I began working on this book about 6 years ago, at the time I was retiring from medical illustrating. Even though retired, I always received phone calls from friends and acquaintances asking me questions about the eye and its many problems. I often sent off drawings to these people to explain the anatomy of what was wrong with their eye, and it occurred to me that I might write a book that included much of what I have learned about the eye over the course of my career, as well as telling stories of my adventures in the field.

I have at least 10 texts on ophthalmic surgery to refer to for the information in this book. I drew all of the illustrations for this book except for the three at the end, which were drawn for "Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery," By Byron Smith, Richard Lisman, and Frank Nesi.

With any new academic endeavor, one is challenged by a different set of terminologies and concepts. In particular, the field of Anatomy and Physiology confronts the student with a seemingly endless list of technical jargon that can sometimes feel overwhelming and frustrating.

In my case, although I have always been drawn to the tactile senses and health, life had its own ideas and I found myself in the field of accounting. This black and white (or red and black) world was extremely stressful and restrictive, leaving little room for self-expression or connection. As it happened, some of my advanced accounting classes took place in a room next to a massage class. Why were those students coming into the hallway all blessed-out while I was tense and headachy? Gradually I chose a more conscious life direction, closer to my own interests, and proceeded to collect the knowledge and skills I would need to become a massage therapist. And hence found myself deeply immersed in the study of Anatomy and Physiology.

In my forties, however, hovering around the "change" and all its attendant glories, (can't sleep, zilch concentration, etc.) it was not easy to teach this old dog the necessary new tricks. But my love of massage fueled my determination and I learned to redirect my studies to my own style. I looked for new ways of putting difficult ideas together, snuck my unruly brain in the side door, and the synapses started to spark!

So here I now sit, writing to you from my hammock in the tropics, delighted with my little creation. It is my dearest wish that the book of puzzles will inspire all students of the healing arts (from pups to older dogs) to enjoy their studies and personal growth. From initial learning to aiding memory to maintenance and review - have fun, get smart, and kick back!