Interview with Tracey Schavone

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tracey Schavone at KKCRW to talk about my book and work with patients. Enjoy the show.

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SUMMARY KEYWORDS

people, sam, glutathione, eyes, cataracts, workshop, book, question, eat, glasses, vision, optometrist, kawaii, clarity, holistic, midlife, big, blur, spotify, clear eyed

Hello, everyone, it’s Dr. Sam, I’d like to welcome you to my EyeClarity podcast. This is a show that offers cutting edge information on how to improve your vision and overall wellness through holistic methods. I so appreciate you spending part of your day with me. If you have questions, you can send them to hello@drsamberne.com.

Yeah, so I’m here for my interview today on KKCRW. With my colleague Tracey, I haven’t seen her in years. So we’re gonna have a lively conversation

Dr. Sam Berne, maybe. Let’s first just talk a little bit about what led you to a little bit more holistic alternative path of eyecare. I mean, you know, you went to the vet school, like other people got the same training as all the other optometrist. And what led you to take a little bit different vantage point?

Well, it started with my poor eyesight. So I had poor eyesight. Eight years old, I started to wear glasses, and my eyes got pretty bad. And after optometry school, I couldn’t see the big E on the eye chart. So I met a holistic developmental optometrist I was living in the East Coast. And he helped me completely dissolve my need for contacts and glasses. I was very nearsighted with the astigmatism. So after going through that, I realized, well, you know, I can actually help people improve their vision by counseling them about nutrition, stress reduction, lifestyle, and then our physical vision therapy exercises, which reprogram the brain to help the eyes return to their balance.

So you actually were able to have your eyes healed through making different changes in your life? What what are some of the main things that people can do? I mean, I know you have a workshop, I mean, what are some of the main things that people can do? Or even just one, what do you think is the most important thing for people to do to benefit their eyesight? Is there anyone that may

limit your screen time, I see that the screens are really trashing our eyes and it isn’t just our adults, but our kids. So limited, make sure you get out into the natural sunlight, especially in the morning, that kind of resets the circadian rhythms. And it gives us that full spectrum light. And diet wise, I think eat a colorful rainbow of vegetables and get those antioxidants into your eyes and body take care of your gut health and lifestyle and stress. So you know, the more stress you have, the more it’s going to negatively affect your eyes. You know, when I studied acupuncture, I realized there was a big connection between our liver and our eyes. So if you’re you no toxic in any way got mold, heavy metals, and you get rid of those things, your livers going to be happier and your eyesight is going to clear up so there’s a lot of connections between our eyes and our systemic and metabolic health.

So if you just tuned in as the with Dr. Sam Berne is here on kawaii we’ll be doing a book signing his latest release is entitled vital vision clear eyed solution for midlife and beyond. Hopefully, we’re all gonna go way beyond midlife. So because I’m always curious about the process of creating, creating a book. I’m just curious. So from the moment of your conception of this latest book, how, what was the process to have it but I’ve had an

interesting story. So I’ve written five other books. I didn’t really want to write this book. But I have a pretty large following on social media and I do a Facebook Live show every Wednesday. And so what my team and I did is we took all the questions that people asked me for the last three years, and we transcribed all the shows, and we listed the most popular questions as the first chapter, second chapter, third chapter. So the most popular question that I received is how do you get rid of eye floaters? Yep. And then the second most popular question is how do I reverse my cataract? That there Question is, how do I get rid of my glasses, my nearsightedness and myopia and astigmatism. So that’s how I wrote the book based on what people were asking me. And so it’s been very, very enlightening for people to go. Yeah, that’s my question too.

And it’s fantastic. I mean, it’s, it’s beautiful, because you basically you created this book coming from response.

Exactly. Yes. I’m really, really big and watching what my audience is doing and, you know, basing my, my treatments and my information on what people want, what are they interested in? You know, I do a lot of free questions. I mean, you can even text me your question if you want to. And so it’s been great for people to get information.

If you just tuned in. I’m speaking with Dr. Sam Berne. He is a holistic optometrist, and he’s actually lives in the Santa Fe area in New Mexico but he comes in quite fairly frequently because I know I’ve had I’ve actually interviewed you in the past on your workshop, so I mean, how long has it been you can come into kawaii

my first time to kawaii was 1990. I was actually backpacking with a whole group and I remember we camped at the YMCA. That’s a little different these days. But I backpacked all the islands and fell in love with them. So I balance my time between New Mexico and Hawaii. For many years, I lead dolphin swims on the Big Island. And so we worked with trauma and traumatic brain injury and swimming with the dolphins and that was great. COVID kind of shut that down. But so but kawaii has always been so special in my heart, and it’s so awesome to be back.

