Sample records for eye field implications

  1. Upward gaze and head deviation with frontal eye field stimulation.

    PubMed

    Kaiboriboon, Kitti; Lüders, Hans O; Miller, Jonathan P; Leigh, R John

    2012-03-01

    Using electrical stimulation to the deep, most caudal part of the right frontal eye field (FEF), we demonstrate a novel pattern of vertical (upward) eye movement that was previously only thought possible by stimulating both frontal eye fields simultaneously. If stimulation was started when the subject looked laterally, the initial eye movement was back to the midline, followed by upward deviation. Our finding challenges current view of topological organisation in the human FEF and may have general implications for concepts of topological organisation of the motor cortex, since sustained stimulation also induced upward head movements as a component of the vertical gaze shift. [Published with video sequences].

  2. Transmembrane voltage potential controls embryonic eye patterning in Xenopus laevis

    PubMed Central

    Pai, Vaibhav P.; Aw, Sherry; Shomrat, Tal; Lemire, Joan M.; Levin, Michael

    2012-01-01

    Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of eye development is crucial for understanding the embryonic morphogenesis of complex structures, as well as for the establishment of novel biomedical approaches to address birth defects and injuries of the visual system. Here, we characterize change in transmembrane voltage potential (Vmem) as a novel biophysical signal for eye induction in Xenopus laevis. During normal embryogenesis, a striking hyperpolarization demarcates a specific cluster of cells in the anterior neural field. Depolarizing the dorsal lineages in which these cells reside results in malformed eyes. Manipulating Vmem of non-eye cells induces well-formed ectopic eyes that are morphologically and histologically similar to endogenous eyes. Remarkably, such ectopic eyes can be induced far outside the anterior neural field. A Ca2+ channel-dependent pathway transduces the Vmem signal and regulates patterning of eye field transcription factors. These data reveal a new, instructive role for membrane voltage during embryogenesis and demonstrate that Vmem is a crucial upstream signal in eye development. Learning to control bioelectric initiators of organogenesis offers significant insight into birth defects that affect the eye and might have significant implications for regenerative approaches to ocular diseases. PMID:22159581

  3. Teachers' Experiences of Using Eye Gaze-Controlled Computers for Pupils with Severe Motor Impairments and without Speech

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Rytterström, Patrik; Borgestig, Maria; Hemmingsson, Helena

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to explore teachers' experiences of using eye gaze-controlled computers with pupils with severe disabilities. Technology to control a computer with eye gaze is a fast growing field and has promising implications for people with severe disabilities. This is a new assistive technology and a new learning situation for…

  4. Eye injuries from electrical weapon probes: Incidents, prevalence, and legal implications.

    PubMed

    Kroll, Mark W; Ritter, Mollie B; Kennedy, Eric A; Silverman, Nora K; Shinder, Roman; Brave, Michael A; Williams, Howard E

    2018-04-01

    While generally reducing morbidity and mortality, electrical weapons have risks associated with their usage, including burn injuries and trauma associated with uncontrolled fall impacts. However, the prevalence of significant eye injury has not been investigated. We searched for incidents of penetrating eye injury from TASER ® conducted electrical weapon (CEW) probes via open source media, litigation filings, and a survey of CEW law-enforcement master instructors. We report 20 previously-unpublished cases of penetrating eye injury from electrical weapon probes in law-enforcement field uses. Together with the 8 previously published cases, there are a total of 28 cases out of 3.44 million field uses, giving a demonstrated CEW field-use risk of penetrating eye injury of approximately 1:123 000. Confidence limits [85 000, 178 000] by Wilson score interval. There have been 18 cases of total unilateral blindness or enucleation. We also present legal decisions on this topic. The use of electrical weapons presents a rare but real risk of total or partial unilateral blindness from electrical weapon probes. Catastrophic eye injuries appear to be the dominant non-fatal complication of electronic control. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

  5. A Causal Role for the Cortical Frontal Eye Fields in Microsaccade Deployment

    PubMed Central

    Dash, Suryadeep; Lomber, Stephen G.

