The eye doctor,

in (her) white uniform,

pointed (her) ray at me.

(She) allowed an infernal drop

to fall

down

like an oyster.

Later,

reflexive,

having recovered my sight–

and admiring

the brownish, spacious eyes

of my beloved–

I erased my ingratitude with this ode,

now being read,

mysteriously,

by you.

–Pablo Naruda, Ode to the Eye

Sight is an incredibly precious gift to me. I have been myopic since the age of 8, and my spectacles have been glued to my face ever since then. To be able to see unaided by glass sitting atop my nose is a liberating feeling, and I eagerly await the full experience of this change on my lifestyle. I can safely say, without offence to other body parts, that the eyes are my most important organ. Here are the reasons why.

I work with my eyes. I received my training in law and accountancy, subjects which demanded a lot from my eyes while I was in school. It was between ploughing through of volumes of textbooks and cases, and solving problem sets with large quanta of data. As I begin my career as a corporate lawyer, I will likely have to examine huge bundles of contracts, read copious regulation and draft heavy-duty agreements. I am glad to begin this new phase of life with a minted set of eyes to spot every detail. Going without glasses would also boost my confidence when I converse with clients and other professionals.

I venture with my eyes. I love adventure sports. I trek, because I relish escaping into nature, taking in the bucolic surroundings and admiring the wonders and marvels of creation. I cycle, because I cannot imagine any better way to explore the character and charm of a country. In my previous expeditions, including the most recent Tour du Mont Blanc, I have had to rely on the only pair of sunglasses I’ve ever had – a custom-made prescription Oakleys – to protect my eyes from the UV. Now, I would take pleasure to travel the world with new outfits on my face.

I remember with my eyes. I am an avid photographer that will loyally lug my 5D3 where my feats take me. I go to great lengths to compose my photos, sometimes to the annoyance of my travel mates. But photos serve as markers to where I’ve been and where I’ve come from; structuring the way I see the past when my memory fails. Now, there stands one less piece of glass between my mind’s eyes and the universe.

I perceive with my eyes. My eyes give me access to new worlds through books and videos. I could spend a day witnessing the stormy debate between the Keynesians and the Monetarists, the next day listening to the deep confessions of Clamence in The Fall, and the day after in the audience of Ronald Reagan in 1987 Berlin. My eyes help me to glean wisdom and truth to deal with an increasingly complex and polarised world.

Thanks Dr Cheryl Lee for the implantable contact lenses (ICL)! I had been keeping an eye out for any myopia-correction procedure ever since I was 17, with an eye to undertake surgery when my vision had stabilised. When I first considered the ICL option, I was initially deterred by the eye-watering price tag. However, I eventually raised my sights to the long-term value of ICL, which had many more advantages compared to the other available procedures. I also placed strong confidence in Dr Lee, who was not only the most seasoned surgeon in the practice, but who had the ability to translate complex medical jargon into accessible terms. She and her team exhibited great care, alleviating any doubts and fears that I had about the associated risks. I went ahead, and the surgery was done at impeccable timing: a month before I married my eye-popping fiancée. Having undergone the treatment, I am glad I was not short-sighted in my decision. It was all worth it!

–– Jonathan Chng, 20/10/15

I have to thank Jonathan for telling me about this beautiful poem

What does it mean?

Analysis of the Excerpt

• The Setting: The poem opens with a clinical, sterile experience at an optometrist's office, where an eye drop is described vividly as "an infernal drop" falling "like an oyster."

• The Transition: The poet experiences temporary vision impairment from the examination, inducing a moment of introspection.

• The Epiphany: Upon recovering his sight, his first act is to gaze at and deeply appreciate the "brownish, spacious eyes" of his partner.

• The Conclusion: The poem loops meta-textually back onto itself, noting that the entire purpose of writing the ode was to erase his past ingratitude for the gift of sight