The Berne Podcast with Dr. Sam Berne

Keywords

Hey everybody, it’s Dr. Sam. I’d like to welcome you to the podcast today. So I want to talk about the worst foods for your eyes. know, usually we talk about what are the best foods, know, like avocados and goji berries and wild-caught salmon, but I want to talk about the worst foods today. So nutrition for eye health. There’s certain foods that so

negatively affect your eyes, you know, when people come for eye exams and they’ve got like hypertensive, hypertensive retinopathy or diabetic retinopathy or they are developing cataracts and I asked them what they’re eating and you know, I have to scratch my head because well, these are some of the reasons why your eyes are letting you down. you know conditions like macular degeneration cataracts dry eye even general vision.

deterioration. Here are some of the worst foods for your eye health.

Number one, sugary foods and sugary drinks. So when we have things like Diet Coke or Pepsi or we’re eating, you know, things like sweetened coffee, tea, desserts, sugary cereals, candy, pastries, all of these sugars.

really are a death spiral for our eyes. I mean, if you want to really trash your eyesight, then just eat things like candy pastries, sugary cereals, soda, sweetened coffee, tea and desserts and you will get there. Number two, what’s also really bad for your eyes are the refined carbohydrates because these spike your blood sugar levels.

Sam Berne (02:01.853)

These refined carbohydrates, then you have a higher risk of number one getting inflammation number two getting oxidative stress and number three over time. You are going to have

what we call reactive oxygen species, which contributes to these eye conditions. So what are some examples of refined carbs white bread white rice anything that’s white pasta processed snacks crackers chips again really bad for your eyes. Okay. Number three trans fats and hydrogenated oils. Why is this so bad because trans fats contribute?

to inflammation which can increase the risk of things like blepharitis my bone and gland dysfunction. Those are when the eyelids get inflamed and creates dry eye macular degeneration whether it’s wet or dry again, these unhealthy fats interfere with the absorption of the essential nutrients like omega-3s which are crucial for eye health. So what are some examples fried foods margarine packaged?

baked goods and processed snacks. All right, let’s go to number four high sodium foods. Well diets high in sodium lead to high blood pressure. had a guy yesterday came to my office. He’s got really high blood pressure. I asked him what he’s eating. He says well canned soups processed meats frozen dinners fast food all of these things are going to affect the delicate blood vessels. call them the micro capillaries of the retina.

Sam Berne (04:12.172)

both saturated fats and sodium and can negatively affect your eye health. Remember high fat diets increase the risk of AMD. Now, this is the bad fats. creates plaque in the blood vessels, which affects the blood flow into the eyes. These would be things like bacon sausage hot dogs deli meats and smoked meats. Now, let’s go to number six fried foods.

Fried foods are rich in the trans fats. I’ve talked about the trans fats before unhealthy oils, which creates oxidative stress and inflammation. Examples would be fried fried chicken, french fries, donuts, onion rings. This also creates a cholesterol buildup in the eye. We see something in the iris called Archesanilus and that can tell us number one that we’re in high cholesterol. Number two, our liver is probably not working well very well. Your gallbladder too.

And you’re not absorbing the good fats and the fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A lutein and zeaxanthin number seven on my list artificial sweeteners and additives certain artificial sweeteners and preservatives contribute to eye inflammation. This can lead to dry eye allergic reactions red eyes. What would be some examples diet sodas? I know a lot of people they just love the diet Cokes.

Those are so negative for you for your vision. So we look at packaged low calorie snacks. That’s another thing that you want to be careful about in terms of having additives artificial sweeteners. Number eight on my list is alcohol again, excessive alcohol consumption dehydrates the body which includes causing dry eye syndrome. It also reduces the absorption absorption.

Sam Berne (06:35.281)

does provide zinc, is an essential trace mineral for eye health excessive consumption of fatty red meat has been linked to increase conditions like macular degeneration. We need to be very careful of our cholesterol buildup if our liver is not working properly. So this would be things like steak hamburgers and other fatty cuts or beef or pork and number 10 on my list high sugar breakfast cereals these cereals

are not only high and refined sugars, but they also lack essential nutrients. High sugar intake can lead to things like inflammation, the risk of cataracts macular degeneration. What would be some examples sugary breakfast cereals granola bars instant oatmeal. These are added sugars. So my argument is in conclusion is if you want to have optimal eye health you have to avoid these 10 types of foods because what you do need

for healthy eyes Omega 3 vitamins, especially vitamin a bc and e zinc glutathione. Where do you get these leafy green vegetables wild-caught salmon nuts and seeds preferably soaked and dehydrated also the colorful vegetables. love berries and think rainbow diet reduce your intake of sugar processed foods and unhealthy fats.

