063: Why Eye Exercises Don't Work (and What Does Work!)
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
Release Date: 09/01/2022
The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher (and anthropologist) Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Anna Bambridge, a natural vision teacher and researcher based in Glasgow, Scotland. The two natural vision educators discuss some of the topics from Anna's piece called "Seeing Details In Context", which can be read in its entirety on her website: 0:30 - Anna on Episode 65 of the Better Eyesight Podcast 2:37 - 6 Month Vision Improvement Program from December 2024 - May 2025 4:44 - Eye Yoga Workshops in Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu in January 2025 7:25 - Anna’s Introduction 8:55 - Anna’s vision...
info_outline 080: Nathan's New York Recap (Conference, Gathering, Retreat)The Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld recaps his recent experiences in New York in September and October, including the 5 Day Association of Vision Educators Conference, the 4 Day Teacher Training Gathering, and the 3 Day Vision Retreat. The AVE Conference attracted 30+ natural vision teachers from the USA, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and more. The teacher training gathering gave Nathan and his teacher trainees a chance to meet in person. The 3 week NY trip culminated in a 3 Day Vision Retreat with Nathan Oxenfeld and Anat Axelrode, the creater of the Conversations with...
info_outline 079: The Fascia Vision Connection with Judy GantzThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Judy Gantz about her work with the fascia. Judy is the Director and Founder of the Center for Movement Education and Research. She skillfully blends anatomy and physiology with dance and movement. The fascia also plays an important role in the function of the eyes, so the topic of vision gets interwoven throughout. For more information about Judy's work, visit https://cmer.info/ To learn more about Nathan & Anat's upcoming 3 Day Vision Retreat, go to https://integraleyesight.com/2024retreat Thank you for listening!...
info_outline 078: Presence and Pinhole Glasses with Peter GrunwaldThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher interviews Peter Grunwald, the creator of the Eyebody Method and a special type of pinhole glasses that help get you into a state of "presence" rather than a state of "underfocusing" or "overfocusing". For more information, go to https://eyebody.com/ or https://integraleyesight.com/ Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Vision Retreat in New York this fall, likely October 3-5, 2024. Thank you!
info_outline 077: Cultivating Community in Costa RicaThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this solo episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld recounts his recent trip to Central America on an Ecovillage Tour that visited 7 intentional communities in 9 days. Not only was it an enriching experience, but it helped reiterate the important role that a healthy community plays in having healthy vision. Thankfully, he was able to embark on this international journey in January before breaking his leg in March! To read the text version of this piece and see some pictures and videos that go along with the story, go to To listen to Nathan's recent appearance on the TAO...
info_outline 076: Listening To The Eyes with Anat AxelrodeThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Anat Axelrode about her unique method called Listening To The Eyes. By learning how to have conversations with the eyes, one can learn valuable information about what the eyes need in order to heal. For more information, visit Anat's website - Go to to watch the replay of "Improve Your Eyesight 6 Ways" and learn more about Nathan's upcoming 6 Month Vision Improvement Program. Listen to the new episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast at https://bettereyesightpodcast.com and join the Better Eyesight League at ...
info_outline 075: Stress Point Training on Trampolines with Dr. Ray GottliebThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Dr. Ray Gottlieb about how to improve attention, memory, coordination, proprioception, and vision using a trampoline! The concept is called "stress point training" and it has shown to help people learn new skills in a positive and productive way. Eventually it can help one master any given skill, whether playing an instrument, competing in sports, or simply seeing clearly without glasses. Dr. Ray tells some incredible success stories of people he has worked with in the past, and even gives a live demonstration of the...
info_outline 074: Ten Tips To Improve Your Night VisionThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld takes you on a night vision walk to go over 10 tips to improve your night vision naturally. 1. Take time to adjust, use it or lose it 2. Get light during the day, Sun your eyes 3. Palm your eyes 4. Use dimmer indoor light at night 5. Limit screen exposure before bed, and/or block blue light 6. Use red flashlights 7. Use your peripheral vision 8. Averted Gaze (shifting, swinging, dodging stars/lights) 9. Diet, nutrition, supplementation (lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A) 10. Practice the Bates Method daily, especially at night!...
