Scientists working on next generation of artificial retinas

McClatchy reported that researchers at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California are testing artificial retinas that they hope can restore partial sight to people who've lost their vision to the most common causes of blindness, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and macular degeneration.

RP ruins peripheral vision, while macular degeneration causes a blurred or blind spot in central vision. Both conditions irreparably damage the retina, the light-sensitive patch at the back of the eye that converts images into signals and relays them the brain.

Scientists now aim to create sensitive devices that can be implanted in the eye and will let previously blind people recognize faces and read large print. These artificial retinas are still experimental and won't be available for commercial use for years, however. Currently, the Argus Two artificial retina is being tested on 17 blind people in the U.S. and Europe. In the meantime, scientists at the Energy Department's National Laboratories are creating a third-generation artificial retina, and hope to begin human trials in 2011

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Artificial corneas and retinas

The Miami Herald reports that in developing countries, the need for donor corneas largely exceeds the supply, making the laboratory-developed artificial cornea all the more important.

Researchers from Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute have been at the forefront of its development. Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., interim chair of the institute, explained that doctors prefer donor corneas, because artificial ones are still in the testing phase, though results in the past few years have been good. And, like the human cornea, the synthetic cornea is made in the same curved shape.

Even though artificial corneas are not yet perfect, Alfonso and his team are also starting new projects, including development of an artificial retina and artificial vision technology, in which images processed by the brain would use information that doesn't come from the eyes -- especially useful for those who are completely blind.

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Blind and dream

I have been asked this question before and have struggled to give a rational answer.

In the New York Times Really? column, Anahad O'Connor raised the question of whether people who don't see images during the day might see them when they shut their eyes at night.

According to studies led by a psychologist at the University of Hartford...people born without the ability to see report no visual imagery in their dreams. Instead, they experience a heightening of taste, touch, and smell. They also report a higher percentage of dreams that involve mishaps related to traveling or transportation, perhaps reflecting one of their biggest daytime concerns: safely finding their way around.

Researchers also say that people who go blind before age five rarely experience visual imagery in their dreams. Those who lose their vision after age five, however, often continue to see in their dreams, though the frequency and clarity diminish over time.

In regards to dreams, my favorite quote is by a former President of India, Dr Abjul Kalam “Dreams are not what you see in your sleep, but dreams are that, which do not allow you to sleep”. Fantastic!

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Patch versus Drops in treating Lazy eye

In the New York Times Well blog, Tara Parker-Pope wrote that a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology compares patch therapy for amblyopia with .a weekly regimen of medicated eye drops that essentially work as a patch by blurring vision in the stronger eye.

Mitchell M. Scheiman, O.D., FCOVD, of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, (now called Salus University) and colleagues, conducted a randomized study of nearly 200 children, and found that giving the eye drops on the weekend worked about as well as wearing a patch for two hours a day. The eye drops, which contain atropine, work by preventing a muscle in the stronger eye from constricting. As a result, when a child tries to read or focus on something close, the good eye is blurred. The child's weaker eye is forced to focus and work harder, which helps it strengthen over time.

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Diabetes-related eye diseases may skyrocket over next four decades

The New York Times reports that, according to a study published Dec. 9 in the Archives of Ophthalmology, diabetes-related eye diseases will skyrocket over the next four decades, with elderly Hispanics and blacks hit hardest because of higher rates of Type 2 diabetes.

In particular, the report projects that the number of adults 40 and older with diabetic retinopathy -- the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults -- will reach 16 million in 2050, up from 5.5 million in 2005. In addition, the study estimates that the number of diabetics with glaucoma will quadruple to 1.4 million, while the number with cataracts will more than triple to 10 million. Study author Jinan B. Saaddine, M.D., M.P.H., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the findings are a call for to do more to prevent diabetes to start with.

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Childrens eye exam

A neat video on Fox that describes problems an eye exams detects in children...

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news no parent wants to hear!

Optometrist finds no evidence computer use by children leads to myopia.

