Page 18 - Miracle in the Eye

M MIRACLE IN THE EYE

The skin of the eyelid, which can cover the eyeball firmly and com-
pletely when necessary, is far thinner than the skin on other parts of the body.
The lower skin layer of the eyelid is very loose and lacks fat, allowing for easy
accumulation of blood to the area. If this skin were any thicker and fattier,
shutting and opening the eyelids would be a troublesome undertaking.
Without being aware of it, people blink their eyes thousands of times a
day. These mostly involuntary movements make it possible for the eyes to
preserve themselves from intense light and external particles. This uncon-
scious operation, which most people take for granted, is actually an impor-
tant blessing.
What if this reflex were not automatic? Human beings would remember
to blink only after detectably large amounts of dirt had already accumulated
in their eyes, which would lead to infection. Due to this incomplete half-way
cleaning, vision would be blurred. The task of blinking would have to be con-
sciously remembered, all through the day.
But by blinking every few seconds as if on autopilot, the eyelids moisten
and cleanse the eyes like a car's windshield wipers. Closed during sleep, they
defend the eye against drying out.
While opening and shutting, the eyelid perfectly fits the convex shape of
the eye, contacting the entire surface of the eye's outside layer. Did the eyelid
not fit the eyeball's curve so precisely, it would be impossible to remove dust
particles remaining in the unreachable corners of the eye enclaves.
During blinking, an oily lubricant is pumped from the special meibo-
mian glands inside the eyelid. This liquid eases the sliding of the eyelids
while keeping them from sticking to themselves when they fold up. 2
During sleep, it is important for the eyelids to be closed. If the eyelids did
not cover our eyes, sleeping would be painful and awkward. A darkened
room would always be required, without which, catnaps, siestas, or even
3
sleeping under a bright moon would be unthinkable. Eyes would be de-
fenseless, exposed to outside dangers.
To show how irreplaceable the eyelids really are, let us consider the com-
plete reverse of what the case is now. If we had no eyelids, all of mankind
would lose their eyesight in a very short time. The cornea, which forms the

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