Hermann Helmholtz vs. William Bates…..Who was Right?

In 1855, Hermann von Helmholtz performed experiments to show how the eye accommodates near and far objects. He noted that when an object was brought nearer to the eye, the curvature of the front of the lens increased.  So he concluded that the changing curvature of the lens was the way the eye accommodated to near and far objects.

According to Helmholtz, the curvature of the lens is controlled by the ciliary muscle that circles around it.  When the muscle is relaxed, the lens is flatter and when it contracts, the lens becomes rounder, increasing the focusing power.

The medical profession has adopted Helmholtz’s theory.  They see the inability to focus clearly, to be due to a faulty lens shape and it can only be corrected with glasses, contacts or eye surgery.

Dr. William Bates performed a number of experiments that convinced him that accommodation was not produced by the ciliary muscles, but rather, the external muscles of the eye. He believed that tension of these muscles could elongate or shorten the eye.

Dr. Bates concluded that nearsightedness or farsightedness was due to chronic tension in these external muscles of the eye.  If the patient could be taught to relax these muscles, the focusing problems could be reduced or eliminated.

While the medical profession holds with Helmholtz’s theory, natural vision improvement educators tend to lean toward Dr. Bates’ theory. They believe that he was, to quote an old saying, “In the right church, just in the wrong pew.”

P.S. ’m very interested in your feedback on that, so why not let me know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone else’s, so come on… let me know what you think.