Canada's Canwest News reports that the Internet abounds with articles allegedly written by eye-care professionals stating that many ophthalmologists believe increased computer use by children puts them at risk for early development of nearsightedness, or myopia.

In fact, these same articles draw little or no difference between myopia, in which far vision is permanently diminished and must be corrected with lenses or laser surgery, and a temporary condition called computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Optometrist Eric DesGroseilliers, O.D., of the Ottawa Optometric Clinic, pointed out that, in over 12 years of practice, during which he has examined the eyes of four to five children a day, he has been unable to attribute any increases in myopia to computer use. Instead, he believes any recent increase in myopia diagnoses is likely because parents are better educated about eye health, and children receive professional eye care earlier. CVS, however, is a temporary discomfort caused by prolonged computer use. Eye strain, headaches, temporary blurred vision, and other complaints make up the symptoms of CVS, but in general they are not considered that serious.

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Medford (OR) Mail Tribune profiles Karen Barlow, a legally blind, independent businesswoman who teaches computer skills to the visually impaired in the Rogue Valley. Barlow's business, Barlow's Computer Training, has contracts with several organizations, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinics.

The Mail Tribune adds, Barlow is one of 50 vendors demonstrating adaptive technologies and other aids to employment at this week's "'Options for Success' conference.

Sponsored by the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the seminar's theme is "attitudes for success." Advocacy, referral, work-incentive programs and inspirational speeches fill the sessions, which began Tuesday morning.

The goal is to improve the self-esteem and promotional skills of disabled persons eager to join the workforce, said Kristi Hyman of OVRS.

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26 percent of Americans have not seen eye-care specialist within past two years.

HealthDay reported that, according to a survey of 1,001 Americans age 18 and older commissioned by the American Optometric Association (AOA), 26 percent of Americans have not visited an eye doctor or eye-care specialist within the past two years, suggesting that many people aren't paying enough attention to their eye health.

AOA expert James Kirchner, O.D., recommended a comprehensive eye exam for adults at least every two years. He emphasized that eye exams are even more important for people who already use corrective lenses,who might just assume they just need a different lens prescription, when they really have a more serious problem. With eye diseases and disorders, as with most health issues, early detection and treatment are often the keys to avoiding permanent problems. For example, the survey showed that 62 percent of respondents didn't know that signs of diabetes may be detected by an eye doctor, while 71 percent didn't know that a comprehensive eye exam can detect hypertension, brain tumors (75 percent), cancer (78 percent), cardiovascular disease (80 percent), and multiple sclerosis (90 percent).

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Painkiller May Prevent Diabetes-Related Retinal Damage

The painkiller pentazocine may help prevent diabetes-related retinal damage that leads to vision loss, according to Medical College of Georgia researchers.

"The effects of this drug on retinal health are phenomenal," Dr. Sylvia Smith, a retinal cell biologist and co-director of the Vision Discovery Institute at MCG's School of Medicine, said in a college news release.

For the study, she compared the retinas of diabetic mice treated with pentazocine and those that didn't receive the drug and found dramatic differences. The findings suggest that the drug and related compounds that bind with the sigma receptor in the eye may help treat the two leading causes of vision loss -- diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

The study was published in the September issue of the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

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Visual impairment may be more common in people with diabetes

UPI reports that, according to a study published in the Archives ofOphthalmology, visual impairment appears to be more common in people withdiabetes than in those without the disease. Researchers from the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention analyzed data from the National Health andNutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2004, which included 1,237 adultswith diabetes...and 11,767 adults without the disease. The investigators foundthat people with diabetes were more likely to have uncorrectable visionimpairment than those withoutdiabetes.

Tags: Diabetes, Vision

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Low anti oxidants and blue light exposure may lead to AMD

Med Page Today reported, Some cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may arise from a combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants and exposure to blue light from the sun, according to research in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers studied 4,753 participants older than 65, who all provided blood samples, underwent fundus photography, and answered a dietary questionnaire. Sun exposure was estimated from participants' self-reported information about work, outdoor activities, use of hats, and eyewear (including contact lenses, glasses, and sunglasses). Complete data were available for 101 participants with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, 2,182 participants with early-stage age-related macular degeneration, and 2,117 controls.

