Real Feedback From Real People

"Very informative. Very helpful. Very worth it. Robert's approach embraces the entire individual, not just one's eyes. It is a truly holistic approach and I recommend him highly!"

"I'd love you to share my vision improvement with others to encourage us all in this wonderful program. I started out with 20/70 vision in my right eye and 20/40 in my left eye. A couple days ago I tested my vision (I'm a registered nurse and do vision testing as part of my job) and both eyes together were 20/20. This is exciting stuff! Thanks so much for your instruction in the Bates Method. As my vision improves, my life improves and vice-versa. I love how holistic this process is."
Ruth Beswick, RN, BSN

"Your eyesight program was life changing for me. Through simple exercises and relevant education I was able to eliminate the blurriness I experienced when looking in the distance. He helped bring to my attention the bad habits I had been following for years. I see better, have more clarity, and know what to do when old eyesight problems want to start creeping back. Thank you Robert."
Hester Lubin, Reiki Practitioner and Certified Holistic Health Counselor

I've been studying vision improvement for about 5 years now, both with books & other vision teachers, but I learned things from you I didn't know before. Your practical approach & simple focus on body awareness of strain or relaxation was a refreshing change from the dry abstract theory. I don't want to know how I became nearsighted decades ago as much as I want to know what to do to improve it now, and you gave me that. Learning how to look, breathe, and move in a healthier way will help me with a lot more than my eyesight. I'd recommend you to anyone I know who needs help with vision or with tension in general.
Nancy Neff

When I first visited Robert, my vision was making me totally miserable. I was about to graduate from my master's program but had no enthusiasm in finding a job, as it would only make my vision worse. After one session with Robert there was definite improvement in my vision. It had been worse than 20/100 with my glasses when we started and was 20/50 with my glasses when I left an hour and a half later. Most importantly, he provided the understanding that inspired me to trust what my eyes tell me they need, whereas the countless opticians I've seen were convinced I would never get any better. Now, without wearing my glasses, I can read many street signs I couldn't even see with my glasses on before. Thanks to Robert's technique and patience, I feel I am able to start a new life. I hope everyone in need will have the perseverance to defy convention and enjoy my good fortune some day.
Flora Lee, MPA
Columbia University Class of '07

"The best method in the world is useless if the teachers don't know how to teach it. Thank goodness you're around!"
Adam Schwartz

"Thank you for doing what you do. It has changed my life for so much the better."
Tina Pico

"Thank you so much for helping me with my dry eye syndrome, which was so bad that I required plugs in all four tear ducts to get a measure of relief. There was a real danger that the dryness of my eyes might cause cornea damage. I am very grateful."
Susan Shor, MSW

"I learned so much from taking the class, it's the best investment I ever made. The benefits are amazing and my eyesight continues to improve as I follow your teachings. I thank you every day."
Susan Gambale

"I was in complete shock at our last session when, in the course of a group exercise, I suddenly read a line of print with clarity that I had not experienced in years! This moment was a stepping stone in my process, and provides me with inspiration for what lies ahead.

The perspective of our emotional life impacting every aspect of our physical functioning, including eyesight, was always plausible to me. Robert's course brings the theory to life, and I am convinced that his methods work for vision. Further, his perspective offers an emotionally healthy approach to living one's life. Robert's course is therapeutic, intellectually interesting and enjoyable. Robert is a kind, empathic teacher who joins with his students on their journey. With his broad background of multiple talents and life experiences, Robert is always ready to learn from his students' experiences--the sign of a true teacher. I highly recommend his course for anyone who has an open mind to changing their vision and their life."
Karen Fischer, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Faster Reading With Better Comprehension
I'm enrolled in a graduate program with an intense academic workload. A slow reader since childhood, I'd been struggling to get through the hundreds of pages assigned to us each week, but to no avail. Last semester, I fell further behind with every class session, and that snowball effect—compounded by futile all-nighters—demoralized me to the point of despair. My contributions to seminar discussions dwindled; every writing assignment turned into a frenzied game of catch-up. This month, after I took a speed-reading class with Robert, that trend did an about-face. All of a sudden, I'm keeping up with the syllabi, and playing an active, informed role in class discussions. Some of my professors have explicitly noted the difference. And I've regained my original enthusiasm about the program. Before working with Robert, I'd been making mistakes typical of people who don't know how to skim: I would read to myself as if I were reading aloud; I resisted letting my eyes fly over the page, fearing it would reduce comprehension. Robert gave me a clear, convincing explanation of the mechanisms slowing me down and, more importantly, showed me the simple eye-training exercises needed to overcome them. The technique takes practice and persistence, but it works. I'm immensely grateful to Robert for his effort and expertise. Natasha Yefimov, M.A Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Fighting fatigue and migraines had become a huge battle for me starting 5 years ago. I even thought I had chronic fatigue syndrome or something like that; I also had begun to suffer from motion sickness--something that was shocking to me because of my (past) love of long car rides. I took a variety of medications that did not resolve these issues completely and I truly felt like a victim with no control and no options.

