Ophthalmology Books

When I bought this book in November 2007, my right eye was 20/100, and my left eye was 20/50. Both had additional corrections for astigmatism. I also had double vision, requiring a 2D prism (1D in each lens). In January 2008, I passed the drivers' exam with 20/40 on the right and 20/50 on the left. Three months later, I reached 20/20 on the right and 20/30 on the left, with no double vision. If you are stuck on the path to increasingly bad eyesight, get off. This book will show you how.

eye surgery sounds good at first but the truth is... most patients after a while revert back to using glasses due to strain from bad vision habbits. master good vision habbits till the habbits become subconscious and vision will slowly return to normal...no matter how far gone. the question is what are bad and good habbits...didnt your mom ever tell you not to stare? well staring is one of my problems and i have -6.00 myopia. after a few min of doing good habbits my vision is noticably sharper. the big step is keeping those good habbits. buy this book, you'll enjoy it. im only half way through it and loveing it.

In one of the reviews in the first two pages of the book, someone comments that the book could really be titled "Relearning to Live". I heartily agree. A lot of the 5-star reviews say it as it is.

Compared to the hundreds of dollars I've spent on eyeglasses, eighteen dollars to read about improving eyesight (to the point where eyeglasses aren't needed--truly!), seems to be a bit of a paradox. I was a bit skeptical at first, but the will to improve my eyesight by natural means, was stronger than doubt. I believe this is an important step, as one has to assume responsibility for their own health and well-being (as quoted by a holistic health practitioner, somewhere in the book).

This book may very well be the best eighteen dollars I've invested in. It is of incredibly high standard and quality. To say the least, Mr. Quackenbush has a thorough, comprehensive, and extensive understanding of Bates' method and vision.

I started out at -7.25 (with -0.25 astigmatism--which I never believed I needed); currently I'm about -5.50 (no astigmatism). My -7.25s were getting fuzzy around Feb 2008. Yesterday, I tried on my original -7.25s, and I've better than perfect eyesight with them. This would be a total impossibility, had I not gotten this book.

Many optometrists have a negative view of Bates' teaching. Why, of course. If everyone had good eyesight, a whole bunch of optometrists would go out of business overnight.

For me, the first few days were a bit trippy. Headaches, etc. I will not forget the day my vision "sharpened" with a -6.00 pair. I was walking around in a store and it just happened.

"Don't stare, don't strain", are two golden rules to remember. The reading material will help you remember and put those (and other) good eye habits into practice. Yes, it takes dedication. Yes, lasik is "fast". Read the book and you'll see the price you pay for permanently tampering with (i.e: cutting) your corneas.

Personally, I do not intend to let Bates' (3 decades of research; was forced to resign from his graduate teaching position due to his contemporary, un-orthodox views) and this author's beneficial work to mankind, go to waste.

The material was presented in a clear manner. should be easy to understand and implement. It is strange that people have not come to an agreement to the real cause of errors in your eyesight with all the advances in medicine - they can clone you if they want to but cant tell you why u cant see far off objects. i guess the bottomline is like the food industry oil, pharmaceutical industry,health industry- money is the driving force, they dont care if you go blind,get fatter, get weaker, unhealthier as long as they can give you temporary fixes without solving the problem so they can keep making money.

I bought this book and read through it over about four weeks and put together the main points. I then followed these main points and within only ONE week i had improved my vision from around 20/100 to 20/30. Thats in just one week, imagine one month. Very good book well worth the money.

This book is similar to Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome. Both of these are good entry level books on understanding Dry Eye, but neither one of them offers a cure, only basic temporary relief. If you have level I dry eye (mild), the suggestions in the books will be more beneficial.

Dry Eye Talk forum is a good place to go after reading these books. It will help anyone with dry eye to understand their choices in managing it and why there isn't a single solution that works for everyone.

Dry Eye is caused by many things and there are four levels of dry eye. Treatment depends on the level and the cause. Only your eye doc can figure that out for you, but many of them just brush dry eye aside. Only a few really understand it.

The book has very good examples of the various types and causes of dry eye, and good suggestions as to home treatments. I found this book very helpful and am better able to understand my doctor's concern.

