Visual Correction...

So as I shared some time ago, I really enjoy Ted Talk Tuesdays (Ideas Worth Spreading). They always have innovative talks about a wide variety of subjects. I recently saw this video. In the beginning the speaker addresses the importance of sight/optometry and how it impacts people's everyday lives.

Sometimes when I tell people I am in Optometry school, I usually get one of two reactions. The first is they are really excited and then proceed to ask me a personal eye related question or they look at me blankly. Hopefully for the first response I can answer their question or simply tell them "Oh I haven't learned that yet." However for the second response I usually have to tell them, oh I'm going to be an Eye doctor, and if they continue to look at me blankly I usually give a 10 sec explanation of why vision is important.

I guess because I wear corrective lens, I know how important vision is, but I honestly feel as though we (Americans) take it for granted. Imagine if you were in "developing" nation and you did not have the access to an Optometrist (they are everywhere, just notice when you take your next trip out and about). How would you see? How would you function? The ability to see dramatically affects our quality of life. Even though school is kicking my butt right now. I am sooo HAPPY that I stumbled upon Optometry because I am reminded almost everyday that it is the field for me.

The inability to see is as much a personal problem as it is a global health issue. Before ever really thinking about optometry as a career I thought about almost every possible health field from an MD, to dentist, podiatrist (lol), getting a Public Health degree, but with all of those options, I never was really sure how I would make a difference. Now that we have started learning Clinical procedures, I have been happy (for the most part).

Ok back to the video. So the speaker, Josh Silver, speaks about the global crisis that the lack of correction lens can present in a population. His solution is "Water filled glasses," although he doesn't get into the optics of it (I would like to know) because I took an optics class and I currently taking two more this semester. He makes it seem like it is just that simple. There is a reason glass is used in glasses and although water is clear medium, it has a different refractive index than air, the aqueous, and the vitreous. Oh and did you know that before anything strikes your retina it goes through 6 different surfaces. Yes...6. Anyways...so here is the talk. If you want to check out more talks go to Ted.com.  Enjoy! Until Next Time...