Medscape added that the researchers concluded that there was no association between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD or early AMD. In participants in the lowest quartile of antioxidant level (vitamin C, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and dietary zinc), there were significant associations between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD. Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) was approximately 1.4 for one SD unit increase in blue light exposure, but these ORs for blue light were higher with combined low antioxidant levels, especially vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E (OR, 3.7; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.6 - 8.9), which were also associated with early stages of AMD.

The U.K.'s Telegraph notes that AMD, in which the central part of the retina of the eye gradually thins, leaves one in 10 sufferers blind. Lead researcher Astrid Fletcher, Ph.D., of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, In the absence of cost-effective screening methods to identify people in the population with early AMD, we suggest that recommendations on (eye) protection and diet target the general population, especially middle-aged people

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High Priority, Low Coverage

When asked what conditions would most affect their day-to-day living, a majority of Americans rated loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Paying for vision coverage though has been another story with only 17% of employees offering any kind of vision insurance.

A new report by The Vision Council, Vision Care: Focusing on the Workplace Benefit, examines consumer and business perspectives on vision care and trends in vision care coverage. According to the report, two-thirds of Americans say they would be more willing to get an eye exam if they had some coverage, yet only 17 percent of employers report offering vision insurance. Vision benefits lag behind health and dental benefits, with as many as 44 percent of employers offering dental coverage.

"We know that in today's tough economy everyone is taking another look at their finances," said Ed Greene, chief executive officer for The Vision Council. "As the second most prevalent health condition in the country, vision disorders affect individuals and businesses, making vision coverage an important benefit for both groups."
Vision health is highly valued by most Americans according to the National Eye Institute. When asked what conditions would most affect their day-to-day living, a majority of Americans rated loss of eyesight as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.

"Regular eye examinations are an important part of helping Americans maintain their health," said ophthalmologist Elaine G. Hathaway, M.D. "In addition to detecting vision problems and asymptomatic eye disorders, routine eye exams by an eye care professional can detect major health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes," she added.

With 11 million Americans living with an uncorrected vision problem, a number expected to rise as the population ages, the expense to businesses can also be severe. According to the report, the annual financial burden of major adult vision disorders exceeds $35 billion to the U.S. economy, including an estimated $8 billion in lost productivity.
"Uncorrected vision problems are very costly to employers, and it is important for them to recognize that vision health coverage not only maintains a healthy workforce, but has a positive impact on their bottom line," said Greene. For example, studies show that employers gain as much as $7 for every $1 spent on vision coverage.
As with many other benefits, employers are increasingly forced to pass along some of the cost of providing health insurance to employees. Offering vision coverage can help employers enhance their benefits package at a relatively low cost. Such coverage typically costs one-tenth that of medical benefits, and is often utilized more by employees than medical plans.

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Crazy fashion accessory

First it was tattoos, then it was body piercing, but the latest fashion craze looks so painful it's literally eye-watering.
A Dutch designer has come up with a bizarre fashion accessory – eye jewelery that hangs from wire attached to a contact lens.

Eric Klarenbeek has created the eye jewellery that includes items like crystals or flowers.

It hangs beneath the eye, and is fastened to the lens by medical wire. It makes the wearer look as if they are crying.
I feel sad for the models who have to wear these....

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Researchers to study depression in AMD patients

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It gradually destroys sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. In some cases, the disease advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, it progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes

Medical News Today reports that researchers at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University were recently awarded a $3.7 million grant from The National Eye Institute to study depression in patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.

During the trial, called the Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial, researchers will test a combined treatment to prevent depression and disability associated with AMD. They will also test the efficacy of a low vision rehabilitation and psychological intervention program designed to treat/prevent depression in patients diagnosed with the disease by helping them maintain their independence and participation in enjoyable activities.

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Apples Benefits for Health & Vision

In a food column in New Hampshire's Telegraph, dietitian Lynda Murray, R.D., writes about the positive effects eating apples may have on overall health.