Ideally, of course, each of us should have a local, knowledgeable, expert-re-dry-eye doctor to help us deal with (itchy/red/painful/contact lens intolerant/post-Lasik, etc.) ocular problems. But in the absence of such heroes, this is a remarkably useful written resource.

A few of its specific product lists are becoming a smidge out-of-date as new products are hitting the market yearly. However, it is well-written BY a doctor, and well-explained -- specifically focused for a LAYPERSON audience.

This is the book I'd been waiting for - for years. It takes a systematic approach to figuring out how and why one's eyes are "dry" (a catchall phrase that lumps a number of conditions together). From there it provides a number of good suggestions for moving beyond being one who suffers dry eyes to becoming one who survives, heals, and takes control of the condition.

I found this book thru the dry eye zone website where one can also find much help and support.

One of the best books I've ever purchased.

Dee K
Ohio

Pros:
-It offers comprehensive and up-to-date info (as of the date of its publication) about the latest in dry eyes.
-It offers all-around practical advice to dry eye patients who may have otherwise lost hope.
-The depth in which the topics are covered seems just right for most patients.

Minor cons:
-Artificial tears (such as most Genteal brands) that contain special non-irritating or disappearing preservatives were not emphasized strongly enough. IMO, such drops are better than those that are entirely without preservatives, because preservatives after all do serve a useful and obvious function. Drops without preservatives often come in single-use vials and are therefore harder to deal with if you want to reuse them for cost effectiveness.
-Alleged homeopathic remedies are presented in a largely neutral or optimistic view, but the scientific fact is that homeopathic drugs are bogus and don't really have any medical effect beyond that of placebo. As such, the book was somewhat complacent towards homeopathy, and I feel that this takes away from proper scientifically or empirically sound remedies.
-There are a few minor typos that seem like they could have easily been caught prior to publication with a bit of extra effort.
-There is no hardcover version.

Notes:
-After the publication of the book, the prescription drug Lovaza became popular as an omega-3 supplement. For persons with health insurance, it may be cost effective if they can get the prescription drug instead of paying out-of-pocket for supplements.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone experiencing the condition, although if you do read it, it's always better to let this not be the only book you read about the topic. There are other good recent books on the topic that you also may want to read afterwards, both to reinforce the important points and to learn other info.

I found the first 8 chapters to be well organized. The author does an excellent job of giving a description of what she will teach and then more thoroughly teaches the information in the following chapters. It re-enforced what I learned reading the first 2 chapters.
I look forward to reading the rest of the text.

This is a very information book. I am in the process of becoming certified in EMDR therapy, and this book has really helped me to understand the origins of EMDR, the reasons why it works, and how to use it in my practice. This book is a very useful tool in addition to an EMDR training program.

This book is a companion to the live course, the foundation for EMDR. A must have text if you are a therapist using this modality.

This restatement of Francine Shapiro's standard overview of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)outlines the standard protocols for this proven treatment method. The methods, theory, and failsafe procedures are carefully explained for clinician practitioners. Careful liability reduction checks are examined and encouraged throughout the manual. This book alone is not a substitute for training in EMDR, yet will assist the new and veteran EMDR practitioner in remaining competernt in the skills and therory. I keep it handy for frequent review.

EMDR may be an excellent form of overcoming trauma, and the research tends to suggest it does, although if you read the literature in a disinterested way, you will find there are many mixed reports on study results. Some find EMDR equal to or better than Cog/Beh Therapy intervention; some find it better; some find it not as effective. As someone who has conducted experimental research, I wish to point out several issues that should be addressed, even for true believers. First, EMDR is a perfect intervention for a technological age: after all, don't all our life's problems supposedly have a technological solution. Our culture says so, but of course, history tells us otherwise. Spiritual meaning, social integration, a personal credo, culture and religion still appear to be the ingredients that hold us together..or as Paul Tillich says, "Our ground of being." Technology may be helpful but it is ultimately ancillary. Of course, those who suffer from trauma may require immediate relief, and if EMDR can reduce suffering efficiently and quickly, that's fine. HOWEVER, that being said, one must look a bit further. First, one must consider the individual client him/herself. EMDR helps us return to a traumatic event, see it more objectively, and hopefully allows us to use our reasoning faculties which may not have been in play during such events owing to stress, shock, immaturity, ignorance, and so forth. However, we all have varied levels of experiencing or "reliving" memory. Some can visualize quite easily and can "see" the experience as vividly, even more vividly than the true life one. In keeping with Gardner's idea of "multiple intelligences," we should consider that different individuals have different "intelligences" in reconstructing or reliving events. Furthermore, we should consider that individuals have varying degrees in their ability to make associations. While a trauma may be a single event or several similar events, in all likelihood they have developed as narrative themes that compose the self-concept the client has. The better a client can connect the trauma to such themes, the more holistic the effect. A good EMDR clinician can encourage this reconstruction, but one should be aware that we have different cognitive styles.

