Primary Eye Care Associates - January 2019

ALL ABOUT SUPERMAN’S EYESIGHT Was He Pretending to Be Nearsighted or Farsighted?

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane — no, it’s Superman!” Perhaps the world’s most iconic hero, Superman paved the way for comic book fandom. While he wasn’t the first comic book character, his entrance on the scene in 1938 certainly redefined the genre. His first appearance in Action Comics No. 1 captured readers’ imaginations, and he continues to captivate audiences today. According to Statista, as of 2015, Superman had sold more copies than any other comic book series, with second place (Batman) being over 140 million editions behind. Many of Superman’s powers draw the interest of readers. Certainly, his ability to fly, bulletproof skin, and super speed are intriguing to most, but perhaps one of his least appreciated powers is what he can do with his eyes. Early editions describe Superman as capable of not only the X-ray and heat vision we are accustomed to, but also telescopic and microscopic sight. He could see distant planets as well as microbial activity. In some editions, he could even see all shades of light, including infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. Vision like that would be “super” indeed.

Superman pretending to be nearsighted (myopic) or farsighted (hyperopic)? Either one would make it challenging to work at an editorial publication without eyewear. In the same vein, what was Kent’s justification for not getting LASIK? Some people prefer frames, and others don’t meet the criteria, but one would think he’d need an explanation for that. Of course, many doubters refuse to believe that glasses would even pass as a disguise, but Henry Cavill, who played Superman in the most recent incarnation of the film series, proved all that wrong. In 2016, Cavill stood outside in Times Square in front of a promotion for “Superman v Batman: Dawn of Justice” wearing a Superman T-shirt, and no one noticed him. He even went to a Starbucks

close by but was not recognized. In his Instagram post documenting the event, Cavill quipped, “Dear Doubter, The glasses are good enough. Regards, Superman.”

On the other side of the equation, Clark Kent wears glasses and appears to have limited vision. One of the most interesting questions people have is this: Was

HAVE A LAUGH

Citrus and AVOCADO SALAD INGREDIENTS • 1 blood, cara cara, or navel orange, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided • 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 bunch arugula • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves • 1 avocado, cut into wedges • Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 425 F.

2. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss citrus slices with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast citrus until lightly charred and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool. 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine onion and lemon juice. Season with salt and let sit for 5 minutes. 4. Add citrus, arugula, and mint to onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss thoroughly. 5. Add avocado, combing very gently to not crush avocado.

Inspired by Bon Appétit

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