For example, through the quercetin found in their skin, apples have the unique ability to inhibit the production and release of histamine and other allergic or inflammatory agents. ... Eating an apple a day has been shown to reduce allergic symptoms 46 percent. In addition, the fruit's high flavonoid content...may help protect arteries from harmful plaque buildup. This helps keep cholesterol from oxidizing, and prevents platelets from clumping. Murray recommends that readers eat a diet rich in apples to run a lower incidence of heart disease and stroke. People diagnosed with elevated C-reactive protein and homocysteine probably also face a greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD). So, even though an apple isn't the richest source of lutein, combining three or more servings of fruit per day over a period of 12 to 18 years reduces the risk of developing AMD by 30 percent, compared to eating only 1-1/2 servings per day or less, Murray contends.

While there, take note of recipes for Apple Sauce and Apple Crisp

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Optical Illusions

As a child I have always loved optical illusions. I still am fascinated by the effects they produce. Here is one

New Scientist reported that the cause of the above optical illusion, where the spirals appear to flow, has finally been solved.
This illusion was made famous by a 1981 painting, Isia Leviant's Enigma

Researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona have demonstrated that the way our eyes constantly make tiny movements, called microsaccades, is responsible for the way concentric circles in the painting seem to flow before onlookers' eyes. For the experiment, the investigators had three participants view the painting while cameras recorded their eye movements 500 times every second. Next, the participants were asked to press a button when the speed of the optical 'trickle' of the illusion appeared to slow down or stop, and release it when the trickle seemed faster. The results showed that the illusion became more pronounced when microsaccades were happening at a faster rate. But, when the rate slowed to a stop, the illusion vanished. The authors said that their research may also explain other similar illusions

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Hurler regains sight after 'miracle' diet supplement

The Irish Independent reported that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition affecting the central part of the retina at the back of the eye. AMD affects one in 10 people over the age of 50, and is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world.



Dara Kilmartin, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, explained that, by 2020, the number of people with AMD is going to at least double, because people are living longer. Dr. Kilmartin said that the risk of AMD becomes greatest over the age of 65. One in five people over 75 will have AMD. Dr. Kilmartin pointed out that risk factors include age, family history, and smoking. In addition, there is a possible link between AMD and obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Dr. Kilmartin urged older people to get their eyes tested more often, and to check their 'straight ahead' vision" in each eye separately. The article also discussed the experience of Rosemary Smith, a patient with the wet form of AMD, who is now a peer counselor with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

Here is a story of remarkable improvement from Vitamin Therapy

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IOl blocks UV Rays

Intraocular lenses, or IOLs, are the artificial lenses that replace the eye's natural lens that is removed during cataract surgery. IOLs have been around since the 60s, though the FDA gave its approval for one occurred in 1981. Before that, if you had cataracts removed, you had to wear very thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses in order to see afterward, since the natural lens that had been removed wasn't replaced with anything. Traditional IOLs are monofocal, meaning they offer clear vision at distance only, making the need for reading lenses an absolute necessity. New 'multifocal and/or accommodating' IOLs offer the possibility of seeing well at more than one distance, without glasses or contacts.

WHAM-TV Rochester, an ABC affiliate, reported that patients undergoing cataract surgery might want to ask about new replacement lenses that work like heavy duty sunglasses. By blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays and blue light from getting into the eye, the Acry Sof Natural lens filters out potentially damaging rays that can damage the retina in two ways: worsening or creating macular degeneration and tumors or melanoma inside the eye. The new intraocular lens is covered by medical insurance plans.

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Complementary, alternative medicine becoming more mainstream

I was recently @ the local chapter of Optometrist meeting where the topic of discussion was Complimentary Medicine as applied to Dry Eye and Hormonal Balance. I was very intrigued by what I heard.

On the front page of its Health section, the Washington Post reports that the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center...is the latest indication that alternative medicine is making its mark in mainstream healthcare settings.

