Introduction
The title of this book may seem somewhat misleading, as it focuses on vision and eye health. However, having devoted many years to a holistic approach to health and well-being, I would not be true to myself if I did not relate individual body parts, organs, and physiological systems to the broader context of health and disease.
Because of my long-standing professional interest in autoimmune disorders, as well as my own personal experiences with them, I decided to dedicate this publication to eye-related problems experienced by people living with autoimmune diseases. Since autoimmune conditions involve the entire organism, one of my previous books was entitled *Systemic Autoimmune Diseases*, emphasizing that these disorders can affect many different parts of the body, including the eyes.
Readers interested in a broader understanding of this subject may wish to refer to that publication, which explores the systemic nature of autoimmune illness. In autoimmune diseases, the whole body is affected to a greater or lesser extent. For this reason, it is worthwhile to pay attention to each individual problem to support its functioning and improve quality of life, including the quality of life associated with a particular organ or body system.
In the case of the eyes, visual disturbances may arise not only from hormonal imbalances involving organs such as the thyroid gland or pancreas, but also from disturbances in fluid and electrolyte balance. These may manifest as dryness of the ocular surface, reduced tear production, blurred vision resembling cataracts, and even the phenomenon commonly referred to as brain fog. When we are under the care of a specialist such as an endocrinologist, we rarely receive advice concerning the effects of disease on other organs.
Conversely, when we visit an ophthalmologist, the focus is usually placed on ocular dysfunction itself, while seemingly minor issues such as dry eyes may receive little attention. Yet for patients with autoimmune diseases, dry eye symptoms can be exceptionally burdensome because they affect daily functioning, visual comfort, and even motor coordination. At this point, neurological aspects may also come into play. The eye is intimately connected to the brain, making it difficult to consider one without the other.
Furthermore, we must also take into account eye-related problems that may occur following cataract surgery and implantation of an artificial lens. The eye may perceive the implanted lens as a foreign body, triggering compensatory responses that alter tear production and contribute to symptoms resembling those seen in Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the exocrine glands - primarily the tear and salivary glands - causing inflammation and reduced production of tears and saliva. The result is not only dry eyes but also dry mouth.
The condition may coexist with other autoimmune diseases, and its symptoms may extend to additional organs, including the joints, lungs, kidneys, and skin. Chronic fatigue is also common. At this point another specialist enters the picture - the otolaryngologist - because of dryness affecting the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. Ultimately, however, the primary care physician also becomes involved.
What emerges, therefore, is a systemic illness - or more accurately, a syndrome involving the entire organism. It is difficult to divide such a condition into isolated parts and treat each one separately. Yet modern medicine still largely operates through specialists dedicated to individual organs. In this context, "treatment" often becomes an ongoing process without a clear endpoint, as patients move from one specialist to another.
Each practitioner may have only a partial picture of the situation, while the patient is left to navigate daily life without a complete understanding of the disease process or realistic expectations regarding recovery. Treatment, by definition, may involve management, healing, or symptom relief. When coordinated through a multidisciplinary approach, the chances of meaningful recovery are considerably greater.
Otherwise, treatment may consist primarily of symptom management rather than addressing underlying causes and the factors that continue to sustain them. This brings us into the realm of the psyche - the somatic consequences of beliefs, habits, behavioral patterns, and forms of unconscious conditioning and education that do not always lead toward health and may sometimes contribute to illness. Here we encounter another specialist: the psychologist, as well as the broader field of psychological education.
This book is based on my own experiences from two perspectives. On the one hand, I write as a professional engaged in the fields of holistic health, immunology, and clinical diagnostics, while also exploring other areas of knowledge, including modern physics. On the other hand, I write as a patient who has visited numerous specialists over many years - professionals who often had little or no communication with one another and therefore lacked coordinated approaches to care.
Because I have also worked in psychosynthesis for more than thirty years, I have learned to integrate diverse sources of knowledge for my own benefit, seeking ways to improve my quality of life through the synthesis of scientific understanding and lived experience.
Although I no longer have direct access to the diagnostic equipment used in clinical practice, I have treated my medical visits as opportunities to expand my awareness - both through the information provided by diagnostic technologies and through careful observation of how my body responds to various interventions.
