Three years ago, oculist Tao Yong, director of the ophthalmology department at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, became a household name in China in an unexpected way. He was badly injured by a former patient, despite having tried his best to save the vision of the man, who had previously undergone multiple surgeries by other doctors.

The attack triggered a wave of reaction on China's social media, not only because it was a repeat of similarly alarming attacks on doctors that had shocked the public, but because Tao, now 43, is a highly acclaimed specialist in his area, who was just caring for his patients, and seemed to have done nothing to warrant such severe injury.

Numerous people expressed anger toward the brutal behavior, care for Tao, and pity for his injuries, which have made it difficult for him to perform complicated eye operations.

Facing the praise, flowers and pain head on, Tao has accepted his reality, shifted his direction, and is still striving to realize his original aspiration of ensuring nobody has to suffer from blindness in the future.