This link with Hopkins is part of a trend toward integrating CAM [complementary and alternative medicine] with conventional medicine. A recent survey of 1,400 hospitals found that 27 percent offered some sort of alternative or complementary treatment, which represents a significant increase from eight percent in 1998.

Last year, Hopkins -- a bastion of mainstream medicine -- joined the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. This group of 41 medical centers has pledged to invest in CAM research, and to introduce integrative models of clinical care. The Post notes that the National Institutes of Health will invest about $300 million in CAM research this year.

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Boy with low vision plays offensive tackle on youth football team!

California's San Mateo Daily News reported that 10-year-old Tino Benelli, a student who plays offensive tackle as well as defense for the local Pop Warner team, Bayside Broncos, has albinism, a condition that renders him legally blind.

Currently, the boy plays football with low to no vision, because referees do not allow him to wear a doctor-prescribed, tinted face shield, for safety reasons. But, starting next week, he will wear tinted goggles instead. Until then, Tino will play without any light-filtering protection. The Daily News explained that albinism refers to a group of inherited conditions in which people have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. They have altered genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. One in every 17,000 residents in America has some type of albinism. According to the Daily News, people with albinism always have problems with vision, which are not correctable with eyeglasses, and many have low vision.

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Radiation for Macular Degeneration

One can tel how much time/money and effort is being placed on the problem that's facing the older generation by looking at media exposure and technological advances. Here is another report shown on KGO-TV San Francisco, an ABC affiliate, yesterday.

Macular Degenaration is the most common form of vision loss among people over 60. In a clinical trial taking place in San Jose, Calif., "a combination therapy" is "being tested by Amr Dessouki, M.D. For the trial, Dr. Dessouki will first inject patients' eyes with Lucentis (ranibizumab), a drug approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, that is proven to block abnormal blood vessel growth and prevent bleeding. Next, Dr. Dessouki will saturate the cluster of blood vessels with a targeted dose of radiation delivered by "a laser device about the size of a fountain pen. ... The laser radiation is calibrated precisely for the size of the lesion, and administered for a preset amount of time." Should the clinical trial be successful, the combination treatment could free patients from a life of monthly injections!

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Implantable capsule may help treat dry macular degeneration

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked a novel treatment for two eye diseases: age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The new treatment, developed by the Lincoln, RI, biotech company Neurotech, is a capsule that's surgically implanted in the eye.



Inside are genetically engineered cells that produce a protein that may prevent light-sensitive cells in the retina from dying, thus protecting vision. The device is currently in phase II clinical trials. Retinal cells translate light into electrical signals, which are relayed to the brain. But, in both retinitis pigmentosa and in the dry form of age-related macular degeneration, light-sensitive cells in the retina degenerate over time, resulting "in loss of vision."

Currently, RP and dry AMD patients have few or no treatment options. Implanted in the vitreous humor, the device, which is made of a semipermeable plastic, allows ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) protein to diffuse into the retina. In animal studies," CNTF "slowed the degeneration of retinal cells in diseases analogous to RP.

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Intra Ocular lens

Ohio's Newark Advocate reported that, during cataract surgery, doctors remove the natural lens of the eye and replace it with a new one.



Now, a series of premium lenses allows...more freedom for cataract patients than traditional monofocal lenses. Two multifocal lenses -- ReZoom and ReStor -- have concentric circles with different focusing zones. By comparison, the Crystalens is a homogenous lens that has special arms that allow eye muscles to focus naturally by moving the lens back and forth within the eye.

The Advocate pointed out that each lens has its advantages and drawbacks. For example, rings in the ReStor and ReZoom lenses can cause some patients to experience a halo effect or glare, which should diminish with time. The single lens Crystalens has less glare. The ReStor lens is best for close-up vision; ReZoom and Crystalens are stronger for intermediate and distance vision. A soon-to-be released, new version of Crystalens...is supposed to improve reading vision over its previous design. Despite their advantages, premium lenses are often not covered by insurance, and cost roughly $1,295 per eye, on average.

