Your sight, your thoughts, your understanding...
How Did the Books Come to Life?
The origin of these books lies in a simple desire: I wanted to bring joy to my ophthalmologist.
I wished to thank him for his outstanding care, but he proved to be far more than an excellent
eye doctor, he revealed himself to be a kind, compassionate, and deeply supportive human
being. The idea came to me while I was walking along the shoreline in the small village
where I live. As I walked by the sea, a thought formed: I would give him a reflection
presented in the form of an eye test. No one had examined my vision as often as he had. And
so, in 2017, he received the very first "vision test."
The message of that first test was simple: he had 100% vision when it came to human
understanding and compassion.
He was the ophthalmologist who cared for me most during the difficult time when I suddenly
began losing my sight in the autumn of 2014. That loss ultimately left me legally blind, which
is defined as vision of less than 10%. The books therefore grew from this original gesture of
gratitude toward him.The format used in the books is based on the Snellen eye chart, a visual
test that has been used since the mid-19th century. Each "vision test" in the books contains
original reflections and words of wisdom embedded within the eye-chart format.
These vision tests spark curiosity, laughter, and a playful challenge to read them. They break
the rhythm of everyday life and invite people to engage with words in an unexpected way.
People of all ages enjoy them. The books are written for readers from eight to one hundred
and eight years old. In this way, they connect generations and create moments of shared
enjoyment within families.
In Iceland, the books have been used in many different settings:
in elementary schools, in team-building activities for companies and sports clubs, and in
occupational therapy programs in nursing homes for the elderly, among many other places.
Educational authorities in Iceland even purchased the books and developed teaching guides to
accompany them. As a result, the books are now used across several subjects, including
Icelandic language studies, life skills education, and the arts.
What makes the concept truly unique is the use of the eye-test format as a literary
form-books where reflections and insights about life are presented in the authentic structure
of a vision test. This makes the idea both unusual and highly engaging from a literary and
marketing perspective. The proof lies in how well the books have sold in Iceland.
In a way, they are a Vision Test for the Soul.
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