Episodes

  • Dr. Berne’s Interview on KKCR, Kauai

    Dr. Berne’s Interview on KKCR, Kauai
    Nov 14 2024
    Keywords holistic eye care, vision improvement, eye health tips, behavioral optometry, Sam Berne, eye exercises, nutrition for eyes, blue light protection, workshops, private sessions summary In this engaging conversation, Dr. Sam Berne shares his insights on holistic eye care, emphasizing the importance of daily habits for maintaining eye health. He discusses the impact of nutrition, sunlight, and eye exercises, while also highlighting his workshops and private sessions aimed at personalized care. The discussion also touches on the effects of screen time on vision and the significance of blue light protection. takeaways • Dr. Sam Berne is a behavioral optometrist with a holistic approach. • Morning sunlight is crucial for resetting circadian rhythms. • A diet rich in colorful vegetables supports eye health. • Eye exercises can enhance circulation and oxygenation in the eyes. • Light is essential for overall health and energy fields. • Social media has expanded Dr. Berne's reach to a global audience. • Workshops are tailored to individual goals and health needs. • Private sessions focus on treating the root causes of vision problems. • Blue light from screens can negatively affect eye health. • The Palm Hum exercise is beneficial for relaxation and eye care Sound Bites • "Get some morning sunlight." • "Light is a food, don't be afraid of it." • "Blue light can dry your eyes out." • "It's the Palm Hum by Dr. Sam." Chapters 00:00Introduction and Welcome Back to Kauai 01:59Understanding Holistic Eye Care 04:59Daily Habits for Eye Health 08:57Exploring Sam's Books and Workshops 11:55Private Sessions and Personalized Care 16:00The Impact of Screens on Eye Health Here for my interview on KKCR, Public Radio Kauai. I was here about a year and a half ago and back again with my friend Tracy Shavarone, who's gonna have me on and interview me. So stay tuned. to Dr. Sam Berne. Aloha Sam. Aloha. So nice to see you in person. I know we're face to face. We're face to face. Eye to eye. Welcome back to Kauai. Yeah, feels great to be here. We just had 15 inches of snow in Santa Fe so nice to be in the tropics. Isn't that kind of unusual to have that much snow this early? Well it used to be with climate change you know we're getting that much snow but back in the 90s yeah we used to get that kind of snow end of October beginning in November what a blessing you know it lowers the fire risk and Anyway, it's great to be here in the humidity. was mentioning I was in New Mexico in October and it was very, very dry. I definitely had to put lotion on my skin. It is a high desert environment. I have to warn people about that. It was so beautiful. Mexico is just spectacular. It really is the land of enchantment. really is and so much space there, open land, great hiking, nature, Chaco Canyon and all those magical places. Sam Berne (01:34.765) Well, and of course, kawaii has its own magic, which brings you back. I know it's like a magnet that keeps bringing me back. So for those of you who have never met Dr. Sam Byrne, I'm going to have him like introduce himself. But he's the author of many books and he is a holistic, I would say a holistic eye doctor. I don't know if that's what you would consider yourself, but. Yes, well I'm a behavioral optometrist, doctor of optometry, but I have studied many different healing modalities and my mission is to help people regain their eyesight if it's deteriorating, improve their vision as they get older, work with kids with learning problems and the spectrum disorders, autism, the ADD, there's a very big vision component. to it, traumatic brain injury, people that want to reduce their prescriptions. So I've devoted my career, you know, it's four decades, and still going strong, helping people with their health and their vision. But you do use it well, except your holistic approaches. Yeah, well, know, when listeners, you go to the eye doctor and they give you a s...
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    22 mins
  • Beyond Central Vision: Improving Periphery with Binasal Tapes

