Better Eyesight Podcast

It saddens me to share the news that our friend Esther Joy van der Werf passed away earlier this month, March 2025.

I recorded a special episode remembering Esther, and also compiled some photos from over the years at https://integraleyesight.com/esther

She was taken too soon, but her legacy is large and her impact is enormous. She will live on in these Better Eyesight Podcast episodes.

We will continue carrying on the Bates Method flame per Esther's request and keep the show going, so stay tuned for new episodes on the 1st of each month until 2030.

Thank you to everyone who has listened to our show so far. Let's keep remembering Esther's teachings together!

-Nathan

In the sixty-ninth episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Esther Joy van der Werf and Gloria Ginn read through the sixty-ninth Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in March 1925 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, March 1925 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [2:15]: The Elliptical Swing

• Discussion 1 [4:30]

• Article 2 [7:00]: Limits Of Vision by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [15:15]

• Article 3 [33:10]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 61: Two Blind Girls by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [40:40]

• Article 4 [51:10]: The Sun as a Cure for Imperfect Sight by Emily A. Meder

• Discussion 4 [55:10]

• Article 5 [1:04:00]: Report of the League Meeting

• Discussion 5 [1:08:50]

• Article 6 [1:15:50]: Suggestions to Patients by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 6 [1:17:10]

• Article 7 [1:25:50]: The Two Princes by George Guild

• Discussion 7 [1:30:50]

• Article 8 [1:34:00]: Read Fine Print

• Discussion 8 [1:36:00]

  ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 9 & Discussion 9 [1:41:40]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Esther's website - www.visionsofjoy.org

• Gloria's website - www.schoolofbettereyesight.com

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

In the sixty-eighth episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Nathan Oxenfeld and Carl Vigilante read through the sixty-eighth Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in February 1925 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, February 1925 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [2:45]: The Baby Swing

• Discussion 1 [5:00]

• Article 2 [17:00]: Cataract by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [26:10]

• Article 3 [52:52]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 60: Two Cases of Cataract by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [1:01:01]

• Article 4 [1:13:13]: Strain by Emily A. Meder

• Discussion 4 [1:16:16]

• Article 5 [1:33:20]: Clinic Reports From London

• Discussion 5 [1:40:40]

• Article 6 [1:56:45]: The Elephant and the Fairies by George Guild

• Discussion 6 [2:01:50]

• Article 7 [2:12:22]: Report of the League Meeting by Dorothy Maitland

• Discussion 7 [2:16:56]

• Article 8 [2:26:16]: Helpful Hints From Correspondents

• Discussion 8 [2:28:20] ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 9 & Discussion 9 [2:40:45]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Nathan's website - www.integraleyesight.com

• Carl's website - www.relearntosee.com

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

In the sixty-seventh episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Esther Joy van der Werf and Nathan Oxenfeld read through the sixty-seventh Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in January 1925 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, January 1925 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [4:30]: Sun-Gazing by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 1 [7:10]

• Article 2 [22:12]: Mental Strain by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [32:22]

• Article 3 [54:14]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 59: Mental Strain by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [1:02:55]

• Article 4 [1:12:22]: A Teacher's Experiment by Edith Wood

• Discussion 4 [1:17:30]

• Article 5 [1:25:30]: Suggestions To Patients by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 5 [1:26:30]

• Article 6 [1:39:10]: New Year Fairies by George Guild

• Discussion 6 [1:46:46]

• Article 7 [1:57:57]: Report of the League Meeting by Miss May Secor, Secretary

• Discussion 7 [2:02:45]

• Article 8 [2:14:00]: Announcement

• Discussion 8 [2:15:00] ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 9 & Discussion 9 [2:22:22]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Esther's website - www.visionsofjoy.org

• Nathan's website - www.integraleyesight.com

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

In the sixty-sixth episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Esther Joy van der Werf and Nathan Oxenfeld read through the sixty-sixth Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in December 1924 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, December 1924 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [8:08]: Suggestions

• Discussion 1 [10:20]

• Article 2 [25:25]: Palming by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [35:55]

• Article 3 [52:22]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 58: Christmas by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [57:30]

• Article 4 [1:02:34]: Nervousness by Emily A. Meder

• Discussion 4 [1:05:05]

• Article 5 [1:17:00]: Eye Education

• Discussion 5 [1:21:55]

• Article 6 [1:31:31]: Suggestions To Patients by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 6 [1:33:03]

• Article 7 [1:45:55]: Tension

• Discussion 7 [1:51:31]

• Article 8 [2:05:45]: Report of the November Meeting by Miss May Secor, Secretary

• Discussion 8 [2:10:30] ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 9 & Discussion 9 [2:26:16]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Esther's website - www.visionsofjoy.org

• Nathan's website - www.integraleyesight.com

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

Stay tuned for the full episode coming out this week!

