New book is a lens on the eye
The cover of Christopher's book
The Sussex Eye Hospital in Brighton, which treats people from across the region with laser eye surgery and cataract operations, celebrates its 180th anniversary this year.
In a semi-autobiographical work, consultant opthalmic surgeon Christopher Liu has written a fascinating book about it.
Called ‘The Eyes Have it’, Christopher’s book also examines the often blood-curdling history of eye surgery and the inspirational work of surgeons today.
As a lens on history alone, it is a fascinating read but, be warned, the gory bits will make you squint.
Not surprisingly, treatment for the eye was primitive some 500 years ago when Walter Bayley, a court physician during the reign of Elizabeth I, had, writes Christopher: “...the courage to question the efficacy of urine for bathing the eye but his alternative suggestion, ale, was not much better!”
So many soldiers came down with an eye infection called opthalmia when they fought Napoleon in the sweltering heat of Egypt in 1801 that specialist eye centres were eventually created in the UK to treat the spread of cases when soldiers returned home.
A messy conjunctivitis spread from one soldier to the next through personal contact, dirty towels and flies.
“The actions of the British medical staff were heroic but disastrous,” writes Christopher. Surgeons removed the mucous membrane and soldiers were “regularly bled... meat was forbidden. Drugs such as mercury were delivered in huge doses to encourage salivation along with medicines like antimony that induced vomiting.”
The French approach was simple but effective: mild salt washes, which saved rather than took away sight.
Christopher will launch ‘The Eyes Have It’ at the inaugural dinner of the Sussex Eye Foundation in Brighton on Friday (January 20).
Royalties from his book, published by the Book Guild (www.bookguild.co.uk) will go to the Sussex Eye Hospital’s eyesight fund and the Sussex Corneal Research Fund.
You can read more about Christopher’s book and The Sussex Eye Hospital in this week’s Mid Sussex Times, which is out on Thursday, January 19
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Sunday 27 May 2012
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