Squinting Super-Models And Other Diner Table Chat

I can share with you that as well as the menu (which was somewhat unusual), holidays, and Alena and Ana Rita’s bag snatching adventure – there were a couple of sight related topics which I found fascinating at the London Vision Clinic team dinner.

One took us back to the first primitive attempts at cataract surgery. It turned out that nurse Kim’s grand-mother had performed her own version of a cure on those who were desperate not to lose their sight. Her method of dispersing a cataract involved piercing it with a needle – a technique that was known as “couching”. The optometrist explained to me that the same method took place in Africa where a thorn from a special bush was used in place of a needle. Surprisingly this crude technique does get immediate results; but couching was fraught with severe complications such as ocular inflammation and infection which meant that often the benefits were short lived.

One can only speculate at what those early practitioners in far-flung corners of the globe would have made of the laser equipment and artificial lens placement techniques now available. I hope that some versions of this crucial equipment might be reasonably manoeuvrable and transportable. The incoming president of the ESCRS, José Güell, has expressed a desire to continue and even expand the organisation’s support of bringing 21st century cataract surgery to under developed countries.

I have chosen to mention the other piece of “eye-related” dining table conversation because it made me feel good…  it turns out that Kate Moss and (it just keeps getting better) many other super-models do not have it all in the looks department after all. Shame!

Who knew that –although very pleasing in terms of being photogenic – wide set eyes are far from ideal where actual seeing is concerned? I was rather happy to learn that many of these gorgeous girls, (including Kate and Claudia Schiffer to name just two) in fact have a squint. It might not be noticeable to us mere mortals; but it is something that ophthalmologists can spot and also discuss with delight … well, the female ones anyway!

Image Source: images.craveonline.com