198. Dr. Bryce Appelbaum: Your Eyes Are Connected to Everything—Focus, Balance, Brain Health & Aging

What if your eyesight is 20/20—but your vision still isn't working the way it should?

Dr. Bryce Appelbaum specializes in functional vision and the connection between the eyes and the brain. In this conversation, he explains why seeing clearly is only one piece of vision—and how the brain's ability to process what we see can influence reading, focus, coordination, balance, motion sickness, athletic performance, and everyday life.

We also explore what hours of daily screen time may be doing to our visual system. Our eyes and brains weren't designed to spend all day focused on a screen inches from our faces, and Dr. Appelbaum explains how sustained near work can contribute to eye strain, headaches, fatigue, and visual stress—especially in children.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between eyesight and vision—and why 20/20 vision doesn't tell the whole story

• How screen time may be affecting the eye-brain connection in both children and adults

• Why reading difficulties, poor focus, clumsiness, and motion sickness can sometimes have a visual component

• The connection between functional vision problems and symptoms associated with ADHD and dyslexia

• How concussions and traumatic brain injuries can disrupt visual function

• Why vision, balance, spatial awareness, and healthy aging are closely connected

• Three simple vision exercises Dr. Appelbaum recommends for training focus, peripheral awareness, and eye movement

We also discuss the 20-20-20 rule, functional vision evaluations, vision therapy and training, reading glasses, neuroplasticity, and practical ways to give your eyes a break in an increasingly screen-dominated world.

If you spend hours every day staring at a phone or computer—or have a child growing up surrounded by screens—this conversation may completely change the way you think about protecting and training your vision.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: drshah.com

Clinic: next-health.com

Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Bryce Appelbaum:

Website: myvisionfirst.com

Instagram: @drbryceappelbaum

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