Observations and Comments from Dr. Roberts
(about The "see Clearly Method")

Eye/vision care practitioners can be broadly defined by the way they view the etiology (origin) of vision disorders.  Some see all refractive disorders (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) as a result of genetic endowments.  Some see them as a result of environmental/experiential consequences.  Others, including me, view both influences as playing a role in vision health and/or disorders.

One of the academic models of vision that is commonly taught to optometrists throughout North America is “optical focus.”  It is literally a self-fulfilling prophecy as the lens which corrects ( a better term, compensates) actually creates a further increase in optical power dependency on subsequent evaluations.  Thus, one becomes more dependent, not less, which is normally viewed negatively by the wearer of ophthalmic lenses.

An alternative academic model (behavioral/developmental) is an attempt to truly prevent and/or correct the deterioration. This is my personal and professional passion zone belief…so…to the extent that SCM is non-invasive, non-surgical and developmentally oriented, I would be supportive of the SCM.

However, this leads to the core question:  “Can one reverse all visual deficiencies without wearing compensating lenses at all?”  Without creating excessive confusion, suffice it to say that the non-wearing of lenses can often be very successful in early non-embedded states, partially successful in partially embedded cases, and less successful in embedded patients.  It should then become obvious that the use of lens really depends on the degree of embeddedness of the problem(s).

My concern about the SCM is the apparent unqualified claim to completely eliminate dependence on glasses or contact lenses.  I would not categorically deny that the possibility exists but I would be very concerned about how the probability of doing so is communicated.

A separate, but more compelling, item to those of us who practice with a developmental/behavioral clinical model is what is the primary purpose of ophthalmic lenses.  Lenses can be used for Preventive, Developmental, Rehabilitative, and/or Enhancement purposes.  In my opinion, it is more important for any lens to be used for the benefit of increased performance output than just for the compensation of defective ocular structure.

One more very important additional fact is that there is much more to be offered by vision therapy than by the exclusive reduction of refractive status and improvement in visual acuity.  One has the ability to improve visual inspection skills (accommodation, binocular, oculomotor functions) as well as visual-cognitive operations (spatial awareness; visual directional concepts; visual analysis of size, form, motion, color and distance; and visual intersensory integration).

It is very important to note that Behavioral Optometric vision therapy (as we practice it) is not to be confused with the Bates Method, Vision for Life, or  The See Clearly Method.