Fluorescein

In our intensive “preparation for clerkships” month of procedural and clinical training prior to starting rotations, we had an emergency medicine skills session on eye, nose and ear injuries. I was really taken aback by the fluorescein exam — I had never seen an exam quite so dramatic! My classmates took photos and sent them to me, and I decided to try to tell the story of how to do a fluorescein exam (and the experience of having one) without words. The background of this “graphic novella” are historical drawings of eye cells that I changed the colors of to match the fluorescein dye. I submitted this to Stanford’s Art of Science competition, in which students with science, technology or mathematical pursuits share art based on their work. It was named a finalist, and was part of the competition’s week-long exhibition.