148- holistic eye care to improve eye health and … and eyesight naturally with dr. berne copyright...

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Episode148:HolisticEyeCaretoImproveEyeHealthandEyesightNaturallywithDr.Berne


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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

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Katie:HelloandwelcometotheHealthyMomsPodcast.I'mKatiefromwellnessmama.comandtoday,wearegoingtotalkabouteyehealthandit'sgoingtobefascinating.IamherewithDr.SamBerne,whohasbeeninprivatepracticeinNewMexicoforover25yearsandheusesholisticvisiontherapytoimproveeyehealth,visionandoverallwellness.Hetreatsthebodyasoneintegratedsystem,ratherthanacollectionofindependentorgansinordertoidentifyandaddresstherootcausesofdisease.Hehasdevelopedinnovativemethodsforhealingthemind,bodyandspiritthrougheyetherapyandheprovidesindividualswithnaturalalternativesforreducingdiseaseandimprovingvitality.Hismethodsofferaholisticsolutiontothosewithautism,ADHD,cataracts,dryeye,glaucoma,maculardegenerationandothereyeconditionsandIcan'twaittojumpinandIthinkaperfectplacetostartwouldbe,I'dlovetohearyourpersonalstoryandhowyoudevelopedthisapproach,becauseIthinkalotofpeopledon'treallythinkthattheeyescanchange.Theythinktheycanloseweightorgainmuscleorchangethebodyorevenchangethebrainbutalotofpeopledon'treallythinktheeyescanchange.Solet'sstartwithyourstoryandhowyoudevelopedit.

Sam:Well,itstartedwhenIwasabouteightyearsoldandIwasdiagnosedwithalearningdisability,andmymomtookmeeverywhere.Weendedupinaneyedoctor'sofficeandIgotapairofnearsightedglasses.Itdidn'treallyhelpmylearningproblembutIwasabletoseeclearlyandeveryyear,Iwouldgobackandgetastrongerprescription.Ibecameamemorizerinschool,that'showIlearned.AndwhenIgraduatedoptometryschool,ImetaholisticeyedoctorandIwentthroughhisvisiontherapy,whichisaphysicaltherapyforeyes,andtwothingshappened.Hediagnosedmewithaconditioncalled"convergenceinsufficiency,"andthisisaconditionwherethetwoeyesdon'tworktogether.AndwhenIhealedthatthroughhistherapy,myreadingimproved,mylearningskyrocketed,anditwasreallyanamazingepiphany.TheotherthingthathappenedisthatIdidn'tneedmynearsightedglassesanymore.IrealizedthatIwascarryingalotoftensioninmyeyesandthatIdidneedn'ttodothat.SoIdidn'tneedmyprescription,Iwasn'tnearsightedanymore,andIwasabletosee20/20.SothenIdecidedIwantedtogointoamoreholisticapproachtoeyecareandthat'sreallyhowIgotmystartinmyprivatepractice.


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Katie:That'ssofascinating.AndIfeellikealotofpeopledon'tthinkthattheeyescanchange,thattheythinkthattheeyesareaprettystaticthingandthatoncethey'vedeteriorated,tousethatword,toacertainpointthatthey'restuckthereandpeoplewillacknowledgethattheycanchangetheirbodythroughdietingandexerciseoreventheirbrainnowthatwestarttounderstandneuroplasticity,butalotofpeoplejustreallydeny,includingalotofdoctorsthatI'vetalkedto,thattheeyescanchange.Infact,whenmydaughterhad...wetookherinforhereyeexamwhenshewasfiveyearsold,startingkindergartenandshewasdiagnosedwithnearsightednessandalazyeyeandallthesethings.ButInoticedthattheyhadstarted,likeyoumentiontensioninyourcase,theyhadstartedrightafterareallystressfuleventinourlivesandabigmoveandallthesechanges.AndsoIreallywonderediftherecouldbesomethingelsethatwascontributingandthedoctortoldmeflatoutthattherewasnoway,nothingcouldchangeit.Butyourresearchhaskindofproventhattheeyescanchange,socanyoutalkaboutthat?Aretheeyessetinstoneorcanwe,likeinyourcase,youactuallyreversetheseproblems?Sam:Well,theeyesoriginatefrombraintissue.Inthefirsttrimester,weseeinthefetusthattheeyesactuallygrowoutfromthebrain.Soeverytissueoftheeyeisbraintissue.Youmentionedneuroplasticity.Sincetheeyesarepartofthebrain,theyqualifyforneuroplasticityandinsomeofthelatestresearchactually,therearestudiesoutthatshowthattheeyesdohavetheregenerativecapability,especiallyintheretina,they'redoingstemcelltherapy.Sowhenweworkwiththeeyes,we'reworkingwithanextensionofthebrain,that'snumberone.Thesecondthingisthattheeyesactuallylinkandreflectwhat'sgoingonwithoursystemicandmetabolichealth.Forexample,ifwehaveinflammationinthegut,thatactuallycanbeoneofthecausesorfactorsofconditionslikemaculardegeneration,orglaucoma,orcataracts.Ifwehavedryeyesyndrome,asanexample,that'sconnectedtoadrenalburnouts,sooursympatheticnervoussystemisoverworking.Sothere'sdefinitelyaverystronglinkbetweenoureyesandourbody,andwedohavethecapabilitytoimproveourvisionatanyagethroughnutrition,throughvisiontherapy,andothertechniquesthatI'vedeveloped.AndIthinkthatit'sstartingtochange.Peoplearerecognizingwecanchangeotherpartsofourbody,whynotoureyes?Katie:Yeah,IlovethatandIlovethatyouareoutthereactuallydoingthisandhavingtheresultswithpeoplebecauseit'sshowingthatitcanbedone.SoI'mcurioushowyoutreatsomeofthecausativefactorsofdifferenteyediseasesthatyousee.Iknowthatthere'salotofdifferentonesouttherebutwhensomeonecomesintoyou,whataresomeofthemorecommononesthatyou'reseeingandhowdoyouaddressthose?Sam:Well,justtoday,Isawsomebodywhowasdiagnosedwithwetmaculardegenerationandmaculardegenerationisprobablyoneoftheleadingcausesofblindnesstoday.Basically,themaculaisthecenterpartoftheretinawhereweseedetailandtheretinahasoneofthehighestmetabolicneedsofthebodyandthemaculahasthehighestmetabolicneedoftheretina.Andwhatcausesoxidativestressinthemacula,whichiswhatmaculardegenerationis,isthatfreeradicalsaccumulatethere.Soonacellularlevel,themitochondriaarenotproducingenoughATPandthiscreatesmetabolicwastethatstartstoaccumulate.Sointhislady'scase,shewasgettinginjectionsofpharmaceuticaldrugstotrytostoporslowdownthewetmaculardegeneration.SowhatIsuggestedisthatwestarthavinghertakesomecarotenoidsandthesewouldbethingslikeluteinandzeaxanthin.Andthisiswellresearched.IntheAREDstudyin2001peoplethattook