Sometimes a single sentence or even a single word heard during a medical consultation would lead me to an important insight regarding the process I was experiencing and inspire me to search for ways of improving my quality of life while living with autoimmune disease.
At other times, I encountered assumptions, fears, or statements unsupported by scientific evidence. I have followed these issues closely for many years. Ultimately, it is I who must make decisions regarding my health. Health is a deeply personal and intimate aspect of life, and each of us has both the right and the responsibility to make informed choices about it. Only we possess full knowledge of our lives, circumstances, experiences, and personal histories - not merely the final manifestation of a symptom.
Symptoms may arise for many different reasons, and their persistence may be influenced by unconscious habits or behaviors. Therefore, the responsibility for change belongs primarily to each individual. No medication can accomplish this task; at best, it may temporarily mask the consequences.
This publication, like my previous books, summarizes decades of observation. This observation includes myself, medical treatment over nearly fifty years, and the reflections and practical wisdom that emerge from learning about oneself and gradually assuming responsibility for one's own health. Rather, it is an invitation to recognize that each of us has both the right and the obligation to take responsibility for our own health. The decisions we make, and the consequences that follow, become part of our daily lives.
Before concluding this introduction, I would like to refer to a trend that I have observed not only in medicine but also in education and the broader humanities. Increasingly, scholars are moving away from creating ever more subspecialties and narrowly defined fields of expertise. Instead, interdisciplinary bridges are beginning to flourish. We are gradually moving toward a systems-based perspective that seeks to connect rather than separate different areas of knowledge.
As one author aptly observed: *"This demonstrates that these issues can no longer be considered solely within a closed and isolated circle of professionals. Put simply, all disciplinary walls separating the inside from the outside world have crumbled or been pierced. We must recognize that we are now all within the same interior space - and therefore simultaneously in full public view."*
The same phenomenon has become increasingly evident in medicine. Different specialties often encounter the same symptoms because their common denominator is a particular human being and the human experience itself.
Therefore, we need a broader perspective. This perspective connects disciplines instead of separating them and avoids duplicating efforts that address different manifestations of a single process occurring within a person.
The eyes: their important function and the burdens they face in modern times
At first glance, it might seem that our eyes have always carried the same functional workload throughout human history. Yet, when we examine the lives of people today, especially those living in urban environments, we realize that modern technology places unprecedented demands on the visual system.
Most administrative tasks, services, and daily activities have now moved online, making our eyes indispensable tools for navigating contemporary life. They remain fixed on large and small screens alike - computers, tablets, and smartphones - constantly exposed to flickering light and prolonged visual concentration on tiny details such as letters, numbers, websites, and digital data.
This affects not only adults but also children and adolescents, leading to measurable consequences for visual health and increasing eye fatigue, even among individuals who previously had no vision-related difficulties. The trend is particularly visible among younger generations, who begin wearing corrective lenses much earlier than their peers did several decades ago.
We are also confronted with increasing environmental pollution and the presence of microscopic airborne particles, both of which may contribute to additional eye-related problems. I devoted an entire book, Fighting for Your Future and the Future of the Planet, to these and related issues.
The eye is a sensory organ that receives light stimuli and converts them into neural signals, which the brain interprets as visual images. The brain serves as the command center of the visual system, while the eyes function as highly specialized antennas. According to scientific literature, they provide approximately 85 percent of the information we receive from the external world.
The eye contains a complex network of interconnected neural pathways that work together to capture light waves. Light passes through the lens, and the retina forms an image that is initially reduced in size and inverted. The retina then converts light into electrical impulses, which are transmitted to the brain. It is the brain that combines the two inverted images received from both eyes into a single, integrated, correctly oriented visual perception.
Vision, therefore, is fundamentally a function of the brain, while the eye serves as its indispensable partner.
The retina contains approximately six million cones, responsible for color vision, and about 120 million rods, which function primarily under low-light conditions. These photoreceptors enable us to distinguish a vast range of colors and shades. However, human vision remains limited - we cannot directly perceive infrared or ultraviolet light.
The eye also contains the macula, a small central region responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Processing visual information requires more than ten percent of the brain's neurons. Vision is therefore far more than simply seeing; it is also understanding.
