Crank theories like this have been around forever. My dad (based on something he read in a magazine) thought it would help my eyes to go around most of my childhood without glasses on. I only used glasses for sports and when reading the chalkboard at school. It was pointless. I just went around most of my childhood not being able to see clearly beyond six or seven feet. (On the bright side, I did read a lot as a result.) Theories like this all come with personal testimonials and always have; a theory not working has never stopped someone including dramatic testimonials in their propagation of it.
And shocking though it may be, some people even put energy into promoting theories like this without any way of making a dime from it.