    Beyond Central Vision: Improving Periphery with Binasal Tapes
    Nov 9 2024
    Keywords binasal tapes, vision therapy, eye health, neuroplasticity, peripheral vision, double vision, lazy eye, visual coordination, stress relief, alternative therapies Summary In this conversation, Dr. Sam Berne discusses the concept and application of binasal tapes, a technique used in vision therapy. He shares his experiences and the origins of this method, highlighting its benefits for various visual issues such as double vision and lazy eye. The discussion emphasizes the importance of peripheral vision and how binaural tapes can help in enhancing visual coordination and relaxation, especially under stress. Takeaways • Binasal tapes are used to enhance peripheral vision. • The technique was taught to Dr. Sam by Dr. Ellis Edelman. • Binasal tapes can help with double vision and lazy eye. • The eyes are connected to the brain's mapping through visual input. • Using these tapes can lead to profound visual relaxation. • Stress affects vision and can lead to tunneling of sight. • Binasal tapes provide a reference point for better vision. • The technique is beneficial for patients with TBI. • Neuroplasticity plays a role in how we perceive vision. • The method is a gentle nudge to engage peripheral vision. Sound Bites • "These tapes help you in that process." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Binasal Tapes 02:48 The Technique and Its Origins 06:12 Applications and Benefits of Binasal Tapes Sam Berne (00:02.222) Hey everybody, welcome to the program today. I'm on my morning walk here in the forest and I thought I'd bring you along. I received a question from a listener on what are binasal tapes and how do they work? So think about a pair of glasses and on the inside part of the glasses like on the we call it the nasal part or the nose part. We actually apply about one inch of tape on either side of the lenses. So you've got it on your right and the left and you have this tape in the middle. So it's by the nose, it's by the nasal, it's by the sinus. We call these bi-nasal tapes. What are these and how do they work? Well, I have to rewind and I want to give many of my mentors kudos for sharing this with me. One of my former partners, Dr. Ellis Edelman. I was in practice with him for five years in Newtown square, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. And when I started working with Dr. Edelman, I had just graduated the gazelle Institute and Dr. Edelman was a graduate of the Gazelle Institute, except he had graduated about 40 years before I did. So he had a lot of experience and I thought this would be a good place to apprentice. so I began my practice in his office. I started renting space from him and it's kind of hard to get patients. took a while. We were in a very conservative area of the main line of Philadelphia. Sam Berne (01:51.598) And people were not open at that time to alternative therapies. This was in the mid 1980s, but I hung out, hung in there with it and slowly and surely I began to attract my practice, my patients, and I built it up quite successfully, which I sold at the end of 1989 and moved out here to New Mexico. in 1990 and started a practice in 1992. Just to give you some orientation. One of the techniques that dr. Edelman taught me was how to work with people either who over focused or tunneled their vision. And you know, when you tunnel your vision, you exclude your peripheral vision. One of that has to do with myopia. where you just tighten up your vision and you you narrow it. So that would be one place where you might want to say, okay, how can we enhance your peripheral vision? Another application that we would see is double vision. So with the two eyes weren't working together how to work with this and then of course the third situation would be if somebody had a crossed eye or a even a wandering eye or they had lazy eye. So one I saw more clearly than the other. So he showed me this technique where you put black tape on the inside part of both l...
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    9 mins
  • Emotions and Vision: A Deep Dive