Visual function involves a complex neurological process controlled by the brain. It encompasses focusing, depth perception, spatial awareness, emotional regulation, eye movement coordination, and visual tracking. An individual may have what appears to be "perfect" eyesight and still experience difficulties with visual processing that affect learning, attention, movement, confidence, and many other aspects of daily life.
Functional vision problems may resemble conditions such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, or dyslexia. They may manifest as reading difficulties, letter reversals, problems with writing, or challenges in maintaining concentration. In some cases, they may reflect deficits in visual-motor coordination. Many children and adults are misdiagnosed because standard eye examinations typically assess visual acuity rather than functional visual performance.
Vision therapy has the potential to retrain the brain and alleviate certain symptoms at virtually any age. It may be compared to physical therapy for the brain conducted through the eyes. Through targeted exercises, vision therapy can improve eye coordination, strengthen neural pathways, enhance focus, improve visual tracking, and refine depth perception. It may also help individuals recovering from concussions, experiencing dizziness, visual intolerance, anxiety in crowded environments, discomfort while driving, and other related challenges.
Modern life has introduced numerous threats not only to vision itself but also to the brain. One of the most significant factors is our constant exposure to digital technology and electronic screens.
Screens influence the visual system in ways that can impair both seeing and understanding. The average adult now spends more than seven hours per day looking at screens, while many children exceed six hours daily. Such prolonged exposure places considerable strain on the visual system, narrows peripheral awareness, and reduces blink frequency. It may also disrupt circadian rhythms and alter the way the brain processes information. The result can include eye fatigue, physical exhaustion, and sleep disturbances.
Eye strain, tear-film instability, dryness, itching, and other uncomfortable symptoms represent a particular challenge for individuals living with autoimmune diseases. Many of these patients receive primarily symptomatic treatment aimed at temporary relief rather than addressing underlying causes. Consequently, symptoms resulting from excessive technology use may accumulate on top of those already associated with autoimmune illness.
In some cases, pre-existing complaints evolve into additional autoimmune manifestations, such as the Sjögren's syndrome discussed earlier. We are then confronted with a "two-in-one" situation that complicates both diagnosis and management. Rather than promoting genuine healing, it often leads to ongoing symptom control or leaves patients largely responsible for coping on their own. When attention is focused on only one aspect of illness, parallel processes occurring elsewhere in the body may be overlooked.
This is where a warning light begins to flash, reminding us of the importance of self-care and, above all, continuous self-education. Learning how to support oneself becomes an essential component of living well with chronic illness.
This book is intended to serve as one small contribution toward filling the gaps created by misunderstandings, omissions, or the tendency to dismiss seemingly minor issues. Yet these so-called minor problems often become major obstacles in the everyday lives of people living with autoimmune diseases. Addressing them may not eliminate the illness itself, but it can significantly improve quality of life and help individuals navigate the challenges they face each day.
Tear film and eye problems
In the previous chapter, I mentioned the process of blinking. Blinking is an automatic reflex involving the closing and opening of the eyelids, essential for maintaining eye health. It moisturizes and nourishes the eyeball by distributing the tear film across its surface. At the same time, it cleanses the eye of impurities and protects it from damage. On average, we blink 15-20 times per minute, amounting to approximately 15,000-20,000 blinks per day. Blinking frequency decreases during computer work and increases in windy weather or stressful situations. Excessive blinking or eye tics may indicate dry eye syndrome, vision defects, allergies, fatigue, or neurological disorders.
Blinking is a natural protective mechanism not only against dust and wind, but also against eye strain caused by prolonged use of screens such as smartphones and computers. It distributes the tear film - that is, tears - which moisturize the eye and help eliminate bacteria. When this system ceases to function properly, Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) may develop.
Difficulties in processing visual information resulting from poor eye condition can impair the brain's ability to interpret visual input, affecting many aspects of functioning, including problem-solving, visual-spatial awareness, and motor coordination.
The tear film is a delicate secretion that coats the surface of the eye in several layers, moisturizing it, protecting it from damage and contamination, and ensuring proper vision. It consists of three layers: an outer lipid layer, a middle aqueous layer (the main component), and an inner mucous (mucin) layer. Together, these layers help protect the eye and support its optimal function.
