Sharpening Focus
The optic nerve bundle has more than one million nerve fibers. That’s a lot of connections occurring in the brain from a tiny transmitter of sensory information.
“The length of the eye from the front to the back is one inch,” said Dr. Craig D. Fishman, a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in eye care since 1998.
As a youth, Fishman watched his grandfather struggle with glaucoma. That determined the course of his education and career because Dr. Fishman wanted to help others.
“Next to death and public speaking,” Dr. Fishman said, “blindness is peoples’ biggest fear.”
He said that sun and smoking do the most damage to vision and advises taking proper precautions.
“If you have a family history of eye disease, such as macular degeneration, be sure to keep up with regular doctor visits,” he said. “We see everything that is going on with general health in the blood vessels of the eyes. Diabetes and high blood pressure show.”
The international Vision Service Plan sponsors online educational articles to foster member care. VSP network eye doctor Meghan Riegel added, “If there’s a problem happening, your eye doctor is sometimes the first to detect that change. This is why it’s so important you make sure to get your annual eye exam.”
Our eyes relate to physical health, but they also connect to spiritual well-being. Where we focus our gaze guides the ability to be successful. If we look backward at past miseries, we maroon our future. Choosing to keep sight of God and where He is working will expand our perspective, enabling us to move forward with confidence.
As we discern what is good and true based on Bible readings, we can bypass temptations to view sordid sights. “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light.” (Luke 11:34 NIV)
Resources:
Medical article detailing parts of the eye: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Optic_Nerve#:~:text=The%20optic%20nerve%20is%20a,the%20eye%20to%20the%20brainhttps://www.physio-pedia.com/Optic_Nerve#:~:text=The%20optic%20nerve%20is%20a,the%20eye%20to%20the%20brain.
“Can an eye Exam Detect Diabetes?" https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/ask-eye-doctor/eye-exams-diabetes-detectionhttps://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/ask-eye-doctor/eye-exams-diabetes-detection.
