Protecting Sight #185: The violin and the dark night of the soul. Cataract surgery skills after 1000 cases. Vitreous humor biomarkers & Alzheimers Disease. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Welcome to my daily learning journal. My daily goal is to watch one Ted Talk and one cataract surgery. I also plan to read one journal article and read/listen to a book chapter, podcast, or significant work.

Here’s today’s list:

1. Ted Talk – Ji-Hae Park: The violin, and my dark night of the soul. “In her quest to become a world-famous violinist, Ji-Hae Park fell into a severe depression. Only music was able to lift her out again — showing her that her goal needn’t be to play lofty concert halls, but instead to bring the wonder of the instrument to as many people as possible.” (ted.com)

A beautiful Ted Talk, filled with music which touches the soul. Have a box of tissues ready.

2. Cataract Surgery – Uday Devgan MD – Benchmark: Skills after 1000 surgeries. Dr. Devgan writes, “Our guest surgeon today is Érico Jun Oda MD from Brazil and he is showing us a routine cataract case. His technique is a great example of phaco chop and he has carefully honed every aspect of his surgery, from the incision to the capsulorhexis and more. This is about case number 1,000 for him and it is a good benchmark of where your skills should be at this level.” Well done.

3A. Reflections During a Crisis: Part 2. Ruth D. Williams, MD, Chief Medical Editor, on the hidden gifts of the pandemic.

3B. Thankful in 2020. David W. Parke II, MD, Academy CEO, on remarkable sources of support and guidance during a challenging year.

3C. Protein in Vitreous Suggests Alzheimer Disease (EyeNet, December 2020)

3D. Subramanian, M.L., Vig, V., Chung, J. et al. Neurofilament light chain in the vitreous humor of the eyeAlz Res Therapy 12, 111 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-020-00677-4.

4. Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic. (1989). “Inside-Out Again.” Finally finished! And I wish I had read this book 30 years ago.

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