The Science of Vision, Eye Health & Seeing Better

This episode I describe how we see, meaning how our eyes focus, convert light information into electricity the rest of the brain can understand and how our brain creates the incredible thing we experience as “sight”. I also describe how we can train and support our visual system to improve at any age. I describe more than a dozen protocols to support depth perception, offset near-sightedness, improve mood, sleep, and our ability to focus (both visual focus and our mental focus generally). I also explain how to use eyesight to improve our levels of alertness and why visual hallucinations, lazy eyes and colorblindness occur. I also describe various compounds that may assist in supporting visual health and possibly improve our vision. Many simple, zero-cost protocols and a lot of scientific mechanisms are covered in this episode in clear language anyone can understand-- it is for anyone that values their brain and whether eyesight, young, adult-age or advanced age.

Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors:

AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab

Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman

Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:31 Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT

00:04:51 Protocol: Concurrent Training For Endurance, Strength, Hypertrophy

00:07:24 The Senses, Vision, Seeing & What We Should All Do To See Better

00:10:35 Our Eyes: What They Really Do, & How They Work

00:14:30 Converting Light Into Electricity Language: Photoreceptors, Retinal Ganglion Cells

00:17:00 We Don’t See Anything Directly: It Is All A Comparison Of Reflected Light

00:19:35 Dogs, Cats, Snakes, Squirrels, Shrimps, Diving Birds, & You(r View Of The World)

00:24:05 Everything You See Is A Best Guess, Blind Spots

00:25:50 Depth Perception

00:28:00 Subconscious Vision: Light, Mood, Metabolism, Dopamine; Frog’s Skin In Your Eyes

00:32:00 Blue-Yellow Light, Sunlight; & Protocol 1 For Better Biology & Psychology

00:35:00 Protocol 2: Prevent & Offset Near-Sightedness (Myopia): Outdoors 2 Hours Per Day

00:42:00 Improving Focus: Visual & Mental; Accommodation, Your Pupils & Your Bendy Lens

00:48:50 Protocol 3: Distance Viewing For 20min For Every 90 Minutes of “Close Viewing”

00:52:20 Protocol 4: Self-Generated Optic Flow; Move Yourself Through Space Daily

00:54:26 Protocol 5: Be More Alert; Eyelids, Eye Size, Chin Position, Looking Up Versus Down