    2016-01-01

    Microsaccades aid vision by helping to strategically sample visual scenes. Despite the importance of these small eye movements, no cortical area has ever been implicated in their generation. Here, we used unilateral and bilateral reversible inactivation of the frontal eye fields (FEF) to identify a cortical drive for microsaccades. Unexpectedly, FEF inactivation altered microsaccade metrics and kinematics. Such inactivation also impaired microsaccade deployment following peripheral cue onset, regardless of cue side or inactivation configuration. Our results demonstrate that the FEF provides critical top-down drive for microsaccade generation, particularly during the recovery of microsaccades after disruption by sensory transients. Our results constitute the first direct evidence, to our knowledge, for the contribution of any cortical area to microsaccade generation, and they provide a possible substrate for how cognitive processes can influence the strategic deployment of microsaccades. PMID:27509130

  6. A Causal Role for the Cortical Frontal Eye Fields in Microsaccade Deployment.

    PubMed

    Peel, Tyler R; Hafed, Ziad M; Dash, Suryadeep; Lomber, Stephen G; Corneil, Brian D

    2016-08-01

    Microsaccades aid vision by helping to strategically sample visual scenes. Despite the importance of these small eye movements, no cortical area has ever been implicated in their generation. Here, we used unilateral and bilateral reversible inactivation of the frontal eye fields (FEF) to identify a cortical drive for microsaccades. Unexpectedly, FEF inactivation altered microsaccade metrics and kinematics. Such inactivation also impaired microsaccade deployment following peripheral cue onset, regardless of cue side or inactivation configuration. Our results demonstrate that the FEF provides critical top-down drive for microsaccade generation, particularly during the recovery of microsaccades after disruption by sensory transients. Our results constitute the first direct evidence, to our knowledge, for the contribution of any cortical area to microsaccade generation, and they provide a possible substrate for how cognitive processes can influence the strategic deployment of microsaccades.

  7. New vessels detected on wide-field imaging compared to two-field and seven-field imaging: implications for diabetic retinopathy screening image analysis.

    PubMed

    Talks, Stephen James; Manjunath, Vina; Steel, David H W; Peto, Tunde; Taylor, Roy

    2015-12-01

    Wide-field retinal imaging (Optomap), used for detecting diabetic retinopathy (DR), has been shown to compare well with seven-field early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) photographs. An Optomap 200° image covers 80% of the retinal surface, compared with the standard seven-field, 30° images, covering 30% of the retinal surface. In England, DR screening is performed by grading two, 45° images per eye, by the DR screening service (DRSS). To assess how often retinal new vessels (NVs) are observed on Optomap imaging, outside the DRSS two fields and standard seven-field photography, in a cohort of patients referred by the DRSS. A consecutive series of treatment naïve patients with DR, referred from DRSS with pre-proliferative or proliferative DR or diabetic maculopathy, were imaged with Optomap colour images, within 3 months of DRSS referral. The incidence and distribution of NVs were recorded in relation to two-field and seven-field areas. NVs were found in 102 of 1562 treatment naïve eyes (6.5%) of 781 patients. Of these, 72 were referred from DRSS as having NVs, but an additional 30 eyes (29% of NVs detected) from 25 patients were referred with a lesser degree of DR. In 25 of the 30 eyes without NVs reported on referral, NVs were located outside the standard two fields taken at DRSS, and in 12, NVs were outside the area covered on seven-field imaging (11.7% of eyes with NVs). Wide-field imaging with Optomap detected approximately 30% more NVs than standard two-field imaging in patients referred from a UK DRSS. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  8. Roles of ADAM13-regulated Wnt activity in early Xenopus eye development

    PubMed Central

    Wei, Shuo; Xu, Guofeng; Bridges, Lance C.; Williams, Phoebe; Nakayama, Takuya; Shah, Anoop; Grainger, Robert M.; White, Judith M.; DeSimone, Douglas W.

    2012-01-01

    Pericellular proteolysis by ADAM family metalloproteinases has been widely implicated in cell signaling and development. We recently found that Xenopus ADAM13, an ADAM metalloproteinase, is required for activation of canonical Wnt signaling during cranial neural crest (CNC) induction by regulating a novel crosstalk between Wnt and ephrin B (EfnB) signaling pathways (Wei et al., 2010b). In the present study we show that the metalloproteinase activity of ADAM13 also plays important roles in eye development in X. tropicalis. Knockdown of ADAM13 results in reduced expression of eye field markers pax6 and rx1, as well as that of the pan-neural marker sox2. Activation of canonical Wnt signaling or inhibition of forward EfnB signaling rescues the eye defects caused by loss of ADAM13, suggesting that ADAM13 functions through regulation of the EfnB-Wnt pathway interaction. Downstream of Wnt, the head inducer Cerberus was identified as an effector that mediates ADAM13 function in early eye field formation. Furthermore, ectopic expression of the Wnt target gene snail2 restores cerberus expression and rescues the eye defects caused by ADAM13 knockdown. Together these data suggest an important role of ADAM13-regulated Wnt activity in eye development in Xenopus. PMID:22227340

  9. Millimeter spatial resolution in vivo sodium MRI of the human eye at 7 T using a dedicated radiofrequency transceiver array.