And that will help you protect your vision. So that’s our show for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning in until next time. Take care.

Keywords

light adjustable lenses, cataract surgery, vision correction, depth perception, blue light protection

Summary

In this podcast episode, Dr. Sam Berne discusses light adjustable lenses (LAL) used in cataract surgery, explaining their benefits, drawbacks, and potential impact on depth perception. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how these lenses work, the necessity of UV protection during the adjustment period, and the need for blue light protection to prevent potential eye issues. Dr. Berne also shares his personal recommendations regarding vision correction options.  See his BONUS podcast on his membership site: https://drsambernesmembership.com

Takeaways

Light adjustable lenses (LAL) are a new option for cataract surgery.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Light Adjustable Lenses

“Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast today. So I’m to take a question that I’ve been getting a lot of something called light adjustable lenses. These are new lenses that cataract surgeons are putting in your eyes. And so what are the pros and cons? Do I recommend it? What do you have to watch out for? That’s what we’re going to talk about today. So light adjustable lenses are new intraocular lens that cataract surgeons are putting in your eyes.

So just like regular cataract surgery, they take out the clouded lens and they’re putting in this new interocular lens. I call it the LAL light adjustable lens. So after the surgery, there’s a two to three week healing period and once your eyes have healed, then the adjustable process can occur with this new interocular lens. So during this time you get a pair of ultraviolet glasses that protect you from UV light.

because it’s the UV light that actually creates the changes in the light adjustable lenses. So after the eye heals, you’ll go back to the doctor and he will start making some adjustments in the lens using a special UV laser and this UV light causes a retargeting of the shape of the lens.

So the refractive errors myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism can be fine-tuned by reshaping the lens in the eye. Typically, you’ll need two to three light treatments to complete the reshaping and come up with a prescription that you can see clearly out of. So once you get to the end result of having clear eyesight, then there’s a final lock in where the lens will be permanent.

in terms of the prescription that you’re getting. In some of the studies I’ve seen, there’s been a 92 % success rate in having clear eyesight from the light adjustable lens. So you get this great customization of your prescription and it works really well. If you’ve had things like PRK or Lasik surgery because it can really find to the final result of having clear eyesight.

Sam Berne (02:20.652)

If you want these, okay, so now my personal opinion when you look at the light adjustable lenses as it relates to depth perception, I see some potential problems. So like the mono vision correction where one eye is corrected for distance usually the dominant eye and the non-dominant eye is corrected for near the light adjustable lens has a similar concept.

But instead of calling it mono vision, they call it blended vision. But still you’re dealing with one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye is corrected for intermediate and near. Well, this sets up a problem with the brain being able to decipher and process vision is when you are in this blended vision very similar to mono vision. It can either create double vision.

other kinds of blur or the brain just suppresses or shuts off the eye that’s not using so like for example, if you’re driving the right eye is really the only eye that’s your dominant eye. That’s the eye that’s only going to be used for driving and then if you’re at the computer or reading the left eye, which is the non-dominant eye in most people is going to be used exclusively for that. So it’s going to put more stress and pressure

on each eye to work at those particular distances and this reduces and in some cases even eliminates depth perception. So you remember how I talked about the difference between eyesight, which is seeing the eye chart clearly in vision is the eye brain body connection. And so in terms of this LAL technology, it can be very helpful in terms of eyesight correction. However, you need to be careful

Sam Berne (04:48.213)

You know, for some people I’ve worked with with monovision with Lasik surgery and cataract surgery. They do just fine with it. Others. However, have difficulties adjusting because the eyes are focusing at different distances and this creates confusion. I strain I fatigue double vision irregular blurred vision. So to know before you do the surgery to have that monovision in contacts. See if it works now.

Another thing the surgeon can do after the surgery is he can make adjustments in the non-dominant eye with the new interocular lens and he can back off the difference between the distance intermediate near so we can make the blended vision they closer together and in doing that that might be a way where you can actually be able to read use the computer and see in the distance but make no mistake about it.

that either blended vision or mono vision from this light adjustable lens technology does create an obstacle in your depth perception. It’s one of the reasons why I still recommend the monofocal for distance. In other words, both eyes are corrected for distance with the cataract surgery. So you’ve got really good depth perception at distance and then you get a pair of glasses for your intermediate or near vision and one last point.

