The Eye-Opening Impact of Brain Injury and Vision Care to Literacy and Recidivism in the Justice System with Dr. Doug Major (Episode #104)

Dr. Lynn Hellerstein of Vision Beyond Sight speaks with Dr. Doug Major, neuro-optometrist and public health advocate, to talk about the eye-opening impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatments and vision care in the justice system. With 40 years worth of experience, Dr. Major provided insight on how focusing on eye and brain health made dramatic changes to literacy and recidivism in corrections, particularly through the most controlled study in the nation for 13- to 19-year old youths. This program went on to inspire and empower these young people, with some of them even becoming vision therapists for their peers. He even talked about using halfway-houses specifically for brain injury especially for women, and recognizing the relevance of mental illness for incarcerated people with TBI.

Dr. Major also discussed the ease and accessibility of visagraph testing for vision care, and the progress in using virtual reality screening for traumatic brain injury care in athletes.

🔊 Click here and tune in to the show now to explore:

• How Dr. Major got involved with working in the justice system
• The relevance of brain injury and vision care to literacy and recidivism
• The most extensive controlled study in the nation using vision care/therapy treatment to 13- to 19-year old youths
• The program’s benefits to the youth and how some of them became vision therapists for their peers
• The ease of use and major impact of visagraph testing
• Using virtual reality screening for traumatic brain injury in athletes
• Kinds of vision and brain injury problems in incarcerated individuals
• Addressing these health issues in the corrections system
• Halfway-house for brain injury
• The importance of early prevention
• Brain injury and mental illness

About Dr. Doug Major:

Doug Major, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, CCHP, ZBell Cert. graduated as a Doctor of Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry. His senior project used orthoptics on a microcomputer, one of the first studies on using the computer for vision therapy. He joined a practice in Los Osos, California, and became coordinator of SLOLION-SEYE.org, a school vision care outreach program with now almost a million student encounters. He started a program at a youth detention facility and conducted a controlled study of vision care intervention with incarcerated youth as well as became the co-chairperson of the COVD’s Juvenile Delinquency Committee.

Dr. Major also started a similar program at an at-risk youth boot camp as well as started a Pre-School vision screening program in 2000. He is currently doing a prevalence study of vision and brain injury at the SLO County Jail and as a Certified Correctional Health Provider, has spoken nationally on TBI advocacy in the Justice System. He is also the founder of the California Children’s Vision Now Coalition in 2020, a group of researchers, clinicians, and children’s stakeholders trying to increase the visibility of children’s eye disease in the Golden State.

Dr. Major and his wife, Nancy, co-chair the COVD’s speakers’ development committee with the goal of better public outreach and more effective professional communication. His current passion is the application of the new neurology research into vision rehabilitation practices in office and corrections.

Connect with Dr. Doug Major:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dougmajor6734

Email Dr. Major for collaborations and projects: dlmajor57@gmail.com

Overview and History of Vision Programs in Corrections
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVoVjGPx2K4

TBI in the Justice system
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMU5DPqxxlo

“We had a huge reduction in the number of particularly difficult behaviors. The young men were responding positively to, you can say maybe to the attention, but mostly because they were empowered. As they were empowered, they tended to not do worse behaviors which makes the whole facility more safe and makes the other programs work better. We also gave glasses. Most of those kids have far-sightedness with astigmatism which means they needed glasses from kindergarten that put them in a disadvantage. Last thing, they did a number of years of actual recidivism, and found that good street time was dramatically improved. Interestingly enough, the individuals got out earlier because they were doing so well.” – Dr. Doug Major

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Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Developmental Optometrist, co-owner of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C., award-winning author and international speaker, holds powerful and inspiring conversations with her guests in the areas of health, wellness, education, sports and psychology. They share their inspirational stories of healing and transformation through their vision expansion. Vision Beyond Sight Podcast will help you see with clarity, gain courage and confidence. Welcome to Vision Beyond Sight!

Dr. Lynn’s books are available at Amazon.com and www.lynnhellerstein.com/shop.

Dr. Lynn is available for speaking engagements and consulting. For more information, visit www.lynnhellerstein.com.

To learn more about vision therapy or to find a doctor providing vision therapy in your area, visit: COVD.org.

To learn more about vision and the impact in concussion/brain injury, visit: Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.

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