    PubMed

    Wenz, Daniel; Kuehne, Andre; Huelnhagen, Till; Nagel, Armin M; Waiczies, Helmar; Weinberger, Oliver; Oezerdem, Celal; Stachs, Oliver; Langner, Soenke; Seeliger, Erdmann; Flemming, Bert; Hodge, Russell; Niendorf, Thoralf

    2018-08-01

    The aim of this study was to achieve millimeter spatial resolution sodium in vivo MRI of the human eye at 7 T using a dedicated six-channel transceiver array. We present a detailed description of the radiofrequency coil design, along with electromagnetic field and specific absorption ratio simulations, data validation, and in vivo application. Electromagnetic field and specific absorption ratio simulations were performed. Transmit field uniformity was optimized by using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Transmit field mapping was conducted using a phase-sensitive method. An in vivo feasibility study was carried out with 3-dimensional density-adapted projection reconstruction imaging technique. Measured transmit field distribution agrees well with the one obtained from simulations. The specific absorption ratio simulations confirm that the radiofrequency coil is safe for clinical use. Our radiofrequency coil is light and conforms to an average human head. High spatial resolution (nominal 1.4 and 1.0 mm isotropic) sodium in vivo images of the human eye were acquired within scan times suitable for clinical applications (∼ 10 min). Three most important eye compartments in the context of sodium physiology were clearly delineated in all of the images: the vitreous humor, the aqueous humor, and the lens. Our results provide encouragement for further clinical studies. The implications for research into eye diseases including ocular melanoma, cataract, and glaucoma are discussed. Magn Reson Med 80:672-684, 2018. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2018 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  10. The impact of fatigue on latent print examinations as revealed by behavioral and eye gaze testing.

    PubMed

    Busey, Thomas; Swofford, Henry J; Vanderkolk, John; Emerick, Brandi

    2015-06-01

    Eye tracking and behavioral methods were used to assess the effects of fatigue on performance in latent print examiners. Eye gaze was measured both before and after a fatiguing exercise involving fine-grained examination decisions. The eye tracking tasks used similar images, often laterally reversed versions of previously viewed prints, which holds image detail constant while minimizing prior recognition. These methods, as well as a within-subject design with fine grained analyses of the eye gaze data, allow fairly strong conclusions despite a relatively small subject population. Consistent with the effects of fatigue on practitioners in other fields such as radiology, behavioral performance declined with fatigue, and the eye gaze statistics suggested a smaller working memory capacity. Participants also terminated the search/examination process sooner when fatigued. However, fatigue did not produce changes in inter-examiner consistency as measured by the Earth Mover Metric. Implications for practice are discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Instruction-based clinical eye-tracking study on the visual interpretation of divergence: How do students look at vector field plots?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Klein, P.; Viiri, J.; Mozaffari, S.; Dengel, A.; Kuhn, J.

    2018-06-01

    Relating mathematical concepts to graphical representations is a challenging task for students. In this paper, we introduce two visual strategies to qualitatively interpret the divergence of graphical vector field representations. One strategy is based on the graphical interpretation of partial derivatives, while the other is based on the flux concept. We test the effectiveness of both strategies in an instruction-based eye-tracking study with N =41 physics majors. We found that students' performance improved when both strategies were introduced (74% correct) instead of only one strategy (64% correct), and students performed best when they were free to choose between the two strategies (88% correct). This finding supports the idea of introducing multiple representations of a physical concept to foster student understanding. Relevant eye-tracking measures demonstrate that both strategies imply different visual processing of the vector field plots, therefore reflecting conceptual differences between the strategies. Advanced analysis methods further reveal significant differences in eye movements between the best and worst performing students. For instance, the best students performed predominantly horizontal and vertical saccades, indicating correct interpretation of partial derivatives. They also focused on smaller regions when they balanced positive and negative flux. This mixed-method research leads to new insights into student visual processing of vector field representations, highlights the advantages and limitations of eye-tracking methodologies in this context, and discusses implications for teaching and for future research. The introduction of saccadic direction analysis expands traditional methods, and shows the potential to discover new insights into student understanding and learning difficulties.

  12. Similar prevalence and magnitude of auditory-evoked and visually evoked activity in the frontal eye fields: implications for multisensory motor control.