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carotenoidsandantioxidantsfortheireyeshada25%reductionofgettingmaculardegeneration.SoI'mputtingaroundtheseeyevitaminsandantioxidantsandwe'regonnagetherofftheinjectionswhichhavealotofsideeffects.Theycreateinflammationandeyeirritation,andthey'renotreallyhelping.Soinmaculardegeneration,it'sveryimportanttogetthoseyellowcarotenoids,luteinandzeaxanthin,kindoftheyellow,greenleafyvegetables,theorangebellpeppers,thosekindsofthings.Omega-3fishoilisanotherreallyimportantnutrientfortheeyes.Let'stakealookatcataracts.Cataractsisaproblemwiththemetabolismofthelensoftheeyeandthemacula,thelens,andthecornearelyontheircirculationindirectlyfromthebloodvessels.Sothey'recalledavasculartissues.Sothelensoftheeyeisveryvulnerableforgettinganaccumulationofthismetabolicwasteandthiscreatesthecataractformation.Actually,youcanusehomeopathiceyedrops,glutathione,lotsofantioxidants,andinearlytomoderatestageofcataracts,youcanactuallyreversecataractswithoutneedingsurgery.Thethirdmajoreyediseaseisglaucomaandthisisaveryscarydisease.Icallitthe"silentthief"becausewhenyouhaveglaucoma,youdon'tknowitanditbeginstoreduceyourperipheralvisionandyoucanactuallygoblindfromit.Sothekeyinglaucomaistoincreasethelymphatichealthtothefluidhealthintheeyesandinthebody.Andtherearecertainherbalremedies,certainantioxidants,eventhingslikeacupunctureandcraniosacraltherapycanactuallyhelpbalancetheeyepressureandimprovetheopticnervehealth.Sooverall,justinthesethreeconditions,ifyouchangeyourdiet,ifyoureduceyourstress,ifyoufindoutthatyouhaveheavymetaltoxicityandyougetridofthat,ifyoubalanceyourendocrinesystem,ifyoudomyeyeexercises,youcanactuallyreversealotoftheseeyediseaseswithoutusingsurgeryandpharmaceuticals.Andthat'smymission,that'smymessage.I'msoexcitedaboutputtingthisworkouttherebecauseyou'reright,it'snotreallywellknown,ingeneralhealth.Katie:Yeah,exactly.Thatismusictomyearscomingfromthenutritionbackgroundthatevenwhatweeatcanaffectoureyes.BecauselikeIsaid,itmakessensetosomanypeoplethatwhatyoueataffectsyourgutoritaffectsyourskinordifferentareasofthebody.Thatmakessensewhenyouthinkaboutitthatitwouldaffectyoureyestoo.ButIlovethatyou'veactuallyseenthatinpracticeseeingpeoplebeingabletochangetheireyesthroughdietaryandlifestyleinterventions.YoumentionedeyeexercisesandIwanttodelveintothosebecausewithourdaughterthatwasoneofthethingsthatwedidwithherandliterallyshewentfromreallybadvision,Iforgethowbaditwas,butitwasreallybadandtheyweresayingsheneededthesereallythickglasses.AndIwaslike,"Okay,ifweneedtodoglasses,wewillbutIwannatrysomeexerciseanddifferentthingsfirst."AndIreadatonofbooksandwedidalotoftheexercises.Itookhertoadifferenteyedoctorandtestedherasifshe'sneverbeentestedandhervisionhaddrasticallyimproved.SoIamahugebeliever,buttalktousabouteyeexercisesandhowtheywork.Sam:Okay.Well,that'sagreatstory.Basically,theeyesandthebrainandthebodyhaveacertainpattern.What'sgoingonintheeyesisreflectedinourposture,ourmovement,ouremotions,ourbrainprocessing.Sointermsoftheeyeexercisesthatyou'rereferringto,youcanactuallyrepattern,reprogram,andretrainhowtheeyesandthebrainandthebodyworktogether.Youspokeaboutglasses.Whenyougotoaneyedoctorandyougetaprescriptionthat'scalculatedbasedon


