The Wikipedia article on William Horatio Bates and his "method" (he died in 1931) is reasonably fair.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Vision_Improvement
Bates believed that the eye accommodated, not by the action of the ciliary body on the lens, but by the extraocular muscles elongationg the eyeball, which certainly isn't correct at all.
There really isn't any evidence that it works, apart from the anecdotes of enthusiasts, but
"Critics concede that most of the Bates techniques are harmless, apart from the possibility that faith in the Bates system could deter people with eye conditions requiring prompt care from seeking conventional treatment."
But I know that there are some PPRuNers who claim to have thrown away their white cane and pensioned off the dog......
I like the story about Aldous Huxley!
PS: For a sceptical (or sanguine, depending on how you are inclined) view, see
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bates.html