(no subject)
I got an email a while back asking if I wanted to be in a paid optometry study. It was at U.C. Berkeley, and I live right next to the campus, so I thought, "Why not?"
Why not indeed.
Here's what they did: They dilated my eyes, and waited fifteen minutes for it to take effect. I then stuck my head into a huge machine, and was told to keep my eyes open and track a little red dot wherever it went.
I did so, and they suddenly proceeded to shine AN INCREDIBLY BRIGHT HALOGEN BEAM directly into my eyes. Non-stop, at maximum wattage. This, suffice to say, hurt like hell.
Technician: Stop squinting!
I winced in horrible pain and stopped squinting as best I can.
Technician: Why are you squinting? Stop squinting!
This went on for the next 45 minutes. Stop squinting! Why are you squinting? Stop squinting! She just kept repeating this in a mystified tone, as if she couldn't understand why a person with dilated eyes who was being permanently blinded might squint just a little.
I eventually snapped at her and told her that it really hurt, and she was totally surprised. And then proceeded to tell me to stop squinting.
Why not indeed.
Here's what they did: They dilated my eyes, and waited fifteen minutes for it to take effect. I then stuck my head into a huge machine, and was told to keep my eyes open and track a little red dot wherever it went.
I did so, and they suddenly proceeded to shine AN INCREDIBLY BRIGHT HALOGEN BEAM directly into my eyes. Non-stop, at maximum wattage. This, suffice to say, hurt like hell.
Technician: Stop squinting!
I winced in horrible pain and stopped squinting as best I can.
Technician: Why are you squinting? Stop squinting!
This went on for the next 45 minutes. Stop squinting! Why are you squinting? Stop squinting! She just kept repeating this in a mystified tone, as if she couldn't understand why a person with dilated eyes who was being permanently blinded might squint just a little.
I eventually snapped at her and told her that it really hurt, and she was totally surprised. And then proceeded to tell me to stop squinting.