Tune in for the sweet memories of a former near-sighted person in a communist era!
It all started with the blackboard in school. I was sitting in the last row of desks with all kinds of social outcasts – the losers, underachievers, and hooligans – when I suddenly realized that I couldn’t see what was written on the board.
If it was written in caps (usually it was news like “Those who don’t show up for community service will be shot immediately”), I could see it, but other things were really blurry.
If l made a loose fist and looked through the hole, I could kind of see better. But then I would be thinking “dang, I wish I hadn’t seen that,” as it would say something like “the verbal participal phrase is…”. I still have nightmares that tomorrow I’ll have a test and won’t remember a thing about those charts. I was good at grammar, probably better than Rosa Salmonovna our teacher, but all these diagrams were a torture for me.
Another way to regain normal vision for just a couple of seconds was to make Chinese eyes; that is, use your index fingers to pull the skin away from your eyes. This made a pretty good image. It worked even better than the loose fist trick, but there was a common superstition that if someone startled you at that moment, your eyes would stay that way. At this time in my life, I don’t see anything bad about having these “Chinese eyes”, but as Soviet children we were frightened of it. What if I never find a job? I already was marked as a minority in my passport, due to my Jewish ethnicity, which in the Soviet Union was a bad thing. Adding “Chinese” on top of that would be too much.
But love is the last thing we are interested in here. Let me remind you, that we’re on an ophthalmology page.
My mother was a well-known doctor in our small central Asian town. And doctors always know how good each other are. For example, if Dr Benjamin recommends you a therapist in Los Angeles, rest assured it’s going to be a good one.
So my mom took me to the best eye doctor in town. She checked me out and announced that, “It’s not myopia, and it’s an accommodative spasm. There is a good Japanese method of fixing it!”
I have to say that for Soviet people, anything Japanese sounded like something from a different planet. Japan is a great civilization and we, eternal builders of communism, were so far away from their level of development. It’s no wonder that the unmanned automobile in Tarkovsky’s Solaris was shot in Tokyo.
True, there was a driver, but they had to hunch over for the shot, or maybe they just used a little person. Now when I watch this part of the movie it reminds me of Uber in San Francisco.
The ophthalmologist gave me a set of plus lenses and an old letter chart to check my vision, which we the losers, underachievers, and hooligans actually used as a target for darts later, and asked me to read the letters wearing those lenses.
I’m not sure how that would have ended if I had followed instructions. I guess I would have learned how to see the smallest letters from 100 feet, or gained the power to see through the walls of the women’s locker room.
***
I’m not even sure if the Japanese used the Japanese method. The fact is that generations have passed and we still see some Japanese tourists wearing glasses. It makes me wonder how good laser correction is in Japan. Something tells me that it’s no better or worse than here. But let me remind you that I’m talking about a time long ago, when Dr. Benjamin wasn’t even born yet.
LASIK, CATARACT, GLAUCOMA:
Take advantage of the latest technology and one of the best teams in LABenjamin Eye Institute
310-494-7193
Text: Sebastian Varo
Imagine waking up and seeing clearly before you even reach for your glasses. If you’ve been considering laser vision correction, SMILE is an option worth getting to know—and it’s now available at Benjamin Eye Institute. Let’s find out if it is the right choice for your eyes, your lifestyle, and the way you want to see the world!
You may put your vision in the best hands by asking the proper questions of a potential LASIK physician using this No-Regrets Guide. We've included our own responses to these inquiries to prevent you from having to conduct an interview. But if you need more explanation or have other worries, let us know! We are at your service.
The story of one unlighted Olympic star was worth the price of the Lasik operation.
Don't put off life until tomorrow, Schedule your consultation with Benjamin Eye Institute today. Make your first step to life without restrictions!
Are you considering LASIK but want to know more before taking the leap? At Benjamin Eye Institute, we combine over 30 years of expertise with state-of-the-art technology to help our patients achieve clearer vision and greater freedom from glasses and contact lenses.
The main difference between PRK and LASIK is in the procedure process. When performing PRK, there is no need to create a flap of the cornea, so this surgical technique may be a good option for those that have thin corneas and might not be a good candidate for LASIK. Also, PRK has a longer recovery process.
Imagine the freedom of crisp, clear vision without the burden of glasses or contacts. LASIK has the potential to transform your life, and at Benjamin Eye Institute, we have witnessed its remarkable impact on countless patients. Join us on a journey of discovery as we unveil the inspiring stories of individuals whose lives were changed by LASIK.
Choosing a LASIK surgeon is not an easy task. You only have one pair of eyes after all. At Benjamin Eye Institute, we pride ourselves on offering the state-of-the-art technology and exceptional surgical skills of Dr. Benjamin. Read more to see what makes our practice stand out!
For patients with moderate to high myopia, a new standard of precision, safety, and reversibility is now available right here in West Hollywood.
Author: Arthur Benjamin, MD