Second, some of us have more entry into traumatic events than others. This may be attributable to personality traits such as openness to self-disclosure, and environmental influences of trust, and/or varying levels of general repression of uncomfortable (let alone traumatic) thoughts and events. So, one size may not fit all.

Another important variable that should be examined by practitioners/researchers is the background of the therapist. For example, since much of EMDR is used to uncover traumatic childhood events, I believe it is important that the therapist have a background in treating children--at least to some minimal level. For, as the client recalls events from childhood, he/she is recalling them as a child and may be in a child-like state during the process. Therefore, the therapist must be able to talk to the client as a child (not the inner child because EMDR, if it works for childood trauma, brings the inner child "outward." Finally, the therapist must sense when the client is "ready" for the treatment. The trauma may be known, but the ability for the client to address the trauma in a safe and secure environment may take time to establish and nurture. I do not see the metaphor of the mind as a computer. If we begin to think that way, our society is in very big trouble. Much of our culture already does. In conclusion, this method should not be viewed as a mere technique, but like any intervention for change, as a technique largely dependent on the individual therapist/client. It helps to have a rich sensory life and a good sense-memory. A therapist might be able to jog some of it, but it still is a trait. And finally, about the eye movement part, there have been few studies comparing EMDR with and without the eye movements. Studies regarding whether they are necessary to the process have not been highly encouraging.

This book contained a lot of information I had already found elsewhere, but also (refreshingly)had a few tidbits that were new information that I found helpful

If you don't know anything about Dry Eye, this is a good basic book.

If you think you're going to find a cure in the book, it isn't going to be there. But at least you'll get an understanding of what is going on.

Dry Eye Talk is a forum that discusses everything new and old regarding dry eye. Read the book and then go on the forum, and you'll have most of the best info out there.

Dry eye is often misdiagnosed or glossed over by the eye docs. There are only a few who really understand it. Since it's common side effect of Lasik surgery and it's getting more common in people who work long hours on computers, you would think more docs would work with their patients. I have level II dry eye and my doctor tells me to use natural tears. Wow, I wish it were that simple.

Educate yourself, because if you're waiting for your doctor to spend ten minutes with you and tell you how to correctly manage your medical problems, you'll be waiting a long time to get real help.

The Dry Eye Remedy is a similar book.

I applaud the author for writing an intelligent, succinct, readable, upbeat overview of this irksome health issue. Patients who are newly diagnosed or who have not extensively researched the cause of their dry eye problems should definitely purchase this book. That being said, for someone like myself, who has already consulted ophthalmologists, am aware of my diagnosis, and have read numerous web articles on the topic, virtually all of the information was already familiar to me. However, I still unearthed one important nugget of information (that punctal occlusion using a cauterization process is reversible, and may be preferable to punctal plugs) which may be important for my future treatment. That alone was worth the price of the book, since my ophthalmologist had never mentioned this option. The book also contains a handy summary of the confusing variety of OTC eye drops and some good reminders about simple lifestyle changes that can be of great benefit. While any person with dry eye should initially consult an ophthalmologist to obtain a proper diagnosis, I just love books like this because doctors these days have so little time to sit you down and explain all of the strategies and treatment options that can be of benefit. Having this book several years ago would have been very helpful to me; it is a perfect example of why a small investment can sometimes be more worthwhile than a whole string of doctors' appointments.

I'm at the computer all day, sometimes every day. A few months ago, my eyes started hurting, and on occasion would tear excessively.

