Eyes

"The Secret in Their Eyes" has turned into a secret box-office success. Winner of the best foreign-language film Academy Award this year, the Argentine murder-mystery has sold a total of $4.5-million worth of tickets in the U.S. and Canada so far. That's about what "The Karate Kid" made in a few hours, of course, but it's more than four of the last five Oscar winners in that category had grossed after the same number of weeks in theaters....

A 19-month layoff hasn't changed this about Israel Vazquez: When he senses urgency, he's at his best. One round after a ringside physician inspected a troubling cut over his left eyebrow, and struggling through a ring-rusted performance, Vazquez rallied to knock down Angel Priolo three times in the ninth round before referee Pat Russell stopped the featherweight fight at the 2:10 mark Saturday at downtown L.A.'s Nokia Theatre. With his cut worsening and two judges scoring the fight even, Vazquez (44-4, 33 knockouts)

I was very moved by the article by Tracey Kaplan that dealt with a man, facing death, who wished to find and heal the relationship with his long-lost daughter. Kaplan has the eyes and the heart of a true writer. MARY M. PRESBY, Los Angeles

Peter Lau said "Never listen to a round-eyes' recommendation of Chinese restaurants" (Calendar Letters, April 20). If The Times had published a similar letter from me in which I said, "Never listen to a slant-eyes' recommendation of American restaurants," the Asian community in Southern California would have inundated you with their protests and probably be picketing your offices. GERRY PETERS Sam Clemente

Human beings are such gorgeously contradictory creatures — we demand variety (it's the spice of life!) and hate change. Nowhere is that more pronounced than in our attitude toward television; we regularly decry the monotony of the standard formats and then yelp when someone messes with them. "Rubicon" was too slow and complicated, "Men of a Certain Age" too insular and morose, "The Killing" was a rip-off (because it didn't conclusively reveal the murderer) and "American Horror Story" is way over the top. Well, quit whining and get used to it because (a)

Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, can certainly be cause for red alert. The ailment, an inflammation of the conjunctiva, can be contagious, is irritating but for the most part is not serious and responds well to medication. Conjunctivitis, which affects the membrane that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelid, is one of the most common eye diseases, particularly in children. It is known to spread quickly in settings such as schools and day care.

The Better Vision Institute offers its "Top 10 Gifts List" to better say "Eye love you" for the holidays: 1. For newborns, a high-contrast mobile can encourage focusing, scanning, tracking and orienting. 2. For all infants, a sun hat to protect their eyes from UV rays. 3. Children may benefit from games that use visual similarities and differences, such as dominoes (ages 4 and older), "Candyland" (3 to 6), "Cootie" (3 and older) and "Perfection" (5 and older). 4.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that can cause blindness. If caught early, however, it can usually be controlled. But because glaucoma often has no symptoms, it's important to see your eye doctor for regular exams. The disease usually begins when pressure builds up in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve. If the nerve is damaged, it cannot send messages to the brain. There are two main kinds of glaucoma: * Open-angle glaucoma is the most common kind, occurring slowly as people age.

Eye donations in Orange County are for two purposes: transplants and research. According to Merle Wingate, director of the Orange County Eye Bank, corneal transplantation is 95% successful for those undergoing the procedure due to corneal disorders. And nearly all corneas are acceptable for donation regardless of vision abnormalities. Whole eye globes are used in research, teaching and transplantation.

I don't know how long Joe Nick Patoski has been "based in Austin," but "The Eyes of Texas" is not a "celebration of paranoia." It was originally written a hundred years ago as a satire on a UT president, William Lambdin Prather, who used to finish his speeches with the words, "and remember, the eyes of Texas are upon you." The legendary coach Darrell Royal interpreted those words as meaning that UT students should remember that the state looked to them for leadership. Judi Hanna Twin Peaks Judi Hanna is a 1966 graduate of the University of Texas.