So, so Dr. Sam Berne will be at the top story bookstore in Havana paypay. This Friday evening to do a book signing, that’s going to be from five to 7pm. He’s also offering a workshop this Saturday, that’s April 8. It’s a two hour workshop from 430 to 6:30pm. At the church of the Pacific in Princeville. And Dr. Sam Burns website is his name, which is www.dr Sam Berne D E. R. N. e.com. You can also email Sam at Sam at Dr. Sam berne.com. So is your Facebook page. What’s your Facebook,

Sam Berne OD? And same with Instagram? We have a big following on Tik Tok. I also have a podcast I clarity podcast, and where do people find your podcast? It’ll be on my website, or you can find it on Spotify, Spotify or Apple. It’s pretty much all over. But yeah,

yeah. How long? Have you been doing a podcast?

About three years and the people love the audio channel? You know, you can you can do two things at once. You know, walk your dog and listen to his show. I’ve had some great guests on and you know, sometimes the shows are really short five minutes, 10 minutes. And yeah, it’s been a really good way to reach people. As you know, yes,

I know. Yes. So Saturday, April 8, Sam’s gonna Dr. Sam Berne is going to be offering a workshop. And maybe you can talk a little bit about what that is a two hour workshop? What are some of the things you’re going to cover with what people take away?

Well, the first thing to know is that I’m actually licensed to practice Optometry in Hawaii. And that is really an advantage if people want to get like improvement prescriptions or reduce prescriptions. Hit me up because I will be here. So I’m going to, you know, interview the group, we’ll see what they what their issues are. And then I’ll gear the workshop, whether it’s exercises while teach people about color and light therapy, and nutrition. So it’s going to be very individualized based on what you’re coming in with. So if you suffer macular degeneration or cataracts or glaucoma, or you just want to be proactive with your eyes come to the workshop. It’ll be awesome.

Right, so you can contact Dr. Sam Berne via his email and that is Sam at Dr. Sam berne.com. That’s B E R N e.com. And the workshop will be happening this Saturday, April 8, and that’s from 430 to 6:30pm at the church at the Pacific in Princeville. So, vital vision and I love just the title of it is it’s flows nice, clear eyed solutions for midlife and beyond. So what what do you mean exactly by clear eyed solutions?

Well, one of the practices we do is we help people go into their blur go into their blurry vision, and it’s very scary to do that. But really, the way you get clear eyesight is by going into the blur, because blur is about softness, being more receptive being more intuitive, but our world is really about these sharp edges and I can need to see it clearly. I need to be perfect in all those messages we got as children are in school. And so when you relax into the blur you You get a certain clarity, which is physical clarity, but you also get mental clarity. And there’s an expansion that happens where people trust their intuition and their whole brain. And I’ve seen so many people over the years, get free of the belief systems that have really crippled their eyes. And so this clear eyed solutions goes way beyond seeing the eye chart better.

Okay, I have another question because so many people have after certain age, you know, started, you mentioned the cataracts, right? Started have cataracts, you have anything in particular that you recommend to either like slow down the cataract process, or maybe even do something where it never even starts happening.

Oh, yes. So first of all, really monitor the sugars you eat because sugar, actually the glucose molecule attaches to the lens molecule, and that creates a cataract. So you’ve got to eliminate high glycemic index sugars. Number two, make sure you eat foods with glutathione. And at the master antioxidant, studies have shown that people who develop cataracts have low levels of glutathione. And number three, the other simple solution is up your vitamin C, because low vitamin C also induces more cataracts. So if you do those things, and you know, you reduce your stress, I also say after 6pm protect your eyes from the damaging blue light, either with blue blockers or getting something on your screen. You have a great chance to reverse cataracts. I have an 85 year old who just reversed her cataracts at five years old. And so if she can do it, your listeners can do it.

And maybe I can do so glutathione I mean, is that something you get from green leafy vegetables? I mean, cruciferous I mean, I remember reading something about like for kids to kind of combat cataracts to eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables and the green leafy is like kale and things like that. Is that what is that what glutathione comes on? Or is that something different?

No, that’s that’s where it comes from. But it also comes from things like garlic and onions and leeks. So anything that has the sulfur molecule in it can act as glutathione and selenium the trace mineral helps you absorb the glutathione better and also glutathione is produced in the liver. So getting better liver health, that’s another thing. But you’re absolutely right. Cruciferous vegetables are number one on the list for a variety of reasons. But for glutathione Yes,

we eat all those wonderful things right here and our farmers.

Oh, yeah, I can’t wait to go. Oh, yes, it’s Saturday. Yeah,

it’s there’s so much

beautiful. There is I can’t wait

in right now there’s, you know, the cauliflower and broccoli is get fresh cauliflower and broccoli. Yeah, this time of year and of course all the kale, collards and all those green things.

Oh, yes, that’s it’s really important to eat those red, orange, yellow, green vegetables and berries. That’s also very good for your retinas. So strawberries, blueberries, if you can get them fresh.