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Eye drops no more

A tiny coil, which is implanted in the eye, could mean an end to the injections and drops used by thousands of patients with common eye complaints.

The spiral-shaped" device, which is inserted through a hollow needle, can be loaded with drugs to treat conditions, such as glaucoma and diabetic macular edema. Called the I-vation, the device is similar to a Slinky toy, and made from a metal alloy. The implant is injected into the eye...in a minimally invasive procedure that takes just 15 minutes.


Medications are mixed into a material which coats the device. Then, as the coating slowly dissolves, they are released over a period of up to two years, medicating the eye continuously.
Here is a comparison of the device with a quarter:

The device's "coiled shape" provides a large surface area available for the drug coating, and also makes it possible to lodge it against the white of the eye, without the need for stitches, and where it can be easily removed and replaced.

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High Tech for Low Vision

More than 16 million Americans report some form of visual impairment, even when wearing glasses or contacts. That number is expected to double by 2030 as the aging population brings rising rates of macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases.



For people who suffer from "'low vision' (technically, worse than 20/60 in the better eye), an ever-growing array of devices can help them maximize their remaining vision and, in many cases, compensate for what they've lost. Still, people who are visually impaired should have a comprehensive vision rehab assessment. This includes a visit with an eye doctor, a technology specialist, and an occupational therapist who can evaluate a person's limitations and goals. While Medicare and private insurance will pay for a doctor's evaluation and occupational therapy, most devices generally aren't covered. But, low-vision clinics may be able to get discounts for you, or suggest lower-priced alternatives. Wall Street Journal's Personal Journal section, Melinda Beck lists a number of devices, computer programs, and gadgets designed specifically for people with low vision.

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Ghost Town - Comedy

The comedy movie Ghost Town revolves around a dentist (Gervais) who just went through a NDE (near-death experience) during routine surgery and who now see dead people who don't stop asking him for help in contacting the living.

Here below the latest international trailer of the upcoming comedy Ghost Town



Sounds like a must watch!

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# * * Sunglasses Replace the Bag as the Must-Have Luxury Item

Sunglasses at the top rung of the price ladder are in step with trends, changing shapes and colors seasonally to reflect the whims of buyers. This summer, a heightened enthusiasm for aviator and wraparound frames and vintage Jackie O styles is contributing to their status as the luxury accent of the hour.

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Ridiculous Headline of the day!

Hybrid Cars Pose Risk to Blind, Visually Impaired!

In continuing coverage from a previous edition of First Look, HealthDay reported, "Because they can be nearly silent, hybrid cars pose a serious threat of injury and death to blind and visually impaired people," according to the American Council of the Blind (ACB).

Really, there is no winning in this world. I know, I'm an optometrist, I love helping people see better/feel better. But this was taking it a bit far - my opinion!

The council's executive director, Melanie Brunson, explained, "Traditionally, people who are blind or visually impaired learn to rely on their hearing and tactile cues to provide them with information about their environment, which they can use to navigate safely across streets and through...parking lots. In so doing, the sound of traffic is their primary focus." But, without any "sound cues, a blind or visually impaired person is at serious risk." That is because "[t]raffic sounds provide information about such things as the position of vehicles, their direction of travel, their rate of acceleration, and the speed at which they are likely to move."

The ACB is now "pushing the auto industry and government officials to develop ways to reduce this danger." Just "[l]ast week, the U.S. Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration held its first public meeting on the issue."

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Contact Lens + Surgery

You have heard of contact lenses. You have heard of surgery to correct for glasses like Lasik.



Here is a new procedure where a contact lens is implanted surgically into the front part of the eye called Cornea.

"It can take someone who is 22,000- someone who is so unbelievably nearsighted one day- next day drive without glasses," said eye surgeon Dr. Roy Rubinfeld.

The hour long procedure is most effective in patients between ages 25 and 45 and meant to be permanent. Cornea surgeon, Dr. Marwa Adi, says permanent contact lens should deliver optically "as long as the eye stays healthy."