I did some Internet digging and discovered Maskin's dry eye book. It opened my eyes, so to speak.

The first thing the book confirmed was that I had dry eyes. I also learned about the other syndromes and disorders I could be experiencing; I also discovered which of the over-the-counter drugs I should use --and which to avoid.

The book provided me with a wealth of simple tips I could use immediately to help reduce my dry eye problem. For instance, I lowered the height of my monitor and started taking breaks every 30 minutes. Obvious things, sure, but only after reading about them in the book.

Besides helping me understand more about dry eyes, the book also made me realize I needed to seek out a consultation with an ophthalmologist. (That alone was worth the price of the book).

The writing style is comfortable and easy-to-read, and it's remarkably thorough. I definitely have a better handle on the problem and realize it can be treated.

If you're having any type of eye discomfort -- as you probably do as you're on this page -- I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of Maskin's book.

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!

Book Review: Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome: Practical Ways to Improve Your Comfort, Vision, and Appearance (Yale University Press, 2007) by Steven L. Maskin, M.D.

Do you have dry eyes? Apparently almost 5 million of us do in the United States. Moderate cases are estimated at 20-30 million people. Common in the over age 50 group--7.8% of women and 4.7% of men are impacted by it. If left untreated, keratoconjunctivitis sicca or dry eye syndrome, can lead to more eye problems, including blindness. Either the tear (lacrimal) glands under the eyelids aren't producing enough tears or the tears themselves are evaporating too quickly because of their composition.

Dr. Steven Maskin, author of Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome, says that dry eye syndrome is painful. Symptoms sometimes begin mildly and progress:

Achy or sore eyes

Redness, inflammation

Scratchy, grainy, gravelly feelings

Feeling of something in the eye

Burning, Stinging

Itching frquently

Contact lens discomfort

Nighttime dryness

Difficulty opening eyes in the morning

Blurred/ Fluctuating sight

Heavy eyes

Watery eyes

Excessive mucus discharge

Sensitivity to light

What are the causes? Researchers aren't quite sure, but some factors play significant roles:

LASIK Surgery

Live in a dry or windy area

Use the computer often

Use the eyes often for work or recreation

Drive long distances often

Smoke or live with someone who does

Use medications for allergies, birth control, or depression

Take hormone replacement therapy

Have had cosmetic eye surgery

Have worn contact lenses for many years

Suffer from specific illnesses: Sjogren's syndrome, diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, ocular rosacea.

I've had a little dry eye syndrome periodically due to contact lenses, reading, and computer use, but hadn't really thought that much about it, until my friend had LASIK eye surgery. He is an emergency room physician who loves to scuba dive on his time off. The need to see underwater through a mask, without contact lense worry led to LASIK surgery and a severe case of dry eyes. Using lubricating drops often, the standard treatment in the United States and Europe, his condition slowly improved. Further detection and treatment for severe cases involves drugs, surgery, in-office procedures, and moisture goggles.

What can be done at home? Recent studies indicate that increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids will improve the situation, possibly by 68% for women. Opt for salmon, tuna, sardines and other cold water fatty fish. Drink more water and reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine, a diuretic, encourages the body to eliminate water, whereas water hydrates the body. Avoid rubbing the eyes, instead blot them with clean tissue. Last, check in with the allergist, to identify an unknown eye-drying problem.

5 Stars

This book helped me understand what was happening to my eyes. It would have been nice if it was in bigger letters though.

This book was very helpful to me as a newly diagnosed patient with Graves Ophthalmopathy. I had so many unanswered questions after my dr's appointment and sitting down to read this book really helped me out. I learned many ways to help myself and whether or not my dr was doing all he could. I would highly recommend this book to others who have questions or just want to learn more.

This book is by far the most comprehensive, and yet understandable for the patient, that I have read on this topic. It has been invaluable to prepare me not only for communicating with my ophthamologist, but also for identifying complementary approaches that have greatly relieved my symptoms. The book serves as an important guide as my disease progresses which allows me to handle each difficult symptom intelligently. Wouldn't be without it!

I too have been recently diagnosed with Graves eye disease and was left very frustrated as to what I could do to help after leaving an opthamologist's office that supposedly specialized in this. This book lists things we can do to help this condition and stop aggravating - my Dr. didn't tell me to quit using Visine among numerous things. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for answers and ways to be proactive in their own treatment.

