Sam Berne (00:00.162)
Hey everyone, welcome to the podcast. So the title of this episode is why smart people misread situations when they’re under stress. We’re going to focus on perceptual narrowing urgency versus clarity. Why intelligence fails under pressure. One of the most common misconceptions that I see especially among intelligent and capable people is the idea that clarity improves.

When we’re under more pressure, if you’re smart enough, experienced enough, trained enough, you’ll make better decisions under stress. In reality, the opposite is true. Stress doesn’t just affect how you feel. It also affects how you see. In fact, stress alters how you see and when perception changes, interpretation changes. When interpretation changes.

Decisions change and that’s where the misread happens quietly confidently and often with serious consequences. Here’s the core observation. I’ve spent decades watching people make decisions in clinical settings and leadership roles in moments where something really matters. What I’ve learned is this intelligence does not protect you from perceptual distortion. In fact, it can make it worse.

When the nervous system is under stress, perception narrows, vision narrows, context collapses. The brain shifts from sensing to protecting. This isn’t a failure of character. It’s your biology. Perceptual narrowing explained under stress. The system prioritizes speed over accuracy, certainty over curiosity.

action over awareness. That’s efficient. If you’re avoiding threat, it’s disastrous. If you’re navigating complexity, this is why smart people can become rigid when they’re under pressure. Leaders double down instead of stepping back. Urgency gets mistaken for clarity. The system isn’t asking what’s true. It’s asking what’s the fastest way to get rid of discomfort and the answers to those two questions are rarely the same.

Sam Berne (02:24.876)
Why intelligence fails under pressure? Here’s the uncomfortable part. High intelligence increases confidence, but it also increases distortion. When someone is used to being right, they’re less likely to question what they’re seeing. Even when their nervous system is compromised, the mind becomes a justification machine. It explains the feeling instead of examining the field.

That’s how misreads become entrenched not because someone is incapable, but because they’re too inside their perception to notice it is shifted. Here’s a reframe. Clarity is not a function of effort. It’s a function of regulation. When the nervous system is settled, the perception widens more information becomes available. Settle cues reenter your awareness. This is why slowing down.

Often refills what urgency obscures not because you’re thinking harder, but because you’re seeing more if there’s one thing I want to leave you with today. It’s this most leadership errors aren’t strategic. They’re perceptual perception is not a fixed trait. It’s a state dependent experience. We understand that we stop asking people to perform better when they’re under pressure.

and start creating conditions where clarity can actually emerge. That’s the work not more speed, not more certainty, better seeing in future episodes. I’ll continue naming patterns like this not to fix them, but to make them visible because once something is seen clearly it no longer controls us in the same way.

Join Dr. Berne’s Aromatherapy Certification Course which starts January 28, 2026. Link to register: https://www.drsamberne.com/workshop/online-aromatherapy-foundations-certification/ In this Q&A episode, Dr. Sam Berne breaks down how gas permeable (GP) lenses can be used strategically—not just to see clearly, but to support healthier visual function over time. You’ll learn why overcorrecting myopia can backfire, how slightly reducing a prescription can help preserve reading ability without glasses, and why GP lenses often provide superior clarity for astigmatism compared to soft lenses. This episode is especially helpful for anyone wearing contact lenses who wants clearer vision without overstraining their eyes, as well as practitioners curious about a more functional approach to refractive correction. KEY TALKING POINTS / Q&A BULLETS Why gas permeable lenses provide clearer optics than soft lenses The hidden downside of overcorrecting myopia How intentional under-correction can support near vision and reduce strain Why GP lenses are often a better choice for astigmatism Who should not wear GP lenses Practical tips for adapting comfortably to GP lenses For even more from Dr. Sam, check out his new exclusive membership where you get access to my content and resources, new information, articles, videos, webinars: https://drsambernesmembership.com/ Keep Up with Dr. Sam Website: https://www.drsamberne.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamBerneOD/?fref=ts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samberneod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drsamberne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsamberne/

Sam Berne (00:01.219)
Hey folks, it’s Dr. Sam and I’m on my morning walk. I received a question from Brent on Instagram about gas permeable contact lenses.

So if you’ve been diagnosed with astigmatism gas permeable lenses are the best choice because it’s going to give you the most stable clear eyesight. know, those of you that have astigmatism and you tried soft contact lenses. You will know that your visual acuity is less stable and that’s very very frustrating. In addition gas permeable lenses are made of a material which allows your cornea to breathe the oxygen in.

This is so important to reduce things like dry eye syndrome, eye infections and improve your ocular microbiome. You know, that’s the good bacteria in your eyes. So it’s going to give you a healthier eye lymph and immune system by allowing the oxygen to come into your eyes, especially the cornea.

Sam Berne (01:05.302)
Now from a more holistic perspective, it’s important to take your gas permeable lenses off and allow your eyes to breathe and have a different perspective with the eye brain connection. You know, we can get very unconscious with our contacts and wear them all the time and we think our eyes are doing well. So I always say take your contacts off in the evening in non demanding non threatening situations.

And it gives your eye brain a different perspective. Okay, one last point and this is very important. You know, when you go for a regular eye exam and the doctor is correcting you for distance using gas permeable contact lenses, that prescription is going to be too strong for you when you’re doing your digital time and it’s actually going to induce your eyes to get worse. Now there is the conversation that gas permeable lenses

does slow down the deterioration of your refractive error. But if you’re using a distance prescription for your digital time, it is definitely going to induce your eyes getting worse. So this is why I would recommend wearing something reduced over the contact lenses in a blue block or filter, especially for your digital time and this actually will prevent your eyes from getting worse. You know, another technique that I use is sometimes

I will under correct somebody just slightly in the distance with their gas permeable lenses. But what that does is it slows down the deterioration in the over 40 syndrome. We call this presbyopia and I’ve had hundreds of patients over the years come back and say, know, I don’t need to use reading glasses, especially people in their 40s 50s and even 60s because I’ve cut back on the distance prescription a little bit.

and that gives their visual system and focus a little more versatility instead of giving them the super strong lens for distance. So overall two thumbs up for gas permeable lenses use them in moderation like anything else. Thank you so much for the question Brent. Take care and have a great day. Everybody.

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Your vision can change — your life can change.
Let’s walk the path together.

Keywords

vision improvement, eye health, nutrition, eye exercises, screen time, prescription glasses, eye relaxation, lifestyle changes

Summary

This conversation focuses on improving vision through various methods, including understanding prescription changes, the impact of screen time, the importance of nutrition, and incorporating eye exercises. The speaker emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to eye health, including lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to enhance vision clarity.

Takeaways

The goal is to improve vision without relying on glasses.
Screen time can negatively impact eye health if not managed properly.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health.
Incorporating eye exercises can help improve vision over time.
Relaxation techniques can enhance clarity and reduce eye strain.
Challenging the eyes with blurry glasses can promote better vision.
Morning sunlight exposure is beneficial for eye health.
Regular follow-ups are important to track vision improvement.
A balanced diet with adequate nutrients supports eye function.
Determination and commitment are key to reversing vision issues.

Sound bites

“I think bone broth is excellent”
“If I can do it, you can do it”
“There’s no doubt you’ll see improvement”

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Vision Goals
02:17 Exploring Prescription History
04:47 Screen Time and Eye Health
07:05 Nutrition’s Role in Vision
11:45 Eye Exercises for Improvement
19:14 Radical Approaches to Vision Correction
28:48 Lifestyle Changes for Better Eye Health