11.8 FAQ8 - More on 3D

Because of a lack of substantial data, the pros and cons of children playing with the Nintendo 3DS have evolved into a controversy of sorts.

According to USA Today - 3/18/2011:

U.S. eye specialists are welcoming the Nintendo 3DS game device, dismissing the manufacturer's warnings that its 3-D screen shouldn't be used by children 6 or younger because it may harm their immature vision.

On the contrary, the optometrists say, it's a good idea to get your kids to try the 3-D screen, especially if they're younger than 6. It won't do any harm, they say, and it could help catch vision disorders that have to be caught early to be fixed.

"The 3DS could be a godsend for identifying kids under 6 who need vision therapy," said Michael Duenas, associate director for health sciences and policy for the American Optometric Association.

On the other hand,

David Hunter, a pediatric ophthalmologist affiliated with the Children's Hospital in Boston and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said the idea that off-the-shelf 3-D games or movies could help screen for vision problems such as amblyopia is "a little perplexing."

Kids with amblyopia don't have much depth perception in real life, he said, so if they don't see depth in a 3-D screen, they might not say anything because that wouldn't be much different from what they see around them.

It's not impossible that it could help, but it's "all sort of exploration and speculation," said Hunter, who has started a company that's developing a device for childhood screening of vision disorders.

Question: Who's right?

Answer: Taking self-interest out of the arguments, it is still neither. More research on binocularity is still the key.

11.7 FAQ7 - Esotropia and diet

So now we have an internet sensation: Heidi the resident "cross-eyed" opossum at Leipzig Zoo, complete with her own Facebook and YouTube appearances.

A spokeswoman at the Zoo has put forth the theory that Heidi's esotropia "could have come from a poor diet when she was young, causing large fat deposits to form behind her eyes". The white-haired marsupial has since been put on a diet and lost 400g of body weight.

Question: Are we witnessing a new type of strabismus?

Answer: Hardly. The photo above actually shows (1) corneal reflections are in the same 1 o'clock position, i.e., this is a case of pseudo-esotropia, commonly seen in babies in Asia; and (2) swollen conjunctiva in both eyes suggesting accumulation of fluids, or chemosis, which has further enhanced the esotropia illusion. Neither has anything to do with too much fat in the orbit. No crossed eyes here; instead, Heidi is probably suffering from some sort of allergies.

11.6 FAQ6 - 3D and children's eyes

On its website, Nintendo announces:

"6歳以下の小さなお子様の視覚は発達段階にあると言われており、専門家は、『ニンテンドー3DS』だけでなく、3D映画や3Dテレビなども含め、左右の目に異なる映像を届ける3D映像は、小さなお子様の目の成長に影響を与える可能性があるという見解をもっています。"

Translation: No Nintendo 3DS for kids under 6.

Question: Now what?

Answer: Let's be clear on one point, we live in a 3D world. Kids and babies included. We are programmed to perceive 3D accurately during the first year of our lives. And stereo-acuity actually matures between 3-5 years of age.

The two eyes each receives the same image from a slightly different angle - the same principle used for 3D gadgets. Shouldn't 3D viewing then enhance the performance of the visual system? The common complaint of asthenopia [eyestrain and headaches] from viewing 3D is an entirely different matter. Instead of real research on convergence and fusion, Nintendo mimics 3D TV manufactures by issuing simplistic warnings.

Lest we forget: CYA is not a real solution, real solutions require real R&D.

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."