I haven’t been able to determine whether these lenses have the blue blocker in them. I can say that most interocular lenses don’t have blue blocking protection or original hardware. know, our original lenses do have the pigment to block some of the blue light. Now with blue light, what we’re dealing with here is it dries the eyes out faster and in extreme cases.

Sam Berne (07:07.549)

in some type of glasses if you’re on screens after 6 p.m. So those are the pros and cons. I would give it a mild. Yes, I think it’s worth checking out. But if you can try the blended vision mono vision before the surgery and you can accept it, then the light adjustable lens could work really well for you. So that’s our show for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning in.

Remember my membership. You can always get on that and I have some exclusive content on that. So check it out and until next time everyone take good care.”

Show Notes:

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Understanding the Impact of Myopia on Computer Work:

How nearsightedness affects your visual system during prolonged screen time.

How reducing your prescription for intermediate tasks (like using the computer) can relieve strain.

Tips on how to ask your optometrist for a reduced prescription for computer work.

Simple exercises you can incorporate into your daily routine to further support your vision.

The role of proper lighting, screen positioning, and frequent breaks to reduce strain.

Call to Action:

Join me for an illuminating episode of the EyeClarity podcast, where we unravel the secrets of holistic eye care. From finding the right eye doctor to making informed choices about surgery, this episode is a comprehensive guide to maintaining and enhancing your eye health. Let’s journey through the realm of eye care together and empower ourselves with knowledge and insights that pave the way to better vision. Enjoy the show!

If you want more, sign up for my newsletter at: www.drsamberne.com. If you have any questions, submit them to [email protected].

For even more from Dr. Sam, check out his new exclusive membership where you get access to my content and resources, new information, articles, videos, webinars: drsambernesmembership.com

Hey, everybody, it’s Dr. Sam. I’d like to welcome you to my EyeClarity podcast. If you want to get in touch with me, you can send me your questions at [email protected]. Before we start the show, I’d like to talk to you about my new membership platform. When you join, you get access to exclusive content that you won’t see on social media. You’ll be able to attend my live Q and A and ask me questions, and you’ll have the opportunity to join my advanced workshops. To sign up, go to drsamburnmembership.com now to today’s show.

Hey, everybody, it’s Dr. Sam, and I want to welcome you to another EyeClarity podcast. So today, I want to help you navigate the eye care system. So I’m going to take a few minutes. I’m going to talk about ways that, first of all, you can find an eye doctor that you can maybe be compatible with. Number two, how you can help your eye doctor, help you in the best possible way. And number three, if in fact, you do need surgery, what’s the best way to navigate?

All right, so let’s go to number one, how to find an eye doctor. Well, you know, the best way to do that, I think, is first of all, go on Google and type in holistic eye doctor. Now, you may or may not get somebody in your area. You may not even get a holistic eye doctor. You may get a holistic naturopath or functional medicine doctor or a biological dentist. And so at this point, I would contact whatever comes up on the Google, and I would contact that office and ask them for a referral. Is there anybody they know? And maybe it isn’t quite a holistic eye doctor, but somebody maybe who’s a little older, maybe who’s a little more gentle, a little more middle of the road. It’s kind of hard to find holistic eye doctors because in school, we’re not really trained to look at vision holistically only allopathically but many times there are doctors that at least they’re more reasonable in their attitude. And if you can find somebody like that, another way to do it is through your friends, through your community, to ask around who’s somebody that I have a holistic philosophy in my health. Is there somebody that at least isn’t totally extreme? Name that’s going to really just recommend surgery as soon as I walk in the door. And there are doctors, eye doctors out there like that, and that may be the best you can do in your area. So that would be number one.

The number two. When you go for your eye exam, I recommend taking a friend, a family member, and have a certain intention or focus on what you want to achieve. It could be, I want you to check my eye health. I want you to give me a prescription for my glasses, if that’s what you need. But I don’t want you to overcorrect me. And the way you do that is when he starts flipping the lenses. Feel it in your body, feel it in your eyes, and you’re wanting to stay as close to the current prescription as you can. And you need to stand up for yourself here and you need to say, I don’t want a super strong prescription. And most of the time, even if they don’t believe in you or believe what you’re saying, if you’re committed, because the stronger the prescription you get, the faster it is going to weaken your eyes. So you want to stay in the area of something that’s more in the middle, so you don’t have something that’s so strong that it’s going to make you dizzy, nauseous, or give you headaches.

