Episodes

  • The Nervous System’s Timeline (And Why We Keep Ignoring It)

    The Nervous System’s Timeline (And Why We Keep Ignoring It)
    Jan 4 2026

    Join our upcoming events:

    Aromatherapy Certification Online Course: January 28th

    The Perceptual Field Online Course: March 18th

    Beyond the Eyes, Vision, Perception and the Nervous System–an -in-person retreat: September 10th

    Link: https://www.drsamberne.com/workshop/

    Sam Berne (00:00.078)
    Hey everyone, welcome to the program today. So I want to talk about slowing down is not what you think it is and I’m referring to your pace, your nervous system, your stress and your perceptual fields.

    talking to people over the years, people think slowing down is collapsing at night watching TV scrolling on your Instagram or maybe taking some high-powered aerobic class at a fitness center, which could blow off some temporary stress or even doing some cathartic therapies, which in the moment you have a release, but it becomes very addictive.

    And there isn’t really a long-term nervous system reset or regulation. And what I’m talking about is long-term self-regulation of the nervous system. It’s not about effort. It’s about pace. You know, technology is so much part of our culture and we’re always going to the speed of our email of social media.

    And when we do this, we disconnect from our biological rhythms.

    Our nervous system has evolved from cycles, pauses and variations. And even though we’re rewarded for speed efficiency and productivity, it’s having a major toll in all walks of life, whether it’s health business or relationships. True self-regulation is not about collapsing withdrawing. It’s not passive.

    Sam Berne (01:48.32)
    It’s an intentional shift in our orientation.

    When pace exceeds our biological rhythms, our perception narrows. When we narrow our perceptual fields, our decision-making becomes more difficult. Our relationships become unmanageable and our health tends to spiral down. Technology increases our speed and we lose context timing.

    and we see less alternative options. In my work, what I observe is that when our peripheral vision and our perception opens,

    patterns become visible and our decisions become better. Our vision isn’t just about our eyes, but it’s driven by our whole body, which influences our nervous system. When we slow down, there’s better communication in the eye brain body chain. Slowing down isn’t doing less. It’s connecting more to your rhythms. When you release the imposed have tos,

    Perception changes and everything else follows. If this way of working with perception and the nervous system resonates with you, consider joining my online cohort in March or coming to my retreat in California in September. These aren’t about fixing or pushing change. These are about creating conditions. So clarity emerges.

    Sam Berne (03:36.994)
    So that’s my podcast for today. Thank you so much for tuning in until next time. Take care.
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  • Vision Is a Nervous System Process—Not a Lens Problem