Very good book about the mysteries of Graves & that pesky thyroid. Easy to understand, with lots of alternative therapies and tips for making life with Graves eye disease easier. The stories of actual patients were very moving...Highly recommended!

I am an Ophthalmic Assistant and find this book to be a treasure. I use it if I am reading and need more detailed information and to know how to pronounce some ophthalmic terms. This book is written in an easy to understand format. I write referring letters to patients Doctor's and find this book invaluable when needing to know the correct spelling of a word.

The Dictionary of Eye Terminology 5th Edition is a great place to start when your needing the learn eye terminology in a hurry. I have so much to study just starting out in this profession, and there is so much to learn. So everytime I run into a word I have no clue as to it's meaning, this dictionary comes in for the rescue. Easy to understand definitions, along with how to pronounce. I use it every day on the job, and it has been a huge help to me.

I am a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI) and a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). This dictionary is excellent for review of anatomy, basic terminology, medical abbreviations, eye diseases, AND related eye diseases. For example, you may look up Retinitis Pigmentosa, find the complete description, and then find a "see also" list containg Laurence-Moon-Biedl Syndrome, and Refsum's Disease.

Additionally the book contains a list of common abbreviations and acronyms as well as a list organizations and associations. The latter is technical and obviously geared towards doctors, but would still prove useful parents of affected children will appreciate a copy of their child's condition and any resources. There are, however, other organizations like NAPVI that would be especially helpful to parents and CTVIs that are not listed in this book since it is meant to be used as a medical dictionary.

I am a teacher for students with multiple disabilities and visual impairment and I use this book all the time for quick reference before an IEP meeting or eye doctor's visit with my students. I find it very helpful.

I have personally used this resource for the past 20 years and it remains one of the "must haves" for clinical research coordinators who are trained through Ophthalmic Research Training Services.

It's also a fantastic tool for the CRA'S/ Monitors as well, who may be new to ophthalmology or need a little review from time to time, or just to make sure their spelling is correct.

I become highly surprised when I bought this book due a brother's disgnostic of ARMD. When I read it for hem I learned a bunch of things and also the disease at the begin. I confess I've never knew one word about this and for sure I started to take all care possible to avoid this for my own eyes.

This book gives a broad overview of this extremely common and debilitating eye disease. The co-authors, a leading ophthalmologist and a patient with macular degeneration, present the information from both the technical point of view and the laymen's point of view. The book covers many aspects of macular degeneration, including its definition, types, diagnosis, treatments, and coping methods. The treatments section includes a comparison of alternative therapies as well as standard medical treatments. There are also chapters on possible causes of macular degeneration and potential ways to lower the risk of developing the disease. The book includes a glossary and a list of resources for further information or help. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with macular degeneration, this book will be invaluable.