All right, now, in addition to that, I would be very careful about going into things like progressive lenses or bifocals, especially if you haven’t done it before, you’re much better off getting two pairs of glasses. Something for distance, something for near. You want to stay away from things like monovision where they’re correcting one eye for distance, one eye for near. And you want to be conservative in what you’re wearing. These newfangled things that these guys and gals want to prescribe, they end up in disaster. I mean, people come to me and they go, I should have never gone down this road. I just had a guy yesterday and he said, you know, this is the busiest fanciest eye center in Santa Fe. And every time I come out of there, I get these glasses. I cannot see out of them. And I keep going back and they just say, Get used to it. And I’ve gone to them three years in a row. I am fed up. And so for the exam, what I did is I reduced his prescription by about 70% and he tried it on and he goes, my goodness, this feels great. I love this. This so it takes an empowerment. In your world to be able to say, I don’t want something too strong, and don’t give me all these bells and whistles. I’d even be careful about staying away from a lot of tints, a lot of coatings, because it ends up smudging the lens. It’s cloudy, and the lenses just don’t last as long, and they’re expensive. So stay with, again, middle of the road.

All right, number three surgery. So, first of all, if a doctor is recommending eye surgery, I would consider getting a second opinion. I would definitely do some research, consult with me or somebody like me. And before you enter into any surgery, you want to know what the side effects are. You want to know what the success rate is. You want to know, what can I expect from this? And in some of the side effects, you want to know things like, well, is this going to create dry eye? Is it going to create floaters? Am I going to have a retina issue? What are some of this? And really, if you can’t get those answers from your doctor, then you find a doctor who can tell you these things. And I would enter any surgical procedure very cautiously because there are side effects, especially to laser procedures and procedures that are invasive.

So that being said, as long as the condition is not sight threatening, and you’ve got even if you have four to six weeks, what I would say is start doing some of my protocols, and many times you can stave off the pattern and eventually turn the tide. So this is something, again, where you go with a friend, with an advocate, and you don’t let them bully you into something or scare you into something until you are completely informed on what’s going on. And this even includes pharmaceutical eyedrops, things like eyedrops for restasis, steroid eyedrops, antibiotic eyedrops. A lot of times, there may be alternatives that you can use, and this is where you get the information. And then you find somebody like me, and then there are ways that you can go. I mean, acupuncture can be really helpful. Craniosacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, herbal remedies, any plant based medicines, natural eyedrops eye exercises. There’s so many things that you can do.

And another aspect that we don’t discuss extensively is changing your diet. Reflect on the foods you consume. Shift towards a more plant-based, rainbow-colored vegetable-rich diet. Vegetables are highly beneficial for your retina, vitreous, cornea, and eyelids. Adopt an anti-inflammatory eating pattern. Explore intermittent fasting. Consider doing a cleanse. Seek guidance from a functional medicine doctor. Often, eye issues stem from either functional eye problems, incorrect prescriptions, eye coordination disparities, or biochemical/endocrine imbalances. A skilled naturopath or functional medicine doctor can assist you in replenishing essential nutrients and facilitating the healing of your eye tissues. For queries, reach out via email: [email protected], [email protected]. Connect with me on social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and Clubhouse. I’m here to support you. That concludes our episode. Take care, everyone.

Thank you for tuning in to the EyeClarity podcast show. If you found value in this episode, be sure to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify and share your feedback with a review. Looking forward to having you back next time.

I invite you to join me on a captivating journey through the realm of aromatherapy in this podcast episode. Together, we’ll delve into the multi-faceted world of lemon essential oil, explore the art of intuitive aromatherapy, and uncover the remarkable benefits of harnessing the power of natural plant remedies. From sensory experiences to practical tips, I’m thrilled to share my insights and knowledge to help you navigate the intricacies of this enchanting practice. Tune in and let’s discover the transformative magic of aromatherapy! Enjoy the show!

If you want more, sign up for my newsletter at: www.drsamberne.com. If you have any questions, submit them to [email protected].

For even more from Dr. Sam, check out his new exclusive membership where you get access to my content and resources, new information, articles, videos, webinars: drsambernesmembership.com.

