Dr. Phil on Bullying Epidemic; Marlee Matlin’s Vision Scare

Dr. Phil shares his thoughts on a strange statement made by Dina Lohan in his exclusive one-on-one interview.

 What was Dr. Phil thinking when an angry mother-in-law accused her son’s wife of administering psychotropic drugs to him through his genitals? 

 Hear Dr. Phil’s reaction to his recent interview with an overly suspicious spouse.
• Tune in to Dr. Phil on November 7 and 8 to see the entire interview.

Bullying: A Deadly Epidemic

More than 3 million students are victims of bullying every year — in and out of the classroom. Bullying can be physical, emotional, verbal, sexual or racial in nature. It may also involve exclusion or isolation and can occur face to face, in writing or through social media sites. Bullying that occurs online or via electronic devices is known as cyberbullying. Statistics show an alarming rise in cyberbullying, as more than 80 percent of teenagers use cell phones and computers regularly.

A grieving mother shares the tragic story of how her only son, 16-year-old AJ, took his own life, allegedly as a result of relentless bullying and cyberbullying. Plus, hear Dr. Phil's advice to parents and educators to help prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

Dr. Travis’ Life-Changing House Call

In a special house call, ER physician Dr. Travis Stork heads to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet Charlie and Carmelita, a married couple who are dealing with the aftermath of a horrific accident . While crossing a busy intersection on his way home from work, Charlie was struck by a car. “When he hit me, my left arm went through his windshield, and it threw me 20 to 25 feet,” Charlie says. The force of the impact resulted in Charlie losing his left arm.

To help improve Charlie's quality of life, The Doctors reached out to Hanger Clinic, the world’s premier provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care services. Hanger Clinic will fit Charlie with a customized, myoelectric arm, free of charge. In addition, to help Charlie and Carmelita with the physical and emotional stress from the incident,  Auntie Belham’s Cabin Rentals, Inc. will provide the couple and their entire family with a free 4-night, 5-day stay in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Exclusive: Marlee Matlin's Vision Scare
Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin has been deaf since she was 18 months old. To compensate for her lack of hearing, Marlee has relied heavily on her vision to live her life. But recently, she discovered she was at risk for losing her eyesight as well. In 2011, Marlee started to notice that the vision in her left eye was not as clear as it used to be. Although she knew her sight was diminishing, Marlee repeatedly put off scheduling an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Speaking through her translator, Marlee says, “I was concerned about the procedure that would involve my eye because of the fact that I can’t hear. I don’t want to be deaf and blind.”

Despite her reservations, Marlee knew she had to take action before it was too late. Marlee visited ophthalmologist Dr. Kerry Assil for a formal evaluation. A vision test revealed that she had a cataract , which had caused her to become legally blind in her left eye.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. As light passes through the lens, it gets scattered and causes blurred vision and poor depth perception. Cataracts are the leading cause of visual impairment and avoidable blindness in the world. As a cataract develops, it becomes increasingly denser and covers more of the lens. Recent statistics show that approximately 22 million Americans over the age of 40 are affected by cataracts, and more than half of all Americans over 80 suffer from the condition. Most cataracts develop as a result of the aging process and inherited genetic disorders; however, diabetes, long-term steroid use, trauma and previous eye surgery can also cause cataracts to form.

While cataracts are not completely preventable, there are ways to delay their progression. These include:
• Scheduling regular eye exams
• Limiting sun exposure
• Wearing UV-protective sunglasses and hats
• Avoiding tanning booths
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Consuming a diet high in antioxidants and nutrients

Follow Marlee into the O.R. as she undergoes a cutting-edge surgery to remove her cataract and restore her vision.

Marlee reveals the results of her cataract surgery . Plus, Dr. Assil demonstrates how cataracts affect the lens of the eye.

“Because of [Dr. Assil], my vision is amazing. It has 100 percent improved," Marlee says. She adds that the biggest lesson she learned from the experience was to not delay having her vision checked. "If you feel any of these [symptoms] happening, go to see a doctor. Have it taken care of right away," she says.