Eyeworld

EW IN OTHER NEWS 162 October 2015 and tap dance, but ultimately chose to give those up. Getting back into music Dr. Thevi had completely given up playing music, but after attending the 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress in Berlin, she picked it up again. She was at the meeting presenting a paper and attended an orchestra performance of ophthal- mologists. "I was so impressed with that orchestra," she said. She now does 1 or 2 perfor- mances a year, which include solos, performing with a violinist, and per- forming as a trio with a violinist and cellist. All of the performances are for charity. "We play in a number of towns in Malaysia," Dr. Thevi said, "and this year we played in India. We don't charge for playing because V I S I O N IMPORTANT SAFET Y INFORMATION FOR TECNIS ® TORIC 1-PIECE IOL (CONTINUED) Rx Only ATTENTION: Please reference product DFU (Directions for Use) for a complete list of Indications and Important Safety Information. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Rotation can reduce astigmatic correction. Misalignment greater than 30° may induce refractive error. Accurate keratometry, biometry and www.TecnisToricCalc.com are recommended to optimize visual outcomes. Weigh the potential risk/benefit ratio that could increase pre-existing complications or impact patient outcomes. Variability in any preoperative measurements can influence outcomes. TECNIS is a trademark owned by or licensed to Abbott Laboratories, its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.AbbottMedicalOptics.com © 2015 Abbott Medical Optics Inc. | PP2015CT0900 Malaysian ophthalmologist continued from page 161 Do you have a hobby, interest, or sideline work that might be of interest to your fellow ophthalmologists? Please contact Stacy Jablonski, stacy@eyeworld.org, with your idea for possible future inclusion in the "In other news" section. In other news " At that point, I had to make a major decision in life regarding my career and whether I wanted to do music or medicine. I didn't have any parental pressure. It was left entirely to me. At the age of 14 I had to make that decision. " –Thevi Thanigasalam, MD we do it for pleasure and helping people," she said. Similarities to ophthalmology Dr. Thevi hadn't realized until her performance in India last January that playing the piano has a lot in common with what she does on a daily basis as an ophthalmologist. Playing with a violinist, for example, is like using the phaco machine in the OR. When she's accompanying the violinist, she has to listen to exactly what is being played and follow. "My ears have to constantly be listening in the same way that I listen to the sounds of the phaco machine while I'm operat- ing." When operating in the OR, the surgeon must have a broad scope of vision to see all of the details. Similarly, when playing the piano as an accompanist, Dr. Thevi has to see not only her music but the violin- ist's as well. This will help her know when to slow down or speed up the tempo and when to play louder or softer. In both playing the piano and performing surgery there can be "complications." "When the com- plication happens I have to quickly make a decision on how to salvage the situation," Dr. Thevi said. "Es- pecially when playing in a trio with a violinist and cellist, I have real- ized that you have to immediately rectify, otherwise the audience will notice." EW Contact information Thanigasalam: 111thevi@gmail.com

• Cover