Hello, everyone. This is Dr. Sam. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to my EyeClarity podcast. If you wish to connect with me, feel free to send your questions to [email protected]. Prior to delving into the show, I’d like to discuss my fresh membership platform. By becoming a member, you’ll gain access to exclusive content that remains unseen on social media. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in my live Q&A sessions, where you can ask me questions directly, and you’ll be eligible to join my advanced workshops. To enroll, please visit drsamburnmembership.com. Now, on to today’s episode.

Hello, everyone, it’s Dr. Sam. I’m pleased to welcome you to today’s EyeClarity podcast. Today, I’ll be addressing a single question, and I’m thrilled to delve into the topic of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a profound interest of mine, one that I’ve been deeply immersed in for numerous years. In particular, I’d like to spotlight lemon essential oil. Lemon is an incredibly versatile essential oil, but cautious application is necessary. When using any essential oil for the first time, it’s crucial to introduce it to your system gently and with care. This is a practice I emphasize in my classes. Begin by experiencing the aroma of the oil, allowing it to engage with your olfactory and limbic systems. This will provide an immediate inclination towards acceptance or rejection.

For example, if I were to present rose oil, its scent is often associated with the rose flower and evokes a sense of heart-opening. On the other hand, an essential oil like spikenard, with its shamanic essence, might carry a scent reminiscent of dirty socks. Despite this, it holds value in the dream world, inducing relaxation. The key is to discern whether the initial response is positive or negative. Turning to lemon, a citrus aroma that’s generally favored, you’d similarly smell it initially and evaluate your reaction. Next, I recommend conducting a patch test on a less sensitive area of the skin, such as the inner part of the wrist. This minimizes any discomfort that might arise, as opposed to applying it directly to more sensitive regions like the face or private areas, which can lead to temporary discomfort. If you ever experience a burning sensation from an essential oil on your skin, applying coconut oil can promptly alleviate it.

So, having completed test number one for lemon—smelling and patch testing—the next step is determining suitable areas of application. Almost any essential oil can be applied to the soles of the feet. For adults, two to three drops of oil on each sole, twice daily, is advisable. With children, the dose varies. For instance, one drop for younger kids and up to four drops for older ones. Lemon essential oil boasts several benefits. It possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties while supporting the liver, spleen, and kidneys, functioning as a detoxifying agent. Thus, it’s a valuable addition to any gentle detox regimen, consistently applied to the soles of the feet. Moreover, lemon oil has a positive impact on mood, elevating emotions and combating feelings of negativity. When facing a challenging day, a little lemon can go a long way in boosting your spirits.

Lastly, there’s a common query about carrier oils. Initially, my aromatherapy training advocated for direct application of essential oils on the skin. However, as I began practicing, I observed varying skin sensitivities. Consequently, I’ve adopted a more flexible stance. Organic carrier oils, such as jojoba, aloe vera, or sunflower, can be blended with essential oils. They serve as compatible carriers, diluting the essential oil’s potency. While this might necessitate a slightly higher quantity of drops, experimentation is key. Intuition also plays a vital role in aromatherapy. A strong intuitive sense guides dosages—whether it’s one or two drops, once or twice daily. Typically, twice daily is a solid guideline for adults, with dosages ranging from one to four drops based on the oil’s nature.

Allow me to recommend a reputable company, Stillpoint Aromatics. Although I receive no financial incentives, I hold them in high regard. Their founder and CEO, Virginia Joy, ensures the utmost integrity in sourcing essential oils from biodynamic farms. Stillpoint Aromatics, located in Sedona, stands as a trustworthy option.

Thank you, everyone, for tuning in. That concludes today’s episode. I appreciate your listenership and hope you’ve gained insights from the Iclarity podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, kindly subscribe on iTunes or Spotify and consider leaving a review. Until next time, take care.

Today I want to address the pressing issue of managing children’s digital device use and offer valuable advice to parents seeking to establish effective boundaries. We’ll shed light on the potential pitfalls of excessive screen time – from eye strain to fatigue – and underscore the heightened vulnerability of children due to their less-developed protective eye pigments against blue light. I advocate for a thoughtful approach rooted in negotiation when discussing digital device limits with kids. Enjoy the show!

If you want more, sign up for my newsletter at: www.drsamberne.com. If you have any questions, submit them to [email protected].

For even more from Dr. Sam, check out his new exclusive membership where you get access to my content and resources, new information, articles, videos, webinars: drsambernesmembership.com

Hello, everyone. It’s Dr. Sam. I’d like to welcome you to my EyeClarity podcast. This is a show that offers cutting-edge information on how to improve your vision and overall wellness through holistic methods. I so appreciate you spending part of your day with me. If you have questions, you can send them to [email protected].

