The Myopia Myth: The Truth About Nearsightedness and How to Prevent It

By Donald S. Rehm

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 096084760X
• ISBN13: 9780960847600
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Intl Myopia Prevention Assn
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

a very Misunderstood book

This book isn't bad at all like other reviewers have tried to suggest. But to show you this is so, I'll have to describe to you what the book is actually trying to tell us and how it is valuable to our understanding of myopia. From the outset, The Myopia Myth takes us on an exposition of what myopia actually is. And to sum it up, it's a condition whereby the eyeball focuses light such that it comes into focus in front of the retina rather than directly on the retina, resulting in a blurred image. Few people dispute that fact. But in the second chapter, Rehm endeavours to explain that the cause of myopia is excessive close up work. Now, to back this up, he employs some simple physics, which tells us that light rays coming from a near object take more lens power to focus than rays coming from a far object (i.e. farther than 2 metres). Our eyes need to accomodate, or put pressure on the lens in our eye, in order to focus on light rays from close objects. The eyes also need to point inward. Both of these aspects of accomodation put pressure on the outer coat of the eye, and over time, many individuals experience the stretching of the coat of their eye; and a longer eye means that rays of light from distant objects, which used to be focused directly onto the retina now come into focus before reaching the retina, and we have a case of myopia on our hands. So much is the main point of his book. Rehm does acknowledge, however, that many factors, including diet, genetics, personality and lifestyle do play a role in putting someone at risk for myopia, but the true proximate cause of myopia, Rehm maintians, is excessive close work. Corrective lenses used to treat myopia, i.e. glasses and contacts only worsen myopia further because they effectively bring all light rays closer to the eyes, thereby exacerbating the circumstances that caused myopia to develop in the first place. Rehm then goes on to describe ways in which parents of young children can prevent their children from developing myopia. And here's where the Myopter viewing device comes in. The myopter eliminates the stresses of near work using lenses, that focus light rays from near objects so that the lens of the eye doesn't need to change shape when accomodating, and by employing mirrors that split the incoming light such that both eyes see the same image when reading, eliminating the need for them to turn inwards. Incidentally the Myopter is also Rehm's own invention, and being an engineer, it's no wonder he should have set to work on a myopia-prevention device. But accusations that Rehm is peddling the myopia by making a sales pitch in his book are missing the point entirely, because from Rehm's viewpoint, myopia (of the everyday variety, barring congenital birth defects) is solely caused by excessive near work. It's only logical that a device like the Myopter be harnessed to prevent it. And such a preventative device isn't offered elsewhere. Why shouldn't Rehm introduce it to anyone concerned

Definitely read this book!

Concave "minus" lenses are indeed harmful to nearsighted people, especially children. The medical profession knows this but doesn't tell parents. The public, too, is at fault. Parents demand that their children have instant clear vision with glasses or contacts. But they should, at the very least, ask how they can prevent their childen's eyesight from becoming worse.

Excellent book!

This book should be read by every parent so that no child ever becomes nearsighted. The people who wrote the negative reviews below are forgetting that eye doctors also sell products, and most of the eyeglasses that they sell only lead to more eye exams and thicker glasses - which is more money for the doctors. Take a look at the author's website by typing in "myopia" on any search engine and going to The Myopia Myth. READ THIS BOOK!

MUST READ for myopes, gives good advice

every myopic person should be given this book to read. not only does it explain (in great detail) how too much nearwork can cause myopia, but it also gives suggestions to stop the progression of myopia. although myopia may not be 100% environmentally caused, it is definitely increased by things like reading WHILE WEARING contacts --> this book can save your eyes.