention (and recovery) works or not? Well, why don't they do that and see that it works. / Chet Your Name and Date : Otis, 12/8/02 Subject : Effective clearing with a pus lens Comment: Chet -- There is no universal opinion about prevention either in science or medicine. Dr. Colgate cleared his own vision with a plus lens and hoped that others would follow his lead. You have done what Fred Deakins (Pilot), Dr. Stirling Colgate and others have done -- cleared your distant vision with a plus lens. Too many people want someone else to do this for them. The fundamental truth is that we must do this preventive work (with a plus lens) by our own efforts.