Now to the latest EyeClarity episode.

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the episode today. So I want to target parents. I also want to target children, and this has to do with digital devices. And the topic of the podcast is how to set boundaries, digital device boundaries for kids. This is a constant fight that goes on in probably every household. Kids just want to use their screens all day, and parents are really upset that kids are spending so much time staring at their screens, either playing video games or even just schoolwork.

Recently, I was visiting a school and I was doing some consulting, and every classroom I went in, the kids were on their iPad, learning through their digital devices. So we can’t fight it. They’re definitely here. But what’s the research? What’s my clinical experience and how to navigate this conversation? And what is it that we can do to negotiate with our kids? How to set boundaries with digital devices.

So a conservative, mainstream publication this was put out by the American Optometric Association came out and said that, yes, children are at a higher risk of eye strain, eye fatigue, maybe even retinal damage from looking at their digital devices. There was an article that was published a long time ago, 1962, in the Investigative Ophthalmology Journal, and they were studying the difference between children’s lenses in the eye versus adults.

And what the researchers found is that children do not have the pigment developed that deflects the damaging blue light. So this means that. Adults do have this pigment inherently in the lens, but it doesn’t develop till later on in a child’s life. And so young children, school age children, they don’t have this pigment. This means that the blue light can absorb more deeply through the lens to the retina, therefore creating the potential of more retinal damage.

So the American optometric association also wrote in this publication that kids have a higher risk of developing headaches, blurred vision, and eye strain from staring at digital devices. The AOA also said that children may have a disruption in their circadian rhythms which affects their sleep cycle. Now, my clinical practice, what I have seen is kids love the digital devices.

They can’t get enough of it. It creates kind of an addictive focus for them. But at the same time, I’m seeing more kids with blurred vision at distance, red eyes, headaches, eye strain, avoidance of reading. And I think it is related to all the screen time that kids are doing so in being able to negotiate. This is setting boundaries, digital device boundaries. With kids, I think it comes down to a couple of things.

Number one, when you’re communicating or negotiating with your child, it’s better if you don’t take an authoritative approach like the parent says, it’s my way or the highway. I like to find the hot button with kids. What are their goals and objectives? What do they like to do besides digital devices? Or maybe it’s some goal that they’re going for.

They want to buy something or they want to go somewhere. So I like to ask them what are some of their goals and objectives in the bigger picture? And then once I have that information, I know what their hot button is. I can then begin to discuss this digital device conversation as it relates to their lifestyle homework, sports, travel, seeing friends.

And what I like to do with a digital device conversation is say, look, I can give you an hour a day of your screen time, especially if it’s video games or watching a TV show or a movie, but an hour is about the limit. And then on the weekends, maybe what we could do is if you get your homework done, if you’re cleaning up your room, if you’re taking care of your responsibility abilities, maybe what we can do is give you 2 hours.

But we split the. Time up. And so it takes this negotiation with your child to say, look, this particular activity that you like to do is really hard on your eyes and I want you to be able to do it. I know you get some pleasure, I know you enjoy it, but I also want you to do some other things as well. And it does get to be like an addictive behavior.

Just like when we eat sugar and then the doctor says, oh, we want you to stop eating sugar, and you go into this strong emotional reaction. I’ve had this many times with kids when they say their favorite food is laced with sugar, and I say, well, maybe we need to reduce it, there’s this strong emotional reaction.

No, I can’t do this. So the point is that

with the computer, with the screens, you have to kind of press into what their emotional reaction is going to be. And you have to manage it. You have to give them a say in it, listen to them, hear them out. And again, it becomes a negotiation where your goal is the end game is to limit it and get them to do other things besides just staring at their screens.

The other thing that you can do is you can put some screen protectors on the digital device. One of the companies I’ve been working with is called Safe Sleeve, and they have some wonderful blue blockers that you can put on your phones, your tablets, your computers, or blue blocking glasses. That would be another option as well.

So at least you’re getting your child to do that. If you take them to a holistic eye doctor, sometimes the doctor will prescribe low plus lenses. We call these developmental lenses. So the combination of the low plus with the blue blockers relaxes the visual system, but it blocks the damaging blue light.