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the20/20eyechart,that'sgonnadonothingmorethanweakenyourvision,especiallyinchildren.Andtheyuseeyedropstodilatetheeyesandparalyzethefocusingmuscles,thentheygivethemaximumlensprescription.Whatthatdoesisthatactuallyreducesthevisualfunctionoftheeyeswhenyouwearareallystrongprescription.Sotheideais,ifyoustartdoingthevisiontherapyexercisesandsomeofthemarewholebody,someofthemarebasedonbrainandperceptionandmemory,someofthemarebasedonmorevisualtrackingandvisualcoordinationexercises.Andthere'sasequencewhenyouintroducethemespeciallytoachild,butforanybody,actuallywhathappensisyoustarttohavestrongervisionandyoudon'tneedthatprescriptionorthatstrongofaprescription,becauseanyprescriptionyougetthat'sbasedon20/20isgoingtoweakenyoureyes.OneofmystrategiesissometimesIprescribealessstrongprescriptionorI'llbasemyprescriptiononaperson'sfocusingresponse,sothat'sadynamicmeasurementofhowwemeasurethelensforthevisualsystemandthenbaseduponthat,itactuallyrelaxestheeyesbutstillallowsthemtoseeclearly,it'snottoostrong.Butthevisiontherapyexercisesarekindoflikeaneuroplasticitytraining.Soit'sretrainingthebrainandtheeyestohaveanewexperience,whetherit'sintegratingperipheralvision,centralvision,visualinformationprocessing.Andagain,itworksreallywell.It'skindoflikechangingthepatternthatwe'resetwithanditworksverywell.It'sveryeffective.Katie:That'ssofascinatingandI'mcurious,canthesethingsbedoneaspartofjustaholistichealthroutine,likesomeonewhodoesn'thaveadiagnosedeyeproblembutwhois,likeforme,gettingolderanddoesn'twanttodevelopeyeproblems,isthissomethingwecandopreventativelyaswell?Sam:Oh,absolutely.Onmywebsite,I'veputoutsomevideosandfreeeyeexercisesthatactuallyimprovetheeyecirculation,toreducestress,toopenuptheperipheralvision.Becauseoureyesarepatternaddictsbasicallyandwe'reonthesedigitaldevicesallday,thisisgonnadegenerateanddeteriorateoureyesight.Andifwestarteddoingtheseexercisesthatreduceourstress,openoureyescirculation,improveourvisualinformationprocessing,then,ofcourse,we'regonnabeabletonotonlypreserveourvisionbutourvisioncangetbetteraswegetolder.Peoplethatareinbifocalsandtrifocalsandthey'vehadthesedifferentkindsofeyesurgeriesandtakingthesepharmaceuticaldrugs,thisistakingusfurtherawayfromourabilitytohealoureyesandthat'swhythesenaturalmethodsaresoeffectiveinhelpingusregainoureyesightandvision.It'sveryempoweringtobeabletodotheseexercisesandregainoureyesightandvision.Katie:Yeah,that'sreallyexciting.Evenyou'resayingforsomeonewhohaswornglassesforyears,there'sstilltheabilitytoimprovetheireyes?Sam:Absolutely.Nowasanexample,let'sgothroughtheconditions.Ifyou'renearsighted,whatthatmeansisyou'vemadeanadaptationwhereyou'vepulledthevisualworldin.That'swhatIdidwhenIwasachild.Basically,themindistellingtheeyes,"Idon'tknowwhat'sgoingonoutthere.I'vegottopullmyworldintomakesenseofit."Soit'satension-basedproblemandsobasicallytheeyedoctorvalidatestheadaptationyoumakebygivingyouanearsightedprescription.Farsightednessorhyperopiaispushingtheworldout,pushingitaway.Inthatparticularsituation,yougetalensthatmakesamagnificationbutthenthatcausesyoureyemusclestobecomeveryflaccid,sotheylosetheresponsivenessoftheirfocusing.


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Astigmatismisatwistingoftheeyes.There'ssometwistintheeyemusclesthatiscreated...again,it'sanadaptiveresponse,eitherstress,trauma,toxicity,andsothenyougetthoselensesandyoustartwearingthemanditweakensyourvision.Soinmyapproach,whatyoucanbegindoingiswearaslightlyreducedprescriptioninnon-demandingandnon-threateningsituations,andyourvisualsystemthenhastheopportunitytobegintorelaxandtheeyescanworktogether.Soyoucanbegintomoveawayfromthestrongprescription.Isayitlikethis.Yougototheeyedoctor,you'resittinginthedarkroom,youhaveamachineoveryourface,andthedoctorisflippinglenssaying,"Whichisclearer?Numberoneornumbertwo?Numberoneornumbertwo?"Andlet'ssayyou'rehavingabaddayandyouguessednumbertwo.Yougetthislensandyoustartwearingandyougo,"Mygoodness,thisismakingmedizzy.It'smakingmenauseous.It'sgettingmeaheadache."Yougobacktothedoctorandwhatdoeshesay?"Don'tworry,you'llgetusedtoit."No.Youdonotwannatrytogetusedtosomethingthat'smakingyouimbalanced.Soyou'vegottabeverycarefulofthelensesthatyouwearbecausetheywillweakenyoureyesandtherearewaysthatyoucanstartunwindingthevisualsystemevenasyougetoldersothatyoudon'thavetobesodependentontheprescriptions.Katie:Thatmakesperfectsense.Whatyousaidabouthowadaptabletheeyesare,thatmakesperfectsensethatiftheyputyouattheworstprescriptionorthestrongestprescriptionpossible,thatyoureyeswilllearntoadaptanditalsomakessenseyou'llbedizzywhileyoudobecauseyoureyesaresotiedtoyourvestibularsystemandeverythingelse.That'ssuperfascinating.Withtheexercisesthatyoudoortheprotocol,wouldthatbedifferentforsomeonewho'snearsightedversus...wouldtheseconditionsrequiredifferentthingsoraretheresomeexercisesthatbenefiteverybody?Sam:Well,therearesomeexercisethatwouldbenefiteverybody,theonesthatarestressreducingandtheyopenupthecirculation.Butsayforanearsightedperson,thatkindofapatternisatunnelingofthevision.Youbecomeveryfocal,veryagencydriven.Sothereisn'talotofperipheralvision,there'sisn'talotofrelaxation.It'sbasicallyfight-or-flightresponse,hypervigilance.Igottafocusandgetitdone.Sothoseexerciseswouldbemoreperipheralorientedandmorerelaxation.Ialwayssayfocusandexpand,focusandrelax.Forfarsightedpeople,andthisincludespeopleintheir40swhostartneedingreadingglassesandmagnification,whathappensisyoustartlosingyourfocusingmuscleresponsiveness.Sothosepeopleneedmoreagency,morefocusingintheirexercisesandmorefocusingflexibility.Andthisiskindofacoolthing.Fornearsightedpeople,I'llgivefarsightedprescriptionsforthemtowearwhilethey'redoingtheirexercisesandforfarsightedpeople,I'llgivenearsightedprescriptionsforthemtowear.Soyou'rewearingtheoppositeprescriptionasawaytorebalancehowtheeye,brain,bodyworkstogether.Andit'samazingwhenyoustartwearingsomethingoppositeandyouhavetodealwiththingslikeblurandhowtochangeyourfocusingsoyou'reabletodotheexercise.Soyoucanuseglassestherapeuticallytoimproveyourvision.IrememberwhenIgotinmyfirstpracticeandIhadtroublegettingpatients,IwenttooneofthelocalhospitalsandIwasworkinginthetraumaticbraininjuryclinic,thiswasanoutpatientplaceinoneofthehospitalsandIsaidtothephysiatrist,"Ihavethisphysicaltherapyfortheeyesthatcanhelpallthesefolkswithdoublevision,memoryproblems,vestibularissues."AndsoIdevelopedthiswholeprogramtoworkwithtraumaticbraininjuryandIhadphenomenalsuccessinashortperiodoftime.