Another question that has to do with you know, as we eat, or sage like my friend says instead of aging, we’re saging seems like even myself is like driving at night is a little more challenging because I’m like headlights coming at me. And I have a friend who bought glasses that are tinted yellow, and now she said those help. What do you know about that? I mean, is that something you think helps

her? Well, tinted yellow lenses give you more contrast. And so if you’re, you know, trying to see at dusk, that contrast can be really good for you. But when you have difficulty driving at night, the herb that I would recommend is bilberry and you want to take about 160 milligrams a day of bilberry, I see you writing that down. And and bilberry actually in some of the studies has shown that it helps improve your retina circulation. And there’s another thing that happens is that if your gallbladder is not working well and you’re not producing enough bile, the bile helps you absorb the fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A. So if you’ve got a congested gallbladder, I would suggest possibly adding some bile salts after a meal so that your eye vitamins especially vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin are better absorbed. So there’s a lot of things that you can do to improve your night vision. As you get older you’re getting those yellow tinted glasses or anti reflective lenses, but also adding these targeted nutrients can help the retina as well.

Right so bilberry, bile salts,

lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin A

Never imagined all this is in your book?

Yes, it’s in my book. And it’s also it’s all free. It’s on my website. I mean, we have probably 1500 video blogs and again, podcasts and written blogs. So you know, if you have a problem, just Google it on there and you’ll find your answer.

So, if you just do not speak with Dr. Sam Berne, he is, is he’s an holistic optometrist. His latest book, which you said is your sixth

book now? Yeah, my sixth book. Yeah. It’s entitled vital

vision clear eyed solutions for midlife and beyond. By Dr. Sam Berne. He will be doing a book signing this Friday night, that’s April 7, at the top story bookstore in Hanalei, Bay bay from five to 7pm. So you can actually meet him, get one of his books, have him sign it? And no question. I know, you’re probably doing a little q&a anyway.

Oh, always q&a, because q&a really helps people so and then it gives me the content that’s needed to, you know, make it worth it for people to come out.

And then Dr. Sam Berne will also be leading a workshop. It’s a two hour workshop this Saturday, April 8, is from 430 to 6:30pm, at the Church of the Pacific in Princeville. And you can register online for people to register online through your website.

Yes. So that you just go to classes and click a link and you can sign up you can also email me, you can also just show up, it’s kawaii. So yeah, so

instead the Church of the Pacific, right. In the

it’ll be in the main, the main church in the church.

So that’s this Saturday from 430 to 6:30pm. If you would like to register head to head So Sam knows you’re coming, you can do that on his website, which is Dr. Sam berne.com. And that’s b e r n e.com. You can email him at Sam at Dr. Sam berne.com. And you can also purchase the book online I’m sure if you can’t make it on Friday 200 Pay it’s vital vision clear eyed solutions for midlife and beyond. Where’s the best place for people to purchase that

you can get that on my website Dr. Sam Berne calm, and it’s also an e book. So if you don’t want the physical copy, and we’re working on the audio version as well, which will come out later this year. Will you be doing the voice? I will be doing the voice? We have a nice voice. Thank you. Thank you.

Do you have any idea how long of an audio file that’ll be?

Well, I do have a great studio in Santa Fe that I’ve used and, you know, it’s gonna take a few hours at least. Yeah, so I don’t know. It’ll be it’ll be fun. But people like to hear your voice. You know, I could have hired an actor to do it. But you know, I’ve got to read it. So you have a good voice. I have a good voice and yeah, so it’ll be fun.

Yeah, I have to say the only audio book I’ve ever listened to and I thoroughly enjoyed it was Trevor Noah is more than a cry.

Oh, yeah. And heard it yeah. Yes, I have I was so good. Yeah, that was a great quote really

good. He read it. He read his own book. Yeah, you know, if you haven’t heard it, it’s fantastic. So it soon joy to hear Dr. Sam Berne. voicing his vital vision, clear eyed solutions for midlife and beyond. You can find out more about Dr. Sam Berne at his website, Dr. Sam berne.com. That’s B E R N e.com. You can email him at Sam at Dr. Sam berne.com. That’s B E. r ne.com. And you can meet him in person Friday night at the top story bookstore in Hanalei Bay Bay, from five to 7pm. We’re gonna be doing a book signing and have a q&a, where you can also join him on Saturday, April 8, from 430 to 6:30pm. At the church of the Pacific, for a workshop or as an all hands on interactive workshop.

Yes, that’s what we do. We do hands on interactive. I’m not just gonna sit and lecture at

you. I’ve taken your workshops, and I really have always enjoyed them. They’ve been

fun. I remember. I remember when you came.

Super fun. So anyway, thank you so much.

Tracy, thank you. Great to see you again. I wish you well,

thank you and you too, and maybe someday I’ll come see you in Santa Fe. You’re welcome.

Thank you for listening. I hope you learned something from the EyeClarity podcast show today. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify and leave a review. See you here next time.