Robert hit the nails right on the head; I never would have guessed it (and neither did my excellent medical doctors), but all of these issues stemmed from three basic components: Diet, mental attitudes towards pain, and, of course, vision. Robert's holistic approach to strain, healing, and mental power completely resolved these issues at their source.

After one session with Robert I was already experiencing correct vision--learning not to strain and better understanding what strain is. Robert assessed that my prescription was not strong enough to warrant glasses and encouraged me to stop wearing them. I took them off months ago, and have not needed them since. I have also not had a single migraine in since then--something that is absolutely unheard of for me--I used to get 2 a week. My motion sickness is also improving as I relearn how to see while I am moving.
Aviva Bracha

Currently, we are inundated with both a dizzying number of modern medical practices as well as an avalanche of "self-help" techniques that often do not quite result in significant improvement of one's situation. I have found Robert to be "the exception to the rule." Robert brings the following to his students:
-Actual personal success resulting in both a discerning and deep experiential knowledge of the material he imparts
-The ability to clearly and concisely distill that which is helpful to the student thus eliminating unnecessary confusion
Lastly but an essential attribute, Robert brings a respectful concern and regard for a student's quality of life and this is expressed in his supportive interface with students.
Lily Moy

Eliminate Presbyopia
"I'm very happy with the results of your course. For the past twenty years I had been wearing reading glasses that grew stronger with each year. After learning to "sketch, blink and breathe" in all of its ramifications for several weeks, the blur I saw without the glasses began to present flashes of clarity. In my case, the flashes became the rule after the sixth week. The process involved letting go of old habits that caused strain. Now, I'm thrilled that even when I stay up very late working at the computer or reading, my eyes never burn the following morning as they did before I took the course. I'm so happy now to be able to read small print without magnification. It's a liberation not to worry about the glasses I was always losing or breaking. I'm very grateful to you for instructing me in how to regain my fine childhood eyesight. I also want to thank you for your genuine concern for the progress of each of the seven members in the class. I absolutely recommend your course to anyone who wants to relearn to see naturally." Joel Brody, college professor/actor/translator

"This course proved to me that natural eyesight improvement does exist. Apart from improving my eyesight, the course has also helped me to see life in a more positive, entertaining, peaceful, and natural way. Through his commitment, dedication and creativity, Robert has guided us well."
Shan S.

"Robert breaks the Bates Method down into smaller components that are absolutely necessary to understand. Just like anything that one must practice, an instrument, a sport, or a language, it helps to have a teacher that can encourage you, push you, and tell when things are going right or wrong. Robert is always there to help. Having Robert as a teacher does not mean simply talking to him once a week; he is there, via e-mail, to help you any day. Possibly the most difficult part of healing ones eyesight seems to be understanding that it is not the eyes at all that need healing, but the mind. Such paradoxes can constantly confuse and alarm any person who studies the Bates Method. However, with a kind, yet confident teacher, you will fill less dumbfounded and more able to fully take on such a magnificent and valuable endeavor."
Eli Weissman

"I went through several floors of a museum looking at art without my glasses for the first time. I was amazed that I didn't really miss them."
Judy Stein

