Behind every great movement is a trained visual system. Your eyes aren’t just for seeing — they’re tools for balance, reaction, and control. When they’re not working in sync with your brain and body, everything from focus to performance suffers.

In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Bryce Appelbaum — a neuro-optometrist specializing in functional vision — joins Juliet and Kelly Starrett to break down how your visual system drives everything from reaction time to recovery. He explains how training the eyes and brain together can improve coordination, balance, and focus under pressure. Whether you’re coming back from a concussion or looking to level up your athletic edge, this episode will open your eyes to the hidden system behind performance.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

What functional vision training is (and how it differs from standard eye exams)
Why vision is a skill — not just a sense
How concussions and screen time can disrupt your visual system
The surprising ways vision affects posture, balance, and coordination
Practical tools to improve visual endurance and reaction time
How athletes can train their eyes like any other muscle
Why vision issues are often misdiagnosed as ADHD

Key Highlights:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:48) - Vision Misunderstandings

(05:14) - Training Eyesight Without Glasses

(10:27) - Identifying Children's Vision Problems

(15:44) - Causes of Reading Fatigue

(18:54) - Increasing Vision Changes Trends

(23:33) - Healthy Vision Training Routine

(27:35) - Sponsor: Momentous

(30:29) - Sponsor: LMNT

(32:45) - Duration for Effective Vision Training

(38:02) - Secrets to Regular Bowel Movements

(44:06) - Understanding Concussions

(50:30) - Getting Help for Concussions

(53:20) - Functional Vision as a Competitive Advantage

(56:20) - Finding Dr. Bryce

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Key Highlights:

Sponsors

The Hidden System Behind Performance: Functional Vision Training with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum