Dear Chris,

Subject: Keeping your vision clear through the
school years.

Re: The nature of my "advice".

As you know, I would I had been on the
RECEIVING end of my advice. I recognize
how hard it is to use the preventive-plus
properly.

I do not consider my advice "medical" at all,
but wise under the circumstances.

Our eyes are designed for DISTANT objects
most of the time. It takes a long
time to understand it that way -- but
that is how I think of it.

The Eskimo data (on my site) makes
this situation absolutly clear (to
me at least.)

The Eskmios who had no schooling at all,
had postive refractive STATES from
zero to +3 diopters -- and excellent
distant vision.

Their children, who spent 12 years
in scool, had an AVERAGE refractive
STATE of -2 diopters, and average
Snellens of 20/140. Or 88 percent
were nearsighted.

The real issue is to "control" that
near enviroment, by getting rid of
it with a plus lens. The plus
is pure-protective in nature, not
a "cure".

It indeed does take a wise person
to review these issues an make his
choice accordingly.

I know you intend to spend an additional
8 years in college and graduate school.

The average "down" rate (of students who
do not wear any proctive plus) is -1/3 diopters
per year. (Data from two military academys.)

That should be part of your choice.

More response:


--- In Myopiafree2@yahoogroups.com, "armistice1112"
<armistice1112@...> wrote:
>
> Well, I started this journey some time after Christmas, and had
> started with diligent use of the plus lenses. Noticing an onset of
> double vision, which I believed to be diplopia, I stopped the use of
> the plus lenses, although I was told it was a result of astigmatism
> that I already had.

Otis> Good! If you think there is any problem -- do not
wear the plus.

Anyways I have not worn my minus glasses since
> Christmas save in circumstances when I am required to watch a movie
in
> class.

Otis> Good! The practical use of the minus is to
wear it only when necessary. This is a strong
suggestion by Bates.


I don't wear my glasses even in the cinema. I have seen no
> progress on the Snellen chart, and I didn't expect to, but I haven;t
> seen any decline.

Otis> This is a critical judgment by you. Because of
that -1/2 and -1/3 diopter per year figure, just
keeping what you have is a success. Only you
can judge this, however.


I think that I have stabilized my vision effectively
> by completely cutting out my use of the minus lenses.

Otis> I agree.


I realize hat I
> am lucky in having my myopia at a low enough level to be able to
> completely end my use of the plus lenses.

Otis> (you mean minus lens -- I assume). But yes, avoiding
the minus is wise.

So it seems that minus
> lenses are the only thing that was making my vision worse, but I
> cannot know for sure until I go to the optometrist to test my
vision.

Otis> You Snellen is your best check. Your OD simply
has you read a Snellen, and finds a minus lens
to clear the 20/20, 20/15 or 20/10 line. Most
prescribe for "best visual acuity" which means
that even with 20/20 you would be perscribed
a strong minus.


> I have been contemplating over starting with the plus lenses again,
> because the double vision has begun to disappear.

Otis> This is ALWAYS a personal choice. I can only
state what I WISH I had been able to do with
high quality science supporting this type
of choice.


This is the only
> thing that confuses me. I am unsure if my eyes have healed the
double
> vision that was caused by the plus lenses or if the use of the
double
> lenses uncloaked the astigmatism from the veil of blurriness cause
by
> myopia.

Otis> That depends on the degree of astigmatism. A certain
amount of astigmatism is normal, and is seen in the
primate eye.


Anyways, I am happy that I am able to go through life, indoors
> and outdoors without the use of my minus glasses, except when I have
> to read stuff on the blackboard.

Otis> A very reasonable decision.


If you have any advice on how I
> should continue, or anymore information on the diplopia, or the
> headaches caused by the plus lenses, I would be extremely grateful.

Otis> I can only have you read Dr. Stirling Colgates
experience with the plus. His choice was to
"accept" some headache as the price of keeping
his distant vision clear.

Otis> This is indeed a "fighting chance", with
you the sole judge of this process. It
is indeed tough to do.

Best,

Otis



>
> With many thanks,
> Christopher
>