    Vision Is a Nervous System Process—Not a Lens Problem
    Dec 31 2025
    Sam Berne (00:00.088) I’d like to welcome you to Facebook live tonight. We’re going to go about 25 minutes, maybe a little longer. We’ll see how the questions are going. So I’d like to welcome everybody. I’ve been off for a few weeks, but it’s great to be back on. So if you’ve got questions, you feel free to type them in. Hopefully I’ll get to see them and I want to start off with a couple of announcements. First of all, I’m going to be teaching. A two hour class on April 30th. It’s a Saturday and it will be from 10 AM to 12 noon Mountain Time. It’s one of my classes that people love because it’s going to be on. Well, a lot of different ways to improve your vision through color therapy, aroma therapy. We’re going to. do some eye exercises and I’m going to teach you how to negotiate a healthy prescription of contact lenses or glasses with your eye doctor. That’s always a challenge, especially if you want to improve your vision. There are ways that you can talk to your doctor so that you can get what you need. I’m going to take a couple of questions that people have emailed me and then if we get any questions from from the audience, I’m happy to answer those as well. So the first question that I’m getting tonight is one that I get a lot. It’s on mono vision. And what do I think of mono vision? This is with contact lenses and you know, what are the alternatives if I don’t? like mono vision. So for those of you who don’t know what mono vision is, this is a prescription where the doctor is correcting one eye for distance and one eye for near. If you look at my hands right now, this is kind of the setup. So my right eye is the distance. I my left eye is the near eye. You can see that there is a Sam Berne (02:24.297) a change in the focal distance between your eyes. This actually sets up a couple of scenarios. One scenario is double vision because your focal lengths are different between your two eyes. Let’s say your right eye is corrected for distance and your left eye is corrected for near. What this means is that when you’re driving Your left eye because it’s corrected for near is not engaging with the right eye. So a lot of times the brain shuts off the the eye that you’re not using and this is very disturbing because you’re now you’re now eliminating or at the very least reducing the the integration between your two eyes. So the brain suppresses or shuts off the left eye because it’s the right eye. That’s the driving eye and that the same token if you’re using the computer or reading it’s your left eye that’s carrying the load and the right eye is focused somewhere out at 20 feet, but it can’t come into a near focus. So again, the brain is suppressing the right eye so it reduces or in fact even eliminates the potential of binocular vision. This is disturbing because over time each eye is carrying more of the load than it should be and this can lead to eye strain eye fatigue and eventually it can change the structure the anatomy the tissue of the eye in a way where it can actually even lead To a disease process, maybe things like glaucoma cataracts macular degeneration. So based on this description, it’s obvious that we’re not meant to correct our eyes in different focal distances, even though the doctor may think it’s convenient. It really sets up a situation where you’re going to be experiencing a lot of visual stress. Sam Berne (04:47.63) So it’s always better to correct both eyes for distance. And if you’re near sighted, one of the techniques that you can do is actually ask your doctor to under correct you slightly when you read the distance eye chart. instead of seeing 2015, you could see 2020 or even 2025. But the advantage of that is that your Your eyes are going to be matching in the distance and because you’re under correcting. You’ll be able to read and I have so many patients in their 50s and 60s 70s who are nearsighted by under correcting them a little bit in the distance. They’re able to keep their near vision. The the scenario is is when the eye doctor wants to over correct you for distance and you’ll feel it in your eyes and you can tell him or her. Whoa, this is too strong for me. Then you can. get a slightly reduced prescription in the contacts and you’ll still be able to read without reading glasses. Now in the farsighted side of things, it’s a little trickier. But again, you know, if you do my eye exercises, you can regain your distance vision as a farsighted person and the magnification power that you need up close could be minimal. This is where again, you could use things like pinhole glasses or Do my exercise the minus lens to blur. That’s the opposite lens prescription that a farsighted person would use. You can also do my convergence and divergence exercises to build more flexibility and versatility in the eye muscles. And this would be a way for you to continue to hold on to your vision ...
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  • The Perception Trap: Why Leaders Misread Reality Under Stress

    The Perception Trap: Why Leaders Misread Reality Under Stress
    Dec 26 2025

    Sam Berne (00:00.162)
    Hey everyone, welcome to the podcast. So the title of this episode is why smart people misread situations when they’re under stress. We’re going to focus on perceptual narrowing urgency versus clarity. Why intelligence fails under pressure. One of the most common misconceptions that I see especially among intelligent and capable people is the idea that clarity improves.

    When we’re under more pressure, if you’re smart enough, experienced enough, trained enough, you’ll make better decisions under stress. In reality, the opposite is true. Stress doesn’t just affect how you feel. It also affects how you see. In fact, stress alters how you see and when perception changes, interpretation changes. When interpretation changes.

    Decisions change and that’s where the misread happens quietly confidently and often with serious consequences. Here’s the core observation. I’ve spent decades watching people make decisions in clinical settings and leadership roles in moments where something really matters. What I’ve learned is this intelligence does not protect you from perceptual distortion. In fact, it can make it worse.

    When the nervous system is under stress, perception narrows, vision narrows, context collapses. The brain shifts from sensing to protecting. This isn’t a failure of character. It’s your biology. Perceptual narrowing explained under stress. The system prioritizes speed over accuracy, certainty over curiosity.

    action over awareness. That’s efficient. If you’re avoiding threat, it’s disastrous. If you’re navigating complexity, this is why smart people can become rigid when they’re under pressure. Leaders double down instead of stepping back. Urgency gets mistaken for clarity. The system isn’t asking what’s true. It’s asking what’s the fastest way to get rid of discomfort and the answers to those two questions are rarely the same.

    Sam Berne (02:24.876)
    Why intelligence fails under pressure? Here’s the uncomfortable part. High intelligence increases confidence, but it also increases distortion. When someone is used to being right, they’re less likely to question what they’re seeing. Even when their nervous system is compromised, the mind becomes a justification machine. It explains the feeling instead of examining the field.

    That’s how misreads become entrenched not because someone is incapable, but because they’re too inside their perception to notice it is shifted. Here’s a reframe. Clarity is not a function of effort. It’s a function of regulation. When the nervous system is settled, the perception widens more information becomes available. Settle cues reenter your awareness. This is why slowing down.

