‘Mind-Eye ‘Brain’ Glasses Give Army Veteran Relief, Hope

Army veteran Richard Duzinskas of Chicago struggled for more than 10 years with symptoms of brain, nerve and blast injuries incurred while he was deployed as a reconnaissance scout in Iraq. He considered his condition the “new normal,” which is why he went to his first appointment at the Mind-Eye Institute in early 2020 with “few expectations.”

Today, his headaches are gone. He functions better throughout the day because of improved sleep. His memory, focus and concentration are stronger. And, he credits it all to a pair of therapeutic “brain” glasses prescribed by his Mind-Eye optometrist Daniel Myers, OD.

“I even went back to reading again. I finally finished an actual, physical book in a day. Before receiving the [Mind-Eye] glasses, the book would have taken me three or four months to read because of my concentration problems and fatigue – I would keep falling asleep,” Richard says.

“The glasses, along with my participation in the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors, are helping rebuild my confidence and get me back to doing many of the things that I have always enjoyed – like reading,” he adds. The Warriors are an ice hockey team for disabled veterans.

Based in Northbrook, Illinois, the Mind-Eye Institute (www.mindeye.com) applies 21st century science to neuro-optometric rehabilitation and adds advanced mind-eye techniques to develop individualized patient prescriptions. Prescriptions are intended to bring patients comfort by reducing some visually related symptoms due to traumatic brain injuries, concussion, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stroke and other neurological disorders. Development of new visual skills is key in helping patients return to previous activities.

Brainwear™ glasses are designed to bend light in different ways across the retina, which is made up of brain tissue and is part of the central nervous system, says Dr. Myers. “Light changes how the retina communicates with the brain, modifying the relationship between the mind's visual- and auditory-localization abilities — in other words, how patients perceive space using lights and sounds.”

In fact, the eye plays a critical role in routing information through multiple pathways for further processing in the brain’s cortex. “Variance in light signals can create new brain signaling pathways that enhance a patient’s spatial awareness and perception,” Dr. Myers explains.

“Getting used to regular life was difficult” for Richard, following his discharge after 18 months of surgery and rehabilitation in a military hospital. In Iraq, he had sustained concussions, shrapnel, nerve injuries, and a damaged lung, and his left arm had to be reattached.

“I was experiencing double vision in the hospital and had to relearn how to walk because of the shrapnel in my left leg. I suffered severe migraines and a nerve disorder on my left side, developed PTSD, and also had trouble sleeping, focusing and concentrating,” Richard says. “In Iraq, my job was to be on constant alert, searching for enemy forces and roadside bombs. When I left the Army, my body remained hyped up, causing me to react in certain ways.

“I went from a straight-A student to problems just functioning in everyday life, from remembering everything to having to write down everything – even sometimes forgetting where I parked my car,” he adds.

About five years ago, Richard joined the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors, which gave him an outlet for physical exercise and, more importantly, socialization and camaraderie with fellow veterans. It was from someone on the team that he learned about the Mind-Eye and “decided to give it a shot.”

During the initial appointment, “I was expecting a typical eye exam, but, after all the testing, I walked out of there, saying ‘Wow,’” he says. “All the science behind it is amazing.”

He laughs when he recalls the Z-Bell Test℠. “The optometrist rings a bell near your head, and you have to close your eyes, reach out and touch it. I would miss the bell, but then the doctor would put different lenses and filters across my eyes, which remained closed, and I would start hitting the bell right on. Mind-boggling!”

Mind-Eye optometrists have been using the Z-Bell Test℠ for the past 28 years as a method to evaluate a patient’s eye-ear connections and determine what type of glasses will be the most comfortable for the patient to wear. However, the neuroscience evidence showing why the Z-Bell Test℠ works has only been available for about six years.

“Retinal stimulation activates parts of the brain not used for eyesight. With eyes closed, patients are still having to visualize surrounding space in order to locate the bell,” Dr. Myers explains. “By placing various types of lenses across a patient’s closed eyes, we shift the internal perception of space.”

For Richard, the main impact of the Mind-Eye glasses has been “to give me hope for the future. I want to tell other veterans that relief is out there, that it is possible to return to a more normal life – even after years of symptoms.”