11.5 FAQ5 - The Third I

CNN reports on 12/2/2010:

* A New York University Professor [Wafaa Bilal] installed a thumb-sized camera in back of his head for art exhibit
* Iraqi born photography professor had the procedure done at a piercing studio last month
* The camera will take a single snap-shot each minute of everyday activities for one year

This is an implanted mini-camera, no less. Incredibly, the procedure was done at a "piercing studio", an accident, in many forms, waiting to happen. It also begs the question: "why not a head-mounted camera":

Just point it the other way?

Tentative answer: An artist's mind works differently from yours and mine?

11.4 FAQ4 - Gucci 3D glasses

It finally happened. Time Magazine reports today:

3-D technology just got a whole lot sexier.

"Gucci has stamped out its own corner in the tech market with a new line of luxury 3-D glasses. The 80s-style aviator plastic specs will retail for $225, and feature that coveted (for some) Gucci logo. Technically speaking, the glasses feature 6-base curved lenses that operate with circular polarized technology, allowing images to trick your eyes into seeing a 3-dimensional picture, and a mirrored coating to help with color contrast. (Most complaints with modern 3-D film conversion focus on how dark or dingy the picture appears.)"

Questions: (1) 6-base curved lenses? And (2) Circular polarized technology allowing images to trick your eyes into seeing a 3-dimensional picture?

Answers: (1) Optician lingo referring to the curvature of a lens with no refractive power (i.e., a plano lens, used in sunglasses). A 0=totally flat, an 8=very curved, and a 6=cool-looking curved lens. And (2) A better way than linear polarization of allowing each eye to see a different image, or together, a stereo pair. The stereo view is retained even if you tilt your head a little, hence more comfortable when watching 3D movies. However, it is the brain (in the intraparietal sulcus area), not the eyes, that is tricked into seeing 3D.

We have no comments on the US$225 a pair price tag.

11.3 FAQ3 - Sunglasses

CNN reports:

[Updated at 5:55 a.m. ET, 6:55 a.m. Chile time] Dawn is breaking in Copiapo, Chile and the miners will be facing a change in light as they emerge from the rescue chamber.
All of the miners now will likely be wearing sunglasses so they can adjust after being underground in darkness for more than two months.
So far, eight miners have been rescued, in a little under eight hours.

Our congratulations to the 33 miners for having survived 69 days underground and to the rescuers for accomplishing an almost impossible mission.

Q: Why the sunglasses?

A: Sunglasses are intended for protection from solar UV, both UV-A and UV-B. However, in the present case, they seem to be for acclimation to light from prolonged dark-adaptation. If so, then tinted goggles make more sense than sunglasses; the latter still allow lights from the sides. On the other hand, light-adaptation per se does not require much effort, the photo-receptors know what they are doing. Perhaps the purpose is simply for the miners to avoid photophobic irritation from sudden pupil constriction - again, a transient event - although it beats squinting into the sunlight/limelight.

In any case, it is apparent that a lot of thoughts have been put into preserving the well-being of the miners including their eyes. This deserves our appreciation and applause.

11.2 FAQ2 - gene of the week

The "gene of the week" phenomenon finally catches up with myopia. In headlines around the world today, news under the heading, e.g., "Genes for Myopia discovered" spreads like wildfire.

According to Insciences.org:

"Researchers from the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London have identified genes associated with two common eye problems, myopia and glaucoma. The findings have been published in this week’s edition of Nature Genetics [see ‘A genome-wide association study for myopia and refractive error identifies a susceptibility locus at 15q25’. Pirro Hysi et al. Nature Genetics, 12 September 2010, doi:10.1038/ng.664]."

"In their study of over 4,000 twins, the researchers identified a myopia susceptibility gene called RASGRF1, which has been replicated in over 13,000 other people from the UK, the Netherlands and Australia."

According to Daily Mail, "Within just ten years, a drug that prevents short-sightedness or stops it in its tracks could be in widespread use."

However, "A second study, by Dutch researchers, identified a second short-sightedness gene. Ultimately, there could be dozens behind the condition."

There is more: "We hope that by understanding the mechanisms we can stop children from becoming shortsighted and stop short-sighted children from becoming more short-sighted."

Question: "Even though the mechanisms are still unknown, and yet, in 10 years, a drug can be developed to stop myopia?"

Answer: "Don't hold your breath."

11.1 FAQ1 - cataracts

[Three major types of cataracts, cortical, nuclear, and subcapsular.
Occasionally, numerous vacuoles can be seen in the cortex that eventually evolve into opacities. In the image above, light comes in from the right. ]

Whenever a doctor informs an elderly patient of the presence of cataracts, the patient will inevitably asks "what do I do now?". His/her real question is "what can I do to reverse or remove the cataracts without surgery". And the honest answer is "nothing you can do". Since age-related cataracts are caused by cumulative events leading up to irreversible protein aggregation and disruption of cellular integrity, there is nothing in the form of eyedrops that can repair these damages.

What about preventing cataracts from further progression? Perhaps, if the current thinking of the causative factor of age-related cataracts, oxidative stress, holds up. Oxidative stress has been blamed for many human illnesses and is becoming a favorable catch phrase for the for-profit anti-aging industry. There is nothing wrong as far as oxidation and cataractogenesis. In fact, hydrogen peroxide in relatively high concentrations has been discovered in the aqueous humor of the human eye. And solar radiation of the lens, particularly that from the ultraviolet, starts soon after birth. Logically, anti-oxidants should then retard the progression of cataracts. The problem is: "which ones that work". This is where the unproven therapeutics with fraudulent claims come in. Any proof of efficacy must be based on large-scale clinical trials and yet, none have been done thus far. On the other hand, dietary intake balanced with natural food produce rich in anti-oxidants is not a bad idea. Stay out of the sun, if you remember to take your vitamin D or wear UVA and UVB-blocking sunglasses.

Surgery? Sure, when the decreasing visual acuity meets the screen guidelines. Cataract extraction is a low-risk highly effective procedure. However, the outcome will depend on (1) the skill and the experience of the surgeon; (2) the status of the macula/retina; (3) structural integrity of the eye globe; (4) underlying systemic diseases if any; (5) management of interim and final binocular vision; and (6) possible complications and treatments. A pre-op consultation with your trusted ophthalmic surgeon is of course indispensable.

10.16 Berklee adds a Braille beat

Boston Globe Aug 9, 2010:

Wayne Pearcy, a Berklee College of Music student, sits hunched before a console buried under a mountain of keyboards, wires, computer monitors, and microphones. A thin 23-year-old Louisianan with strawberry-blond hair, Pearcy is enthusiastically explaining his plan to write the next number one hit single.

[Complete article here.]

10.15 Who needs eyes anyway?

In the deep caves of Madagascar, absolute darkness led to the development of eye-less creatures, hence this:

Blind Shrimp Flee from Blind Cave Fish