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OneofthethingsIdevelopedwastheuseoftherapeuticprisms.Theseareprismsthatwhenyouputthemon,itactuallystimulatesyourspatialawarenessandyourperipheralvision.Solet'ssayyouhaveastrokeonyourrighteyeandyoulosetheperipheralvisionthere.Youcanactuallyprescribeatherapeuticlensthatputsyouintothatblindspotandthatbeginstoactivatetheperipheralvisionthereandalsothatsideofthebody.Andwithinafewweeks,youstartregainingtheperipheralvisiononthesidewhereyou'vehadthedamageortheinjury.Soagain,neuroplasticity,youcanchangeyoureyesbecausetheyarepartofthebrainandthroughnutrition,throughtheexercises,it'sjustaveryeffectiveapproachinhelpingpeopleimprovetheirvision.Katie:It'ssocool.Ilistenedtosomeofyourpodcastsandyou'vementionedafewtimestheconnectionoftheeyetothebrainandtheeyesbeingbraintissueessentially.AndyouhadagreatpodcastonhowbehavioralconditionslikeADHDandautismcanbekindofaddressedthroughvisiontherapyandthatwholeideaeye-brainconnection.AndIknowalotofpeoplelistening,I'veheardfromalotofreaderswhosechildrenarestrugglingwithpotentiallysomeofthoseissues.SoI'dloveifyoucouldreallydelveintothatconnectionandhowyouareaddressingthat.Sam:WhenIgraduatedoptometryschool,IattendedaplacecalledGesellInstituteanditwasaffiliatedwiththeYaleStudyCenterinNewHaven,Connecticut.ArnoldGesellstartedthisinstitutein1948,along,longtimeago.Hewasachildresearcher,developmentalspecialist,butitwasaninstitutewhereIlearnedtoevaluatekidsalongtheASDtoADDspectrum.Now,thiswasbackinthemid-80sbeforeitreallyexploded.ButtherewereacoupleofthingsthatIlearnedatthatinstitutethatstayedwithmethatwhenwehaveavisionproblem,it'smorethanintheeyeballbutit'sinthewholeperson.Andbecauseofthiseye-brainconnectionthatwiththesespectrumdisordersfromASDtoADD,thatoneofthethingsthat'smissing...andI'msoexcitednow,I'mseeingresearchwherethey'relinkingupvisionproblemswithautismandADDandADHD.Clearly,mostdiagnosticexamsstopatthe20/20eyechartandI'vehadparentscometoseemeandsay,"Well,Ididgoforaneyetestandeverythingcheckedoutintermsofthedistanceacuitychart."AndIsaid,"Yes,that'snotvision,that'seyesight."Soifyoutakeachildwithautismand...Ihaveasayingthatwhenyouseeonechildwithautism,you'veseenonechildwithautism.Becausethere'ssomanydifferentfactorsinvolved.Butthevisualpiecewherethey'renotestablishingeyecontact,they'realwayslookingdown,theyhavedifficultygoingupanddownstairs,they'refocusingononeobjectincessantlyforlongperiodsoftime,difficultywithtracking,focusingvisualcoordination,thatwewannabringvisionintotheconversationbecauseit'spartofthebrainintermsoftheautisticspectrumdisorder.Nowontheotherendofit,therewasanotherreallyexcitingresearchstudythatwasdonethroughtheUniversityofCaliforniaatSanDiego.Anophthalmologist,Dr.GranetdidastudywherekidswhowerediagnosedwithADHDhadavisionconditionthatIhavethatIspokeaboutjustafewminutesagocalledconvergenceinsufficiency.Andhefoundthatabout10%ofkidswhowerediagnosedwithADHDhadthisconvergenceinsufficiencyandthatifyourepairthatthrougheyetherapylikeIdid,theADHDsymptomswouldgoaway.IguesswhatI'msayingisthatthesesituations,thesespectrumdisorders,they'recomplicated.Andthereisn'tamagicbullet.Ithinknutrition,toxicities,trauma,genetics,ImeantherearemanyfactorsthatwecouldtalkaboutbutIwanttobringvisionintotheconversationofawarenessthatgoesbeyondtheeyechart.