    Emotions and Vision: A Deep Dive
    Oct 29 2024
    Keywords visual system, nervous system, neuroplasticity, vision therapy, stress and vision, eye health, cranial nerves, emotional vision, visual processing, brain function Summary: In this episode, Dr. Sam Berne explores the intricate relationship between the visual system and the nervous system. He discusses how stress impacts vision, the role of neuroplasticity in vision rehabilitation, and the importance of understanding the visual pathway and processing in the brain. The conversation highlights the significance of the vagus nerve, emotional states, and various therapies that can enhance visual health and overall well-being. Takeaways: • The nervous system is crucial for resilience against stress. • Vision is not just about the eyes; it's a brain-body connection. • The visual pathway includes the retina, optic nerve, and brain regions. • Stress can lead to visual issues like myopia and eye strain. • The vagus nerve plays a key role in relaxation and vision. • Neuroplasticity allows for improvement in visual processing. • Visual therapy can help rewire the brain for better vision. • Emotions significantly influence our visual perception. • Craniosacral therapy can aid in visual and nervous system balance. • Understanding the connection between stress and vision is vital. Sound Bites • "The nervous system reflects our ability to become resilient." • "The eyes are a sensory organ connected to the brain." • "Visual processing occurs in the occipital lobe of the brain." Chapters 00:00Understanding the Visual System and Nervous System Connection 02:59The Visual Pathway and Brain Processing 05:57The Role of the Nervous System in Vision 08:52Neuroplasticity and Vision Rehabilitation 11:03Stress, Vision, and Neurological Disorders Hey everybody. Welcome to the Berne podcast. It's great to be in today. And today I want to talk about understanding your visual system as it relates to the nervous system. This is one of the topics we talk about in our practitioner training, but I also talked to many of my patients about it because they're so stressed out and our nervous system reflects our ability. to become resilient with stress. So there is a very strong relationship between the nervous system and our vision. In fact, it is so deeply interconnected because it's not just about our eyes, but it's about the process between our eyes, our brain and our body. And since the eyes are a sensory organ. We can see the nerves that are connecting into the eyes like our pupil responses as one example. Another example is eye movements. In fact, there are three cranial nerves that innervate the eye muscles cranial nerve 3 cranial nerve 4 and cranial nerve 6. So if we've got visual coordination problems strabismus amblyopia, sometimes it's related to an imbalance in the nerves as it relates to the eyes. So the first thing I want to bring up in our visual system is something called our visual pathway. And so the eyes convert light when the light strikes the retina. These electrical signals are stimulating the photoreceptors the rods and codes in the retina and sending these signals. They're transmitting them basically through I call the fiber optic pathway the optic nerve and this visual pathway includes the retina. which is the photoreceptors the optic nerve, which is that fiber optic pathway that connects the retina to the brain something called the optic chiasm the point where the nerves cross in the brain and then this visual information we then reaches the hemispheres of the brain. have the right brain and the left brain. So we talk about the visual information processing and another part of the brain. We talk about is something called the lateral geniculate nucleus, which is located in the thalamus and this is related to our visual information to the visual cortex the back part of the brain. This is the occipital lobe of the brain where the majority of our visual processing occurs.
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    13 mins
  • Can Pinhole Glasses Improve Your Eyesight and Vision?

    Can Pinhole Glasses Improve Your Eyesight and Vision?
    Oct 23 2024
    Keywords pinhole glasses, vision improvement, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, eye strain, depth of field, eye health, visual habits, retraining vision Summary In this episode of the Berne Podcast, Sam Berne discusses the concept of pinhole glasses, exploring their functionality, benefits, and limitations. Pinhole glasses are designed to improve vision by reducing light scatter and enhancing depth of field. While they can provide temporary relief from eye strain and improve clarity for certain vision conditions, they are not a permanent solution and require retraining of visual habits for long-term effectiveness. takeaways • Pinhole glasses reduce scatter of light and improve clarity. • They can help with conditions like myopia and astigmatism. • Wearing them can reduce eye strain, especially at the computer. • They enhance depth of field, allowing clearer vision at different distances. • Pinhole glasses can help retrain the eyes to focus without magnification. • They are a temporary solution and not a cure for vision problems. • Using them requires practice and adjustment to new visual habits. • Bright light is essential for effective use of pinhole glasses. • They may not be effective in dim lighting conditions. • Long-term vision improvement requires deeper retraining beyond just using pinhole glasses. Titles • Can Pinhole Glasses Improve Your Eyesight? • Pinhole Glasses: A New Approach to Eye Health Sound Bites • "Are they good for you? Do they work?" • "Pinhole glasses actually reduce the scatter of light." • "They enhance something called depth of field." Chapters 00:00Introduction to Pinhole Glasses 00:45How Pinhole Glasses Work 02:12Benefits of Pinhole Glasses 03:35Limitations and Considerations Hey everyone, welcome to the Berne Podcast. In today's show, I'm gonna talk about pinhole glasses. Are they good for you? Do they work? What in the heck do they actually do? Stay tuned. So these are pinhole glasses. It's a type of eyewear that has tiny holes in the glasses. There's no prescription. Do they work? How do they work? That's what I want to discuss today. Pinhole glasses are a type of eyewear that contain a lot of little holes. Unlike traditional glasses, pinhole glasses actually reduce the scatter of light. and they block the indirect light into the eyes. Pinhole glasses are marketed as a vision improvement technique to help conditions like myopia, hyperopia astigmatism and presbyopia. A description I use for pinhole glasses is limited light entry into the eyes. The holes in the glasses focus the light rays onto the retina. Light enters the eye from the multiple directions. This leads to blurry eyesight. So in the pinhole glasses, the only light that gets through is parallel and is focused directly onto the retina. The pinhole glasses enhance something called depth of field. This means that it allows you to see objects at different distances very clearly since the pinhole glasses block peripheral vision. It limits the amount of aberrations that we might see normally. which again creates some blurry distorted eyesight conditions like double vision presbyopia or astigmatism might be helped by using the pinhole glasses. If you put the pinhole glasses on you'll probably be able to read the distance eye chart more clearly. You see the eye chart more clearly using the pinhole glasses. You start to prove to the brain and the mind that you can actually have clear eyesight. Sam Berne (02:12.172) without your regular lenses. Pinhole glasses may reduce eye strain, especially if you use them at the computer. One of the things I have found with pinhole glasses is they work really well for people who are dependent on magnifying glasses. So whether you've got hyperopia in the distance and or presbyopia up close when you put on the pinhole glasses, you will be able to see the world very clearly. without the magnification effects of the regular lenses.
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    6 mins
  • Dr. Berne’s Interview with “The Sports Doctor”– On Holistic Eye Care

