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Jacob Liberman, OD, PhD, received a doctorate of optometry in 1973 from Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee; a PhD in Vision Science in 1986 from The College of Syntonic Optometry, Leadville, Colorado; and an honorary doctorate of science in 1996 from The Open International University for Complementary Medicines. He is a fellow emeritus of The American Academy of Optometry, The College of Optometrists in Vision Development, The College of Syntonic Optometry, and The International Academy of Color Sciences. He is also the recipient of the H.R. Spitler Award for his pioneering contributions to the field of phototherapy.
For the past 35 years, Dr Liberman has worked with thousands of individuals, ranging from children with learning difficulties to Olympic and professional athletes. He has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and television shows, addressing audiences worldwide. Luminaries in the fields of science, medicine, consciousness, and professional sports have endorsed his work.
Dr Liberman is founder of Exercise Your Eyes, Inc, and has authored 3 books: Light: Medicine of the Future (Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company; 1990) Take OfF Your Glasses and See (New York: Three Rivers Press; 1995), and Wisdom From an Empty Mind (Sedona, Arizona: Empty Mind Publications; 2001), all of which have received international acclaim and have been published in multiple languages.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine (ATHM): How did you become interested in natural and holistic approaches to vision?
Jacob Liberman, OD, PhD: I was born in Havana, Cuba, and when I came to the United States in 1955, I didn't speak any English. In fact, English was my third language. It was difficult coming to Miami, Florida, in 1955 and having no one other than my family that I could speak to.
I found myself having difficulties in school, initially because of the language and then I realized I also had some difficulties focusing my attention on reading and schoolwork. I had great difficulties in going through school. Because of that, I always had the feeling something was wrong with me.
I was very tuned in. I could read people very well, but to concentrate on a 2-dimensional task like looking at a book all day was hard for me. I would start reading, and I'd feel very distracted or...