    Often refills what urgency obscures not because you’re thinking harder, but because you’re seeing more if there’s one thing I want to leave you with today. It’s this most leadership errors aren’t strategic. They’re perceptual perception is not a fixed trait. It’s a state dependent experience. We understand that we stop asking people to perform better when they’re under pressure.

    and start creating conditions where clarity can actually emerge. That’s the work not more speed, not more certainty, better seeing in future episodes. I’ll continue naming patterns like this not to fix them, but to make them visible because once something is seen clearly it no longer controls us in the same way.
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  • Gas Permeable Lenses: Smart Myopia Correction, Astigmatism Clarity, and How Not to Overcorrect

    Gas Permeable Lenses: Smart Myopia Correction, Astigmatism Clarity, and How Not to Overcorrect
    Dec 15 2025

    Join Dr. Berne’s Aromatherapy Certification Course which starts January 28, 2026. Link to register: https://www.drsamberne.com/workshop/online-aromatherapy-foundations-certification/ In this Q&A episode, Dr. Sam Berne breaks down how gas permeable (GP) lenses can be used strategically—not just to see clearly, but to support healthier visual function over time. You’ll learn why overcorrecting myopia can backfire, how slightly reducing a prescription can help preserve reading ability without glasses, and why GP lenses often provide superior clarity for astigmatism compared to soft lenses. This episode is especially helpful for anyone wearing contact lenses who wants clearer vision without overstraining their eyes, as well as practitioners curious about a more functional approach to refractive correction. KEY TALKING POINTS / Q&A BULLETS Why gas permeable lenses provide clearer optics than soft lenses The hidden downside of overcorrecting myopia How intentional under-correction can support near vision and reduce strain Why GP lenses are often a better choice for astigmatism Who should not wear GP lenses Practical tips for adapting comfortably to GP lenses 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: https://drsambernesmembership.com/ Keep Up with Dr. Sam Website: https://www.drsamberne.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamBerneOD/?fref=ts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samberneod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drsamberne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsamberne/

    Sam Berne (00:01.219)
    Hey folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I’m on my morning walk. I received a question from Brent on Instagram about gas permeable contact lenses.

    So if you’ve been diagnosed with astigmatism gas permeable lenses are the best choice because it’s going to give you the most stable clear eyesight. know, those of you that have astigmatism and you tried soft contact lenses. You will know that your visual acuity is less stable and that’s very very frustrating. In addition gas permeable lenses are made of a material which allows your cornea to breathe the oxygen in.

    This is so important to reduce things like dry eye syndrome, eye infections and improve your ocular microbiome. You know, that’s the good bacteria in your eyes. So it’s going to give you a healthier eye lymph and immune system by allowing the oxygen to come into your eyes, especially the cornea.

    Sam Berne (01:05.302)
    Now from a more holistic perspective, it’s important to take your gas permeable lenses off and allow your eyes to breathe and have a different perspective with the eye brain connection. You know, we can get very unconscious with our contacts and wear them all the time and we think our eyes are doing well. So I always say take your contacts off in the evening in non demanding non threatening situations.

    And it gives your eye brain a different perspective. Okay, one last point and this is very important. You know, when you go for a regular eye exam and the doctor is correcting you for distance using gas permeable contact lenses, that prescription is going to be too strong for you when you’re doing your digital time and it’s actually going to induce your eyes to get worse. Now there is the conversation that gas permeable lenses

    does slow down the deterioration of your refractive error. But if you’re using a distance prescription for your digital time, it is definitely going to induce your eyes getting worse. So this is why I would recommend wearing something reduced over the contact lenses in a blue block or filter, especially for your digital time and this actually will prevent your eyes from getting worse. You know, another technique that I use is sometimes

    I will under correct somebody just slightly in the distance with their gas permeable lenses. But what that does is it slows down the deterioration in the over 40 syndrome. We call this presbyopia and I’ve had hundreds of patients over the years come back and say, know, I don’t need to use reading glasses, especially people in their 40s 50s and even 60s because I’ve cut back on the distance prescription a little bit.

    and that gives their visual system and focus a little more versatility instead of giving them the super strong lens for distance. So overall two thumbs up for gas permeable lenses use them in moderation like anything else. Thank you so much for the question Brent. Take care and have a great day. Everybody.
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  • The Vision Reset: Food, Sunlight & Eye Exercises

    The Vision Reset: Food, Sunlight & Eye Exercises
    Dec 8 2025

    Ready to deepen your healing toolkit in 2026?
    Enrollment is now open for my Aromatherapy Foundations Certification Course, a 6-week immersive training beginning January 28, 2026.

