One-Eyed Olympic Mascots Grab Headlines

By “it”, I mean that the symbols to be used for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games have finally spurred me into action.

To explain let’s put the clock back three years. When thoughts of this London Vision Clinic blog were first mooted, there was a faint concern in some quarters that there wouldn’t be enough subject matter available in order to keep it fresh with regular posts of new and interesting content.

In my case I only had a slight flicker of concern on this score because, as I became more involved in the world of Laser Eye Surgery and the iconic (pun intended) London Vision Clinic and the team who work there, I realised that there was tons of news to impart.

As my inbox filled with Google Alerts and my cuttings file began bulging with snippets of breaking eyesight and laser news stories, my only problem would be finding the time to write them up and keep abreast of the fast-paced developments.

So as the weeks and months passed I have continued to push all these news stories to one side. Perhaps, subconsciously, I was leaving them for a rainy day. That “rainy day”, when I would find myself struggling for subject matter, has never dawned. Meanwhile, my stock of stories has grown to such an extent that, as I now look at my cuttings files and Google Alerts, I really don’t know where to begin.

There’s the news that lasers are being used in an increasing range of medical treatments – as well as eye surgery they are now a vital ingredient in dermatology, dentistry, cardiology and neurosurgery departments; the horrific and dangerous craze amongst university students to “drink” neat vodka through their eyes in order to get a quick buzz;  the role of gene therapy in sight restoration; how Botox has cured a young girl’s squint; a revolution in corneal transplants; and even the more questionable claims that eating curries can stop you going blind. These are just a few examples of waiting headlines on this blog.

The one-eyed 2012 mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, were designed to encourage young people to enjoy sport – they have also inspired this writer to dig into her eye-related news cuttings folder and share some of those stories. And it’s not even raining.

Image Source: phdcomics.com