Introduction to Holistic Optometry

The term homeopathy refers to a medicinal practice that originated in Germany more than 200 years ago¹ and is based on several core ideas, mainly that substances that cause certain symptoms in a healthy individual can treat those same symptoms in a sick individual, a lower medicine dose will have a greater effect, and only one remedy should be used at a time.² The 2012 National Interview Survey conducted by the CDC reported that individuals with more than one chronic illness were more likely to use holistic or complementary alternative medicine, including multivitamins, minerals, herbs, mind-body therapies, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massages, movement therapies, special diets, acupuncture, naturopathy, or some combination.³

Eye care practitioners who offer holistic optometric services believe in caring for the patient as a whole, as opposed to focusing only on the eye and the patient’s ocular symptoms. These doctors often discuss lifestyle triggers and modifications with patients and look at treating the mind, body, and spirit. Homeopathic or holistic medicine might not be taught in optometry school, but for anyone interested in incorporating the principles into their practice, this article offers some great insights from four optometrists who have adopted various elements of homeopathy to enhance patient care in their modern optometric practices (see also Resources for Homeopathy and Wellness). Conventional medicine is still at the foundation of care for these clinicians, but for them, an integrative approach can offer patients a richer and more lasting healing experience.

—Alex Brodin, Associate Editor

MODERN OPTOMETRY (MOD): WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN HOLISTIC OPTOMETRY?

Meagan Herring, OD, FAAO, CHHP: Holistic health has been at the core of my practice and personal wellness journey for more than a decade. After optometry school, I joined a practice that emphasized whole food nutrition, nutraceuticals, and traditional Chinese medicine to support eye health. Then, after successfully treating my postpartum anxiety with alternative therapies, including essential oils, breath work, an anti-anxiety diet, and spinal manipulation, I realized the importance of emotional and spiritual well-being and wanted to bring this methodology into my professional life. Through the encouragement of my personal mentor in eye care, Elise Brisco, OD, FAAO, I decided to pursue further studies in holistic medicine to provide an integrated approach to eye care.

Marina Gurvich, OD: For me, this journey began with my own health. When Western medicine couldn’t provide answers, I did my own research. I read numerous stories and testimonials of patients finding relief from chronic conditions through holistic and functional medicine. I found it inspiring that homeopathic medicine seemed to get to the root cause of why the disease is there in the first place.

Danielle Richardson, OD: While I was in optometry school, I developed stress-related illnesses, and medications weren’t working. A doctor recommended yoga as a stress reduction tool, which introduced me to the idea of using alternative therapies to manage physiological problems. After graduation, I went to Bali for a month by myself to practice yoga and relax. All my stress-related illnesses cleared within 2 weeks. I eliminated stress, and I was walking more, eating a balanced diet, and consuming content that was empowering and educational. Each of these things together changed my physiological state, which allowed my body to heal itself. As I learned more about yoga and other Eastern healing practices, I integrated this information with my scientific background and share holistic wellness with others.

Eric J. Conley, OD, MJ, FAAO: I think the main concern that drives my interest is that many ocular health issues are chronic, especially those related to dry eye, and one solution, of course, is to keep people on medications, often for life, once they develop symptoms. But if you can find a way to avoid the need for long-term medication use, or at least minimize it, that’s a desirable outcome for many patients.

MOD: HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE HOLISTIC MEDICINE IN YOUR PRACTICE?

Dr. Conley: Holistic medicine, or however you prefer to term it, is typically phase two of my treatment rationale. That is, my method is to approach treatment first with medication, but then in the long-term for diseases that are chronic, I try to move patients to a homeopathic or holistic type of therapy. I prescribe omega-3 fish oils to my patients, and I have patients who experience good results with the right products.

Dr. Herring: I like to give my patients options by offering alternative therapies, such as homeopathics and herbals, either alone or as adjunct therapy. I recommend clean products, meaning little-to no-toxins, wherever possible, and support therapies that target root causes. Simply addressing lifestyle factors and nutrition has also been at the core of my eye care, as these things have direct effects on our eyes. I am also planning to start offering virtual holistic eye care consults in the coming year.

Dr. Gurvich: I educate my patients on how our lifestyle plays a part in our overall health. I ask them detailed questions about their health history, including medication use, previous infections, childhood history, stress level, coping mechanisms, diet, sleep habits, exercise, and support from their community, to name a few! These pillars set the foundation for their healing journey. I also bring awareness to the effects of environmental factors, such as toxins in food, and household and beauty products, on their overall health.

Dr. Richardson: I view medication as a solution to an acute issue, whereas lifestyle is a solution to a chronic issue. So, even though I prescribe medication to a patient, we also discuss lifestyle triggers that may have brought on the disease and modifications to sustain the healed state we’re looking for.

Here’s a good example. I had a 25-year-old patient come in with blurry vision. Her VA was 20/20. She had almost no refractive error, but I know anxiety can manifest with blurred vision, and she was going through a difficult time, so I talked to her about how stress hormones can be harmful. We discussed options such as therapy, exercise, supplements, and activities to help manage anxiety. This conversation was 2 years ago. At her most recent appointment, she told me that I was the first doctor who ever talked to her about any of this stuff, and that if she had never met me, she would have likely been prescribed anxiety medication and been on it forever. The key is to really listen to patients, and not be afraid to talk to them about their personal lives and consider how these areas may be contributing to the symptoms bringing them to you.

MOD: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING HOLISTIC OPTIONS in your practice offerings?