    Dr. Berne’s Interview with “The Sports Doctor”– On Holistic Eye Care
    Oct 19 2024
    Keywords vision, eyesight, holistic eye care, diet, concussions, protective eyewear, eye exercises, brain plasticity, sports vision, eye health Summary In this conversation, Dr. Sam Berne discusses the holistic approach to eye care, emphasizing the distinction between eyesight and vision. He highlights the importance of diet, the impact of screen time on eye health, and the connection between concussions and vision. Dr. Berne advocates for protective eyewear in sports and shares insights on the plasticity of the eyes and brain, suggesting that vision training can enhance athletic performance. Takeaways Vision is a holistic process involving the eyes, brain, and body. Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health. Screen time has detrimental effects on children's vision. Artificial blue light disrupts sleep patterns and eye health. Concussions can lead to significant visual system issues. Protective eyewear is vital for athletes in contact sports. Eye exercises can improve vision and brain function. The eyes and brain can adapt and improve with training. Nutrition and functional medicine are gaining attention in eye care. Sports vision training can enhance performance in athletes. Sound Bites "Eyesight is only one part of vision." "People get older and their eyes get better." "The eyes have one of the highest metabolic needs." Chapters 00:00 Understanding Vision vs. Eyesight 03:08 The Impact of Diet on Eye Health 06:09 The Connection Between Concussions and Vision 09:02 The Importance of Protective Eyewear 12:09 The Plasticity of the Eyes and Brain 15:00 Enhancing Performance Through Vision Training Dr. Sam Berne, welcome to the fourth doctor. Thanks, Dr. Bob. Great to be here. Sounds good. So when you go for an eye exam, you know, the doctor has you read the eye chart and you get the reading 2020. That's a measurement of your eyesight. But vision is how the eyes in the brain and the body work together. So eyesight is only one part of vision. So as a holistic eye doctor, I look at the eyes as an interrelated interconnected part of the body and there are things that you can do to improve your vision even as you get older. And that's kind of the difference between the regular eye care. They just say your eyes get worse as you get older. my practice, people get older and their eyes get better. Well, exactly because the eyes have one of the highest metabolic needs of the body highly concentrated with those tiny blood vessels. So it's one of the entryways into the body like the foot and you can pick up disease very early. And of course in diabetes, this is a real vulnerable area. I'm talking about the retina. So, you know, if you have glucose levels that are off the charts or your pre-diabetic You're going to see it in the eyes. It's going to be one of the first places and then you can treat it by doing some holistic things if you want to. big emphasis on prevention. You know, it's being proactive, you know, just with diet alone, the eyes and the brain make up about 2 % of the body weight and use 25 % of the food intake. So if you cut out processed foods and sugar and mostly gluten and you eat, you know, the colorful vegetables and berries get enough healthy fats in your diet that in itself. can keep your eyesight healthy and well as you get older. Well, when you get glasses as a child, what it's doing is it's reinforcing the problem that's causing the need for glasses to begin with. So, you know, again, back to the holistic perspective, I find the cause and treat that and we know that the eyes originate from the brain. And so if you do eye exercises, not only are you changing the brain, but you're also changing the eyes. And of course, the other thing that's going on with kids is screen time. So the more screen time they have, this is really wreaking havoc. And then with COVID, where schools were just online,
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    9 mins
  • Foods To Avoid If You Want To Make Your Vision (and Health) Better

