👀 The Science of Eye Health with Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg

Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, is a world leader in ophthalmology and Chair at Stanford’s Byers Eye Institute. In recent conversations with Andrew Huberman and Tim Ferriss, he broke down what actually works to protect and enhance your vision—plus what’s on the horizon for “supranormal” sight.

🔑 Actionable Takeaways for Your Eyes

1. Daily Eye Exercises

• 🔄 Near–Far “Pencil Pushups”: Hold a pencil (or finger) close to your nose, focus, then shift your gaze to a far object. Repeat 20x/day to train focusing muscles.

• 👀 Smooth Pursuits: Follow a moving target (like your thumb moving side to side) without moving your head. Great for coordination and reducing digital eye strain.

2. Light & Mitochondria

• 🔴 Exposure to 670 nm red light may boost mitochondrial function in retinal cells, improving contrast sensitivity.

• ☀️ Natural sunlight supports circadian rhythms, but balance with UV protection (sunglasses/hat).

3. Nutrition & Supplements

• 🥦 Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide): Early clinical trials suggest benefit for glaucoma patients by supporting retinal energy metabolism.

• 💊 AREDS2 Formula: Evidence-based mix (vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper) that slows progression of age-related macular degeneration.

• 🐟 Omega-3s + hydration = support for dry eye.

4. Daily Habits

• 🚰 Stay hydrated to maintain tear film.

• ⏱️ Use the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 min, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds to relax the eyes.

• 😴 Sleep = retina recovery time.

🧐 What About LASIK? Is It Safe?

Dr. Goldberg emphasizes that LASIK is generally safe and effective when done by skilled surgeons, but it’s not risk-free:

• ✅ Can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses/contacts.

• ⚠️ Risks: dry eye, glare/halos at night, under- or over-correction.

• 🧾 Best candidates: stable prescription, healthy corneas, no active eye disease.

• 🛑 Not for everyone—age, prescription stability, and corneal thickness all matter .

Bottom line: LASIK works well for many, but a careful eye exam is essential to weigh risks vs. benefits.

🚀 Future of Vision Science

Goldberg’s lab is exploring stem cells, gene therapy, and nanotech for retinal repair—aiming not just to restore sight, but to enhance it beyond “normal.” Think night vision or sharper-than-human contrast detection.

TL;DR 📝

• Do your daily eye exercises (near–far, smooth pursuit).

• Protect with sunglasses but don’t avoid all sunlight.

• Support your eyes with proven nutrients (AREDS2, B3, omega-3s).

• LASIK = safe for many, but not risk-free. Get a full evaluation.

• The future? Eyes enhanced by biotech, not just corrected.

👋 Until next time,
The Wellness Roll Up Team
wellnessrollup.com/subscribe