Subject: My life-time tribute to an honest, thoughtful OPTOMETRIST - Jake Raphaelson.
It is VERY DIFFICULT, to be taught something "simple", like fixing a child with a minus lens, and then to think that process must be "perfect" and fully JUSTIFIED BY SCIENCE.
If you are sitting in an office, and MUST impress the ignorant public in that manner, a full thoughtful discussion of prevention (at 20/40) is virtually impossible.
So what about the few ODs who INDUCED negative status by their "bad habits" as they grew up. Don't they EVER think about this subject, when they "go home", and think PRIVATELY that there is SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY WRONG WITH A MINUS LENS - even though NOTHING ELSE WORKS IN AN OFFICE IN A FEW MINUTES. Are all of us that SHALLOW? I am afraid that the answer is indeed YES!!
I had the pleasure of meeting this man in Cincinnatti, in 1966. He had DEDUCED that the fundamental eye IS INDEED DYNAMIC, but did not have the "word" to accurately describe his analysis - CORRECTLY.
I would like us to learn from him, and those few who applied his concept to themselves, and passed the 20/40 line - and eventually much better. It is clear that this is NEVER MEDICAL WORK, and using words that IMPLY that prevention is "medical" are making a tragic mistake in concept.
I only wish we could teach ourselves, before that first minus, to begin wearing the "plus" for all close work, as soon as we verify our Snellen is down-to 20/40. If we were wise - the process would totally by-pass the optometrist. But it does take great resolve to do it. Todd did it, and Peter G. did it (pass the DMV) - and that is true success. Sure they want "better", but in my judgment that is true success.
Otis