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IrememberIwasinvolvedwiththemconsultingwithanumberofschools,andschoolnurseswouldcallmeandtheywouldsay,"Dr.Berne,allthesekidsarepassingthedistanceeyetest.Whatcanwedoasabettertesttoseeiftheyactuallyhaveavisionproblem?"AndIsaid,"Givethemsomethingtoreadandjustobservetheirbehavior.Iftheystartpullingthebookin,theycloseorcoveroneeye,iftheirfacegetsscowled,ifthey'restressingorstraining,that'sgonnatellyouthatthere'savisionproblem."Soit'stheneartest,they'relookingattheprint,thatactuallyisabetterindicatoronwhat'sgoingoninthevisualsystem.Soifit'sanexcitingawarenesstorecognizethatvisionispartofthiswholecentralordevelopmentalprocessinallofthesekidsandI'vehadgreatsuccessovertheyearsworkingwiththesechildrenandcontinuetodoso.Katie:Yeah,Iagree.Ithinkthisisawesomethatyou'rebringingthisintotheconversation.BecauselikeyousaiditisaholisticapproachandIthinkyoufoundaveryimportantkeyofit.IwannagothroughafewmorespecificconditionsthatI'vegottenquestionsabout,tomakesureweaddressthoseandthenIwanttogobacktothebigpicture.ButIhavegottenquiteafewemailquestionsaboutfloatersandI'mcuriousifyouhaveanyspecificadviceorinstructionforpeoplewhohavefloaters.Sam:Absolutely.That'sagreatquestion.Inthejelly-likepartoftheeye,it'scalledthevitreous,thejelly-likepartoftheeyeisbetweenthelensoftheeyeandtheretina.It'sthisjellymaterial,andthisistheplacewherefloatersstartdeveloping.Sowhatisafloater?Afloaterisbasicallyoxidativestress.It'safreeradicaldamagewherethejelly-likepartoftheeyebeginstosolidifyandthiscreatesthesespecksorthesethreadsthatarekindofcomingthroughthevisionintoyourlineofsight.Now,oneofthereasonswhywedevelopfloatersisagainbecauseasweage,wehavelessoxygenationandhydrationintheeyetissues.Sothiscreatesarealvulnerabilityinthevitreouswherethisoxidativestressbecomesthesefloaters.Thentheideaisthatyouwanttomakesureyou'regettingenoughantioxidantsforyoureyesthatcanactuallychewup.Thesearefreeradicalsandyes,youcanreversefloaters.Youneedtoreallyincreaseyourantioxidantsespecially,andIspokeaboutthisbefore,thecarotenoids,omega-3fishoil,beta-carotene,vitaminC,vitaminE,astaxanthin,andotherreallyimportantantioxidantforyoureyes,glutathione,magnesium,selenium,chromium.Soyoucanreversefloaters.Ialsothinkthedigitaldevices...ifyou'reonthecomputeralotandthiscanbeanothercontributingfactortothedevelopmentoffloaters.Youwanttobecarefulaboutthebluelightthat'scomingoffthecomputer.Sowhenthebluelight,especiallyafter6:00p.m.,itbeginstosuppressthemelatonin,soit'saffectingoursleepcycle.Butthebluelightcanalsodamageallofoureyetissues,ourretina,ourmacula,ourvitreous,ourlens.Soifyoufeelvulnerablewiththat,youcangetsomethingcalledblue-blockinglenseswhichactuallyblockthebluelight.Alotofpeopledon'tknowaboutthis.Thereisaconnectionbetweenthevitreousandthelivermeridianinacupuncture.Ifyougothroughsomedetoxificationprogramtosupportyourliverbetter,thisisanotherwayforyoutoreducethefloaters.

Katie:IlovethatyoumentionedblueblockersbecauseI'vewornthemforyearsandalsowejustreducebluelightinourhomeatnightbynotwatchingscreensasmuchaspossibleandwehavelowerleverlightsthatweuseintheeveninginlampsversustheoverheadlights.ButIwanttogodeeperonscreensandI'mreallycuriouswhatyourprofessionalopinionisbecausejustlogicallyasamom,seeingtheincreaseandallofthesevisionproblemsinkids...IcanrememberacoupleofpeopleIknewasakidwhohadglassesandnowIseeso


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manyyoung,youngchildren,eventoddlers,withglasses.AndonefactorthatIcanatleastthinkofthatpotentiallycontributedisthatwearelookingatscreenssomuchmorethanweusetowhichisthebluelightbutIalsowonderarethereanyotherfactorstherewithscreenswhetherwe'relookingatsomethingthesamedistanceawayoranythingelsethatweneedtobeconcernedaboutasparentswithourkidslookingatscreenssomuch?Sam:Well,oneofthekeyfactorsismovementstimulatesvision.WhenyouandIweregrowingup,wewerecreeping,andcrawling,andclimbingandoutsideandplayingballandallthosethingsthatweweredoing.Andwhenyou'reonthesedigitaldevicesandIconsultedatschoolswhereafirstgraderisusingiPads,Idon'tagreewiththat.Ithinkthatcreatesvisualconfinement.Itcreatesfocusinginonepositionforlongperiodsoftime.It'sdefinitelygonnashutdowntheirvisualsystem.Wehaven'teventalkedabouttheEMFsbecausethat'sanotherissue.Whenitcomestoaholisticeyedoctor,oneofthethingsthat'sreallygreataboutdoingthatisthataholisticeyedoctorisgoingtotestwhatachildcapabilityis,whatthey'refocusingresponseis,andyoucanprescribesomethingcalledalearninglensordevelopmentallenswhichhasnothingtodowithreadingthedistancechart.Sowhenyouwearthatlens,itactuallyopensupyourperipheralvisionandthatrelaxesyoursystem.Andit'sagreattoolwithkidswhoarehavingdifficultieswithreadingorifthey'reondigitaldevicesalot.Theselearninglenses,theywon'tcreateatendencyordeterioration.Theyactuallyprotectyoureyesfrombecomingnearsightedandtheyactuallyrelaxyourvisualsystem,andit'sawonderfultoolintermsofsupportingsomebodywho'sgottobeondigitaldevices.Andthen,ofcourse,youtalkedaboutthebluelight,yes,it'sdefinitelyabigissueintermsofhowitaffectsourvisionandthisisanotherreallyinterestingpointIwanttobringtoyourlisteners.Ifyouhavecataractsurgery,andtheyputtheplasticlensinyoureye,thatplasticlensmostlikelywon'thaveblueblockersinitandso,therefore,you'remoresusceptibledevelopingmaculardegenerationunlessyouweretold,wearblue-blockingglasses.Sowhenwehaveouroriginalhardware,ouroriginallenses,there'sapigmentthatblocksomeofthebluelight.Now,itdoesn'tfullydeveloptillaboutage11butifyou'vehadcataractsurgery,youareverywideopentodevelopingmaculardegenerationifyoudon'tuseblue-blockinglensesandIwouldalsosupplementitwiththecarotenoids,lutein,andzeaxanthin.Soalotofpeopledon'tknowthat,Iwanttobringthatoutasaveryimportantpointifyouusedigitaldevices.Katie:Thatmakesperfectsenseaswell.AndIwondertooifthere'saflipsidebecausenotonlyarewelookingatartificialbluelightatnightbutIfeellikewe'renot...andthisissomethingIreadalotabout,we'renotgettingenoughdaylightlikeactual...fromthesun,daylight,whichissomuchmorediverseandbrighterthaninsidelightduringtheday.AndIreadacoolstudy,youprobablywouldknowitbetterthanIwouldbutabouthowthere'slightsignalingcellsintheretinabecausetheylookedatblindpeopleandpeoplewhohadhadtheireyesremoved.Andblindpeoplewerestillabletoadjusttheircircadianrhythmstonewtimezonesandwhentheytraveledwhereasthosewhohadtheireyesremovedweren'tabletoandtheyweretryingtofigureoutwhy.Andtherewaslikeaspecificcell,Ican'trememberthenamebutitwasinthebackoftheeyethatwassignaledbybrightlightandthatthatcontrolledthecircadianrhythm.Soitseemslikeitwouldmakesensethatinthatcase,thereverseisalsotruethatwe'renotgettingenoughdaylight,enoughbrightbluelightwhenwe'resupposedto,tosignalourbodiestohaveacorrectcircadian