So the bottom line is, number one, they need protection. Number two, you need to limit their screens, and number three, make sure they get outside into the natural sunlight, especially in the morning. That’s one of the best things that you can do for them. Studies have shown that kids who spend more time outside in the sun have a lower incidence of myopia or they reduce their myopia.

So there’s something to be said of being outside in open space, in natural light. We spend so much time with our artificial lights, whether it’s school, institutions, even our homes perhaps, that we need to get out into the natural sunlight. That’s a great antidote. And of course, if you can get them to eat the colorful vegetables and antioxidant foods, make sure they’re getting some good supplementation, some good fish oil or healthy fats.

These are all things that if you can get it in their diet, that’s helpful as well. And eliminate or reduce the sugary foods. So good luck, parents. It’s a tough one, I’ve been there. And I’ll have more to say as we move along. So thanks for your interest today. That’s our show. Until next time, everyone. Take care.

Thank you for listening. I hope you learned something from the EyeClarity podcast show today. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify and leave a review. See you here next time.

In this episode I recount my personal struggle with vision issues and how I found solace in the holistic method. Vision encompasses more than just the eyes; it encompasses the brain, emotions, posture, and balance. I lay out crucial strategies for bolstering vision, especially for those aged 70 and above grappling with conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. Enjoy the show!

If you want more, sign up for my newsletter at: www.drsamberne.com. If you have any questions, submit them to [email protected].

For even more from Dr. Sam, check out his new exclusive membership where you get access to my content and resources, new information, articles, videos, webinars: drsambernesmembership.com

Hello, everyone. It’s Dr. Sam. I’d like to welcome you to my EyeClarity podcast. This is a show that offers cutting edge information on how to improve your vision and overall wellness through holistic methods. I so appreciate you spending part of your day with me. If you have questions, you can send them to [email protected].

Now to the latest EyeClarity episode.

Hey, everybody. Welcome to my podcast. So today I’m going to take on a subject about your eye health, eye disease. And this is targeted for 70 years old and up. We’ve been diagnosed with a certain condition like cataracts or macular degeneration. So how do we dissolve the barriers to follow my protocols and program?

Well, I’ll start off with a personal story many years ago. In fact, if I think about it, it was over 40 years ago. I was very, very near sighted, and I also had a struggle with reading. I was in my late twenties. I had graduated optometry school. I was involved in a postdoctoral fellowship at the Gazelle Institute. And I was just starting my first private practice in Philadelphia.

And I met a developmental optometrist who practiced in Connecticut. His name was Dr. Al Shankman, and he wrote a book that you could look up called Vision Enhancement Therapy or Vision Enhancement Training. And he invited me to a year-long seminar that he was putting on for a group of young optometrists who were interested in his philosophy.

So he was holistic. He was mind, body. He was a yoga teacher. He also taught meditation. And he was in his mid-70s, so he’d given up his regular private practice, and he was doing this out of his home. So when I met him, I drove up from Philadelphia. I was really taken to him immediately. And we had a very strong connection, developed a deep bond over many years of my working with him and being a mentor, mentoring.

So he was mentoring me. And then we became friends, and he watched my career take off. But the very early part of it, I signed up to be a patient of his and I began doing his vision therapy. Now, it was a form of physical therapy that was very different than what I had learned both in school and in some of my externships. Because he was of the perspective that vision was not just in the eyeball, but it was a whole body pattern that influenced our posture, our movement, our emotions, our balance and many other things.

And so I started in on his program, but this is where it comes in about dissolving the barriers, because what I ended up doing was spending anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes a day, seven days a week, doing his physical therapy practices and having that level of commitment. I began to see some changes that went on that eventually allowed me to completely let go of my strong near sighted prescription. And it also healed my learning and reading problem that I had had since I was eight years old. So it was a 20-year odyssey.

And when those two things happen, I recognized that one of my own blocks was my inability to commit and be consistent in a daily practice. Now, the other point of it that he emphasized was whatever activities he gave me. And he didn’t like to use the word exercise because when we think of exercise, we think of I’m strengthening muscles, I’m stretching it’s more on a physical level. But vision is very much an internal process in the sense that when I would do the practice, I used the practice that he gave me as a mirror, be like looking into a mirror and seeing and watching and observing my patterns of awareness.

It could be things like my right eye was more emotional than my left eye, my left eye had a better balance than my right eye, meaning body balance. And my posture was different when I used each eye separately, stuff like that. So the activity allowed me to understand my awareness. And this led to my insight into habits and conditioning that caused the vision problem to begin with.

