Centralisation

Dr. Bates coined the term "Central Fixation" and defined it to mean "seeing best where you are looking", at the point of greatest mental and visual focus. This Centralisation accurately describes-the phenomena of seeing with perfect vision, that is, the bringing into play of the retinal nerves, which are equipped to do our keenest seeing. The fovea, which 'is the most sensitive part of the centre of sight, or macula has been called light-finder, the child, impulse. It unfolds to do its duty only when the physical eye and the mind area, relaxed, that is, relieved from the compulsion originated by the mind. Any compulsion from mind or eye muscles closes the cone shaped nerves of the fovea tight like a sensitive plant, then only general or blurry vision takes place since the other nerves of the retina are not equipped to do the keenest seeing. When the sensitive light-finding nerves of the fovea become active, every portion of an object regarded stands out in extreme vividness while the cones are vibrating over it with such speed that the entire object seems to be seen all at once.

For this reason, if you determine to see one. thing best or one part -of a thing best, you are attempting to do the impossible, trying to command an impulse. If, however, you will relax the eyes and mind, release them from, compulsion and just let vision take place that is, give way to impulse the eyes will assume their normal shape and the light-seeking cones will be vibrated by the light reflected on to them from every portion of the surface of the object regarded. In this way, the object is clearly outlined as a shadow. Thus for the fraction of a second it takes the fovea to be, stimulated by the light from each part of the object, you see that part more clearly than any other. The mind, being relaxed, interpret, accurately for size, shape,- depth and distance, and Clear vision has taken place.

If, on the other hand, you determine to see one comer of a picture best, and consciously fix you attention upon it, you hold mind and muscles rigid in a stare, which tenses the mind and makes impossible the foveal shift. This directs the vision that does take place on to the less sensitive cones and the rods of the retina, and very imperfect sight is the result.

Staring long enough and hard enough will actually blind a person for the time being. If staring becomes a permanent habit it cuts down vision as nerves, mind and muscles rebel. For example, one pupil relates that when, as a child, she spent hours each week in an Art Gallery admiring the pictures, she was struck, one day, with the thought that she might never be able to go there again. So she decided to memorise her favourite painting. She stood before it, fastened her gaze upon it, firmly determined to drink it in, to absorb it indelibly so that she would never forget it. As she stared and her eyes grew weary, the picture began to grow dimmer and dimmer until it gradually faded away. Her vision turned completely off and she had to grope for a chair in the centre of the room. Terribly frightened, the child decided that Pod had not wanted her to remember that particular painting. She was afraid to look at it again. To this day, she has not the least idea what even the subject of the painting was. Her eyestrain was so great that the mental strain accompanying it was equally powerful and both memory and vision were completely obliterated. Vision, of course, returned when the eyes recovered from their protracted staring but fear kept the memory of the painting a blank.

Although this is an extreme example of how detrimental prolonged staring can be to vision, many persons permanently reduce their visual acuity by continually staring with every look, a series of miniature stares.

To summarise, the fovea is a light-finder; the mind is an interpreter of shadows. Both co-ordinate to do their duties only when they are relaxed.

The material in subsequent chapters is designed to show sufferers with eyestrain how to let go and look with relaxation which will bring centralisation and eye mind co-ordination. This is vision.