Dr. Herring: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a rise in mental health problems and stress. I talk with my patients about how they manage stress, including what they are doing for fun and how they are relaxing. Most of the time, they don’t have an answer, so I use this opportunity to give them mindfulness tools. You’d be amazed how often we forget to blink and breathe properly! It takes 2 minutes to teach patients how to do that, and it benefits their eyes and their mental health. The benefits of holistic integration in eye care are twofold: there is often a similar outcome without the same potential negative side effects, and patients receive more personalized eye care. Also, holistic therapies tend to be safer for children and pregnant or nursing individuals.

Dr. Conley: As physicians, I think it’s important to understand and investigate the science behind the products we recommend. Once you’re satisfied with a holistic product for your patients, I find many patients truly appreciate having this kind of option.

Dr. Richardson: I think an important benefit is that patients get to hear it from you, a doctor. These may be things their family members have been telling them or things they’re hearing or reading about. So, when you are introducing some of these same ideas, it holds a lot of weight. And the second benefit is just an improvement in lifestyle. I think everyone would like to live a little bit healthier.

MOD: HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE HOLISTIC CARE OPTIONS TO YOUR PATIENTS? ARE THEY GENERALLY RECEPTIVE, SKEPTICAL, OR A MIXTURE?

Dr. Richardson: Oftentimes my patients have self-selected for me because of my online presence, so they already know this is sort of my shtick. It depends on the patient, but in general, I’m always trying to leave them with at least one tip they can implement to have healthier eyes or better overall health.

Dr. Herring: Generally, patients are open to alternative therapies if they feel it will help their condition, but it’s important to gauge receptivity and get buy-in for compliance. Respecting that everyone is on their own wellness journey is key. I like to use the examination room as a teaching opportunity, because education breeds empowerment, which breeds change.

Dr. Gurvich: It can be mixed. Even with conventional medicine, some patients deny that something is wrong or won’t accept treatment. But it goes back to education. Helping them realize they are showing early signs of a disease can start to plant that seed. On the other hand, some patients are desperate for answers and are just looking for anyone who will listen to them and help them feel better.

MOD: CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF LEARNING ABOUT HOMEOPATHY? FOR EXAMPLE, DID YOU COMPLETE A

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?

Dr. Herring: I tested into the Holistic Health Practitioner program through Trinity School of Natural Health. It was 10 months of coursework in homeopathy. This has no doubt given me more tools for my optometry toolbox, and it lays the foundation towards becoming a Doctor of Naturopathy.

Dr. Gurvich: I completed certifications in functional nutrition and environmental health, with plans to pursue training in functional medicine. Specific to the eyes, iridology and sclerology courses can be helpful, and other subjects include bioenergetics, traditional Chinese medicine (including acupuncture), Ayurveda, essential oils, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, yoga, and vision therapy.

Dr. Conley: Lately, I’ve pivoted towards trying to understand the benefits of nutraceuticals. There needs to be more large, randomized trials, though.

Dr. Richardson: I’ve done continuing education courses on the subject. The Ocular Wellness and Nutrition Society puts out guides that I read, but I haven’t completed homeopathic optometric certification.

MOD: WHAT NEW TRENDS DO YOU ANTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE OF HOLISTIC OPTOMETRY?

Dr. Gurvich: Gut health, I would say, is the biggest one. The role our microbiome plays in our overall health is not a new concept, but there are more and more gut-x associations emerging lately. We know there is a gut-eye axis, but elucidating this further will bring light to a lot of ocular and systemic conditions.

Dr. Herring: Since COVID-19, we’ve really seen a rise in mental health disorders and stress. I have discussions with my patients on how they manage their stress levels. I ask them what they are doing for fun and how they are relaxing, and most of the time, they don’t have an answer. I try to give them tools on how to meditate and how they can mindfully breathe. It takes not even 2 minutes to teach patients how to do that, and then it benefits in their eyes as well their mental health.

Dr. Richardson: I think genetic testing is the future for pretty much all health care. If a patient is genetically predisposed to macular degeneration, and we know that the macula is where the eye absorbs ultra-violet light, then it becomes super important for this patient to protect their eyes from ultra-violet light. The highest risk factors for progression into macular degeneration is smoking, so we would also talk about that lifestyle factor. And then lastly, I’d talk to this patient about eating a diet rich in dark leafy greens, which have lutein and zeaxanthin, and about getting enough beta-carotene and vitamin A for ocular support.

Glaucoma is another example. Minimally invasive surgeries as first-line therapy are making it so patients don’t have to use eye drops forever. Not having to use a medication every day is appealing to a patient interested in a more holistic approach to their health.

MOD: DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL PARTING WORDS?

Dr. Richardson: Patients are interested in holistic health, but they’re busy. It’s about making wellness accessible and presenting these ideas in a way that doesn’t feel out of reach. I think considering your patients for more than just their physical symptoms is an important way to distinguish a good doctor from a great one.

Dr. Herring: Red light therapy is gaining traction for treatment of different conditions.⁴ There is much about the effects of light we don’t know, but we do know it can have profound effects on the eyes, mind, and body.

Dr. Conley: I think a major take home is that we need to find an avenue to be able to get funding for non-medication products to really get buy-in from the health care community, because every doctor takes their oath seriously. Standard medicine in the United States is generally reactive, but we can adopt a mindset that is more proactive.

Dr. Gurvich: I want to thank Modern Optometry for this opportunity to talk about this fast-growing area of medicine. I hope this sparks readers’ interest in being open-minded to the various ways of managing disease. I’ll finish with a quote by Jaban Moore, DC, founder of the Redefining Wellness Center, that I believe sums it up well. “We are not functional medicine. We are not Western medicine. We are what’s next.”