July is UV Common Sense Month

Albert Einstein wanted to know, “Is the universe a friendly place?”

I choose to believe it is.

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I just got Dr. Marc Grossman’s Natural Eye Care, July 2024 Newsletter, entitled “July is UV Safety Month.” In it he talks about the dangers of UV light, which I’m well aware of. I greatly admire and respect Dr. Grossman. He is a forward thinking and practicing behavioral optometrist and acupuncturist, who combines Eastern and Western, holistic and conventional, approaches to eye care. Regularly, I consult his encyclopedia of natural eye care, “Natural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision & Healing,” by Marc Grossman and Michael Edson, and recommend his herbs and supplements. He is also a fellow member of the Association of Vision Educators. I refer many of my clients to him.

Although I appreciate Dr. Grossman’s knowledge and information, I personally take a less reactive and fearful approach to how I relate to the great bright ball of fire in the sky that for eons has miraculously created the perfect conditions for life here on earth.

I take a different approach

Letting go of fear has been a major part of my vision improvement journey. Since natural vision is dependent on remaining relaxed, I try not to get too caught up in fear. Fear causes strain, which lowers eyesight. When I have been afraid, I haven’t behaved logically. I’ve even fallen for scams. And, my vision has lowered. I personally prefer common sense over fear. I think fear can hijack common sense. And, natural vision.

I believe the full spectrum of sunlight has it’s health benefits. I can’t pretend to understand what they all are, but do not believe I should fear the very things necessary for life – air, water and sunlight. Personally, I respect Nature. Yes, too much sunlight can be harmful… snow blindness, sunburn. And, too much air… hyperventilation. And, too much water… over-hydration or water poisoning. Still, I trust Nature. That’s my approach.

“it is not light but darkness that is dangerous to the eye. Prolonged exclusion from the light always lowers the vision…”

William H. Bates, M.D.

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This is my experience

Before I heard about the Bates method and was reintroduced to my natural vision and to letting go of strain, fear and anxiety, I suffered from issues of blurry vision, frequent headaches, chronic neck pain, eye pain and sunlight sensitivity.

As I practiced using my mind, body and eyes in a more relaxed and balanced way, all my issues gradually resolved.

• My vision is generally clear, yet clarity fluctuates with how I’m doing mentally, emotionally and physically. The more relaxed I am, the clearer my vision.
• I rarely have headaches anymore, and no longer have severe headaches. In the past, I never did not have a headache.
• I no longer have chronic neck and shoulder pain. Pains do come an go, but don’t last and are no longer debilitating.
• I no longer have eye pain, which was chronic and sometimes severe.

This is my approach

My issues, including blurry vision, improved the more I practiced natural vision techniques. As they became habits and part of my daily life, my issues resolved. I did simple Bates method techniques, including palming, swinging and sunning, that mimic natural vision. Practicing them reintroduced me to my own natural vision, to using my eyes in their naturally relaxed way. I still practice these relaxing techniques, but they have become habit. I incorporate them into my day. If the sun pops out from behind a cloud, I take a moment and sun. If my eyes feel a little tired, I take a moment and close and rest them or palm. While standing in a check out line in a store, I’ll inconspicuously swing or sway a little, do some color searching or counting, looking around spontaneously with curiosity. I’ll use my eyes in a naturally relaxed way, moving, blinking, looking for details. It has become habit to do so. it has become enjoyable to do so. Generally, it has become difficult to not do so.

I don’t wear sunglasses

I use to have sunlight sensitivity and felt like I needed sunglasses. And, the more I wore them, the more I needed them. Keeping my eyes shaded behind tinted glasses increased my sunlight sensitivity. And, even with sunglasses I’d get a headache from sunlight. After reintroducing my eyes to sunlight in a gentle way, through closed-eyes sunning, my eyes came to love the sunlight. I no longer have sunlight sensitivity. Sunning is relaxing. Now, I love bright sunlight. Removing my sunglasses and sunning is probably the practice that has improved my eyesight the most.

The last time I wore sunglasses for any length of time was in 2016. I was on my way to my Natural Vision Improvement Coach training, driving from Illinois to Colorado. I worn them on the way there, but not on the way back. I still have them in the glove compartment, “just in case,” but generally haven’t had to use them, even while driving in the Florida sunshine. Instead, I use the sun visor or a hat. I blink a lot, looking a little to the left and right as I blink, in effect filtering the sunlight and swinging the sun.

A year or so ago, I did put my sunglasses on for a few minutes, during a moment of driving directly into the sun. And long ago, when I lived in Oregon and did a lot of skiing, I wore tinted ski goggles. Now, brighter the light, the faster I blink. Works much like sunglasses.

