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Dr. Bryce Appelbaum is transforming how we think about vision—especially as we age. As a board-certified neuro-optometrist and a leader in vision performance training, he’s revealing how deeply connected our eyesight is to our balance, brain health, and bone safety. In this episode of Stronger Bones Lifestyle, I sat down with Dr. Appelbaum to explore how functional vision care can prevent falls, improve reaction time, and even reduce the need for glasses—all without invasive treatments or endless prescriptions.
We unpacked why traditional eye care often misses the mark, how stress and screen time are weakening our visual systems, and what we can do to rebuild visual flexibility—just like we do with yoga or strength training.
Why This Matters to You
Think vision is just about seeing clearly? Think again. Your eyesight plays a major role in:
- Fall prevention and safe mobility—especially after 50
- Depth perception that helps you navigate curbs, stairs, and uneven ground
- Cognitive clarity and nervous system regulation
- Balancing your body’s proprioceptive and vestibular systems for stability
- Reducing tension, stress, and even chronic visual fatigue
Why Eyesight is More Than Just Seeing Clearly
Our conversation revealed something big: eyesight is different from vision. Eyesight is simply the ability to see clearly, but vision is how our eyes and brain work together to process the world, respond to movement, and keep us upright. As Dr. Appelbaum put it, “Vision is brain. Eyesight is glasses.”
And when the brain gets overwhelmed—whether from screen time, trauma, or aging—our vision collapses into tunnel mode. That means poor depth perception, delayed reaction time, and an increased risk of falling. The scary part? You can feel like you’re seeing fine… while your brain is silently struggling to keep up.
Actionable Advice
- Start Doing “Sky Eye Push-Ups” – Dr. Appelbaum’s simple near-far focus exercise strengthens the inner muscles of your eyes, helping prevent the need for stronger glasses and reducing eye strain. Two minutes per eye daily can change everything.
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule (or More!) – Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. These vision breaks reduce tension and improve long-term clarity.
- Train Your Vision Like a Muscle – Whether you use Dr. Appelbaum’s ScreenFit program or seek out a board-certified vision therapist, functional vision training can improve depth perception, balance, and reactivity—just like yoga strengthens your core.
- Avoid Quick-Fix Glasses – Over-the-counter readers and aggressive prescriptions can worsen long-term function. Ask for the weakest lens possible that still gives you clarity and comfort—what Dr. Appelbaum calls “20 Happy.”
Dr. Appelbaum didn’t set out to change the way people think about vision—he was once trained in the traditional model of prescribing stronger glasses. But over time, he realized that most vision issues weren’t rooted in the eyes—they were symptoms of a stressed-out brain. Now, through his practice and online programs like ScreenFit, he’s helping people retrain their visual systems, prevent falls, and regain confidence at any age.
Links and Resources to Explore
- Dr. Bryce Appelbaum’s resources are available at http://www.myvisionfirst.com
- Take the free online vision assessment at http://www.myvisionfirst.com/quiz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbryceappelbaum
Listen to the Full Episode – Available now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
Our eyes do more than help us see. They help us balance, focus, and stay safe. If you’re noticing changes in your vision or experiencing more falls and stumbles, it’s time to look deeper. Your eyesight isn’t broken—it’s just out of sync. And with the right tools, you can train it back to strength.
Choose clarity. Choose awareness. Choose confidence. Listen to the full episode now and take the first step toward better vision and stronger bones.
Podcast Subscribe Links - Reversing Osteoporosis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are part of a plant’s defense mechanism against predators and can be found in high concentrations in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, tea, and certain beans.
Regarding bone health, oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium in the gut, forming calcium oxalate. This compound is not easily absorbed by the body, meaning the calcium that could have been utilized for bone strengthening is instead excreted. This process can potentially lead to lower calcium availability for bone health, which can be particularly concerning for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or other bone-related issues.
However, for most women, dietary oxalates do not pose a significant threat to bone health, especially if their diet is balanced with enough calcium and they do not have a history of kidney stones.
Your gut is crucial for stronger bones for several reasons:
- Nutrient Absorption: The gut is where most nutrient absorption occurs. For bones to be healthy and strong, they need a variety of nutrients, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. A healthy gut efficiently absorbs these essential nutrients from your diet and facilitates their transportation to the bones.
- Gut Microbiome and Bone Health: Research has shown that the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your intestines) can influence bone density. Certain gut bacteria help in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have been shown to promote bone health. SCFAs can enhance the absorption of minerals necessary for bone strength and play a role in reducing inflammation, which can negatively affect bone health.
- Hormone Regulation: The gut helps regulate hormones that are involved in bone metabolism, including insulin, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like estrogen. For example, estrogen is vital for bone density, and gut health can influence estrogen levels through the enterohepatic circulation, where estrogens are processed in the liver and intestines.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, which can stem from poor gut health, is linked to many conditions that compromise bone strength, such as osteoporosis. A healthy gut helps to reduce systemic inflammation, protecting bones from inflammatory damage.
- Immune System Modulation: The majority of the immune system is located in the gut. An imbalance in the immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, some of which affect the bones. Maintaining gut health helps to ensure the immune system works correctly, protecting against autoimmune reactions that could impact bone health.
In essence, maintaining a healthy gut contributes significantly to stronger bones by ensuring the effective absorption of vital nutrients, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system. Therefore, a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with lifestyle factors that promote gut health, is key to maintaining strong bones.