Myopia reduction success stories using print pushing and plus lenses

[Todd Becker]

One of the most common questions I get is: where are the success stories?  You will find them listed here on this thread

I often point people to this Discussion Forum, but the successes are scattered throughout these threads, mixed together with questions, theories and lots of advice.  So I'm starting this thread to include just the successes, in order to help others see what works.  (For balance, I'll start a similar thread on failures, problems and struggles).

I'd encourage anyone who has success to post their results here.  Be sure to include the following information:
- When did you start and what was your Snellen score and/or diopter prescription when you started out?
- What progress did you achieve by specific dates or amounts of time, and what is your status today?
- What specific techniques did you use, and what was effective or ineffective?

Try to keep you posts brief and quantitative, to make this easy for others to scan.  Please post updates as often as you wish.

I will use my discretion to remove discussions not relevant to this topic, or I may move them to a different thread. My intent is not to censor, but to keep this thread focused.

[Todd Becker]

Here are some recent success stories I found, posted on another site:
Article: "Is Nearsightedness a Reversible Condition?]Is Nearsightedness a Reversible Condition?"

Several comments are posted at the end of the article, all from individuals who specifically cite the advice posted here on the Getting Stronger site:

Erin
Started 2 years ago
Improved by 1 diopter.
"Before I started using this method, my eyesight continuously got worse. I’ve done nothing but using plus lenses for reading and undercorrection for television and stuff like that. Really simple and so effective. But you’ve got to be patient."

Joshua
Started 1.5 years ago at  -2.5/-3
Now able to read 20/15 (slightly *better* than 20/20 on a vision chart from 20 feet away.
Left eye still isn’t 20/20, but my right eye is at least that.
" I would have to say that this method absolutely can work, but takes diligence and frequent practice on focusing at the edge of blur. It’s been totally worth it for me, though, as I haven’t worn my old minus lenses (or any minus lenses) for the last 8 months. I wholeheartedly recommend trying it."

Lisa
"So far I have improved my eyesight from -2 to -0.5 using this method, and I keep going. I am absolutely confident to get my full vision back."

[Nate]

Here's my success story-significant improvement, but not yet complete.

I first got glasses in about the 3rd grade.  I hated them.  In junior high, I switched to contacts, which I didn't like, but much preferred to glasses.  I wore contacts for about 30 years.  Every few years I went to the optometrist for a checkup, and had a steadily increasing prescription.  Finally, I decided on Lasix surgery.  After six weeks of preoperative preparation, paying my full sum, the surgeon turned me down (I was actually sedated and in the operating chair when he made the final decision).  Something about the shape of my cornea, and my profession-as a pathologist I am very dependent on my eyes.  He refused to to the surgery.  I was both grateful and disappointed, and went back to contacts.

About 3 months later, while researching a completely different topic, I stumbled on Todd's website, "getting stronger".  I read his article on myopia rehabilitation.  It all made so much sense.  As a pathologist, I specialize in disease patterns.  The body is adaptable.  Also, one of my special interests is iatrogenic illness (meaning illness caused by medical therapy).  I have actually given a lecture "patterns of iatrogenic illness".  One of the patterns is where the therapy (usually medications) correctly treats the illness, but over time the body makes an adaptation to the therapy, becoming dependent on the therapy.  Then, when the therapy is withdrawn, the patient experiences symptoms of the illness-but now they are caused by the withdrawal of therapy, not by the initial illness.  This pattern tends to be hard to recognize, because both the patient and physician tend to attribute the return of symptoms to the disease, rather than dependence on the therapy.

After reading Todd's article, it was instantly so clear.  Initially myopia is caused by a stress response-too much close work.  If corrected by minus lenses, the body would make appropriate (even healthy!) adjustments, which over time would result in gradual worsening of the myopia.  Over 30 years, and with contact lenses, the adjustments would be even worse.

And that is how I came to have a -6.75 prescription in my mid-40's.  To reverse it would be to follow the process in reverse. 

Initially, I feel like I made lots of mistakes.  I went without glasses for long periods of time, trying to stimulate my eyes.

Then I settled down for the long haul.  I told myself that I would commit to this for 2 years, and I quit if I didn't make any progress.  After two years, I went to the optometrist-and my prescription was -4.75.  Two diopters in 2 years!  Not perfect, by any means, but certainly better.  Now, about a year after that exam (three years into the process), I wear a -3.25, but it is a little undercorrected.  I'm actually not sure what my "correct" prescription is.  I plan on going all the way to 20/20, but that is still quite a ways away.

As far as advice, if you are a high myope, like me, be patient.  It took years to get this way, and it will take years to get out.  Integrate the behaviors into your life.  I've arranged my work environment so that everything I do is at the "edge of the blur", so I do "active focus" all day.  It's really helpful to keep a log of your progress.  Be determined.  It is a tremendously good feeling to know that my eyes are improving, rather than getting worse.