    PubMed

    Caruso, Valeria C; Pages, Daniel S; Sommer, Marc A; Groh, Jennifer M

    2016-06-01

    Saccadic eye movements can be elicited by more than one type of sensory stimulus. This implies substantial transformations of signals originating in different sense organs as they reach a common motor output pathway. In this study, we compared the prevalence and magnitude of auditory- and visually evoked activity in a structure implicated in oculomotor processing, the primate frontal eye fields (FEF). We recorded from 324 single neurons while 2 monkeys performed delayed saccades to visual or auditory targets. We found that 64% of FEF neurons were active on presentation of auditory targets and 87% were active during auditory-guided saccades, compared with 75 and 84% for visual targets and saccades. As saccade onset approached, the average level of population activity in the FEF became indistinguishable on visual and auditory trials. FEF activity was better correlated with the movement vector than with the target location for both modalities. In summary, the large proportion of auditory-responsive neurons in the FEF, the similarity between visual and auditory activity levels at the time of the saccade, and the strong correlation between the activity and the saccade vector suggest that auditory signals undergo tailoring to match roughly the strength of visual signals present in the FEF, facilitating accessing of a common motor output pathway. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

  13. Comparison of Wide-Field Fluorescein Angiography and Nine-Field Montage Angiography in Uveitis

    PubMed Central

    Nicholson, Benjamin P.; Nigam, Divya; Miller, Darby; Agrón, Elvira; Dalal, Monica; Jacobs-El, Naima; Lima, Breno da Rocha; Cunningham, Denise; Nussenblatt, Robert; Sen, H. Nida

    2014-01-01

    Purpose To qualitatively and quantitatively compare Optos© fundus camera fluorescein angiographic images of retinal vascular leakage with 9-field montage Topcon© fluorescein angiography (FA) images in patients with uveitis. We hypothesized that Optos images reveal more leakage in uveitis patients. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Methods Images of all uveitis patients imaged with same-sitting Optos FA and 9-field montage FA during a 9 month period at a single institution (52 eyes of 31 patients) were graded for the total area of retinal vascular leakage. The main outcome measure was area of fluorescein leakage. Results The area of apparent FA leakage was greater in Optos images than in 9-field montage images (median 22.5 mm2 vs. 4.8 mm2, P<0.0001). Twenty-two of 49 (45%) eyes with gradable photos had at least 25% more leakage on the Optos image than on the montage image. Two (4.1%) had at least 25% less leakage on Optos, and 25 (51%) were similar between the two modalities. Two eyes had no apparent retinal vascular leakage on 9-field montage but were found to have apparent leakage on Optos images. Twenty-three of the 49 eyes had posterior pole leakage, and of these 17 (73.9%) showed more posterior pole leakage on the Optos image. A single 200 degree Optos FA image captured a mean 1.50x the area captured by montage photography. Conclusion More retinal vascular pathology, both in the periphery and the posterior pole, is seen with Optos FA in uveitis patients when compared with 9-field montage. The clinical implications of Optos FA findings have yet to be determined. PMID:24321475

  14. The selective disruption of spatial working memory by eye movements

    PubMed Central

    Postle, Bradley R.; Idzikowski, Christopher; Sala, Sergio Della; Logie, Robert H.; Baddeley, Alan D.

    2005-01-01

    In the late 1970s/early 1980s, Baddeley and colleagues conducted a series of experiments investigating the role of eye movements in visual working memory. Although only described briefly in a book (Baddeley, 1986), these studies have influenced a remarkable number of empirical and theoretical developments in fields ranging from experimental psychology to human neuropsychology to nonhuman primate electrophysiology. This paper presents, in full detail, three critical studies from this series, together with a recently performed study that includes a level of eye movement measurement and control that was not available for the older studies. Together, the results demonstrate several facts about the sensitivity of visuospatial working memory to eye movements. First, it is eye movement control, not movement per se, that produces the disruptive effects. Second, these effects are limited to working memory for locations, and do not generalize to visual working memory for shapes. Third, they can be isolated to the storage/maintenance components of working memory (e.g., to the delay period of the delayed-recognition task). These facts have important implications for models of visual working memory. PMID:16556561