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Illinois mandates vision screening

I'm sure everyone is heard of Matthews Optometrist Jim Black. A licensed optometrist, Black went into politics late in life, but eventually became one of the state's most powerful politicians. After serving two terms in the N.C. House of Representatives in the early 1980s, Black lost three campaigns in a row. In 1990, he was re-elected and soon moved into leadership. He served as speaker of the house a record-tying four terms, including a historic co-speakership with Republican Rep. Richard Morgan.

He started a program to help children get screened for vision problems prior to entering the school system. The vision care program began as a mandate on parents to have their children seen by an optometrist before they entered kindergarten. The requirement caused an uproar after Black wrote it into the 2005 budget.

In Illinois things look different.

In continuing coverage from previous editions of First Look, Illinois's Herald News reported, "Starting this school year, all kindergartners and children entering Illinois schools from [an] out of state or home school must provide proof of an optometric exam by Oct. 15."

According to optometrist Sandra Bury, O.D., "Finding vision problems early is crucial to correcting them." Should "near- and farsightedness, depth perception, and clarity" not be "fixed by age 10 or 11, kids will suffer with them for life. After that, their bodies become more resistant to change." Children with persistent vision problems may be "more likely to have problems in school." Dr. Bury noted how "[p]arents often return to her office, telling [her] that glasses turned their children's academic lives around." Illinois now joins Kentucky among states mandating eye examinations. Dr. Bury said, "This is the biggest thing to happen to eye care, ever."

I think we are doing a dis service to our kids here in NC by not having a similar mandate. But that is for other powers to decide...

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Want to be a Pilot? Read this in Braille

The U.K.'s Daily Mail reports that a job "advertisement for an air traffic controller is being offered in Braille," even though "20/20 vision is a requirement for the job." Officials at the "St. Mary's airport on the Isles of Scilly say they are simply adhering to equal opportunity guidelines." The job listing "states that as well as having excellent vision, the applicant needs to be highly qualified to fulfill the demanding role of guiding aircraft safely into the hilltop airport, which is often fogbound.

The controller of Radio Scilly, Keri Jones, said that "the note had attracted widespread ridicule." But, Bill Alker, of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, applauded the move, saying, "We welcome the Isles of Scilly's Council for their good practice, and would hope more employers do the same."

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U think you can dance?

Just watch this dance, choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan, "Hollywood's Bollywood choreographer,". He is the founder and artistic director of NDM Dance Productions and Studios in Los Angeles.

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Smart contact lens feels the pressure of glaucoma

New Scientist reported, "A contact lens with a built-in pressure sensor that could help monitor" certain eye conditions was recently designed by scientists at the University of California-Davis. Using polydimethylsiloxane, "an elastic, transparent, and gas-permeable organic polymer," the researchers produced "a tiny pressure sensor, which they bent into the shape of a contact lens. Such a device could measure the stress on the cornea surface, and the fluid pressure within the eye to monitor glaucoma and ocular hypertension." Researcher Tingrui Pan explained that in glaucoma patients, rising pressure within the eye changes its shape, "which would deform the contact lens sensor." A prototype model "has an opaque sensor that would impair vision, and so would be worn only briefly," but the research team is "designing transparent equivalents that could be worn for long periods to give a continuous pressure read-out."

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High Tech Contacts

Researchers @ the University of Washington have reported a system that would generate graphic displays directly to eyes.

Illinois ABC affiliate WHOI-TV reported that researchers "are trying to find ways to incorporate complex technology into" contact lenses. One "device under development, referred to as a 'bionic lens,' or 'e-lens,' integrates a miniature electronic circuit and LED lights between layers of polyethylene terephthalate. It's powered through radiofrequency energy transmitted to an antennae incorporated into the lens." This would allow "[c]omputer images [to] be sent to the circuit, enabling the wearer to see virtual displays." It would also allow "a wearer to play games, or surf the" Internet, "without the need for a display monitor."

The prototype contact lens - which will eventually contain LEDs - has yet to be powered up. That key step, says Parviz, is several months off. "We're looking at two different ways to transmit power. One is radio frequency power transmission. We need antennae on these contact lenses anyway because we need to transmit data to them. The other way we're looking at right now is to incorporate photovoltaic [solar] cells."

