The Eye....The Opening to our Souls

At one time in my short life I wanted to be an opthalmalogist. I loved all those instruments they used, it just seemed like so much fun ("is it better like this...or this?"). Then I realized that I actually was pretty grossed out by the eye itself and decided that I really didn't want to be poking around in it. In tenth grade we dissected little fetal pigs and on the first day we were supposed to open up the eyelids and look at the eye. Well, I was hesitant to do this but of course after I did it the first time I had a perverse desire to investigate further. I think that this must be part of human nature; we find something that disgusts or frightens us, and for some reason we feel like we need to see it again or better yet, show someone else.

Anyway, I haven't had another opportunity to play with eyeballs, and truthfully I really don't think I need another one. Now I just read about it, and I've learned that it is quite a complex organ. I really think it's amazing that the eye doesn't get hurt more often than it does. It seems like it is so unprotected and vulnerable to sharp objects that could damage it. But really most of the problems come from the inside. That's where all the myopias (nearsightedness) and hyperosias (farsightedness) happen. Although it still hurts like hell when something gets in it. One time I thought I that I was going blind because I had a little part of a leaf stuck in my eye. Damn leaves.

Even though I know I didn't tell you much about the eye itself- all the ganglion cells and bipolar cells and photoreceptors, rods and cones and all that good stuff- I think I gave you a completely random bunch of thoughts to chew on for a while. Now's the time to think about your experiences with the eye and reflect on it's power...that's all I have to say.

Back to homepage