Good luck!!

[OtisBrown]

SUCCESS STORY:

I encourage a person to check his own Snellen, even with a -2 diopter.  This person is at about -1/2 diopter.  For some this is about 20/30 to 20/25. That indeed passes the DMV test. That is why I use my own test lenses and a Snellen to confirm my own refractive state.  Saves me a great deal of money - to do it myself.

http://www.powerfulintentions.org/forum/topics/success-story-how-to-effectively-reverse-nearsightedness

It takes a great "force of will", and persistence, against frustration.  Todd did it, so this report is consistent with his success.

No OD can do this for you, so, you must do it yourself.

[CapitalPrince]

Here's Jake Steiners story
http://www.backto2020.com/journey-high-myopia-2020/

When he first started he couldn't see 20/20 with the -4D with astigmatism prescription. I emailed him and he currently can see 20/20 with the -1.75D.

So Jake had a change of about +0.5D/year average over the course of 4 years

He also has a book and its worth a read (especially the bottom half talking about the plus and positive stimulus)

http://www.jakesteiner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Preventing-Myopia-Adult-2015-.pdf

[warnbd]

Thanks for posting,

This Steiners e-book absolutely nails it on myopia, causes and cures

[OtisBrown]

Subject: The DIFFICULT subject of success, and selling success.  This issue is WHO measures success - that you trust?

First: I profoundly support Dr. Alex's site.  But I limit myself to suggestions that the last stage of prevention must be the plus lens.

Second:  Jake said the following:

He went from, approximately, from -4.5 D, to about -1.75 D, in about two years.  (Sphere Equi.) for both eyes.

He then said, he can read the 20/20 line, in day light.  The question is this -  do you believe him?  From what I know of the
natural eye's behavior, I have a good reason to believe he got a change of +2.25 diopters. 

But it took three years to do it.  How many of us have that kind of mind - to make that kind of effort?

A -4.5 means you can not see clearly beyond about 10 inches.  a -1.75 D, means you can read OK at about 22 inches. (That is a
real check of a refractive change.)

But now, he as to "make good" on at least +1.5 diopters. That would get him to 20/40, naked eye.  I hope he reports
it that way - when he gets there.

This will always be a personal issue with you, and with all of us.  Do you believe what you measure on your own Snellen, of do you feel
 you must go to an OD office and have the OD "measure you"?  Are you confident to do something, "on your own"?

Dr. Alex is a "free" site, but he must "make money" to "keep going".  I deeply appreciate him, and his massive efforts.  You can learn
a lot from him and his site.  This result is indeed impressive to me.

We know that 20/20 in bright light, is wonderful. That is why you should check.  Play tennis, everything, outside.  Some of that 20/20, is indeed due
to "depth of field".  Perhaps in a "room Snellen" he might read 20/40 to 20/50, but CONSISTENTLY.

If Jake continues, and I would hope with a plus for near, I think he would get to the range of 20/30 to 20/20, on a normal Snellen.

The basic "plus" is the same idea that Alex recommends.  That is, use a "reduced" minus, or if at 20/40, no minus, and heavy
wearing of the plus.

But the last question is a matter of who you believe, and what is an objective measurement.

For me, it is *myself* measuring my own refractive status.  That way I truly trust what I say and what I report.

I make no claims of success - unless I do that.

I am quite happy reading at my computer with a +2.5 diopter. I find it very comfortable, and I know the reason why
I MUST wear it.  I also report 20/20, but I do not now if you believe me.

Here's Jake Steiners story
http://www.backto2020.com/journey-high-myopia-2020/

When he first started he couldn't see 20/20 with the -4D with astigmatism prescription. I emailed him and he currently can see 20/20 with the -1.75D.

So Jake had a change of about +0.5D/year average over the course of 4 years

He also has a book and its worth a read (especially the bottom half talking about the plus and positive stimulus)

http://www.jakesteiner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Preventing-Myopia-Adult-2015-.pdf

[CapitalPrince]

Jake's story is indeed inspiring
just to clarify here's where he is now

starting (Dec 2011):
R -4.00D  sph  -1.25D astig
L  -3.75D sph   -1.00D astigm
(stated he can't see 20/20 with these glasses in average lighting)

March 2014
said he can see 20/30 with -1.5D

Jan 2015
said he didn't use minus and used a -1D for night driving. (not sure if he passed the DMV 20/40, but  guessing his snellen is 20/60-20/50 in room lighting).   