    Whether you’re a practitioner, a healer, or someone passionate about natural health, this course will teach you:

    🌿 The 15 essential oils every practitioner should master
    🌿 Trauma-informed aromatherapy
    🌿 Safety, dilutions, and clinical applications
    🌿 Energetic + emotional healing with oils
    🌿 Oils for vision, lymph, vagus nerve, and the nervous system
    🌿 How to blend, assess, and create treatment plans
    🌿 Live weekly classes + recordings + certification

    This is the only cohort for 2026 and spots are limited.

    If you’d like to join us,
    👉 Email me “AROMA” for details appointments@drsamberne.com

    The Vision Field Membership just received a full upgrade.
    If you want consistent support for your eyes, your nervous system, and your vision-body connection, this is the place to be.

    Inside the Vision Field you now get:

    ✨ Weekly NEW content — exercises, somatic practices, meditations, color/light modules
    ✨ Full library of my vision trainings
    ✨ Monthly Healing Journey (July: Cataracts | August: TBD)
    ✨ Community connection and live experiences
    ✨ Clinical tools you won’t find anywhere else
    ✨ Discounts on classes, workshops, and digital products

    Whether you’re healing myopia, cataracts, floaters, or simply wanting clearer vision and a calmer mind, the Vision Field gives you the structure and support to transform your eyesight.

    👉 Join the updated Vision Field Membership today
    at: drsambernesmembership.com

    Your vision can change — your life can change.
    Let’s walk the path together.

    Keywords

    vision improvement, eye health, nutrition, eye exercises, screen time, prescription glasses, eye relaxation, lifestyle changes

    Summary

    This conversation focuses on improving vision through various methods, including understanding prescription changes, the impact of screen time, the importance of nutrition, and incorporating eye exercises. The speaker emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to eye health, including lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to enhance vision clarity.

    Takeaways

    The goal is to improve vision without relying on glasses.
    Screen time can negatively impact eye health if not managed properly.
    Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health.
    Incorporating eye exercises can help improve vision over time.
    Relaxation techniques can enhance clarity and reduce eye strain.
    Challenging the eyes with blurry glasses can promote better vision.
    Morning sunlight exposure is beneficial for eye health.
    Regular follow-ups are important to track vision improvement.
    A balanced diet with adequate nutrients supports eye function.
    Determination and commitment are key to reversing vision issues.

    Sound bites

    “I think bone broth is excellent”
    “If I can do it, you can do it”
    “There’s no doubt you’ll see improvement”

    Chapters

    00:00 Understanding Vision Goals
    02:17 Exploring Prescription History
    04:47 Screen Time and Eye Health
    07:05 Nutrition’s Role in Vision
    11:45 Eye Exercises for Improvement
    19:14 Radical Approaches to Vision Correction
    28:48 Lifestyle Changes for Better Eye Health
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  • Color Therapy for Emotional Freedom: Dissolving Triggers Through Frequency–Updated

    Color Therapy for Emotional Freedom: Dissolving Triggers Through Frequency–Updated
    Dec 1 2025

    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: https://drsambernesmembership.com/

    ONLINE; Aromatherapy Foundations Certification
    January 28, 2026 @ 5:30 pm – March 4, 2026 @ 6:45 pm
    $997.00
    ONLINE: STARTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28TH,2026

    Master the 15 Essential Oils That Support Vision, Vitality, and Whole-Body Healing
    A 6-week live certification experience with Dr. Sam Berne
    This is not a casual essential oil class.
    This is a professional-level training designed for practitioners, coaches, healers, and serious students.
    In this immersive 6-week certification, you will learn the 15 foundational essential oils used to support:
    Link: https://www.drsamberne.com/workshop/online-aromatherapy-foundations-certification/

    In this episode, Dr. Sam Berne explores how light, color, and vibrational frequency shape our physical, emotional, and energetic health. You’ll learn how different wavelengths influence the brain, the pineal gland, and the nervous system — and how full-spectrum light activates deeper states of clarity and well-being. Dr. Berne also shares groundbreaking research, ancient healing wisdom, and a guided experiential color meditation to help you dissolve emotional triggers and elevate your vibrational frequency.