  15. Assessment of the vision-specific quality of life using clustered visual field in glaucoma patients.

    PubMed

    Sawada, Hideko; Yoshino, Takaiko; Fukuchi, Takeo; Abe, Haruki

    2014-02-01

    To investigate the significance of vision-specific quality of life (QOL) in glaucoma patients based on the location of visual field defects. We examined 336 eyes of 168 patients. The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire was used to evaluate patients' QOL. Visual field testing was performed using the Humphrey Field Analyzer; the visual field was divided into 10 clusters. We defined the eye with better mean deviation as the better eye and the fellow eye as the worse eye. A single linear regression analysis was applied to assess the significance of the relationship between QOL and the clustered visual field. The strongest correlation was observed in the lower paracentral visual field in the better eye. The lower peripheral visual field in the better eye also showed a good correlation. Correlation coefficients in the better eye were generally higher than those in the worse eye. For driving, the upper temporal visual field in the better eye was the most strongly correlated (r=0.509). For role limitation and peripheral vision, the lower peripheral visual field in the better eye had the highest correlation coefficients at 0.459 and 0.425, respectively. Overall, clusters in the lower hemifield in the better eye were more strongly correlated with QOL than those in the worse eye. In particular, the lower paracentral visual field in the better eye was correlated most strongly of all. Driving, however, strongly correlated with the upper hemifield in the better eye.

  16. Eye Tracking Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: Characterization and Pathophysiology

    PubMed Central

    Sereno, Anne B.; Gooding, Diane C.; O’Driscoll, Gilllian A.

    2011-01-01

    Eye tracking dysfunction (ETD) is one of the most widely replicated behavioral deficits in schizophrenia and is over-represented in clinically unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients. Here, we provide an overview of research relevant to the characterization and pathophysiology of this impairment. Deficits are most robust in the maintenance phase of pursuit, particularly during the tracking of predictable target movement. Impairments are also found in pursuit initiation and correlate with performance on tests of motion processing, implicating early sensory processing of motion signals. Taken together, the evidence suggests that ETD involves higher-order structures, including the frontal eye fields, which adjust the gain of the pursuit response to visual and anticipated target movement, as well as early parts of the pursuit pathway, including motion areas (the middle temporal area and the adjacent medial superior temporal area). Broader application of localizing behavioral paradigms in patient and family studies would be advantageous for refining the eye tracking phenotype for genetic studies. PMID:21312405

  17. Lamina cribrosa position and Bruch's membrane opening differences between anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Rebolleda, Gema; Pérez-Sarriegui, Ane; Díez-Álvarez, Laura; De Juan, Victoria; Muñoz-Negrete, Francisco J

    2018-06-01

    To compare the optic nerve head morphology among primary open-angle glaucoma, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy eyes, their fellow healthy eyes and control eyes, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging. Observational cross-sectional study including 88 eyes of 68 patients. In this study, 23 non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy eyes, 17 fellow unaffected eyes, 25 primary open-angle glaucoma eyes, and 23 age-matched control eyes were included. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and optic disk area were evaluated. Bruch's membrane opening diameter, optic cup depth, anterior lamina cribrosa depth, and prelaminar tissue thickness were assessed. Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and primary open-angle glaucoma eyes had similar visual field mean deviation and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P = 0.6 and P = 0.56, respectively). Bruch's membrane opening diameter was significantly larger in primary open-angle glaucoma eyes than in control eyes (P = 0.02). Lamina cribrosa and disk cup were deeper in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma than both control and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy eyes (P < 0.001). Prelaminar tissue thickness was significantly thinner in primary open-angle glaucoma eyes than in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy eyes (P < 0.001). Lamina cribrosa was shallower in both non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and unaffected fellow eyes compared to healthy eyes (P < 0.001 and P = 0.04, respectively). No differences were found in the optic disk area. A forward lamina cribrosa placement and not a smaller disk could be involved in the pathogenesis of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. A significantly larger Bruch's membrane opening diameter was found in primary open-angle glaucoma eyes compared with control eyes. This issue has clinical implications because Bruch's membrane opening has been considered a stable reference for disk-related measures.

  18. Selfish genetic elements and the gene’s-eye view of evolution

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    During the last few decades, we have seen an explosion in the influx of details about the biology of selfish genetic elements. Ever since the early days of the field, the gene’s-eye view of Richard Dawkins, George Williams, and others, has been instrumental to make sense of new empirical observations and to the generation of new hypotheses. However, the close association between selfish genetic elements and the gene’s-eye view has not been without critics and several other conceptual frameworks have been suggested. In particular, proponents of multilevel selection models have used selfish genetic elements to criticize the gene’s-eye view. In this paper, I first trace the intertwined histories of the study of selfish genetic elements and the gene’s-eye view and then discuss how their association holds up when compared with other proposed frameworks. Next, using examples from transposable elements and the major transitions, I argue that different models highlight separate aspects of the evolution of selfish genetic elements and that the productive way forward is to maintain a plurality of perspectives. Finally, I discuss how the empirical study of selfish genetic elements has implications for other conceptual issues associated with the gene’s-eye view, such as agential thinking, adaptationism, and the role of fitness maximizing models in evolution. PMID:29491953