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rhythmandthatthatprobablywouldalsoaffecttheeyesaswell.Idon'tknow,areyoufamiliarwiththat?Sam:Verymuchso.Letmejusttalkaboutlightforasecond.Solightisafoodandwhenitenterstheeyes,itaffectsourendocrinesystem,ournervoussystem,andourvisualsystem.Sopartofthelightwhenitenterstheretina,itstimulatesthephotoreceptorsasyousayandthenasignalissentthroughtheopticnervebacktothebrainandthat'showweseeit.There'sanotherpathwaycalledtheretinal-hypothalamicpathwaywherethatlightistravelingtothehypothalamuswhichisthemasterglandofthebody.Andthenfromtherearethesignalsthataresenttothepinealandthepituitarywhichpreciselyasyousaybalancesthecircadianrhythm.Soit'sveryimportantthatwegetproperlighteveryday.Itaffectsourmood,that'showpeoplegetseasonalaffectivedisorder.Italsobalancesournervoussystemandourendocrinesystem.Andweareheliotropic,wegotowardsthelightjustliketheplants.Andyes,weneedtoprotectoureyesfromtheultravioletsunlight,sobetween10:00and4:00,youwanttowearpolarizedsunglasseswithUVblockingtints,that'stotallyfine,orahat.Butit'sveryimportantthatyouget30to60minutesofnaturallighteveryday,it'ssoimportant.Anotherpiecetothepuzzleismanyyearsago,Istudiedhowtousedifferentcolorswhereyoulookatdifferentcolorsinamachinethat'sprojectedintoyoureyesandthatactuallycanhelpimproveyourperipheralvision,soIcallthatlighttherapy.Andtothisday,Istilltreatpeoplewithlightandcolortherapy,andwhatitdoesisitstimulatesthephotoreceptorsintheretinathatgotosleepduetostress,trauma,toxicity,andifyoucanreawakenthosephotoreceptorsthroughdifferentcolorfrequencies,youopenuptheperipheralvisionandthatimprovesyourdepthperception,yourmemory,andyourbodybalance.Solightisareallyimportantnutrientforoureyesandourbody.Let'snotbeafraidofit.It'spartofus.We'repartofthesun.Wejusthavetonavigatehowwetakecareofourselvesifwearesusceptibletomaybegettingcataractsandmaculardegeneration.Butinchildrenespecially,theyneedtogetatleast30to60minutesofnaturallighteveryday.Katie:Yeah.Thatmakesperfectsense.Sobasicallylikesomeonewhoprettymuchjustalwayswearssunglassesanytimethey'reoutsidejustasamatterofhabit,thatcouldactuallybecontributingtoeyeproblemsinsomewaysbecausethey'renotgettingenoughofthatlight.Sam:Absolutely.I'mverymoderateinmyapproach.Soit'snotthatI'magainstsunglasses.IliveinthedesertSouthwestandsotherearetimesthatIdowearsunglasseswhenI'mskiingorI'mupat12,000feet.Butnaturallightissocriticalforbalancingoursystems,circadianrhythm,ourmood,ourvisualprocessing.Weneedlightinordertoseeandit'saveryimportantnutrientthatIreallyencouragepeopletogetthat.Youcandoanexercisecalledsunningwhereyoucanactuallygooutside,andyoucandothisinthemorning,closeyoureyesanddirectyoureyestowardsthesunwithyoureyesclosedandslowlymoveyourheadfromsidetosideandinvitethesunintoyoureyesbutyoureyelidsareclosed,soyou'regettingtheprotectionbuttheeyelidsaretranslucent,soyou'regettingthelightintoyoureyesbutinamoreregulatedway.Thatwouldbeawaypeoplecouldstillgetsunlightintotheireyesbutstillfeellikethey'reprotectingthemselves.Katie:Sowhataboutdryeyes?I'vegottenquiteafewemailsfrompeoplewhohavevariousversionsofdryeyes.Ithinkthere'sevenanautoimmuneversion.Aretherenaturalwayspeoplecanaddressthat?Sam:Therewasaresearchstudythatwasdonethatshowedthatpeoplewhosupplementedwithomega-3fishoil,thatactuallytheirtearsincreasedandtheyhadmoresustainingtears.Soomega-3fishoilisreally