    Keywords

    light therapy, color therapy, energy healing, full spectrum light, emotional health, vibrational frequency, holistic health, wellness, meditation, chakras

    Summary

    In this conversation, Sam Berne explores the profound impact of light and color therapy on our physical and emotional well-being. He discusses the science behind how different colors influence our nervous system and consciousness, the historical context of color therapy, and shares research findings that highlight its effectiveness. The session culminates in a guided color therapy experience, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of light and color in enhancing health and wellness.

    Takeaways

    Color is an energetic frequency that influences our emotions and body.
    Full spectrum light promotes a full spectrum life.
    Artificial light can negatively impact our well-being.
    Color therapy has been used historically for healing.
    Light is both energy and information, essential for health.
    The pineal gland requires light for optimal function.
    Research shows green light can alleviate migraines.
    Color therapy can enhance energy fields and chakra alignment.
    Engaging with color can help dissolve emotional triggers.
    Color therapy is a powerful tool for holistic health.

    Sound bites

    “Artificial light is not life-affirming.”
    “Light is energy and information.”
    “We are made of photonic energy.”

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Light and Color Therapy
    00:34 The Science Behind Color and Light
    03:19 Historical Perspectives on Color Therapy
    07:05 Research and Practical Applications
    10:37 Experiential Color Therapy Session
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  • The Science and Soul of Aromatherapy

    The Science and Soul of Aromatherapy
    Nov 24 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Sam Berne explores the foundations of aromatherapy and how essential oils support vision, calm the nervous system, and restore whole-body balance. This talk is adapted from the first part of his professional Aromatherapy Master Class. ONLINE | Aromatherapy Foundations Certification January 28, 2026 – March 4, 2026 • Wednesdays, 5:30–6:45 PM MT • 💻 Live on Zoom Ready to go deeper with essential oils and learn how to use them clinically, energetically, and intuitively? Join me for a 6-week Aromatherapy Foundations Certification training where we’ll explore 15 core oils that support vision, nervous system regulation, immune balance, digestion, respiration, and emotional healing. This is a professional-level course for practitioners, coaches, healers, and serious students who want to bring aromatherapy into their work and daily life with confidence. 👉 Learn more and register here: https://www.drsamberne.com/workshop/online-aromatherapy-foundations-certification/ 🎧 Podcast listener bonus: Mention that you heard about the course on my podcast and receive $100 off the registration fee. To claim your discount, email Dr. Berne at appointments@drsamberne.com before registering. Sam Berne (00:00.078) And this is being recorded and thank you for the ping in terms of emails. If you didn’t get the link for today’s class and there were a couple of last-minute signups and my team and I tried diligently to get everybody the zoom link. My suggestion would be when you do get the recording link and the handout today. that you download it to your computer. We just never know between zoom and the Dropbox how long the recordings will be on there. If I think I’m going to download this to them to my Dropbox and my Dropbox tends to last longer than zoom, but this is yours forever. And there’s a lot of great information. We will have time for Q &A at the end and also we’re probably going to do a little meditation as well. So I think I’m going to share my screen and we’ll start in on. my presentation. Feel free to make any comments in the chat box. I’ll be monitoring those throughout our presentation today. So the title of this workshop is called see clearly now essential oils and natural protocols for vision renewal and a little backstory on how I actually got involved in aromatherapy. Sam Berne (01:49.835) Two things happened. One was that I was working with a lot of people. I was doing a test called the tissue mineral analysis hair analysis. Many of you maybe have had that done and I was working with a group of doctors with working with different detoxification systems to get rid of heavy metals out of the body. And hair mineral analysis is one of many ways to do that. So in the in the process, I happen to be at a health fair and I met this woman who had a small boutique aromatherapy company and I told her what I was doing. And so she donated some essential oils to me to use on these kids. We worked with the children in the study. Who had heavy metal toxicity and the essential oils. We actually used were black cumin, which we put six drops in a glass of water and they drank in the morning. Black cumin is a is a really great essential oil for immune health. We used it a lot. We used it a lot during covid. The second oil that I used was in a world called patchouli and patchouli works very well at getting heavy metals out of the body and it’s a good detoxifier. We had the protocol was two drops on the soles of the feet in the morning. We also used a another essential oil for adrenal health cedarwood Atlas, which is a tree Atlas a tree essential oil and we had parents put two essential oil, two drops of that Cedarwood Atlas on the back around the kidneys and adrenal area. And then the last essential oil we use, which we’re going to talk about today was spike lavender. And we had parents put two drops of spike lavender on the soles of the feet and we had them do it for three months. Sam Berne (04:15.004) We tested the the kids there were 20 kids in the study and we measured their hair mineral analysis at the beginning and then at the end of three months and at the end of three months doing that essential oils protocol. What we found was that the heavy metals had left the body completely hundred percent. I was I was really actually pretty surprised and so that really caught my attention on the power of medicinal essential oils. And not all essential oils have that level of therapeutic value, but the ones we were using from the small boutique company and I’ll talk about, you know how to choose a company to use and anyways, it was a really it was really great experience. So then I began studying aroma therapy. became certified in it. I worked for a company and I taught classes and certification and did that for a few years and then kind of went off on my own. And so aroma therapy and essential oils or something that are near and dear to me. I feel they’re really really ...
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  • The Reduced Prescription Puzzle: Understanding the Adaptation Period

