This book investigates the hypothesis that refractive errors of the eye are caused by mental strain and can be corrected through specific relaxation and movement exercises rather than corrective lenses. Dr. William H. Bates, an ophthalmologist, presents a methodology that challenges the conventional reliance on eyeglasses, arguing that the eye's shape is dynamic and influenced by the tension of the external ocular muscles. The text outlines a series of techniques intended to restore natural vision by addressing the psychological and physical habits that contribute to visual impairment.

This work is widely regarded by the medical community as pseudoscientific and lacking empirical support, as its core tenets contradict established principles of optics and ocular physiology. The text remains a historical curiosity within the field of alternative health, though it is not recognized as a valid clinical treatment for refractive errors.