  19. Ultrawide-field Fluorescein Angiography for Evaluation of Diabetic Retinopathy

    PubMed Central

    Kong, Mingui; Lee, Mee Yon

    2012-01-01

    Purpose To investigate the advantages of ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (FA) over the standard fundus examination in the evaluation of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Ultrawide-field FAs were obtained in 118 eyes of 59 diabetic patients; 11 eyes with no DR, 71 eyes with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and 36 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), diagnosed by the standard method. The presence of peripheral abnormal lesions beyond the standard seven fields was examined. Results Ultrawide-field FA images demonstrated peripheral microaneurysms in six (54.5%) of 11 eyes with no DR and all eyes with moderate to severe NPDR and PDR. Peripheral retinal neovascularizations were detected in three (4.2%) of 71 eyes with NPDR and in 13 (36.1%) of 36 eyes with PDR. Peripheral vascular nonperfusion and vascular leakage were found in two-thirds of eyes with severe NPDR and PDR. Conclusions Ultrawide-field FA demonstrates peripheral lesions beyond standard fields, which can allow early detection and a close evaluation of DR. PMID:23204797

  20. The 2014 Bowman Lecture—Bowman's and Bruch's: a tale of two membranes during the laser revolution

    PubMed Central

    Marshall, J

    2015-01-01

    To describe the historical evolution of the role of lasers in effecting therapeutic changes in the four acellular membranes of the eye. Over the past 50 years, iterative developments have been instituted in lasers used for various forms of eye surgery predominately on the basis of data generated in early experiments in the 1960s to determine thresholds for damage and their incorporation in codes of practice for laser safety. The evolutionary steps are described. Excimer laser technology resulted in the generation of the new field of laser refractive surgery with over 40 million individuals now having undergone procedures such as photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK. Developments in lasers used for various forms of retinal surgery have undergone changes involving shorter and shorter pulse durations together with changes in beam energy distribution with implications for potential intervention in AMD prophylactically. Lasers have made a major impact on surgical treatment on all four acellular membranes of the eye but particularly Bowman's membrane in refractive surgery, where it has been demonstrated that it can be removed without significant consequences for eye health or vision. PMID:25567376

  1. Change in peripheral refraction and curvature of field of the human eye with accommodation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ho, Arthur; Zimmermann, Frederik; Whatham, Andrew; Martinez, Aldo; Delgado, Stephanie; Lazon de la Jara, Percy; Sankaridurg, Padmaja

    2009-02-01

    Recent research showed that the peripheral refractive state is a sufficient stimulus for myopia progression. This finding led to the suggestion that devices that control peripheral refraction may be efficacious in controlling myopia progression. This study aims to understand whether the optical effect of such devices may be affected by near focus. In particular, we seek to understand the influence of accommodation on peripheral refraction and curvature of field of the eye. Refraction was measured in twenty young subjects using an autorefractor at 0° (i.e. along visual axis), and 20°, 30° and 40° field angles both nasal and temporal to the visual axis. All measurements were conducted at 2.5 m, 40 cm and 30 cm viewing distances. Refractive errors were corrected using a soft contact lens during all measurements. As field angle increased, refraction became less hyperopic. Peripheral refraction also became less hyperopic at nearer viewing distances (i.e. with increasing accommodation). Astigmatism (J180) increased with field angle as well as with accommodation. Adopting a third-order aberration theory approach, the position of the Petzval surface relative to the retinal surface was estimated by considering the relative peripheral refractive error (RPRE) and J180 terms of peripheral refraction. Results for the estimated dioptric position of the Petzval surface relative to the retina showed substantial asymmetry. While temporal field tended to agree with theoretical predictions, nasal response departed dramatically from the model eye predictions. With increasing accommodation, peripheral refraction becomes less hyperopic while the Petzval surface showed asymmetry in its change in position. The change in the optical components (i.e. cornea and/or lens as opposed to retinal shape or position) is implicated as at least one of the contributors of this shift in peripheral refraction during accommodation.

