Stev2030.txt Dear Prevention-minded friends, Steve contacted vision-improvement-site with a -3 diopter prescription and eye-chart about 20/200. Here is the proof of the success of vision clearing from 20/200 to normal. Keep an open mind as to these new methods. You might be able to employ them yourself -- if you are prepared to make the effort. The complete discussion is reported at: http://www.visionimprovementsite.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi for your research interests. Enjoy, Otis _________________________________ Steve-8631 contacted vision-improvement-site on: Sep 9th, 2005, 10:31pm Newbie seeking help Hi, I read as much as I can in the last 2 days about preventing nearsightedness. Let me tell you my situation. I started wearing glasses at the age of 13. At 28 (now 38) I started wearing contacts lens. For many years I looked for a "cure" but didn't find any. My last test shows that my power is 275 for both eyes (that's how they tell me) and it has been pretty much stable for the last few years. I still have faith that I can have perfect sight without minus glasses or contact lens. I just got a +1.5 lens for me to start using while I'm using computers. I work a lot with my computers. My questions is. Since it is dangerous for me to drive without glasses or contact lens. What do you suggest for me now, a lower powered minus glasses or contact lens. If yes what power do you suggest! I'm planning to start today using +1.5 lens & try to get comfortable with it. Wish me luck. Rgds, Steve P/S - I've printed the eye charts, will stick it today & check out where I stand __________________________ Dear Steve, After a great deal of research, I discovered that SOME ODs know what a total disaster that minus lens is. They call it "poison glasses for children." My issue is this -- why not TELL US ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEY PUT THAT FIRST MINUS LENS ON US? Tragically, they keep their mouth shut -- and will not say squat. Nearsightedness is preventable in that first stage, and I would GLADLY PAY the OD for his information and time -- even if I had to take TOTAL responsibility and do ALL THE WORK MYSELF -- including monitoring my "clearing" on my own eye chart. [This is my "rant" for today. That being said, the next step is asking about what you "want" in terms of vision clearing.] I would never use the term "perfect" -- because no eyes are perfect. I would look for a goal of always passing the DMV (1.8 cm at 6 meters) as a reasonable attainable goal. I would start by reading your own eye chart. In fact this is very easy. Just click on www.myopiafree.com and then eyechart 2 (lower right) and enter 1 inch and 10 feet, and read the eye chart on your monitor at 10 feet. I would guess you can read the 20/200 line. Let us know. Best, Otis _________________________ Dear Otis, I tried the test I can see at 20/200 but very blur. By saying "perfect" I meant 20/20 vision, this is what I want ( I know some people reading this might be laughing, no problem, if only they know what true 20/20 vision means to me, oh well...). If I've known this when I was 13 yrs old , I don't have to go thru this now, but life is a lesson and anything is possible is my firm belief. Otis , please tell me what I can do next. I believe my case can be conquered if you guide me how to approach this matter. BTW, I work in an office mostly dealing with computers at work & home...and of course I also drive quite a bit everyday. If you require any other info, please let me know. Thanks a million, Steve ________________________ AND FOUR MONTHS LATER, STEVE'S VISION IS 20/40 OR BETTER. Dec 7th, 2005, 8:16am, Dear Otis & Brian, Steve> Brian, thanks for the tips. I do zooming once a while but not consistent. However I do eye rolls a little more frequent compared to zooming. Otis> Special Request on "reporting" Otis> The accepted standard for reading a "line" is that you read 1/2 the letters correctly. For purpose of consistency, please report your Snellen that way. You said you read all the letters on the 20/40 line. I would suspect you are reading letters on the 20/30 line. If you read 1/2 the letters, the say you pass the 20/30 line. This is just for "consistency" with the commercial standard. Best, Otis ______________________ From: Steve Noted above guideline. I actually see 1/2 of 20/30 line, but it is very inconsistent, so therefore decided not to "report". I'm sure I'll see 20/30 line one day. Please also be informed that I have many "flashes", sometimes I can see the 20/20 line very clearly. The day will come, I'm sure of it. All I have to do is work, work & work. Cheers, Steve __________________________________________ December 9, 2005 Dear Steve, I personally consider that anyone with better-that 20/40 vision -- has a WONDERFUL SUCCESS! That is my "standard". Vision above that is just great. The DMV "gave up" on 20/20 as being an "excessive" requirement, and would not require a minus lens until vision less than 20/40. I believe that is a reasonable policy. Also, you reported -3.0 diopters and less-than 20/200, four months ago. People with less than 20/200 vision are classed as "legally blind". So if you had lost your glasses then -- you would have been legally blind! I know that is not quite the case -- but you have made a PROFOUND improvement. Keep up the good work! Getting to 20/20 is however a very slow process. (Try tennis and football -- or go the beach, sail, get OUT!) When working to "better" 20/40, that seems to "help" most of all. Best, Otis ___________________________________ Dear Otis, First of all I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your strong dedication to guide others to improve their eye sight. Not everyone has that kind of passion or time to do that. I will definitely update my progress as times goes by. My personal challenge(altho a little tough) is to "compete" with my niece who has a 20/10 vision and during bright days she has 20/8 vision. Now, that is what I call great eyesight. I even read some having a 20/4 vision...awesome. With a little a bit of innovation & persistence, most people can achieve what they desire. To me it is important not to have a " mental block". If you say you can , chances are you can. If you say you can't , chances are you can't. So to me, my mental outlook is very important on most outcomes in my life. I only wished that I got to know this new found knowledge much earlier, anyway better late than never Cheers, Steve P/S - FYI, I just got (about 2 weeks ago) a pair of +1.5 lens for my niece for her nearwork. I like to "preserve" her good eyesight. Oh yes! I definitely know what to do for my daughter as well when she is 6-7 years old( I can see that she has a little poor eyesight, she's 4+ now). As for my wife, she has glasses of - 0.50 & -1.00 on the other eye( thankfully she never used glasses much, so it stayed that way)and can read 20/40 line before using plus lens. In less then 3 months with irregular use of +1.5 lens (initially +1.0 lens)....now she can read 1/2 of 20/15 line...........I'm so happy for her . I have another niece who has -7.0 prescription but unfortunately she is not motivated to improve her vision, so I can't do much for her. Steve ___________________________ Otis Senior Member Re: Newbie seeking help Dec 9, 2005 at 8:51pm Dear Steve, Thanks for your kind statements. You would not believe the hostility I get when I suggest this "preventive" alternative. Most people act as though I spit in their face. That is how bad it is. These people do not get a "second" offer of prevention with the plus. I am convinced that any child, at age 5, who has 20/20 (and a positive refractive state) could keep their vision clear through high school and college. But it does take commitment and work. Most people go running to an OD, who tells them, "Oh, we heard about that -- it does not work. Don't bother with it." And then the kid gets an over-prescribed minus -- and "loves" it. Only much later, after he develops "stair-case" myopia from the minus, does he "wake up" and realize that his vision has been destroyed -- for life. I think you have been very lucky. If your refractive status gets beyond -3 diopters, "clearing" becomes very difficult. But obviously, why should ANYONE ALLOW IT TO GET THAT BAD? I think we are ALL OWED A DISCUSSION OF THIS ISSUE BY ANY TRUE-PROFESSIONAL WHO DEALS WITH THE PUBLIC. (But that is my "rant.") I am convinced that only an "educated" parent can help their own child. And now you can do that. With guidance and support from you (and ODs like Steve Leung) eventually others will "get the idea") and that will be the "preventive" future for your children. Best of luck, Otis ================ From Steve: (20/200 to 20/30) Hi everyone, Just like to add my view. Initially when I first found out this forum, I was very excited...an opportunity to improve my vision. This has been a desire since my late teens, so you can imagine my excitement, then came the disappointment reading Otis' statement that people with 20/70 or more has slim chances of improving vision to 20/40 or better. Not exactly those words but something to that understanding. Naturally, I was very irritated of this "statement", where else I can find ppl with 20/200 or worse have improved to 20/20 vision. So I was thinking why Otis kept saying that & dampening people's spirit/motivation to improve their vision. So when I started, I was not so happy but persisted to use plus lens, thinking that I got nothing to lose.....and my vision started to improve As time went by I understood, why Otis made such statement(after much reading). IMHO, it is not to dampen a person's spirit or motivation but NOT TO OVER CLAIM the "cure/prevention" and secondly, if you read at this place : www.google.com then select Groups and type sci.med.vision You'll be astonished how a lot of people bash Otis. In my opinion Otis has nothing to gain out of this, he just want to spread the knowledge of the "second opinion" but unfortunately a lot people don't accept it. So later I realized and began to have a different view why Otis keeps saying that. A better view of course. IMHO, anybody who has no medical problem( eyes) has a very good chance to improve their vision. They can improve their vision with plus lens or with some exercises ( Brian is one of the best proof we have here ). You can do it with either one or with a combination of both. Which one works faster or better, I really don't know. To me it is purely an individual experience & effort. You have to do it yourself with persistence, testing & innovation. I hope people will stop bashing Otis(at sci.med.vision) and I hope people will try which "system" works the best for them. I feel all methods has its pro & cons. Its a persons choice to pick plus lens or the exercises to clear their vision. If a person don't believe these choices we have, then they must just move on in life. Search for the ultimate natural "thing" to improve their vision. Nobody can give guarantees & I'm sure there are disclaimers somewhere in the website. Everything I said was based on my opinion, so don't use it against me. I sincerely hope that I didn't offend anyone in what I said above. Oh yes, I also want to thank Robert & Patrick for their views, opinions & suggestions. Just my 2 cents. Chill out everybody Cheers, Steve ___________________________________ Dear Steve, Thanks for the write-up! Most parents -- if offered the plus -- will recoil in horror, that their child must put on a plus for reading. That is 99 percent of the population at this time. (I personally think they should go through an "educational" process before deciding to put their child in a minus -- with the either-or, now-or-never issue clearly explained to the parents and child.) But AFTER a parent has cleared his vision from 20/200 to 20/30, he becomes sufficiently "expert" to understand the meaning and use of this "second opinion". Now your children have a "fighting chance" to keep their distant vision clear through the school years. That is what I "fight" for -- your right to an informed, competent second-opinion at the threshold when it can be truly effective. Sincerely, Otis