    The Reduced Prescription Puzzle: Understanding the Adaptation Period
    Nov 17 2025

    In today’s Q&A episode, I answer a heartfelt question from a mom whose son is struggling to adjust to his reduced nearsighted prescription. We talk about why reduced lenses can initially feel uncomfortable, how the visual brain adapts, and what you can do to support a smoother transition. If you’ve wondered whether a weaker prescription is right for your child—or why adaptation sometimes takes longer—this episode will give you clarity and confidence.

    Transcript:

    Sam Berne (00:00.961)
    Hey everybody, it’s Dr. Sam and I’d like to welcome you to the podcast. So I received a question from a mom who I’m working with her son who’s got nearsightedness. This is a very interesting question. So I gave him a prescription that reduces his myopia and she said that he’s having a hard time adjusting to the prescription that is creating eye strain and his eye muscles hurt and she wants to know

    What she can do to tell him to get used to the prescription. Well, it’s interesting because when you’re presented with a reduced prescription, Your eyes should relax. Basically, any reduced prescription is saying, can I let go with my muscles and can I release and relax?

    Now in this particular case, there’s two possible scenarios going on. The first is that and this is very common with people that start wearing reduced prescriptions. They start feeling their eye muscles more and they start feeling this area. Whereas before it was very a very unrealized area meaning they had no awareness of it. And so when you wear something that’s less tight,

    Guess what happens all of that tightness that you’ve absorbed over years of the strong prescription. You feel that so it’s showing you what’s already there. It’s not causing it, but the relaxation potential is showing you the tension that you’ve been carrying for a long time. The second part of this is

    It’s not the prescription that’s causing the eye tension. It’s the attitude and habits that we bring to the prescription that creates the eye tension. So this means that we’re so used to having it clear that when we’re given a softer prescription and it’s a little on the soft blurry side, we immediately want to get rid of it by squinting and straining.

    Sam Berne (02:23.638)
    So we’re back to our old habits again.

    Yeah, exactly. So the reduced prescription is going to confront the habit of you wanting to squint and strain and muscle it. So what I told the mother is just invite the child to wear this reduced prescription at near at the 14 inches, maybe maybe 20 inches at the most. But don’t try to wear it in the distance for now.

    I mean the prescription was prescribed for near vision to begin with and it can be a big jump and kind of disorienting. If you get this reduced prescription and you have the expectation that it should be clear in the distance. Now what will happen over time is that if you get used to the reduced prescription, you’ll notice that your distance acuity improves.

    And you know, you’re there when you then put on the strong prescription and you start getting a headache. You start feeling the eye ache and you go, wow, this is what I used to wear all the time. And now I’m aware that it’s too tight for me. It’s too strong for me. And you know, I have to say that in my years of practice,

    I would reduce so many prescriptions during the exam and people actually saw more clearly because the way the eye exam is done, you’re going to overcorrect people. You’re going to make the lens too strong.

    Sam Berne (04:05.985)
    And you know, this really speaks to some of the adults that have chronic things like flashing lights or posterior vitreous detachment or even some, you know, retinal lattice degeneration, all those retina problems. If you are nearsighted, your prescription is too strong for you. And if you start wearing something less, the retina heals the flashing lights start to reduce and eventually go away.

    So you don’t have that traction. So it’s very interesting to know that, you know, any prescription that you wear is like a drug. The prescription eyeglasses and contacts have been approved by the FDA and their side effects. And for near sightedness, especially if you’re wearing something too strong, you’re going to pay the price and that price is going to be tension compression.

    muscle pain, eye strain, eye fatigue, and on and on. So I really appreciate the question and I hope that’s helpful. So that’s it for today. That’s my show. I want to thank you for tuning in until next time. Take care.
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    6 mins