I grew up on baseball. When I was young I quickly realized that there was one position on the field that was noticeably different from the others. Most of the fielders faced a certain direction, had similar gloves, and the same basic uniforms. But the catcher had on pads, a facemask, faced the opposite direction, and had a mitt that was vastly different from the other players. I was told that this was for the player’s protection. You see, while all the other players only dealt with the intermittent grounder, fly ball, or throw, the catcher was bombarded by high energy pitches every play.

Walk or ride, sit or stand, shirt or sweater? Researchers estimate that we make about 35,000 choices a day. New research by mechanical engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that how humans dart their eyes may reveal valuable information about how they make decisions. (University of Colorado at Boulder. "Not-so private eyes: Eye movements hold clues to how we make decisions." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 December 2022.)

Halloween came and went, and of course eye care professionals are on high alert, warning our friends and family to go through the appropriate channels to acquire costume contact lenses. We all know too well how quickly a medical emergency can arise from a contaminated or ill-fitting contact lens. While I admire the artistic detailing that goes into designing these colored lenses, to be honest, this year my thought process took a hard pivot. I started to think about corneal dystrophies and how cosmetic or prosthetic contact lenses are an emotional solution for patients.

The recent Presidential pardon of people convicted of marijuana possession under federal law and the call for an administrative review of whether marijuana should continue to be a Schedule 1 drug, the same classification as heroin and LSD, may prompt more questions to eye care professionals about its use for treating glaucoma. Recreational marijuana use is now legal in 19 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam. Cannabis use for medical purposes is legal in 37 states, four U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The combination of better availability, increasing patient interest in alternative treatments, and the marketing campaigns of the expanding marijuana industry have more glaucoma patients asking whether it may be a therapeutic option.