The tear film covers both the cornea and the conjunctiva. It plays a crucial role in visual quality because it affects the focusing of light. It keeps the eye moist, prevents friction between tissues, and protects the eye from drying out and from irritating factors such as dust and fine airborne particles, especially in polluted environments. It also helps prevent eye fatigue during everyday activities and contributes to visual acuity by participating in the process of focusing light onto the retina.
- Lipid (oily) layer: The outermost layer, produced by the Meibomian glands, which prevents tears from evaporating too quickly. Dysfunction of these glands, known as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), is relatively common and may lead to Dry Eye Syndrome, causing symptoms such as dryness, burning, a gritty sensation, redness, and eye fatigue.
- Aqueous layer: The thickest layer, produced by the lacrimal glands. It contains water, proteins, electrolytes, and nutrients.
- Mucin (mucous) layer: The innermost layer, produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva. It adheres directly to the eye's surface and ensures the even distribution of tears.
Problems Associated with the Tear Film
Common causes of tear film disturbances include:
- Dry Eye Syndrome (DES): This occurs when the tear film is too thin or unstable, leading to dryness, burning, a sensation of sand under the eyelids, and visual disturbances.
- Computer use: Prolonged screen work requires continuous visual attention, which reduces blinking frequency and may accelerate the evaporation of the tear film.
Cloudy vision, headaches, and visual strain may be related to visual processing difficulties - and these issues can often be addressed. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, light sensitivity, panic while driving, difficulty navigating stairs, or feeling overwhelmed in stores and crowded places may originate from problems in visual processing.
Dr. Appelbaum explains that addressing such issues through functional vision care can help restore visual clarity, comfort, and self-confidence.
Simple daily exercises may improve focus, flexibility, and visual comfort. Activities such as "eye push-ups," peripheral awareness training, and eye-stretching exercises can strengthen the connection between the eyes and the brain while reducing headaches and eye strain, including that associated with reading. These exercises can be practiced at any age and may help delay or reduce the need for reading glasses.
Vision examination as a comprehensive window into health problems and many autoimmune diseases
Identifying eye problems is not the only purpose of a vision examination and the interpretation of its results in an ophthalmology office. Modern diagnostic technology also allows them to reveal a wide range of other health conditions. Many years ago, similar insights were obtained by experienced physicians who practiced iridology.
I had the opportunity to visit several such practitioners, renowned for their remarkable success in helping both children and adults overcome various health problems. While seeking help for myself and my children, and sensing that there was "something more" than what I was receiving from primary healthcare providers and specialists such as ENT physicians or ophthalmologists, I discovered in those offices a feeling of being "at home."
Today, nearly forty to fifty years later, with access to modern imaging diagnostics, including ophthalmic technologies, I realize that this path has led us to a point where those pioneering physicians already stood decades ago. This does not mean, however, that simpler diagnostic approaches should be ridiculed - as often happens - or that contemporary practitioners should consider themselves ultimate experts.
Unfortunately, much of the diagnostic information provided by today's sophisticated equipment remains underutilized, reduced to the single problem a specialist wishes to investigate. Yet both iridology and modern diagnostic devices offer an immense spectrum of potential observations. For this reason, I would like to devote a few words here to iridology itself, while also paying tribute to those physicians whose help I benefited from years ago: a pediatric ENT specialist who "saved" my daughter's tonsils, and later an internist and ophthalmologist who, through what he called the "map of the eye," directed my attention toward muscle-related problems. This ultimately led me to identify fibromyalgia in myself - a diagnosis later confirmed after two weeks of evaluation at the Institute of Rheumatology.
According to the iridological approach, the eyes consist of many precisely cooperating structures that work together to enable proper vision. It is often said that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. One can read thoughts and emotions from another person's eyes without any instrument at all. A simple glance may reveal admiration, fascination, surprise, sadness, fear, or love.
Yet the eyes may also reflect aspects of our physical health. Certain health conditions can be detected through observations of the visual organ, including diabetes (manifesting as retinopathy), hypertension, or thyroid disorders. This is the field explored by iridology - the assessment of health based on the appearance of the iris. The term derives from the Greek word *iris*, meaning rainbow. Supporters of this method believe that the patterns, colors, and characteristics of the iris may reflect the condition of the body. Analyzing these features allows them to seek information about the functioning of various organs and physiological systems. The Egyptians and Greeks also knew this.
