The Nazar
them. Nazar is used as a protective charm to shield individuals from the harmful effects of such a gaze.
The Ojo of Dios( Eye of God) is a common symbol of protection from the peoples of the Sierra Madre in Mexico, and it is also found in Peru and other Latin American countries. It is typically diamond shaped; it can appear as a threaded cross woven in many colors. It now seems to be an almost universal apotropaic symbol as the threaded cross has been found in parts of Africa, Europe and Scandinavia.
The Hamsa or Khamsa( Arabic meaning“ Five”) is an apotropaic force in the ancient and current day Middle East. It is often depicted as a hand with an eye in the palm. Furthermore, the open right hand is all knowing and the eye is all seeing. The Hamsa is a national symbol of Algeria and appears on its emblem.
The Eye of The Buddha is a symbol used in Buddhist art. The right and left outward looking eyes are all seeing and all knowing. In between the eyes is a circle or spiral which represents the“ Urna.” The Urna symbolizes a“ Third Eye” which in turn represents vision into the divine world.
As an ophthalmologist, my daily awareness of the eye is forefront. My interest in the symbolism of the eye has broadened my perspective of the vast significance this sensory organ has played throughout our history.
The Eye of Horus
Dr. Wandzilak is a retired Louisville ophthalmologist. He plans on donating his eye sculptures to The Kentucky Lions Eye Institute.
November 2026 25