Near-point Stress

To be fair, the theory of near-point stress seems to have some valid points too. This theory explains that myopia develops due to the constant stress on ciliary muscle. Using the eyes for close work for prolonged period of time makes the lens in the eye to accommodate, forcing it to change the shape. Wearing glasses not only locks this tensed muscle condition but actually becomes worse and worse as no doubt everyone with myopia experienced. After a while the change becomes permanent. The proponents of these theory claim that if you never wear glasses and keep good posture while doing close work your eyesight should never become worse than -3D which is bearable.

Either way we have locking of the muscle due to stress and glasses. Only in the Bates theory the strain is produced by straining to see in the distance while in near-point stress theory the main culprit is doing the close work.

Who is right? To be honest, I don’t know. According to Bates, it follows logically that reading the small print decreases myopia. According to the other theory just looking in the distance decreases myopia.

So here’s the tip for you to implement in your daily work: whenever you perform any close work every 15 minutes or so glance in the distance, preferably through the window, if that is not possible, around the room. Close your eyes and imagine yourself looking at some scenery with distant objects like trees.