#823: Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg — Creating Supranormal Vision, Cutting-Edge Science for Eye Health, Supplements, Red Light Therapy, and The Future of Eyesight Restoration
Presbyopia treatments and simple interventions for near vision decline
Tim Ferriss and Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg explore practical, low-risk steps to address age-related near-vision loss (presbyopia). Readers learn why reading glasses do not accelerate lens stiffening and why early exams and preservative-free drops are often the best first steps. Simple remedies like tailored reading glasses, preservative-free artificial tears, and attention to UV protection can meaningfully improve daily comfort.
Supranormal visual performance and visual perception training
Beyond restoration, the episode highlights how athletes use visual training and sensory-occlusion goggles to train faster reflexes and sharper acuity. Training protocols that combine adaptive visual stimuli with motor actions—forcing physical responses—produce stronger and more transferable gains than passive viewing alone. Augmented reality and frame-rate reduction goggles are tools being tested to push normal vision into supra-normal performance.
How to use visual training tools in practice
Start with short, focused sessions that require motor output—pointing, catching, or button responses—so your brain couples perception with action. Track improvements and consider combining behavioral training with supervised trials when possible.
Novel device and biologic therapies: red light, serum tears, and stem cells
Emerging interventions discussed include low-dose red and violet light for myopia control and mitochondrial support, serum tears and platelet-rich plasma for severe dry eye, and stem-cell approaches aimed at regenerating retinal ganglion cells. Early data on brief daily red-light exposure suggests mitochondrial benefits, while serum tears provide concentrated growth factors to rejuvenate ocular surface tissues.
Immune system, microbiome, mitochondria, and cognitive links
Dr. Goldberg emphasizes the immune system and microbiome as underappreciated drivers of optic nerve degeneration. Animal work shows immune activity can determine whether elevated eye pressure causes glaucoma. The conversation also links visual decline with cognitive loss and depression, and highlights the potential for metabolic and mitochondrial therapies—like nicotinamide and targeted lifestyle change—to affect long-term brain and eye health.
How to engage with research and clinical trials
The episode encourages proactive participation: get timely eye exams, ask about local clinical trials via clinicaltrials.gov, and seek academically grounded sources. Volunteers help translate promising lab science—on plasticity, neuroprotection, and regeneration—into human treatments.
- Takeaway: Combine proven low-risk strategies now (sunglasses, preservative-free drops, exercise) with informed curiosity about emerging therapies.
Key points
- Schedule a comprehensive eye exam to track presbyopia and glaucoma risk with diurnal pressure awareness.
- Use preservative-free artificial tears multiple times daily to relieve chronic dry eye symptoms safely.
- Incorporate short motor-based visual perception training to improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
- Consult clinicaltrials.gov and academic centers to volunteer for vision restoration or neuroprotection studies.
- Consider morning red-light sessions of a few minutes to support mitochondrial health in retinal cells.
- Ask your eye specialist about serum tears or platelet-rich plasma for severe ocular surface disease.
- Prioritize blood pressure and lipid control to reduce microvascular risk for cognitive and visual decline.