[Todd Becker]

Joshua's story (See comment #3):
http://organicfitness.com/is-nearsightedness-a-reversible-condition/

I read Todd’s initial blog post on myopia about 1.5 years ago, and since then I’ve been working on improving y vision. I started by just not wearing my minus lenses at all, and quickly progressed to using weak reading glasses while reading. Since then, I’ve gradually moved to using stronger and stronger reading glasses. As a result, I’ve gone from being a -2.5/-3 myope, to being able to read 20/15 (slightly *better* than 20/20 on a vision chart from 20 feet away. My left eye still isn’t 20/20, but my right eye is at least that. I would have to say that this method absolutely can work, but takes diligence and frequent practice on focusing at the edge of blur. It’s been totally worth it for me, though, as I haven’t worn my old minus lenses (or any minus lenses) for the last 8 months. I wholeheartedly recommend trying it.

[OtisBrown]

Subject: Long-term success story - of Keith.

Item: I found out from Dr. Raphaelson, that the general public, will always REJECT the plus when at 20/30 (about -1 diotper). I deeply regretted that no optometrist could ever help anyone with threshold prevention.  Keith was 14 years old at the time.  He is now 50 years old, and has worn the "plus" as he states he has used it.  I asked him recently what "convinced" him to wear the plus as he described it.  He said it was the story of the Eskimos making themselves massively myopic because of their close work.   The other issue, is that this type of personal success, (i.e., prevention only) is NEVER counted as a success, because he never became seriously myopic.  But of course, if you accept that -1/2 diotper per year proof, then he was successful, in self prevention.

+++++

FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE WEARING A PLUS LENS

Dear Uncle,          February 19, 1990

     Thank you very much for the book, "How to Avoid
Nearsightedness".  I got it yesterday after I came back from the
weekend.  I am looking forward to reading it soon, but for now I
have a great deal of school work to read.

     I would imagine you'll be pleased to have me tell you that
one of the first things I did after opening your book was to check
my eyes with the eye chart.  I am able to read the 20/20 line on
the eye-chart. I have been using my drug store plus lenses most
of the time now.  I have always passed the driver's license eye
test.

     I use these glasses nearly 100 percent of the time when I
read text books and use them for about 70 percent of the total
reading I do.  I started using them as much as possible again
because, at the end of last semester my sight was pretty bad (I
didn't check them on a chart).  I am lucky to have an uncle who
showed me back in eighth grade that I could prevent my
nearsightedness.

     One thing college has taught me is to listen to others and
then use or adapt methods to work for me.  In the last few years I
have had a great deal more reading work to do. If I don't use the
magnifying lenses I notice fairly quickly that my sight starts to
deteriorate.  Then I realize it's time to do something to stop
that process.

     At the moment, I am wearing the magnifying lens because I
know what it does for my vision.  Thanks for taking the time to
tell me how to avoid a situation, wearing glasses at all times for
the rest of my life, that I would find unpleasant, and for sending
me a copy of your book so I can learn more in-depth about the
methods I am using.

          Keith B.

+++++

Here is the Eskimo data, that convinced Keith - that it would be wise to wear the plus
for his "years in school".

https://myopiafree.wordpress.com/graphics-2/

Optometrist-parents, can not even "move" themselves to help their own children.

The only answer, is to avoid these ODs who, "don't care", and protect your distant vision yourself.
This is why I do my own checking, and make no claims of successful recovery.

[Accipio]

My success (Accipio)

Background:
About six months ago, I came across Todd Becker's video presentation "Myopia: A Modern Yet Reversible Disease". For three months I followed, (or at least I thought I was following) the technique laid down by Todd. At the end of that time, I had an eye test done, which revealed that I had made absolutely no progress. I reviewed Todd's video and realized that I had been incorrect in my application.
I since found that just wearing the plus lenses is not enough, but to succeed in reversing Myopia, reading at the 'edge' of blur [correction: previously stated as "...'edge' of focus..."] is entirely necessary.   

Success:

Tested on 8/12/14 by an Optometrist, my prescription was as follows:
R  sph -2.25 cyl -0.75     L  sph -2.00 cyl -0.5


Tested on 11/2/2015 by an Optometrist, my current prescription is as follows:
R  sph -1.50 cyl -0.75     L  sph -1.25 cyl -0.50


Conclusion:
 During the three months in-between tests, both eyes improved by +0.75 Diopters.

Accipio

[Accipio]

Accipio, thanks for posting. Can you please specify what your method is precisely? Most importantly:

0. Do you use the point where text is just barely blurred or where text is just about recognizable?
1. Do you use any blinking technique to trigger focus, or do you passively read at the edge of focus?
2. How many hours a day do you read at the edge of focus?

P.S. I'm also curious how well you see through your new prescription and if there was a chance you were previously overcorrected.

jimboston,

0. I have found that I alternate unconsciously between barely blurred and almost unrecognizable, but I feel the more blur there is, with out over doing it, the stronger the corrective response could be. If the blur is to great, and I find myself guessing words or letters, then I know I'm overdoing it.

