Vision Roots in Greek Mythology
The Ancient Greeks May Have First Conceived of Vision Enhancement
Nov 25, 2008
In Greek mythology, Theia was revered as the goddess of sight and shining light of the clear blue sky. She was wed to the Titan-god of light, Hyperion, bearing him three bright children. Of the three, Helios arose as god of the sun, Eos as goddess of the dawn and Selene as goddess of the moon. Theia and Hyperion enlivened the sky with their presence allowing the world to be perceived by the light of their offspring.
Of the three, Helios, the sun god rode a chariot driven by horses through the sky, bringing light to the earth as he passed. Just as the sun rose in the east and set in the west, Helios performed his daily rounds and returned back to his eastern palace, floating back in a golden bowl. Earthly secrets could not be kept from the sun god. Just as he could illuminate the world, he was famed for the ability to grant sight.
Orion’s Quest
The ancient Greeks were the first to note the figure of Orion as a constellation of stars in the night sky. Orion was hailed as a handsome and skillful hunter who had lost his sight. He had learned from an oracle that his sight could be regained if he traveled to the farthest point in the east where the sun rises from the ocean. Orion set forth with the help of a young guide and arrived in Delos, the home of Helios. It was there that Eos, the goddess of the dawn fell in love with him and convinced her brother Helios, the sun god, to restore his sight.
The Age of Natural Vision
Even beyond Greek mythology, the gift of sight has been recognized as invaluable to perceiving the world. Just as Helios restored the sight of Orion, pioneering efforts along with technological advancement have allowed the gift of natural vision back to many of the visually impaired in the modern day. This gift arises in the form of LASIK and it’s variations.
Our understanding of sight today tells us of how light enters the eye, is refracted onto receptors and gives rise to electrical impulses that transmit to the brain leading to vision. For those afflicted with refractive conditions like myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism or presbyopia, lasers can now shape the cornea of the eye to enable a clearer focus and better vision.