Email us at [email protected]

Join the Better Eyesight League at www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

Listen to previous episodes in the archive at www.bettereyesightpodcast.com

In the sixty-fifth episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Nathan Oxenfeld and Anna Bambridge read through the sixty-fifth Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in November 1924 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, November 1924 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [2:22]: Eye-Strain During Sleep

• Discussion 1 [4:04]

• Article 2 [20:40]: The Cure Of Myopia by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [31:40]

• Article 3 [1:03:20]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 57: Cases of Myopia by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [1:09:09]

• Article 4 [1:25:15]: Thanksgiving Fairies by George Guild

• Discussion 4 [1:30:10]

• Article 5 [1:34:40]: El Uso Natural de la Vision

• Discussion 5 [1:36:00]

• Article 6 [1:48:48]: The Acrobatic "F" by Emily A. Meder

• Discussion 6 [1:54:30]

• Article 7 [2:05:05]: Fine Print by W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 7 [2:07:30]

• Article 8 [2:16:55]: Report of the October Meeting by Miss May Secor, Secretary

• Discussion 8 [2:22:40] ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 9 & Discussion 9 [2:41:30]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Nathan's website - www.integraleyesight.com

• Anna's website - www.embodied.vision

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

In the sixty-fourth episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Nathan Oxenfeld, Lizzie May, and Kevin Wooding read through the sixty-fourth Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in October 1924 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these three natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, October 1924 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [2:25]: The Rabbit's Throat

• Discussion 1 [5:10]

• Article 2 [19:20]: Imagination Cures by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [29:50]

• Article 3 [50:50]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 56. School Children by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [58:30]

• Article 4 [1:10:50]: The Method In England

• Discussion 4 [1:20:05]

• Article 5 [1:41:20]: The Magic Carpet by George Guild

• Discussion 5 [1:46:30]

• Article 6 [1:58:15]: The Bates Method A Success in Schools

• Discussion 6 [2:03:00]:

• Article 7 [2:18:30]: Report of the September Meeting

• Discussion 7 [2:21:30]

  ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 8 & Discussion 8 [2:30:30]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Nathan's website - www.integraleyesight.com

• Kevin & Lizzie's website - www.seeing.org

• Join the Better Eyesight League - www.patreon.com/bettereyesight

In the sixty-third episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Esther Joy van der Werf and Nina Hutchings read through the sixty-third Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in September 1924 by Dr. William H. Bates.

Exactly one hundred years later, these two natural vision teachers breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, September 1924 A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses

• Article 1 [2:25]: Permanent Improvement

• Discussion 1 [5:10]

• Article 2 [14:00]: Quick Cures by Dr. W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [24:00]

• Article 3 [49:20]: Stories From The Clinic ~ 55. A Hospital Patient by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [57:10]

• Article 4 [1:07:00]: A Personal Experience by Henrietta C. Clinton

• Discussion 4 [1:14:44]

• Article 5 [1:29:50]: The Fairy School by George Guild

• Discussion 5 [1:35:35]

• Article 6 [1:41:41]: The Better Eyesight League August Meeting

• Discussion 6 [1:46:26]:

• Article 7 [2:00:45]: Chief Four Eyes by Emily A. Meder

• Discussion 7 [2:03:10]

  ---BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY---

• Article 8 & Discussion 8 [2:14:15]: Questions And Answers

• Contact us at [email protected]

• Esther's website - www.visionsofjoy.org

• Nina's website - www.methodebates.fr

In the sixty-second episode of the Better Eyesight Podcast, Nathan Oxenfeld and Charlotte Schuman read through the sixty-second Better Eyesight magazine that was originally published in August 1924 by Dr. William H. Bates, the pioneer of natural vision improvement.

Exactly 100 years later, these three natural vision educators breathe life back into the words of Dr. Bates, and also provide some modern commentary on the topics brought up in each article.

Better Eyesight, August 1924"A monthly magazine devoted to the prevention and cure of imperfect sight without glasses"

• Article 1 [2:40] The Prevention Of Myopia

• Discussion 1 [4:40]

• Article 2 [15:05] School Children by W. H. Bates, M.D.

• Discussion 2 [24:20]

• Article 3 [46:30] Stories From The Clinic ~ 54: School Number by Emily C. Lierman

• Discussion 3 [53:05]

• Article 4 [1:16:00] Palming Compositions by The Pupils of Miss Hansen, Chicago

• Discussion 4 [1:18:40]

• Article 5 [1:29:29] Report of the League Meetings: June Meeting

• Article 6 [1:31:50] July Meeting

• Discussion 6 [1:34:30]

• Article 7 [1::59:55] The Fairy Convention by George Guild

• Discussion 7 [2:07:45]

• Article 8 [2:17:10] The Eye Class in Erasmus Hall by George J. Weiss, Pupil

• Discussion 8 [2:19:50]

• Article 9 [2:27:40] Reminders For Summer Eye Practice by Kathleen E. Hurty

• Discussion 9 [2:30:00]

—BETTER EYESIGHT LEAGUE ONLY—

• Article 10 & Discussion 10 [2:47:00] Aim To Cure One Child

Contact us at [email protected]

• Nathan's website - https://integraleyesight.com/

• Charlotte's website - https://seenaturally.co.uk/

• Join the Better Eyesight League - https://patreon.com/bettereyesight