Welcome to our Vision Health 101 discussion thread! This is a space to explore the key conditions and strategies that shape our journey toward retinal health and vision regeneration. This classroom dives into macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt’s disease, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal conditions that affect many in our community. Here, you’re invited to share and reflect on what you’re learning, ask questions, and build connections with others on a similar path. Here’s how to get involved: ✅ Share Your Story What have you or your loved ones experienced? What’s helped? What’s been hard? ✅ Ask a Question About course content, symptoms, research, or personal strategies. ✅ Offer Insights Articles, tips, encouragement, or anything you’ve learned along the way. ✅ Discuss Course Topics What stood out? What do you want to explore further? You’re not alone on this journey. We hope this thread becomes a supportive space where all voices are welcome... from curious beginners to longtime explorers. 💡 Start by introducing yourself and letting us know what brought you here or what you’re hoping to learn. We’re so glad you’re part of the Healing Optics community. 🪷 Dr. George & The Healing Optics Team

This is where we can all discuss the essential nutrients that support eye health, especially when managing macular or retinal degeneration. Each course in this classroom covers key nutrients, their benefits, dietary forms, supplement protocols, dosages, and ways to integrate them into your routine with professional guidance. Here’s how to participate: 🥦 Share your experience with specific nutrients 💊 Ask questions about protocols, dosing, or sourcing 📚 Post helpful articles, studies, or videos 🧃 Talk food: smoothies, recipes, or meals that work for you 🧠 Reflect on what you're learning — and what you'd like to know more about This space is here to help you take action, feel supported, and connect with others walking a similar path. Thanks for being here! 🪷 Dr. George & The Healing Optics Team

This is a place to share comments and questions about what you learn in this Classroom and its courses about additional therapeutic options known to be used for macular/retinal conditions both as home therapy &/or clinically. Feel free to share any additional resources you come across in this string, or any experiences you have with the things we have created courses on.

After today's wonderful weekly call, I pulled up an email recently shared with @Barbara Hong and thought I would start this discussion on an important topic we covered in today's call. Many of us in HOP are navigating multiple eye health layers at once. All of you have a retinal condition. Many of you have other eye conditions, like cataracts. Cataracts are one of the most common—whether you’ve had surgery already, are considering it, or are hoping to avoid it. Each person's vision journey will be unique based on a myriad of variables, like cataracts and/or PCO. 👉 Did you know? - Cataracts affect over 24 million Americans over the age of 40, and by age 80, more than half of all Americans either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery. - Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures worldwide. - However, a fair number of people who’ve had surgery later develop a condition called Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO)—sometimes called a “secondary cataract.” What is PCO? After cataract surgery, the natural cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens. In some cases, the thin membrane (posterior capsule) holding that new lens can itself become cloudy over time. This is Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO). Why does it happen? PCO occurs when leftover lens cells grow across the capsule and create haze, blurring vision again. 🎯 Reliable Numbers for PCO Incidence - According to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ National Ophthalmology Database (UK), about 12.3% of cataract surgery eyes develop PCO at some point. But that number grows over time — the observed rates in that study were ~2.3% at 6 months, ~4.4% at 1 year, ~19.7% at 3 years, ~34.0% at 5 years, ~46.9% at 9 years. PMC - A broader review (EyeWiki) says that PCO occurs in 20–50% of patients within 2 to 5 years after cataract surgery. EyeWiki - Another study found incidence of PCO (and requirements for Nd:YAG capsulotomy) ranged between 4.7–18.6% at 3 years, and 7.1–22.6% at 5 years. Nature

In this video, I share a beautiful invocation from the Elders of the Hopi Nation, inspired by @Michelle Marcyk's sharing yesterday after our meditation during our weekly call. It reminds us that we are currently navigating a fast-flowing river of change. It’s important to let go of our fears and the shore we cling to, as our spiritual (and physical) growth depends on embracing this journey together. I encourage everyone to celebrate our collective experience and to banish the word "struggle" from our vocabulary. Remember, we are the ones we have been waiting for, and now is the time to act in a sacred manner. Let's keep our 'inner eyes' open and support one another as we move forward. Click the link to hear my reading of this beautiful invocation. I have also attached a copy that I have shared on our community facebook page (along with many other inspirational pieces). https://www.loom.com/share/2c770e9d699f40b19e337f11c62a0ad4?sid=b72ce583-c0ac-47f5-82b5-d434227b45c3