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important.Iwouldalsosayintermsofmosteyedropsthatyougetfromthepharmacy,thoseactuallydryyoureyesevenmore.I'vedonealotofvideosonwhateyedropsyoushoulduse.ThetwoeyedropsthatIrecommend,oneisahomeopathiceyedropandtheotheriscalledMSM.AndMSMisareallyimportanteyedropthatactuallymoisturizestheeyes.Ithelpstoreduceinflammationandincreasescellpermeabilityandit'sareallygreateyedropthat'snatural.Soit'smoisturizingwithoutanysideeffects.Homeopathiceyedropshelpincreasetheimmunesystemintheeyes.They'regreatformoisturizingalso.There'sanotherstudythatcameoutthatwomenwhoarelowinestrogenorwomenwhoalsohavebeenthroughmenopause,theytendtosuffermoredryeyes.Sothere'sactuallyaspecialhomeopathiceyedropthatyoucanuseifyou'vebeenthroughmenopauseandyouhavedryeye.Ialsothinkthere'saconnectionbetweendryeyeandtheadrenalsystem.Soifyou'resufferingadrenalburnout,that'sgonnadryyoureyesalso.You'reondigitaldevices,that'sanotherreasonwhyyoucandevelopdryeye.Sointermsofthedryeyesyndrome,there'ssomanygreatthingsyoucandotosupportyourselfthrougheyedrops,throughnutrients,throughstressreduction,andwhat'soutthereintermsofpharmaceuticalsandwhat'sinthepharmacyisonlygonnadryyoureyesevenmoreandyoujustgetdependentontheseeyedrops.They'reonlytreatingasymptom.Katie:That'sgoodtoknow.Andsoyouhadalso,Ibelieve,apodcastorhavewrittenabouttheocularmicrobiomeandI'vestudiedlikethegutmicrobiomequiteabitandtheoralmicrobiomeandIhavetoadmitIhadneverevenconsideredthefactthattheeyehasamicrobiomeaswell.ButI’dloveifyoucouldexplainhowthatworksandhowwecansupporttheocularmicrobiome.Sam:Sotherewasastudythatcameoutwhichactuallyshowedthatwehaveanocularmicrobiome,andIwasreallyexcitedtoseethatbecauseI'veknownthatforyears,thatoureyeshavereallyimportantbacteria,goodbacteriathatpreventsorreducesourinfectionpossibilitiesandinflammationissues.Andthentherewasanotherstudythatwasdone,IthinkthiswasthroughtheJournalofMicrobiologyandactuallytookpeoplewhohadcontactlenses,theyworecontactlenses,andtheyfoundthatthosepeoplehadareducedocularmicrobiome.Sowecouldgointowhatcontactlenswearersshouldsodotoboosttheocularmicrobiome.Butbasically,theideaisthatwhenyoustartedusingantibioticeyedropsorsteroidseyedropsorglaucomaeyedropsorVisine,youarereducingtheocularmicrobiome.Ifyou'reusinghomeopathiceyedropsorMSMeyedrops,youareimprovingtheocularmicrobiome.Intermsofwhatyou'reputtingintoyoureyesandhowyou'retakingcareofyoureyes,it'sgonnasupportahealthyocularmicrobiome,soyouhavelessriskforinflammation,autoimmunediseaseslikeyoutalkedabout,likeuveitisisveryseriousinflammationintheeyeandpartofitcouldbeautoimmune.Onceyougodownthatrouteandyoustartedtakingsteroids,thisreallyreducestheocularmicrobiome.SoIreadthisarticleonMindbodygreenandtheytalkalotaboutwaysthatyoucanboosttheocularmicrobiomeandthere'sgonnabemoreandmorewrittenaboutit.I'veactuallyliketoseeaprobioticeyedropproduced.Thatwouldbereallyinterestingasawaytoincreasetheocularmicrobiome.Soyou'reonit,you'rerightthere.Katie:That'llbefascinatingifthere'saprobioticeyedrop,especiallyfor,youmentioned,peoplewithcontactlensesbecauseIfeelliketheytendtouseeyedropsmoreoftenanyway,thatwouldbereallycoolifsomeonedevelopedthat.Maybethat'ssomethingwe'llseefromyoudowntheroad.


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ThispodcastisbroughttoyoubyDryFarmWines.ThisistheonlywineIdrinkanymore.Afterresearchingandfindingthatmanyotherwinescontainaddedsugar,dyeslikeultravita-megapurpleandfilteringagentsincludingfishwaters,eggwhitesandsomeotherunsavoryingredients.Andthingslikesawdusttoimprovethetaste.ButtheDryFarmpartisimportanttoo.Whatthismeansisthatthegrapesarenotirrigated.Withoutthewater,theydon’tgetasbigorassweet,yieldinghighernutrientandloweralcoholwinesnaturally.Theirwinesarelabtestedforpurityandtomakesurethattheyarefreeofeventraceamountsofpesticidesandherbicides.Andtheyareallsourcedfromsmallfamilydryfarmvineyardsallovertheworld.IabsolutelylovetheirwinesandIfindthemtobelessexpensivethanotherhigh-qualitywines.AndWellnessMamalistenerscangetanextrabottleofwineforapennyatwellnessmama.com/go/wine.