  2. Functional Specialization in the Lower and Upper Visual Fields in Humans: Its Ecological Origins and Neurophysiological Implications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-01-01

    in that the with this hypothesis are the many reports (e.g., Adler - crossed-disparity system does appear to develop first Grinberg & Stark 1978... Rodman et al. 1986) that survives as independent of hemispheric asymmetries and additive to striate lesions critically depends on the superior...Perfomance. IRAAI human brain. No longer can visual cortical physiology Adler -Grinberg, D. & Stark, L. (1978) Eye movements, scanpaths, and dyslexia

  3. The effects of compliance cost and specific consequence information on the use of safety equipment.

    PubMed

    Hathaway, J A; Dingus, T A

    1992-12-01

    The effects of compliance cost and warning content on the use of protective eyewear by racquetball players were evaluated. Four-hundred-twenty subjects were observed for use of eye protection in a field setting. Results indicate that proximal placement of eyewear and the inclusion of specific consequence warning information increased safety equipment use. Implications of this research for augmenting warning effectiveness and safety are discussed.

  4. Sensitivity and specificity of automated analysis of single-field non-mydriatic fundus photographs by Bosch DR Algorithm—Comparison with mydriatic fundus photography (ETDRS) for screening in undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy

    PubMed Central

    Bawankar, Pritam; Shanbhag, Nita; K., S. Smitha; Dhawan, Bodhraj; Palsule, Aratee; Kumar, Devesh; Chandel, Shailja

    2017-01-01

    Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Early diagnosis through effective screening programs is likely to improve vision outcomes. The ETDRS seven-standard-field 35-mm stereoscopic color retinal imaging (ETDRS) of the dilated eye is elaborate and requires mydriasis, and is unsuitable for screening. We evaluated an image analysis application for the automated diagnosis of DR from non-mydriatic single-field images. Patients suffering from diabetes for at least 5 years were included if they were 18 years or older. Patients already diagnosed with DR were excluded. Physiologic mydriasis was achieved by placing the subjects in a dark room. Images were captured using a Bosch Mobile Eye Care fundus camera. The images were analyzed by the Retinal Imaging Bosch DR Algorithm for the diagnosis of DR. All subjects also subsequently underwent pharmacological mydriasis and ETDRS imaging. Non-mydriatic and mydriatic images were read by ophthalmologists. The ETDRS readings were used as the gold standard for calculating the sensitivity and specificity for the software. 564 consecutive subjects (1128 eyes) were recruited from six centers in India. Each subject was evaluated at a single outpatient visit. Forty-four of 1128 images (3.9%) could not be read by the algorithm, and were categorized as inconclusive. In four subjects, neither eye provided an acceptable image: these four subjects were excluded from the analysis. This left 560 subjects for analysis (1084 eyes). The algorithm correctly diagnosed 531 of 560 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 91%, 97%, 94%, and 95% respectively. The Bosch DR Algorithm shows favorable sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing DR from non-mydriatic images, and can greatly simplify screening for DR. This also has major implications for telemedicine in the use of screening for retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. PMID:29281690

  5. Sensitivity and specificity of automated analysis of single-field non-mydriatic fundus photographs by Bosch DR Algorithm-Comparison with mydriatic fundus photography (ETDRS) for screening in undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Bawankar, Pritam; Shanbhag, Nita; K, S Smitha; Dhawan, Bodhraj; Palsule, Aratee; Kumar, Devesh; Chandel, Shailja; Sood, Suneet

    2017-01-01

    Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Early diagnosis through effective screening programs is likely to improve vision outcomes. The ETDRS seven-standard-field 35-mm stereoscopic color retinal imaging (ETDRS) of the dilated eye is elaborate and requires mydriasis, and is unsuitable for screening. We evaluated an image analysis application for the automated diagnosis of DR from non-mydriatic single-field images. Patients suffering from diabetes for at least 5 years were included if they were 18 years or older. Patients already diagnosed with DR were excluded. Physiologic mydriasis was achieved by placing the subjects in a dark room. Images were captured using a Bosch Mobile Eye Care fundus camera. The images were analyzed by the Retinal Imaging Bosch DR Algorithm for the diagnosis of DR. All subjects also subsequently underwent pharmacological mydriasis and ETDRS imaging. Non-mydriatic and mydriatic images were read by ophthalmologists. The ETDRS readings were used as the gold standard for calculating the sensitivity and specificity for the software. 564 consecutive subjects (1128 eyes) were recruited from six centers in India. Each subject was evaluated at a single outpatient visit. Forty-four of 1128 images (3.9%) could not be read by the algorithm, and were categorized as inconclusive. In four subjects, neither eye provided an acceptable image: these four subjects were excluded from the analysis. This left 560 subjects for analysis (1084 eyes). The algorithm correctly diagnosed 531 of 560 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 91%, 97%, 94%, and 95% respectively. The Bosch DR Algorithm shows favorable sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing DR from non-mydriatic images, and can greatly simplify screening for DR. This also has major implications for telemedicine in the use of screening for retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.

