55. Your Vision Is Trainable: How to Improve Eyesight, Focus & Brain Performance | Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

55. Your Vision Is Trainable: How to Improve Eyesight, Focus & Brain Performance | Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

Author: Zane Griggs: Health Tips September 7, 2026 Duration: 58:30

What if declining vision, eye strain, headaches, brain fog, and difficulty focusing weren't simply things you had to accept as you get older?

In this episode of Healthy AF, Zane Griggs sits down with neuro-optometrist Dr. Bryce Appelbaum to explore the connection between your eyes and your brain—and why he believes vision should be trained just like the rest of your body.

Dr. Appelbaum explains the important difference between eyesight and vision, how hours of daily screen time can place the visual system under stress, and why functional vision problems can sometimes produce symptoms that overlap with problems involving attention, reading, and learning.

They also dive into vision after 40, reading glasses, screen-related eye strain, concussion recovery, and how Dr. Appelbaum works with professional and Olympic-level athletes to improve visual processing, peripheral awareness, reaction time, depth perception, and performance.

Plus, Dr. Appelbaum walks Zane through a simple "eye push-up" exercise designed to train the focusing system and shares the 20-20-20 rule you can start using during screen-heavy days.

In this episode:

  • Eyesight vs. vision: why they're not the same thing

  • How screen time affects the eye-brain connection

  • Vision, attention, reading, and focus

  • Why your distance vision may change with heavy near work

  • The 20-20-20 rule for screen breaks

  • Vision training for professional athletes

  • Vision changes after concussion and head injuries

  • Why vision matters for balance and fall prevention as we age

  • What happens to near vision after 40

  • How to perform Dr. Appelbaum's eye push-ups

  • Reading glasses and the focusing system

  • Digital performance lenses and screen stress

  • How to start training your vision

 

Connect with Zane Griggs:

 

Guest Links:

ScreenFit: ScreenFit.com — use code ZANE for $200 off / 40% off

My Vision First: MyVisionFirst.com

Digital Performance Lenses: use code ZANE for 10% off

https://myvisionfirst.com

 

0:00 Meet Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

1:42 Vision Problems, ADHD & Dyslexia Symptoms

2:33 Eyesight vs. Vision: What's the Difference?

3:45 Why Your Eyesight May Change With Screen Time

5:48 Can You Actually Exercise Your Vision?

6:41 What Screens Are Doing to Your Visual System

8:39 The Problem With 7+ Hours of Screen Time

10:55 How Vision Can Affect Your Stress Response

12:29 Adding "Vision Snacks" to Your Day

13:43 The 20-20-20 Rule

16:19 ScreenFit & Vision Performance Training

17:34 How Elite Athletes Train Their Vision

20:34 Concussions, Head Injuries & Vision

23:47 How Vision Training Changed an MLB Player's Performance

25:09 Does Vision Have to Decline With Age?

43:58 Why Reading Gets Harder After 40

45:53 How to Do Eye Push-Ups

50:02 The Problem With Monovision

52:26 Vision Training for Longevity

53:21 ScreenFit + Special Offer

55:02 Digital Performance Lenses

58:44 Where to Find Dr. Bryce Appelbaum

 


Turning fifty doesn't mean slowing down; it can be the start of your most vibrant chapter. Healthy AF | Healthy After 50 is a candid conversation about making that happen, hosted by health and longevity expert Zane Griggs. This podcast moves beyond generic advice to offer practical, actionable strategies for nutrition, fitness, and mental resilience tailored for the second half of life. You'll hear honest discussions about the unique challenges and opportunities that come after fifty, from maintaining muscle mass and optimizing metabolism to cultivating a mindset that supports lasting change. Zane breaks down complex health concepts into understandable steps, whether you're looking to revitalize your current routine or are just beginning to prioritize your well-being. The focus is on sustainable habits, not quick fixes, empowering you to feel stronger and more energized. While the core audience is those over fifty, the principles discussed are valuable for anyone in their twenties or thirties who wants to build a solid foundation for a long, healthy future. Each episode is designed to give you a tangible takeaway-something you can apply immediately to improve your day. Tune in for a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to becoming the healthiest version of yourself, because thriving after fifty is absolutely possible.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Healthy AF | Healthy After 50
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