Q: Does Dr. Bates approve of dark glasses to protect the eyes from the sun at the seashore?

A: No. Dark glasses are injurious to the eyes. The strong light of the sun is beneficial to the eyes, although it may be temporarily painful and blinding.

From Questions and Answers. Better Eyesight Magazine, December 1922

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I don’t get sunburned

Actually, I do remember getting a sunburn once. I was 12 years old. It was on my shoulder. My skin peeled and itched. I haven’t gotten a sunburn since. I’m now 65. I guess it was drummed into me by my Mother, to not allow my skin to burn. I do follow some of the common sense precautions Dr. Grossman talks about. I wear a hat with a brim, cover myself, seek shade or use sunscreen when I’m in the sun for an extended period of time.

Even the demonized UV spectrum of sunlight has benefits, which unfortunately are usually overlooked. Although I don’t allow my skin to burn, I do allow myself to get sun exposure, without sunscreen. on. Sunscreen blocks UVB light, and therefore the making of vitamin D. The benefits of vitamin D and the risks of its deficiency are well know. If you want to look into the latest research into vitamin D, I suggest you check out Grassroots Health Nutrient Research Institute.

There is more being discovered all the time about the benefits of various wavelengths of sunlight. For example, infrared light, the wavelength we feel as the warmth of the sun, is necessary in powering our mitochondria and making antioxidants such as melatonin and glutathione. And, looking at red light first thing in the morning has been shown to improve eye health.

What other benefits does sunlight hold? Since the sun is a main source of life on our planet, and has been for a very long time, I believe there’s much we don’t know. Again, personally I tend to trust, rather than fear Nature.

I use blue blocking technology

Dr. Grossman talks about the damaging effects of blue light, especially from electronic screens. Unlike sunlight, which is natural and balanced, electronic screens have an unnatural balance of wavelengths, and an abundance of blue light, which increases free radical activity in the eyes. When using electronic screens, on my computer or phone, I always use a blue light blocking app. Night Shift, an app already on my iphone. On my computer, Flux.

I eat better

I eat better than I use to. I use to eat processed foods, high in additives and sugar. I was under nourished. I’m sure I was missing nutrients. Since eating better, a variety of real, mostly organic and local food, I feel better mentally, emotionally and physically.

All the nutrients necessary for eye health and health in general, are found in real food. I now think of food as medicine. Many of the nutrients in food become natural sunscreens in our eyes. Dr. Grossman suggests foods, nutrients and supplements in his book “Natural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision & Healing” and on his website Natural Eye Care .

This has been my approach, but it’s not the only approach

This has been my approach to improving my own vision. It is what I’ve been comfortable with. I have chosen not to wear glasses, including sunglasses, and have benefited greatly. I have chosen to trust Nature and embrace all She has to offer, including the full spectrum of sunlight. But, it is only my approach.

Develop your own approach

You can develop your own approach to improving your own vision. The goal is relaxation. Mental and physical relaxation leads to relaxed natural vision. How you get there, is up to you. My job as a coach is to assist you in developing what works best for you. Practices can be modified. You can be creative. You can come up with your own ways of incorporating them into your life that feels comfortable, safe and relaxing.

Dr. Bates said many times that the solution to sunlight sensitivity is more sunlight. But, sunlight can be introduced gradually and in ways that feel safe and comfortable for you. For example, you can do your sunning practice with a low wattage lamp, or facing away from the sun, or in the shade, or on a cloudy day. And, a perfect time for sunning is early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun is first coming up or going down. At these times, the amount UV light is the lowest. The sun is also at the perfect angle for comfortable sunning, you don’t have to strain your neck to tilt you head up.

Natural Vision Improvement is educational

Whatever decisions you make regarding your relationship with the sun, know that Natural Vision Improvement is educational and non-medical. It does not replace medical care. It does not offer medical advice. Please see your medical care provider regarding your health and the health of your eyes.

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Resources

• “Perfect Sight Without Glasses” by William H. Bates
• “Natural Eye Care: Your Guide To Healthy Vision & Healing,” by Marc Grossman and Michael Edson
• Natural Eye Care
• Association of Vision Educators
• Vitamin D research , Grassroots Health Nutrient Research Institute
• Near Infrared (NIR) Light Therapy of Eye Diseases: A Review , National Institute of Medicine
• Morning exposure to deep red light improves declining eyesight , University College London
• Declining eyesight improved by looking at deep red light , University College London
• “Optimal Eyesight: How to Restore and Retain Great Vision” by Esther Joy van der Werf (Chapter 15. “Sunlight: Friend or Foe?”)