What does functional medicine have to do with your eyes?
In Episode 88 of The Eye-Q Podcast™, neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik speaks with longtime mentor Scott Forman, MD, IFMCP about looking beyond the eye itself to understand the systemic factors that may influence vision and ocular health.
Dr. Forman explains how a functional medicine approach considers nutrition, metabolism, inflammation, stress, sleep, immune health, and lifestyle alongside conventional ophthalmic care.
They discuss:
• Functional medicine versus symptom-based care
• Dry eye, inflammation, and the ocular surface
• Nutrition, omega-3s, and tear-film health
• How stress and sleep can influence chronic eye symptoms
• Oxidative stress and age-related macular degeneration
• Antioxidants and nutrients important for retinal health
• UV exposure and cataracts
• What we really know about screens and blue light
• Functional medicine testing and personalized care
• The limits of current evidence and where further research is needed
Dr. Forman also explains why the extraordinary metabolic demands of the retina make nutrition and cellular health particularly interesting areas of study.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Scott Forman, MD, IFMCP is a board-certified ophthalmologist and neuro-ophthalmologist with decades of clinical experience. His work integrates conventional neuro-ophthalmology with functional medicine and nutritional biochemistry, with an emphasis on understanding the systemic factors that may influence ocular and neurologic health.
Follow The Eye-Q Podcast™ for expert conversations about eye health, brain health, migraine, nutrition, healthy aging, and integrative medicine.
**Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized medical advice.
Keywords:
functional medicine, eye health, functional medicine ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, Scott Forman MD, dry eye, macular degeneration, AMD, cataracts, eye nutrition, supplements, omega-3, oxidative stress, stress and eye health, integrative medicine, vision longevity, Dr. Rani Banik, The Eye-Q Podcast
