They're small. An eyeball is about an inch in diameter, smaller than a ping-pong ball. Yet they play a major role in a human's life. Through the eyes, we experience the shape and motion and changing colors of our days. We use them to define dangers, to explore, and to learn. Of all the senses, sight is the one we tend to trust in everyday life.

Emotionally, eyes define self-image and interactions with others. Henry David Thoreau said it well, "We are as much as we see." Keeping eyes healthy is a very important life goal.

You can compare eyes to a camera accurately. Like a camera, eyes let light enter into the interior through a small opening. An adjustable lens focuses light onto the back of the eyeball, which can be compared to light-sensitive film in a camera. But eyes are so much more complex and sophisticated than any camera. For starters, we are talking about a pair of eyeballs which work in concert, in perfect synchrony. Eyes autoregulate for many rapid adjustments including brightness, focus, and internal pressure. When light strikes the back of the eyeball, it induces chemical reactions that generate electric impulses. These impulses trigger two-way communication between the eyes and the command center of the brain. Through this communication pathway, the eyeballs provide binocular vision and follow rapid movement. The combination of all these features gives a vivid, colorful, three-dimensional motion picture. In an instant, the eye is able to receive millions of pieces of unrelated information about the outside world, and transmit it via the optic nerve straight to the brain.

It is too easy to take eyes for granted. We often pay no attention to our eyes until something hampers our vision. The foundation of good eye care is protecting the eyes from the outside environment. Wearing protective eyewear in situations that can endanger the eyes, such as when using cutting tools or striking tools, or working in a very dusty environment, are all sound practices. Good eye habits are important, too, and include proper amounts of rest. If eyes have been exposed to sawdust or other fine particles, an eye rinse may be in order. This is best performed with tools that are made for the job such as eye droppers and eye cups, depending on the particles. If you have something in your eye, be careful not to rub it. This could force the particle into the cornea, causing a great deal more damage. The best thing to do initially is have a friend look carefully into your eye to identify the problem.

Take good care of your eyes, you will want them for a lifetime.