Brain Expert: 'If You Have Brain Fog, Fatigue or Burnout — It Might Be Your Eyes!' | Bryce Appelbaum

Rangan Chatterjee

10 sept 2025

Episode description

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When we think about improving our health, we often think about changing our diet, increasing how much we move, improving the quality of our sleep and lowering stress, but how many of us think about ‘working’ on our vision? Every day, many of us experience symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, headaches or poor concentration - and never realise that our eyes might be playing a central role
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This week, I’m delighted to welcome Dr Bryce Appelbaum, a pioneering neuro-optometrist who believes that vision is our most overlooked and underutilised tool for improving how we feel, think and function. Bryce is a board-certified Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and founder of MyVisionFirst , where he and his team combine vision therapy with principles from occupational therapy, physical therapy and holistic wellness.

Bryce’s expertise includes reorganising the visual brain after concussion, correcting developmental visual delays that interfere with reading and learning and enhancing visual skills to elevate athletic performance.
In this incredible conversation, we discuss:
- Why eyesight and vision are not the same, and why most eye tests are missing a vital part of the picture
- How visual processing affects everything from focus and mood to movement, memory and resilience
- The hidden visual problems that are often left undiagnosed in both children and adults, and how these can impact learning, behaviour and emotional regulation
- The neurological impact of concussion and trauma on the visual system, and how it can be rehabilitated
- Why our screen habits are damaging not just our eyes but our brains - and how to reverse the effects
- The power of “vision therapy” to rewire the brain and transform quality of life
- Practical strategies to reduce digital eye strain and support visual health, even if you only have a few minutes a day

Many of us don’t realise just how much our vision influences how we think, feel and perform. In a screen-heavy world, Bryce’s insights show that with the right tools, we can train our eyes and brain to support better health, learning and quality of life at any age.

#feelbetterlivemore
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Connect with Bryce Appelbaum:
Website https://www.myvisionfirst.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/myvisionfirstoptometry
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drbryceappelbaum/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbryceappelbaum

MyVisionFirst Resources:
Take the FREE Vision Assessment: https://bit.ly/3HWdrQA
Get the FREE Vision Health Guide: https://bit.ly/3JEeoNZ
Get $200 off ScreenFit using code: LIVEMORE at https://www.screenfit.com/livemore

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Episode description

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Differentiate vision from eyesight for better understanding

Vision is how your brain processes visual information to derive meaning and direct action, whereas eyesight is merely a symptom of how well you can see at a certain distance.

#cognition

#vision

Avoid over-the-counter reading glasses to strengthen your vision

Grabbing over-the-counter reading glasses at the first sign of blur is like getting a wheelchair for a sore knee; it stops you from using the focusing system, which then weakens.

#vision

Train your vision with ScreenFit program

The ScreenFit program is an online vision training system designed to build the foundational visual skills needed to thrive in a screen-heavy world.

#vision

Break free from screens to reduce fight-or-flight response

The tunnel vision required for screen use promotes a physiological stress response, meaning people are often making critical decisions while in a state of fight-or-flight.

#screen-time

#stress

Aim for 20/happy to enhance performance with minimal correction

Instead of correcting everyone to a 20/20 standard, the goal should be '20/happy,' which means using the weakest possible lenses that give the most improvement to performance.

#vision

Improve myopia with targeted vision performance training

It is possible to improve shortsightedness, as demonstrated by the host who went from 20/400 to 20/70 vision in five days through targeted vision performance training.

#vision

Incorporate functional vision assessments for accurate ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses

Diagnoses like ADHD, dyslexia, and learning disabilities are often incomplete without a functional vision assessment, as their symptoms heavily overlap with those of vision problems.

#ADHD

#diagnosis

Recognize vision as key to longevity and productivity

In the near future, vision will be recognized as a critical factor influencing longevity, consciousness, happiness, and productivity, much like the microbiome is today.

#longevity

#vision

Enhance focus with daily eye push-ups

You can improve the flexibility and stamina of your focusing muscles by performing daily 'eye push-ups,' which involve slowly bringing your thumb toward your nose while keeping it in focus.