Giant Eyeball Sculpture for Chicago

This story today from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/07/chicago.eyeball.sculpture/index.html?hpt=C2

I say bring on this giant eyeball sculpture.  I am keeping my eyes on this plan, and I hope the folks in Illinois see it through.

Drinking vodka through your eyes?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278583/Young-people-drinking-neat-vodka-EYE-quick-buzz.html

Thanks to a friend who sent me this link, I first became aware of a shocking new trend: obtaining an "instant buzz" by pouring vodka into the eye.  Really, Britannia?  I know the British university crowd likes to party (yeah, baby, yeah!), but for heavens' sake, spare the bloody cornea!  Or use tea, like descent Englishmen.  Peer pressure to perform vodka "eyeballing" has not yet hit the frat scene in the U.S. (surprisingly), and I am crossing my fingers and eyes that it never will.

Alcohol, especially in high concentrations (such as 40 proof vodka), separates the external layers of the cornea (the epithelium) from the eye and causes painful corneal abrasions.  If deep enough, the abrasions may lead to permanent corneal scarring, irregular astigmatism, and consequently blurry vision and pain *for life*!

The only instance in which we use alcohol on the cornea is at the time of a refractive surgical procedure, such as PRK.  We purposefully create a corneal abrasion in order to allow laser to reach the deeper layers of the cornea and permanently mold it into its new shape.  As a safety measure to prevent haze (a.k.a. scarring) from occurring, a chemotherapeutic drug (Mitomycin C) is applied to the eye.  The wounded cornea is then babied some more with a contact lens that allows for more comfortable and faster healing.  So, other than  PRK, America, please refrain from proofing your eyes with alcohol.  Put your vodka where your mouth is.