A few years ago my wife had a blood vessel in her retina burst causing permanent partial vision loss in one eye. (She complained of "wavy vision" the day before she was to go to Europe on vacation - she cancelled the trip.) Since then we have had an Amsler grid on our refrigerator door, and she has learned to cope with the `missing spot' in her field of vision.... Two weeks ago she noticed - while watching the Bloomberg channel - that she could not read a good bit of what was on the screen. This time the doctor found another leakage into the retina (not involving red blood cells); her vision returned to what it was before in a few days. The doctor `put dye into her' to `check her eyes out.' - BUT this time the doctor told her that she has early dry ARMD. ----- I realized that we didn't understand very much of what we were being told ... so I bought this book and spent the last two days reading it cover to cover... This is really an EXCELLENT summary. I wish we had had it before my wife's latest problem, because I would have been able to ask more intelligent questions. We will on the next checkup! This deceptively small book holds more information than I thought could be packed into a 170-page volume in large type. Dr. Robert D'Amato's explanations are not only complete, but also clear. (I finished reading it before I noticed that the Macular Degeneration Foundation has endorsed it!). I have a bent for details and proofs, for the exact pro's and con's of different `treatments.' I learned that my wife's emotional reaction to her diagnosis (she was initially convinced that she `was going blind') was only partially justified. Dr. D'Amato shows that this outcome is highly improbable; most people show a gradual loss, if any at all, over a period of years. I learned, however, that it is essential to keep an eye on (unintended humor there) dry ARMD so that progression into wet ARMD can be detected, and then treated. He details both current and prospective treatments for wet ARMD. ---- "Macular Degeneration" contains a very helpful glossary, and the book is filled with specific sources - so one can pursue additional research on this affliction! ----- I was NOT particularly impressed by Joan Snyder's contribution to this volume, despite the fact that she is obviously sincere. `Alternative medicine' seems to be all the rage now, but I think it lacks the rigor of true science. Mrs. Snyder's very complete listing of alternative approaches seemed to me merely a catalog of `ways to kid yourself.' [I was waiting for her to suggest prayer, pilgrimages, or divine healing -- which she never did, thank goodness!] Dr. D'Amato's kind words about his co-author did not hide his skepticism about her sympathy for `alternative medicine'. He is a more patient man than I am! Since the `alternative medicine' section occupied a relatively small part of the volume (the preface and Chapter 8) I don't feel that Mrs. Synder's contribution significantly detracted from the book's worth -in fact, for those like me who are hard-headed empiricists, the descriptions of `alternative approaches' told me: don't waste time on this approach! ---- Hats off to the publisher: Note that the typeface is quite large which opens this valuable work to those who need it the most -- ARMD sufferers with significant vision loss! I strongly feel everyone recently diagnosed with ARMD should read this book.

The condition described here is age-related but has grown significantly in recent years as the population ages: Macular Degeneration provides an analysis of the disease, its progression and its symptoms. From the latest medical treatments to options for alternatives, Macular Degeneration focuses on understanding all aspects of the sight-robbing condition.

I'm extremely impressed by this book. All patient education should strive to be this clear, readable, respectful, and comprehensive. It is written with understanding of and sympathy for the experience of coping with a potentially life-changing condition -- and by that I don't mean simply that the tone is warm and encouraging (although it is), but that the book is full of practical information that answers the kinds of questions that patients are likely to ask.

This is an excellent book, and it worked for me. I went from being near sighted and needing glasses to 20/20 vision (to the amazement of my eye doctor). I have also been bothered with light sensistive eyes since my childhood, and my eyes are now comfortable even in brilliant sunshine.

An excellent book! When I first started looking into alternatives to contacts and glasses I was lucky enough to have a friend refer this book to me. I started reading it and immediately began to apply some of the simple vision exercises. My eyesight improved radically! - About an immediate 75% improvement (towards what I remember from youth). This book had lots of simple eye exercises I could do during short 2 - 5 minute breaks during my workday. It was also really helpful in showing me how to deal with the other mind/body issues related to my deteriorated vision as well as simply helpful instruction on how to avoid eyestrain and the blurriness that comes with it now and in future. Due to these methods, one of my friends who has worn glasses for half their life has totally repaired their eyesight to the point they feel confident enough to have thrown out all their glasses et al! I was lucky enough to find this book early and I've only just begun! Five stars for the lady that keeps me from having to wear glasses!!! Thank you my friend and thank you Janet!

NATURAL VISION IMPROVEMENT
by Janet Goodrich

I have owned this wonderful book since the late eighties, when I started to have an ardent desire to learn more about the eye-brain connection. I have deliberately bought it despite its new agey connotations.

I have learned that, whatever we learn in a lifetime, as much as 90% will enter us through our eyes. Our brains are stimulated more by visual cues than any other senses. Our eyes also form a very significant part of our brains, some two-thirds of which are fully dedicated to vision & associated processing. Jokes aside, sexual attraction relies greatly on vision! Despite its comparative size, each eye ball has more significant moving parts than the Columbia space shuttle!

I love to read & I am an avid as well as a voracious reader. (From early '92 to mid-2004, I actually owned a small bookstore. It fueled & bankrolled my reading pursuits.) Naturally, I want to keep my eye balls in peak condition.

I was introduced to the book by chance. I did not buy the book on the grounds that I had wanted to get rid of my glasses. Today, I still wear my glasses, only when I drive or watch action movies on TV. When I read or work on my laptop, I don't need my glasses at all. This is inspite of the fact that my laptop screen display has been configured with small font size, especially my Internet Explorer, which allows me to read large chunks of information at one glance.