    Foods To Avoid If You Want To Make Your Vision (and Health) Better
    Oct 9 2024
    Keywords eye health, nutrition, worst foods, vision, cataracts, diabetes, inflammation, antioxidants, omega-3, vitamins summary In this podcast episode, Dr. Sam Berne discusses the worst foods for eye health, emphasizing how certain dietary choices can negatively impact vision and contribute to various eye conditions. He outlines ten specific food categories that should be avoided, including sugary foods, refined carbohydrates, trans fats, high sodium foods, processed meats, fried foods, artificial sweeteners, excessive alcohol, red meat, and high sugar breakfast cereals. Dr. Berne concludes with recommendations for a diet that supports eye health, highlighting the importance of omega-3s, vitamins, and colorful vegetables. takeaways Sugary foods and drinks are detrimental to eye health. Refined carbohydrates can increase the risk of cataracts. Trans fats contribute to inflammation affecting the eyes. High sodium diets can lead to hypertensive retinopathy. Processed meats are linked to poor eye health. Fried foods create oxidative stress and inflammation. Artificial sweeteners can cause eye inflammation. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to dry eye syndrome. High consumption of red meat is linked to macular degeneration. A diet rich in omega-3s and vitamins is essential for eye health. titles Foods That Harm Your Eyes Eye Health: What Not to Eat Sound Bites "These sugars are a death spiral for our eyes." "Refined carbs increase your risk for cataracts." "Trans fats contribute to inflammation in the eyes." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Eye Health and Nutrition 01:00 The Worst Foods for Eye Health 08:03 Conclusion and Recommendations for Eye Health 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) And when you eat foods that are say high glycemic index, this increases your risk for things like cataracts. We talk about something called the glycation process. So if you have moderate to high levels of glucose in your blood, those glucose molecules will attach to the protein molecules in the lens. And this is what creates cataracts. Same thing for diabetes. If you've got again. 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.
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    10 mins
  • Clear or Blurry Future? Exploring Light Adjustable Lenses for Cataract Surgery

    Clear or Blurry Future? Exploring Light Adjustable Lenses for Cataract Surgery
    Oct 5 2024
    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. LAL allows for customization of vision correction post-surgery. Patients must wear UV protective glasses during the adjustment period. Depth perception can be affected by blended vision from LAL. Monovision and blended vision can create confusion for some patients. Surgeons can adjust the non-dominant eye after surgery for better results. Blue light protection is important to prevent eye damage. Not all interocular lenses have blue light blocking capabilities. It's advisable to try monovision contacts before surgery. LAL may be worth considering if blended vision is acceptable. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Light Adjustable Lenses 02:20 Benefits and Drawbacks of Light Adjustable Lenses 05:42 Depth Perception and Vision Challenges 07:36 Blue Light Protection and Final Thoughts "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) So three initial drawbacks. I see is number one. You have to use UV protecting glasses during the period of measuring. What is the final LAL prescription number two? You have to do somewhere between two and four extra office visits to fine-tune the reshaping and get the prescription that you want and number three is the cost. So usually these lenses are not covered by insurance. So you're going to have to pay out of pocket. If you want these, okay,
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    9 mins
  • Dr. Berne’s Physical Eye Therapy For Releasing Eye-Body Tension

    Dr. Berne’s Physical Eye Therapy For Releasing Eye-Body Tension
    Sep 20 2024
    11 mins