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Katie:Ipromisetobringitbacktothebigpicture.IlovethatwedelvedintoallofthespecificconditionsandIlovetokindofgobacktotheoverarching...likewhataresomethings,ifyoucouldkindoflikewaveamagicwandandhaveallofusdothingsthatwouldbebetterforoureyes,whatwouldbesomeofthethingsthatwecouldalldotoimproveoureyehealth?Sam:Well,firstofall,Ithinktobemoreawareofwhatyoueatandyoutalkalotaboutnutrition,thatrainbowdiet,theantioxidants,soimportantforyoureyes.BeforeIreallygotintoallofthis,Iusedtojustcounselmypatientstoeatmoreplant-based,organic,therainbowdiet,andthey'vecomebackandtheircataractsaregoingawayortheirmaculardegenerationwasgettingbetter.SoIthinkthat'sthefirstthing,iswhatyoueatissoimportant.Thesecondthingistokindoflookat...ifyoudohavetoxicitiesinyourbodytheycouldbeaffectingyoureyesandifyourvisionisgoingupanddownoryou'rehavingadeterioration,torecognizethattheremaybesomesystemicandmetabolicreasonswhyyourvisualsystemislettingyoudownandmaybestarttoexploresomeofthosethings.Stressisareallybigissue.Soyoucandoeyerelaxationexercisestoreduceyourstress.Andbodyrelaxationexerciseissoimportantfordischargingthestressfromyoureyemusclesbecausewhenyouaccumulateallthatstressinyoureyesandyou'renotabletodischargeit,thisreducesthecirculationflowandthisisthestartdowntheroadofdeterioratingeyesight,whetheryouneedtogetstrongerglasses,contacts,oryou'redevelopinganeyedisease.Next,isifyou'reusingthecomputer,Icallitthe20-20-20ruleandwhatitis,isthatevery20minutesyoutake20secondsandyoulookupandoutat20feet.Sothat'sthe20-20-20rule.Ithinkthatintermsofthedigitaldevices,ifyou'reatallconcerned,Iwouldweartheblue-blockinglenses.Iwouldgotoaholisticeyedoctorwhereyoucangetalensprescriptionthat'sbasedonthecomputeranddon'tusebifocalsorprogressivebifocalsaswiththeinvisiblebifocalsbecausethosehelpyoufocusthroughatinyholeinthelens.You'renotusingthewholelens.Soyoushouldn'tbeusingbifocalsorprogressivelensesforcomputers.Youwannauseasinglevisionlens.Thewiderthewindowthatyou'relookingthrough,themorerelaxedyourvisualsystemis.


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Iwouldmakesuretogetatleast30minutesofsunlighteveryday.That'scriticallyimportant.That'swithoutanylenses,anysunglasses.Andifyoudowearcorrectivelenses,startgoingwithoutthem,maybeinyourbedroom5to10to15minutesaday.Giveyoureyesarestandjustexplorewhatit'sliketobewithoutyourcorrectiveglasses.Ifyouwanttonegotiatewithyoureyedoctor,say,"Hey,canIgetaprescriptionthat'sslightlyreduced?"andstartwearingthat.That'sgonnabeveryrelaxingforyourvisualsystem.Iwouldalsotakealookatanyinflammatoryresponseyouhaveinyourbody,especiallyyourgut.Sincetheeyesoriginatefrombraintissue,ifthegutisinflamedthebraincouldbeinflamedandtheeyescouldbeinflamed.Also,intermsofgenetics,youdon'thavetoliveoutthatdestiny.Again,environmentcanchangehowourgenesareexpressingbasedonourenvironment,whatweeat,whatourstresslevelisandsoon.Sointermsofchildren,IwouldgetanearlyvisionexambutIwoulddosowithaholisticeyedoctorthat'slookingatnotonlythesensoryeyesystembutalsohowtheeyesandthebodyworktogether.Trytogetadevelopmentalvisionevaluationsothatyou'relookingatthevisualsystemdevelopmentallyandbeverycarefulaboutanylensprescriptionyouputonachildthatcouldweakentheeyes.Ifyou'vegotstrabismus,aneyeturninginourturningout,Idon'trecommendeyemusclesurgerybecausethatactuallycreatesmoreconfusioninthebrain.Visiontherapyismuchmoreeffectiveinhealingstrabismusandlazyeyethansurgery.Soyoudon'twannabedoingsurgerywithkids,andyoudon'twanttobewearinganeyepatchsevenoreighthoursaday.Thatalsodoesn'tworkalso.I'vegotalotofresourcesonmywebsite,freeresources.I'mhappytointeractwithpeoplebecauseIwanttogetthiswordoutthere.Asyoucantell,it'snotreallywellknown.SothosearejustafewofthethingsthatIwouldsuggestorrecommendforpeopletotakebettercareoftheireyes.Katie:That'sallsuchgreatadviceandyou'vementionedseveralofyourvideos,yourpodcasts,andyourwebsite,I'llmakesureallofthosearelinkedintheshownotesatwellnessmama.fmsopeoplecanfindthemortheycanalsojustgoogleyou,Dr.SamBerneandfindyouaswell.Butalsoifsomeoneislisteningandmaybehasneverconsideredthateyesightissomethingtheycanchangeandnowtheyhavethatlike,"Iwanttochangethat.I'mgonnastopwearingglasses.Iwannafixmyeyes."Howcantheyworkwithyoudirectly?IthinkyouhaveworkshopsthatImaybesawonyourwebsitebutwhatwouldbethebestplaceforsomeonetostarttocontactyou?Sam:Justcontactusthroughouremail,throughdrsamberne.com.Andalotoftimes,there'ssomefreeadvicethatIcangivejusttogetpeoplestarted.Ihavesomanyfreevideosoneyeexercisesandnutritionalperspectives,sohookinwithmewithFacebookandwecanstarttheprocess.AndIdoworkshopsandIstillseeprivatepatients.Butjustjoinmycommunityandgetadifferentpointofviewjustlikeyourselfbecausepeopleneedtofeelhopeful.Theyneedtoknowthere'sotherinformationouttherethanwhatthey'regettingandtheydon'thavetoliveoutthedoctor'sdiagnosis.That'scritical.Katie:Yeah,absolutely.AndIlovethatyouarebringingawarenesstothatmessageandhelpingsomanypeople.AndIknowyou'reverybusy,Ithankyousomuchforyourtimeandbeinghere.ThishasbeensuperfascinatingandIknowthatyou'rehelpingalotofpeopleandhopefully,you'llreachevenmorethroughthisandjustthankyouforbeinghere.


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Sam:You'rewelcomeandthankyou,Katie.Itwasarealpleasure.Katie:AndthankstoallofyouforlisteningandIhopetoseeyounexttimeontheHealthyMomsPodcast.

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.

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