The most productive learning experiences I got out of this book are the 'natural vision improvement' exercises introduced by the author. They are:

- Palming exercise;
- Sunning exercise;
- Near/Far Focus exercise;
- Peripheral Vision exercise;

I have done these exercises for more than fifteen years. Oftentimes, I could amaze myself - & my friends - particularly when I could read relatively small prints on distant sign-boards or posters. I have also combined the vision exercises with some of the 'Brain Gym' exercises, namely, The Owl, Neck Roll, Cross Crawl & Brain Buttons. Additionally, I do a lot of diaphragmatic breathing exercises. I find all these exercises very useful in maintaining my active physiological frame of mind as well as my sharp mental focus when I read.

I have also taught these exercises to professional adults in my creativity classes, as well as to students in the schools. I have also shared them with my own friends. The feedback from them has always been positive.

Of course, from the book, I have also achieved a much better understanding of the eye-brain connection. If you are interested in this book, my suggestion is to read it with an open mind!

Frankly, if you want to keep your eye balls in peak condition, learn & practise the natural vision improvement exercises in this wonderful book! They have been field tested by me for more than fifteen years!

This well conceived and instructive volume combines empirical data and wholistic methods for just about every kind of eye condition short of blindness.
I met Janet Goodrich at a vision improvement course at Crystal Waters. She is one of the most interesting and eccentric ( in a pleasant way) people I have ever met. At the course I not only improved my vision, albeit marginally, but also lost weight. I don't know if she still lives in Australia.
These natural methods are intense and so a lot of people probably won't have time to use them but I can testify that they work, although very gradually. Few people have the patience these days to stick to these routines unfortunately.
If you ever read these reviews, Janet, best wishes.
Regards, Mike.

The author goes over the mental states associated with clear vision and includes a lot of vision games to help stimulate relaxed seeing. I needed more than what's here, but it's a good book and goes over some great stuff.

Dr. Abel is an expert in natural ophthalmology and really seems to know his stuff. If you're interested in maintaining excellent vision and eye health for your entire life, primarily through diet and supplementation, read this book. I showed it to my optometrist who hopped on his computer and ordered it on the spot!

I had a near-debilitating eye burn accident a month ago and I went through a series of opthamologists who couldn't answer a majority of my questions regarding the recovery of my eyesight. To complicate matters I had LASIK surgery that was affected by the burn accident and no-one could tell me anything. Until I read this book; this book provided me with holistic and scientific approach to treating and supplementing my treatment. From supplements to herbs, this book provided me a complete approach to the healing process. I am now near 90% visual acuity and because I can now read, I've began a lifelong process of eye health care that will help me in the future.

This is an excellent purchase for those who have serious eye problems or because of family history expect to.I have a much better understanding of my problems and ways to deal with them. I highly recommend this book.

This book is the most informative and in plain english that anyone can understand. If you are a person who believes in Herbs and natural cures, than this is the book for you. I first got the book from my library for my husband who has bleeding vessels in both of his eyes. We read it and then decided it was too excellent not to purchase and keep in our personal library. We purchased the herbs that were recommended for this condition and also went a little further with other herbs. There is some improvement (after only 3 weeks). Dr Abel, the author is an excellent Doctor and has the gift to be able to relate information on all levels of understanding. This book is worth every penny and more. You won't be disappointed if you are considering this purchase.

***************************************************************** BACKGROUND

I am a 32-year old chemistry Ph.D. student who this past fall was told that retinas in both eyes had detached.

I underwent surgery and got the "best possible" surgical result; however, this is not the same as what my vision had been before. At that point, I was told that since they didn't know why this (retinal detachment) happened that there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.

I am extremely lucky that I stumbled upon Dr. Abel's book by accident in a local bookstore -- it has profoundly changed my life for the better. I am now at (...) to buy extra copies for friends and relatives.

ONE OF THE BEST HEALTH BOOKS EVER!

This is one of three of the most important health books I have run across in my life. (The other two are nutritionally-related -- "Entering the Zone" by Barry Sears,Ph.D., and "The Formula" by Gene & Joyce Daoust, and provide information on how to use diet to minimize illness and maximize longevity. These books well-complement this book and are of a similar holistic mindset.)

