Eye Opener

In the cool blast of the Ophthalmology Office's airconditioner, I sat in the corner huddled with my groupmates and witnessed my first endorsement. Not really comprehending what was occurring, we sat there in silence, soaking up as much information as we could, much like the self-procalaimed space occupying lesions that we were. As the resident went through each chart, mentioning the pertinent history and physical exam findings, it hit me. It is a sad reality many take their eyes for granted, myself included. Who wouldn't admit to undermining that all too familiar feeling of itchiness or tearing up after watching episode after episode of the Game of Thrones or reading in a moving vehicle, trying to cram for the exam on the commute to school, or even sleeping with one's contacts on. 

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The importance of our sight cannot be overstated. We see this in the 53 year old woman with reccurent fungal infections and a cataract in need of a corneal transplant in order to preserve her vision so she may continue to work as a street cleaner and put her 5 children through school. We see this in the 26 year old computer programmer who must undergo iridotomy in order to keep his intraocular pressure in check and prevent him from damaging his optic nerve. We see this in the need to address errors of refraction in a 30 year old surgical resident whose impeccable vision is of paramount importance inthe success of an operation. We see this in the medical student experiencing headaches and excessive tearing who must continue to devour page after page of Nelson's Pediatrics. How many of us really stop to think about our eyes? How many have ever tried to imagine life without them? A life in eternal darkness.

Picture this. You are sitting in your room sipping hot coffee from a mug and burning the midnight oil for the last long exam of the year tomorrow. Suddenly, the lights go out and you curse inwardly at the turn of events. Slowly, you attempt to make you way through the room, bumping into furniture and knick knacks strewn across your bedroom floor. Finally, you reach your destination and feel for the flashlight on your bedside table. You flip the switch expecting it to immediately illuminate the room. But it doesn't. It just leaves you there alone and in the dark. You fall asleep and awaken to the crowing of the roosters heralding in the morning but still see nothing but darkness as you open your eyes. What would you do? How would you feel? One can only speculate. May we never have to find out oursleves. How apt it was that under the tutelage of the Ophthalmology department and while studying the eyes and vision, my own eyes were opened. 

Written by Frances Gumapon of Batch Asterion