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Snooze Guide

I can't believe that a topic like snoozing would provoke a blog post, but take a look @ this captivating graphic in the Boston Globe:



It’s full of tips such as when you’re most likely benefit from a nap, how long to doze off, as well as what you can do to improve your environment for good siesta.
So, quit reading this post, and hit it!

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India Poised

I was surfing the web this evening and came upon a video (where else but youtube):
These kind of videos always seem so inspiring - however, short that inspiration lasts!




I was curious about this whole Tum Chalo To Hindustan Chale concept. Living in the US, I have not kept with all the patriotic themes that run India. So, as I searched for more, I found a couple more. The first one is by Big B. His diction is amazing. Shot in Black and White, this 2 minute clip is captivating.



Here is another recited by Gulzar



I know we have come a long way in terms of technology, economic powers, military might and so on. I sure hope we go on to achieve larger things...

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Udupi Krishna AlankAra

Create a Free Slideshow

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50 Ways to Help the Planet

50 Ways to Help the Planet

Posted using ShareThis

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Bandiya Vittala

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Madhva Vijaya 2

Here is the next part of Madhva Vijaya. Obviously, I have little to say - I am just not qualified to comment on such a work.
So, all subsequent postings will follow with just a link

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Vadiraja Namane

It is hard to upload larger files to ijigg and stream it directly from this page. So, I have gone to another source. Not ideal, but it works.
Here is the first such 'larger' file. Its called 'Vadiraja Namane'

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Madhva Vijaya Intro

Madhva Vijaya or the "The story of the victory of Madhva" is a biography of the great Dvaita philosopher Sri Madhvacharya. It is authored by Sri Narayana Panditacharya, who was the son of Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya, one of the direct disciples of Madhvacharya.
Here is an introduction by Sri Bannanje Govindacharya:

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Got Milk?

There has been an ongoing campaign to get people to drink milk.
Here is website to promote the idea - can you imagine the number of hours spent planing and creating this website?
Go play here

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Scientific Frontiers

Here is a program hosted by Alan Alda of M*A*S*H.

Here he talks about technology that helps people afflicted with Retinitis Pigmentosa

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Photos from Shuttle

I have always been interested in photography. But, I have never enjoyed pictures of space (like pictures of distant stars, nebulae) or of the deep sea (small planktons, bio luminescent fish). Here is an exception - these are pictures of the world we live in. Taken from 200 miles above the earth....

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Ajax Goodness

No matter where I am, I love to follow Indian cricket. Agreed, I have not been able to keep pace with all the changes, but when time permits (and time zones allow), I love to follow events.
The google of Cricket has been cricinfo.com. I have found the site overwhelmed at times and the interface a little too cluttered. There are times when I have multiples sites like yahoo, cricbuzz, and a whole bunch of sites @ the same time - some are good with their interface, others better with commentary and so on.
I also am closely following Adobe's Air
which has made its way into eyecare too in the electronic health record (EHR) category - see here where they use Flex technology.
So, where am I going with all this? Adobe Goodness + Cricket Passion = Cricket Nirvana.
There is a desktop application which requires you to download Adobe Air and then the client. The whole process takes a few minutes and very easy to follow. Here is where it all begins
I liked the interface, although the colors could be toned down a little....
But overall a refreshing new approach.

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KondAdalalave Ninnaya kIrthi

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GirirAya

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Chandika Yaga in New Jersy

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udupi - a nice video

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Qumana Sucsess?

I have been working to get Qumana to work on my Mac for the last few weeks without success. Finally an email to support led me to a link - downloaded the new version - bam, got it done. This whole open source thing has contnued to amaze me...

Tags: Open SourceTags: Software

Powered by Qumana

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Krishna Pooja @ Govardhan Temple, Bangalore

Puthige Matha has a Govardhan temple in Bangalore. Since they have simulated a cave, lighting is poor. Here is a video of the arati there.

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