Three Day Workshop

I want to thank you for conducting an excellent vision course for all of us. The course far surpassed my expectations (and this is a rare experience for me given that I typically have high expectations). While participating in your course, it became obvious that you have great mastery of the material on many levels. I feel like I gained much deeper knowledge than I could have no matter how many more vision improvement books I continued reading. Your course took me to a new level of understanding. During your course, with your attentive and thoughtful guidance, I learned subtle improvements to, or refinements of, all the vision improvement techniques I had previously learned. I also learned new and powerful vision habits that proved immediately beneficial. I learned many things that have already resulted in improved visual habits, less strain when working at the computer, and more clarity in my vision. All the other students, whether they had some prior exposure to vision improvement like myself, or they were starting from scratch, raved about how much they enjoyed your course. With your course, I now feel much more prepared to reach my full vision potential. The techniques and insights that you teach are uniquely yours and they are highly beneficial. It's interesting that my experience of seeing has already gotten so much richer and more interesting as a result of using your techniques for only three days. Every minute of your instruction was interesting, entertaining, rich, practical, instructive, and useful. Some of the things I experienced through my own eyes were... eye-opening. I had been missing much of the richness of seeing, and a couple of your techniques immediately brought more of that richness into my visual experience. It's fun to see the world like this now! Thank you again. I highly recommend your course to anyone interested in vision improvement. In fact, I cannot recommend it strongly enough. In today's world, everyone should have this knowledge and I don't think anyone will be disappointed to have you as their teacher. Regards, David Shields

"As a psychotherapist, I found the classes I attended with Robert Lichtman to enhance my self understanding. The idea that vision problems can be brought on by stressful life events is not considered in our society but should be so that people can learn to release the emotional tensions that, for some people, produce the blur.¬Ý Robert Lichtman introduces the student to helpful and practical techniques to help address these issues, tools that the student can continue to implement after the classes have ended toward continued emotional and vision improvement. I highly recommend these classes to anyone interested in self-healing."
Victoria S Jordan, CSW

Rather than giving repetitive exercises for the eyes, Robert Lichtman's class teaches principles for your brain which help to restore natural functioning to your eyes. I have taken vision training classes for years, and I believe that Robert makes a unique contribution to the field."
Michael Ostrow, New York Center for the Alexander Technique

"Robert's course was even better than I had expected. I had anticipated that I would be drilled in eye exercises that I would have to force myself to practice for the rest of my life. Instead, I learned directly to reverse the unuseful habits I've acquired by replacing them with normal habits in daily life itself." He is a knowledgeable, attentive, encouraging, and patient teacher. He created a harmonious, stimulating, often playful mood that helped us release the muscle tensions that cause vision problems. He adapted his lessons to the particular needs of his students, and made himself freely available for consultation by telephone between classes. His humor and unintrusive insight lent us confidence in his guidance toward restoring out natural vision. Michael Ronall

"It was great to have Robert available to bounce ideas off of. And he stays available for you for some time after the course is finished. He is very accessible and goes out of his way to assist you in any way he can."
Kathy Cardella

"Because of your class, my vision has improved greatly. Now I do not use the glasses unless I am driving. Also, I have learned how to keep my eye muscles relaxed by practicing the techniques you taught. It is a steady progress toward a perfect vision and not a quick fix. I now enjoy my expanded world appreciation without glasses."
Masanobu Ikemiya, concert pianist/Artistic Director of Arcady Music Festival

"When I go for walks in my neighborhood I don't bother to take glasses with me anymore. This is, for someone at my level of eyestrain, really a big deal. I can cross streets safely without glasses. There is not much surprise any more about this clearing, and the less surprised I am the more it comes. This all makes me feel very calm and peaceful and happy inside...It is not a metaphor to talk of feeling connected to the world in those moments of greater clarity. it is almost tangible. I cannot begin to say what this means to me, and what a huge shift it is from my starting point. I am grateful beyond words for Robert. It's clear that helping people retain and reclaim their vision is not just a profession for him - it is a passion. "
Liana

"I'm still having fun with my vision. I'm much more aware when I'm not 'using' my eyes. My back and my posture have changed significantly as well so I am very pleased all around."
Janis Sharkey

"Your class gave me the courage to take the attitude that my presbyopia was not irreversible. Please keep spreading the word! Your efforts and beliefs are part of the human spirit that feels we are free to participate in our stuff and make a difference"
Amy M.

"I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful class you taught. My eyes were opened, both literally and figuratively, to many new ideas about eyesight. The techniques and strategies you taught us are methods I can take with me and continue to learn and practice on my own. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to study with you."
Sarah Bassett

For more testimonials, see the essay On Natural Eyesight Improvement