info_outline 073: The Energy of Dr. Bates with Barry AuchettlThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Barry Auchettl about his recent experiences inspired by the energy of Dr. Bates and his original approaches. Nathan and Barry are teaming up this November to lead their next 22 Day Vision Tune Up. Go to https://integraleyesight.com/22days for more information and to sign up online. (1:18) Channeling Dr. Bates (2:28) The relaxed approach of keeping it simple (4:52) A recent story of natural vision restoration in 24 hours (7:00) Reconnection as healing (9:00) Glasses as barriers (10:00) Accessories as protection (12:49)...
info_outline 072: Healing Through the Ears with Rikke GodthjaelpThe Naked Eye Podcast: Exploring Natural Alternatives to Glasses, Contacts, and Surgeries
In this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld interviews Rikke Godthjaelp from Copenhagen, Denmark about her experience in the fields of Auriculotherapy, Auriculomedicine, Posturology, and Chromotherapy; with a current emphasis on treating PTSD with light therapy and color therapy applications on the ears. Nathan and Rikke are teaming up twice this fall, first for the FREE Color Lights Gifts to the World workshop on October 10th, 2023 and then for the 2 day Color & Light Immersions virtual retreat on November 11th & 12th, 2023. Go to https://color-buresch.at/ to...
info_outlineIn this episode, Certified Bates Method Teacher, Nathan Oxenfeld shares a few upcoming opportunities to participate in natural vision improvement talks, workshops, and panels this fall and winter, and teaches a 20 minute lesson about why eye exercises alone don't improve vision and how the habit of central fixation does.
[0:30] New Bates Method 101 Video on YouTube! Why Eye Exercises Don’t Work (And What Does Work)
[2:00] Episode 2 of TNEP - Eye Exercises vs. The Bates Method
[2:40] Naked Eye Podcast vs. Bates Method 101 YouTube videos
[3:15] Central Fixation is what does work! Diffusion (Eccentric Fixation) keeps your vision blurry!
[3:47] Color Lights World Project 2022 Events
[4:31] Light Therapy & Color Therapy
[5:34] Free Zoominar on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 @ 2pm EDT featuring 10 speakers (including me!)
[6:09] My Vision Panel with Ainhoa de Federico is on December 1st, 2022 @ 2pm EDT (Preserving Eye Health in a Screen Filled World)
[7:51] The other 5 panels in October, November, and December
[8:38] Register online at Gabrielle Buresch-Teichmann’s website www.color-buresch.at
[9:11] Natural Vision Improvement Day is on Saturday, October 15th from 10am to 6pm EDT
[10:08] AVE = Association of Vision Educators
[11:07] Natural Vision Improvement Day features Nathan Oxenfeld, Orit Kruglanski, Claudia Muehlenweg, Dr. Marc Grossman, Ainhoa de Federico, Peter Grunwald, Dr. Jacob Liberman, and an entire AVE Teacher Panel to finish
[12:27] Go to www.naturalvisionteachers.org for more info or https://bit.ly/nviday2022
[13:22] New 6 Month Vision Improvement Program group starts this November 2022-April 2023
[13:52] More documentary screenings getting planned for early 2023
[14:18] Rent or Purchase the film (plus 4 extended interviews) www.vision2020movie.com
[15:05] Natural Vision Teacher Training Program in development!
[17:00] EXERCISE doesn’t work. RELAXATION does work.
[18:30] Don’t take your eyes to the “eye gym”, take them to the “eye spa”
[19:50] Dynamic Relaxation is achieving and maintaining relaxation in your eyes and mind as you’re using them
[20:10]The Fundamental Principle of the Bates Method = Central Fixation
[20:40] Palming is more of a passive relaxation (eyes closed)
[22:08] Central fixation is more of a dynamic relaxation (eyes open)
[22:44] Diffusion is trying to see everything equally clearly all at once
[23:00] Central Fixation is seeing best where you are looking
[24:12] The important difference between photographic camera and human eye
[26:50] Artificial lenses lead to a loss of central fixation
[29:05] Central fixation is a good vision habit to maintain in between your other vision practices
[30:55] Get a visual demonstration of diffusion vs. central fixation look like in the YouTube video
[32:52] Subscribe to my YouTube channel www.youtube.com/nathanoxenfeld
[33:11] Daily Routine video has over 900,000 views- let’s get to a million!
[34:34] The Better Eyesight Podcast & The Better Eyesight League www.bettereyesightpodcast.com www.patreon.com/bettereyesight
[36:36] Mark your calendars for October 4th, October 15th, and December 1st, 2022!