This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.  Read our Cookies Policy.
Close
Eye News
  • Features
    • Close
    • Features
    • Allied Professions
    • Humanitarian
    • Interviews
    • AI & Oculomics
    • Ophthalmology
    • Optometry
    • Podcast videos
    • Supplements
  • Education
    • Close
    • Education
    • Learning Curve
    • Quiz
    • Top Tips
    • Trainees
    • Medico-Legal
    • The Truth Behind The Headlines
    • Case Reports
    • Pete's Bogus Journey
  • Reviews
    • Close
    • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Journal Reviews
    • What's trending?
    • Tech Reviews
    • My Top Five
    • The Culture Section
  • Events
  • News
  • Product Guide
  • Industry News
  • Contact us
    • Close
    • Contact us
    • Write for Eye News
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • What's trending?
  • What's trending Dec/Jan 2024

What's trending Dec/Jan 2024
By Amit Dhalla

4 December 2023 | Amit Dhalla | EYE - General
Share This

 

A round-up of the eye-related hot topics that have been trending on social media over the last few weeks.

 

#eyepatch #memes

German chancellor Olaf Scholz shared a photo of himself on X (formerly Twitter) sporting a black eye patch after injuring himself from a fall when jogging in his hometown [1]. The image has almost 10 million views and, well aware of what was in store by posting the picture, he said that he was “excited to see the memes” and the users of X did not disappoint. From Captain Jack Sparrow to SpongeBob SquarePants, from Nick Fury to Captain Phillips, the chancellor’s image was manipulated and photoshopped into all manner of hilarity. And in all fairness, he did ask for it.

#wedding #blindfolded

A bride in London has taken a personal approach to her walk down the aisle, by blindfolding all the guests, including her waiting groom [2]. Lucy Edwards, blind due to incontinentia pigmenti, married her sighted partner Ollie Cave in London and was thinking about this moment in her wedding planning. She lost her sight after she had first met her now husband, and had never imagined she would be blind for this moment. Using blindfolds allowed everyone in the room to live the moment together, with many guests expressing their praise after the ceremony. Upon Lucy’s arrival to him, Ollie, with tears in his eyes, felt her wedding dress, to experience it in the same way Lucy did when she first tried it on. The video of the moment can be seen on TikTok and has been viewed more than six million times. It’s beautiful. It’s emotional. It’s everything you would want for a wedding video.

#gaming #tadpoles #artists

It seems that eyes are everywhere in the world of gaming at the moment – as an avid gamer myself it’s a headline that always catches my attention. In the immensely popular Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), articles have been popping up regarding a number of carefully crafted sequences around eyes, stemming from a tadpole-like parasite being inserted into the player’s character’s eye [3]. Depending on choices made, this may even take the player to an eye removal scene with less-than-optimal equipment – I don’t think I’d be able to get away with an enucleation via an ice pick pulled out of my pocket; nor would I want to, of course! On the more artful side of gaming, the visually stunning new release The Master’s Pupil (2023) takes players into the literal eye of Claude Monet [4]. Journeying across his iris to complete puzzles, players help the master impressionist complete his most famous works, while combating the impact developing cataracts are having on his sight. Australian artist Pat Naoum, the independent developer behind the project, invested seven years and over 2000 hours to hand-paint his game with acrylics on paper. These were scanned into the virtual world and stitched together into a game that takes the player through the story of Monet’s life. It is truly beautiful, allowing a focus on eye health and art that I would highly recommend giving a go.

#movies #jigsaw #trap

Perhaps not a film for the faint-hearted, it has been difficult to miss the widespread advertising campaign for Saw X (2023). Plastered across buses and billboards throughout the country, the image of a screaming man with tubes affixed to his eyes paints a startling picture of what’s to come [5]. A teaser clip released online showed the trap in more detail, with the threat of sucking out the victim’s eyeballs unless he submits to an alternative brutal punishment. The response online veered towards “disturbing”, “losing it” and “gonna be sick”. But I must admit, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when I saw the scene. With the absurd imagery and juicy sound effects being balanced with a realistic understanding of eye anatomy and enucleations, the scene lost its horror element on me, though I am sure it would have been nauseating to the general public.

#artificialeye #prosthetics

Given that I have now mentioned two instances of trending fictional enucleations, it is only fair to shine a light on a more positive real-life tale that has gained traction online. Sunshine Jones is a special educational needs teacher based in Los Angeles who lost her left eye from a penetrating trauma in childhood [6]. Now, she has a collection of artificial eyes worth over £140,000. Having struggled with bullies growing up and online trolls in adulthood, Sunshine wants to teach others the importance of disability and acceptance. By choosing her fun, brightly-coloured prosthetics, she wants to dispel any need to hide, striving to be a positive impact to those around her.

#visionhealing #dubiousclaims

Popular YouTuber Kurtis Connor’s 40-minute deep-dive into the claims of an ‘anti-glasses influencer’ drew much attention, with over three million views [7]. For a monthly subscription, this ‘vision healing masterclass’ can, apparently, improve your vision regardless of the underlying issues, and even change the colour of your iris through a detox. With claims such as glaucoma and macular degeneration being a diagnosis and not a ‘root-cause’ of poor vision and that sun-gazing can help improve eyesight (readers, please don’t look into the sun), it is unsurprising that Kurtis managed such a comprehensive debunking of these claims. I watched the whole video and was infuriated by the end – I could fill this entire page with my assessment on the claims of vision healing, but Kurtis has done it well himself. After being so riled up by the video perhaps I need a nice cup of tea and some time playing The Master’s Pupil to calm down… 

 

References

1. https://twitter.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1698627434508063228
2. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/bride-blind-wedding-guests-tiktok-b2417361.html
3. https://www.thegamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-eye-parasite-tadpole-infested
4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2023/10/11/gorgeous-handpainted-video-game-drops-you-inside-claude-monets-eyeball
5. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12545859/Saw-HORRIFIED-eyeball-vacuum-trap-gruesome-Jigsaw.html
6. https://nypost.com/2023/10/06/im-a-one-eyed-teacher-my-students-love-my-170k-fake-eyes
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIWyZnkw1uM

[all links last accessed November 2023]

 

 

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME

Share This
Amit Dhalla
CONTRIBUTOR
Amit Dhalla

Doncaster Royal Infirmary, UK.

View Full Profile
Originally Published
EYE NEWS VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024
Download the full article
Download Article
Related to this topic >
  • Picture of woman holding phone.
    What's trending Oct/Nov 2023
    A round-up of the eye-related...
  • Picture of woman holding phone.
    What's trending Aug/Sep 2023
    A round-up of the eye-related...
  • Picture of woman holding phone.
    What's trending Jun/Jul 2023
    A round-up of the eye-related...
  • Picture of woman holding phone.
    What's trending Apr/May 2023
    A round-up of the eye-related...

Top Of Page

9 Gayfield Square, 
Edinburgh EH1 3NT, UK.

Call: +44 (0)131 557 4184
www.pinpoint-scotland.com

WEBSITE DETAILS
  • Cookie Policy
  • Data Protection Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
ABOUT US
  • Who we are
  • Register
  • Contact us
  • Contributors
  • Company Awards
DIGITAL ISSUES/GUIDELINES
  • Digital issues - Library
  • Supplements - Library
  • Guidelines
Accreditations
IPSO_FLAG_TEAL 2025.png cpdcertified.png

Pinpoint Scotland Ltd (Registered in Scotland No. SC068684) | © 2025 - Website by Gecko Agency