1. Usually I read passively at the edge of focus, but if I want to focus better, then I will open my eyes wide, then let them relax back to normal, after which I blink. I guess I do this only 2-3 times per day.

2. For the last three months, 9/12/2014 to 13/2/2015, my daily average time spent reading at the edge of focus is 92 minutes.

Reply to P.S. I have not been wearing glasses for over six months, aside from driving, where I have been using lenses under prescribe by about 0.5 diopters on both eyes.
No, I have not had an accident.
  I don't think I was over prescribed. I had an eye test done by my optometrist on the 26/5/2014 and another on the 8/12/2014 and both revealed the same prescription:
R  sph -2.25  cyl -0.75   L  sph -2.00  cyl -0.75

Accipio

[Arachne]

Unfortunately, I've plateaued even with months of daily edge of blur reading.

To break through that plateau, can I recommend that you try a couple of weeks with no reading at all? And limit all computer work to as little as possible? I was forced to do this in the last few months because of changed personal circumstances. From someone who was spending many hours per day at the computer, I became overnight someone who now barely has time to check her emails, let alone read discussion forums! I'm catching up on this forum after several months away. Most of my day is now spent in a full-time care situation for my elderly and frail mother. No books and no computer. Just household chores, with varied focusing distances. The difference to my vision, as attested by a recent Snellen check, has been remarkable.

[OtisBrown]

Note:  This is a personal message -- not endorsed by the United
       States Air Force.  Captain Deakins understood the explicit
       requirements -- and met and exceeded them.

             AIR FORCE PILOT USES THE PLUS LENS TO CLEAR
               HIS DISTANT VISION FROM 20/50 TO 20/20

From:  Captain Fred Deakins

To:  You who must achieve 20/20.

     Hello everyone, I'm a new member of this group of pilots and
have found your conversations quite interesting.  Like most of
you, I am a believer in alternatives to the western philosophy of
handing out visual crutches to everyone with eyesight / vision
problems.  Graduating from college, I found that my vision had
regressed to a myopic 20/50 due to near-point stress.  At the
time, I was in the running for a coveted air force pilot slot, but
absolutely had to pass the ophthalmology exam with 20/20
uncorrected (this was back in 1996).

     Through good fortune, I found the concept of plus lens vision
restoration and began working feverishly to improve my eyesight.
I worked about 1 hour every day, 5 days a week and gave my eyes a
rest on Saturday and Sunday.  I found that by Friday, my vision
was terrible, but come Sunday morning, I had eagle vision without
any squinting or straining.  I kept to my schedule leading up to
my initial military flight physical (4 months later) and read the
20/15 over and over again without even knowing it.  Needless to
say, my life dream was obtained and I now live in New Jersey
flying jets out of McGuire AFB.

     It worked for me, and I know that it's worked for countless
others.  Having reset my life goals, I now want to help others who
are striving for better vision.  I have started a company called
America 20/20, and our purpose is to provide first rate
instruction and support to those willing to invest time, effort
and commitment with the goal of achieving sharp vision without
glasses or surgery.  [Note:  Fred Deakins subsequently disbanded
America 20/20 for reasons I am not allowed to talk about.  Use your
imagination.]

     I'll warn you, though...it definitely takes work and
persistence on your part.  Think about it, our vision deteriorates
from prolonged stress and strain in the eye...for most of us
taking years to develop.  Why should we expect to be able to
correct our vision naturally literally over night?  Believe me, 4
months is a blink of the eye compared to the 6 or 7 years it took
me to ruin my vision (no pun intended).  I stopped doing these
exercises after my flight physical (3 years ago) and still see
20/20 with very little effort (this was impossible for me before
doing this).

     It's true that this method (and others) have failed some
people.  Those with eye disease excluded, I would be willing to
bet that this is because it took too much effort on their part and
therefore they decided to give up -- and go with the easy
solution...corrective minus lenses or some form of eye surgery.

     Anyway, I don't usually write long messages, but this is
important.  I care about each and every one of you who are
suffering from any form of disease or accommodative errors of the
eye.

Best Regards,

Captain Fred Deakins, USAF

[jimboston]

To break through that plateau, can I recommend that you try a couple of weeks with no reading at all? And limit all computer work to as little as possible?

Sadly, this isn't possible in my case, but I have tried your suggestion in the past, and while there is an improvement after a few days of zero close work, there is always a hard limit to how much your acuity improves. I have been doing edge of blur work for more than 6 months now with precise daily measurements. I'm afraid the baseline hasn't improved at all.

The difference to my vision, as attested by a recent Snellen check, has been remarkable.

Can you please specify the amount of improvement you have experienced after eliminating near work?