Because again. In the space, it’s all genetics or because my parents had a certain condition that I’m going to get it. And in the epigenetic research, there’s more to it than just your genes. But it’s really how the environment, how you interact with yourself and the world that turns the genes on and off. And this epigenetic dia is not new. It’s been around for a long time. I mean, if you wanted to look up, probably one of the founders, at least on a public level, is Bruce Lipton, who first introduced this to the mainstream and it really took off.

But in these practices around your vision, because vision equals brain, I began to understand that the brain, the mind, our thoughts, our belief systems had such a huge influence on the physical eyesight. Remember, eyesight is glasses and it’s the eye chart. But vision is the brain and how we process information, how our two eyes work together.

And so in my protocols, one of the things I emphasize is, number one, you’ve got to commit to do a daily practice of at least 30 minutes a day. Now you can split that up into different time periods, doing a little bit in the morning, afternoon, evening. And especially I’m targeting this towards 70 year olds because usually you’ve got a little more time, but your vision is deteriorating.

You are investing in being able to reverse any visual deterioration. The second thing that’s important is to keep a journal, keep a diary of your awarenesses. What you’re experiencing, feeling, seeing, noticing your thoughts. Just write them down. Awareness is the key, I think, in healing your vision. The more you become aware of the habits and conditioning, you’re now dissolving the obstacles that have been created that actually changes the physical structure.

So those two aspects are really, really important in being able to make the changes. Now, case in point, I’ll talk about two people who I saw recently who are in their seventies, and they were able to improve their vision. I had a patient who came in and she just wanted an exam. She was having difficulty reading contracts, skipping words, losing her place. And so during the evaluation I recognized that she was way over corrected in her glasses prescription.

But she wasn’t ready to. Take the less prescription. The other thing that was going on is her right eye was shutting off when she was using both eyes together. So we had to do a vision test to uncover that problem. So I began giving her a couple of vision practices to do. And I got an email about two weeks later, literally two weeks later. And she wrote and she said, you know, I can’t wear my glasses anymore.

My balance is off, and I see better without my glasses. So some switch got turned on and she came in and I was able to reduce her prescription by 50% 50%. That’s unheard of. And on top of that, she was actually able to do some reading without her glasses. So she’s farsighted. She needed some magnification, but I think the doctor just over magnified her.

And that was also creating some of the suppression in the right eye because she was saying, you know, I’m not having that problem right now reading contracts. And so that

was just two weeks doing daily practices that I gave her. The other person I’ll mention again is 70 plus. She came in with a cataract diagnosis in both eyes.

Now, in her case, I had her supplement with glutathione sublingual and vitamin C. Also had her take some additional eye supplementation that included lutein and Zeaxanthin to wear blue blockers to do some vision practices that I gave her. And within six months, her cataracts completely dissolved 100%. Now, she was 75 years old, but she made the shift as well.

Now, in both cases, these people committed to the practices, deeply committed, because if you’re dabbling in it or you just want the end result, it’s probably not going to work for you. It didn’t work for me. And this is one of the messages that I convey to people that they have to commit, they have to sharpen their self awareness, and they have to understand that this is a process of relearning how the eyes and the brain work together.

Now, some obvious other things that you can do would be get 30 minutes of morning natural sunlight every day. Get out in nature, 15 to 30 minutes a day. Improve your lymph system, if you can, by walking. Eat a diet that is cleaner. So you’re eating more fruits and a few vegetables. What I’m saying is a few fruits, like especially the berry family and the colorful vegetables, especially the red or orange yellow pigmented vegetables. These have the lutein. zeaxanthin in it. You can even add the astaxanthin by eating marine carotenoids. Just make sure it’s wild caught if you’re doing salmon, because the sources, again, can be a problem.

Include your omega three s, your fish oil, if you can remember. Fats and oils are really important in the equation. And I also include my red light exposure. Know, so many people have benefited from my red exercise glasses. And I think red light because it stimulates the mitochondria function in the retina. It does help reduce the reactive oxygen species that’s the free radicals that form in the retina. And it kind of turns the corner where you’re reducing oxidative stress and improving your visual functioning by absorbing your nutrients better.

The mitochondria are working better. So that’s kind of a no brainer. So that’s my message for today. I want to thank everybody for their contribution, their participation, and keep watching. I got more to say.

Take care, everybody. Thank you for listening. I hope you learned something from the EyeClarity podcast show today. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify and leave a review. See you here next time.