July of '22
In July of 2022, I walked into a grocery store on a Sunday afternoon and barely knew my name. I didn't know where I was. I lost all my cognitive functions. I could barely speak.
I had a neurological event. From that day on, it's been a four-year battle. A really intense one.
Before
I started in the real estate business and built a pretty nice real estate company. But along the way, I was an adrenaline junkie. The crazier it was, the dumber it was, the more I liked to do it.
I've had countless concussions and a number of traumatic brain injuries. I sucked every one of them up. I always thought I could suck it up and get through anything.
Trying everything
After July of '22, I sat in the house for months and months. Light was too bright. Busy places were too much. Screens were hard.
I only went to the hospital twice. Once when I had staples, and once when my whole left side was black and I was scared. I never really accepted the treatment they wanted to give me.
I went to one of the best hospitals in the country. They couldn't do anything. Then I hired consultants who sent my paperwork to pretty much every major hospital in the country. They all said the same thing: take this pill that basically helps your brain. I wasn't going to do it.
So I went to regular physical therapy. They said if I could get my vestibular ocular reflex back, I'd be okay. That didn't really work.
Dr. Lynn
That's when I went to see Dr. Mark Lynn, OD. Dr. Lynn has had a big career, with 93 offices. Today he's our Chief Medical Officer. When I first walked in, he had no idea who I was. Here's how he remembers it:
I looked at him and he was probably tied for first or the second-worst patient I've ever seen.
He wasn't wrong. But he didn't give up on me.
A couple weeks in, Dr. Lynn had me wear glasses with a strobe effect. He said, go to the park and catch a ball. My wife would throw me a small ball, and I would drop eight or nine out of ten.
At that point I really didn't have emotions. But that bothered me on a level I can't explain.
From that point forward, I said: whatever life I still have on this earth, I've got to figure out a way to help the masses that have what I have, but aren't fortunate enough to do what I'm able to do.
The light box
I spent three or four months at Dr. Lynn's facility. Then he sent me to another place that I went to every day for 17 months.
I would wear goggle-type glasses that were black, like being in a dark room. I tried different tints and different lenses.
There was also a light box. I stuck my head in it every day. I dialed in the light that calmed me down, and I dialed to that exact same light every time.
As I learned how to talk again and started getting better, I wanted to do more. So I took all those different concepts and all those different glasses, and I started going to labs.
Back to the lab, again and again
The first glasses got me through the airport okay. But they wouldn't get me through a restaurant with noise, or a TV show that was fast moving. I would still close my eyes and duck.
Then I went to a basketball game with earplugs and my glasses. I got into the arena with the bright lights and 20,000 people, and players running up and down the court. The glasses weren't good enough. So I went back to the lab again.
That's how it's gone ever since. Every time the glasses got me a little further, I wanted to go further. We're on close to 20 different versions now, and we're still working.
Want to know how the lens works? Dr. Lynn explains it in How Calm & Clear Lenses Work.
How it got its name
When we started putting them on people, everybody came back with the same thing. They made their vision a little clearer. They made them feel calmer. Calmer and clearer.
As Dr. Lynn puts it, it didn't take a genius to figure out what to call them. Even I thought of it.
Why we do this
Dr. Lynn and I think the same way. I come at it as the patient. He comes at it as the doctor. Here's how he says it:
Our goal is not what can we do to make this the biggest bang for the buck and put money in our pocket and run away. We've both done okay for ourselves. But how can we get this out there to help the biggest number of people we can and make the biggest difference in people's lives.
The most rewarding thing for me is the calls, the texts and the emails I get almost every day. This is not all about the money. It's helping the masses.
Where I am today
It hurts every day to know how slow I am versus where I used to be. I've been told I'm probably not going to get much better. But I will never quit.
I put my Calm & Clear glasses on when I wake up. They haven't fixed me, but they sure help me get through the day.
That's what I want people to hear: there is hope. I'm hoping Calm & Clear becomes a household name for anybody who experiences any kind of brain issues.
If this sounds like you
If light, screens or busy places are wearing you down, talk to a provider about Calm & Clear. It's not for everyone, and it doesn't replace medical care. But it might help.
- Patients: Calm & Clear is only available through medical practitioners. Find a provider near you or learn more. Already have a prescription or letter of medical necessity? Register and upload it, and we'll review it for approval. Don't have one? Book a telehealth visit.
- Providers: If you see patients like me, learn about carrying Calm & Clear.
- Reviews: See what other people are saying.
Jimmy Roth, Founder
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Calm & Clear?
Calm & Clear was founded by Jimmy Roth, its CEO and a former real estate entrepreneur. After years of concussions and traumatic brain injuries, Jimmy suffered a neurological event in July 2022. He worked with Dr. Mark Lynn, OD, to develop the glasses based on his own recovery.
Was the founder of Calm & Clear a patient?
Yes. Jimmy Roth experienced severe light sensitivity and visual overload after a neurological event. He still wears Calm & Clear glasses every day.
Who is Dr. Mark Lynn?
Dr. Mark Lynn, OD, is Calm & Clear's Chief Medical Officer and an optometrist specializing in eye care, sports vision, and visual rehabilitation. He treated Jimmy Roth after his neurological event.
How did Calm & Clear glasses start?
During therapy, Jimmy Roth used a light box to find the specific light that calmed his visual system. Jimmy then took those concepts to develop the lens that became Calm & Clear.
How can I get Calm & Clear glasses?
Calm & Clear is an FDA-listed medical device, available through medical practitioners. You can find a provider near you. If you already have a prescription or letter of medical necessity (LMN), you can register and upload it, and we'll review it for approval. If you don't have one, you can book a telehealth visit.
