Hooray for Eyes!!!

One of my favorite books is actually a children’s book written by Dr. Seuss. It is titled “The Eye Book” and tells the story of a boy and a rabbit as they discover their eyes and the wonderful power they posses. From the sun and the moon to trees and bees, the two characters marvel at the many things their eyes enable them to see. The last line in the book says it best: “And so we say ‘Hooray for eyes! Hooray, hooray, hooray . . . for eyes!”
For almost a decade, I have spent nearly every day looking at eyes. Why? Because I am an eye doctor and have been given the wonderful opportunity to take care of eyes. Over the years I have seen small eyes, big eyes, sick eyes, healthy eyes, blue eyes, green eyes and even “goopy” eyes. I have removed BBs and other foreign objects from eyes, and I have placed foreign objects into the eye like synthetic lenses after cataract surgery to restore sight. I have been blessed to share in the joy patients have when they see 20/20 without glasses for the first time after LASIK, and I have also shared in the heartache experienced as a patient’s vision fades away due to macular degeneration. I have marveled at the eyes ability to heal itself after an injury and yet been frustrated by the damage caused to the eye by a single microscopic virus.
Henry David Thoreau wrote “The eye is the jewel of the body.” My experiences as an eye doctor have reaffirmed to me time and time again how precious our eyes truly are. Take a moment to ponder the beautiful things you see every day. From the dew on a blade of grass to the majestic scenery of Zion National Park, our eyes make it possible for us to enjoy them all. Most of us probably never consider the awesome power of our eyes as we drive our car down the road, enjoy a show at Tuacahn, read a book, hike Snow Canyon, or watch snowboarder Shaun White pull off his ‘double McTwist 1260’ in the Winter Olympics. Imagine never enjoying another sunset, never seeing a friend’s face, or never admiring the snowcapped Pine Valley Mountains again; then you will begin to understand that we really do posses two priceless jewels called eyes.
As spring approaches and with it the opportunity to get out and enjoy this fabulous area we live in, take a moment to ponder the amazing power of our eyes. We have been told before to take time to smell the roses; I encourage us to not only smell the roses but see them too. Enjoy the vibrant color of the petals, the intricate details of the leaves, and the movement of the bees that fly around them. For unfortunately, my experiences as an eye doctor have also taught me that vision is fragile and can leave us at any time. And so I echo the words of Dr. Seuss and say “Hooray, Hooray, Hooray . . . for eyes!”