Dr. Abel, a U.S.-trained ophthalmologist (M.D.), has embraced the wisdom of non-Western medicine in his search to find ways to treat eye problems that Western medicine claims are "untreatable" and by so doing HAS FOUND SOLUTIONS TO MOST COMMON EYE PROBLEMS, WHICH HE HAS SHARED IN THIS BOOK.

Also typical of a non-Western approach, this book takes a holistic view -- showing that several other conditions can also accompany eye problems.

For example, before reading this book, I never recognized that arthritis and dry eyes commonly occur together (they are both collagen "diseases" which, in retrospect, makes a lot of sense) and that successfully treating one will also help lessen the severity of the other.

MOST EYE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO INADEQUATE DIET & SO PREVENTABLE

The core message of this book is that most eye problems are the result of nutritional (specifically, vitamin/supplement) deficiencies.

ORGANIZATION OF THE BOOK

A general background on the eye if first given to provide a foundation to the layman, clearly explaining eye structure and basic function. (This background would probably be accessible to the average person who doesn't have a scientific background.)

Successive chapters build on this foundation as they each address one of the most common eye diseases, e.g. glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eyes, etc. At the end of each chapter is given a summary of what vitamins you can take to prevent/halt the progression of that particular eye problem.

The vitamins/supplements recommended are mostly available in your local grocery store's vitamin aisle -- you don't have to make a special trip to someplace exotic. (Also, a lot are common enough that there are generic versions available, which makes this easier for people on a limited budget.)

HOW THIS BOOK WAS USEFUL TO ME (& HOW IT COULD BE USEFUL TO YOU TOO)

Although the final step leading to my retinas detaching was the mechanical tearing of the retina, this book made me realize that the precursor was the weakening of the collagen in both my blood vessels and in the eye structure itself and that these were to vitamin deficiencies. (This book calls retinopathy "scurvy of the retina".)

Some of the solutions recommended in the book for this, e.g. bilberry and vitamin C, are vitamins/supplements known to strengthen collagen and other tissues.

I have taken multivitamins everyday and so would not have initially guessed that I have had a vitamin deficiency. But, after comparing the amounts in the multivitamin to the amounts recommended, I see that I did have one. (Remember you use up a lot of vitamins when you are under stress! :-) )

THIS BOOK IS EMPOWERING!

After reading this book, I realize that I have the power to prevent my eye condition from worsening just by taking a few more vitamins and supplements a day. This is a very easy way to significantly improve the quality of your life.

I am extremely grateful to Dr. Abel for writing this book and giving me the ability to take back my life again.

ONE SMALL CRITICISM: WHY NOT A LARGE-PRINT EDITION?

My only possible complaint is that a book on eye problems needs to be available in a large-print edition so that the bulk of people who need this book might actually be able to read it themselves.

This book is a most complete reference manual for optical dispensing. It contains a vast amount of knowledge, all well indexed and highly accessible. Due to the encyclopedic scope of its contents, it works less well as a preparatory aid for the ABO examination than dedicated exam prep courses or manuals, but its exhaustive inventory of detail is a strength when it comes to real world optical dispensing. This book is an indispensable aid if you are an eye care professional who likes to "do it right the first time". Highly recommended.

I grew up, if you will, on a previous edition of "System for Ophthalmic Dispensing" purchased brand new in the late 1980s. I have always considered it the best reference book available. This latest edition is a welcome update and is relevant to today's lens materials and current standards. Anybody from beginner to seasoned optician can benefit from this book. Highly recommended.

This book has considerable more content than the previous second edition and is required reading for many college ophthalmic programs. As a reference book, it is by far the most useful to me.

It's an enormous improvement from the second edition, which I also own a copy of. The book covers everything you need to know to pass state and national board examinations and become a licensed dispensing optician. My only complaints are that its contents are ordered somewhat counterintuitively, and that it's a very large, heavy volume (I have enough to tote around with my tools!)

I used the 1st edition as a student....this one is many many times better. If you are a student hopefully this is one of your required textbooks. If you are a practicing optician, this book belongs on your office shelf.

Ed
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