  6. Avian binocular vision: It's not just about what birds can see, it's also about what they can't.

    PubMed

    Tyrrell, Luke P; Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

    2017-01-01

    With the exception of primates, most vertebrates have laterally placed eyes. Binocular vision in vertebrates has been implicated in several functions, including depth perception, contrast discrimination, etc. However, the blind area in front of the head that is proximal to the binocular visual field is often neglected. This anterior blind area is important when discussing the evolution of binocular vision because its relative length is inversely correlated with the width of the binocular field. Therefore, species with wider binocular fields also have shorter anterior blind areas and objects along the mid-sagittal plane can be imaged at closer distances. Additionally, the anterior blind area is of functional significance for birds because the beak falls within this blind area. We tested for the first time some specific predictions about the functional role of the anterior blind area in birds controlling for phylogenetic effects. We used published data on visual field configuration in 40 species of birds and measured beak and skull parameters from museum specimens. We found that birds with proportionally longer beaks have longer anterior blind areas and thus narrower binocular fields. This result suggests that the anterior blind area and beak visibility do play a role in shaping binocular fields, and that binocular field width is not solely determined by the need for stereoscopic vision. In visually guided foragers, the ability to see the beak-and how much of the beak can be seen-varies predictably with foraging habits. For example, fish- and insect-eating specialists can see more of their own beak than birds eating immobile food can. But in non-visually guided foragers, there is no consistent relationship between the beak and anterior blind area. We discuss different strategies-wide binocular fields, large eye movements, and long beaks-that minimize the potential negative effects of the anterior blind area. Overall, we argue that there is more to avian binocularity than meets the eye.

  7. Visual field recovery after vision restoration therapy (VRT) is independent of eye movements: an eye tracker study.

    PubMed

    Kasten, Erich; Bunzenthal, Ulrike; Sabel, Bernhard A

    2006-11-25

    It has been argued that patients with visual field defects compensate for their deficit by making more frequent eye movements toward the hemianopic field and that visual field enlargements found after vision restoration therapy (VRT) may be an artefact of such eye movements. In order to determine if this was correct, we recorded eye movements in hemianopic subjects before and after VRT. Visual fields were measured in subjects with homonymous visual field defects (n=15) caused by trauma, cerebral ischemia or haemorrhage (lesion age >6 months). Visual field charts were plotted using both high-resolution perimetry (HRP) and conventional perimetry before and after a 3-month period of VRT, with eye movements being recorded with a 2D-eye tracker. This permitted quantification of eye positions and measurements of deviation from fixation. VRT lead to significant visual field enlargements as indicated by an increase of stimulus detection of 3.8% when tested using HRP and about 2.2% (OD) and 3.5% (OS) fewer misses with conventional perimetry. Eye movements were expressed as the standard deviations (S.D.) of the eye position recordings from fixation. Before VRT, the S.D. was +/-0.82 degrees horizontally and +/-1.16 degrees vertically; after VRT, it was +/-0.68 degrees and +/-1.39 degrees , respectively. A cluster analysis of the horizontal eye movements before VRT showed three types of subjects with (i) small (n=7), (ii) medium (n=7) or (iii) large fixation instability (n=1). Saccades were directed equally to the right or the left side; i.e., with no preference toward the blind hemifield. After VRT, many subjects showed a smaller variability of horizontal eye movements. Before VRT, 81.6% of the recorded eye positions were found within a range of 1 degrees horizontally from fixation, whereas after VRT, 88.3% were within that range. In the 2 degrees range, we found 94.8% before and 98.9% after VRT. Subjects moved their eyes 5 degrees or more 0.3% of the time before VRT versus 0.1% after VRT. Thus, in this study, subjects with homonymous visual field defects who were attempting to fixate a central target while their fields were being plotted, typically showed brief horizontal shifts with no preference toward or away from the blind hemifield. These eye movements were usually less than 1 degrees from fixation. Large saccades toward the blind field after VRT were very rare. VRT has no effect on either the direction or the amplitude of horizontal eye movements during visual field testing. These results argue against the theory that the visual field enlargements are artefacts induced by eye movements.

  8. Variant myopia: A new presentation?

    PubMed Central

    Hussaindeen, Jameel Rizwana; Anand, Mithra; Sivaraman, Viswanathan; Ramani, Krishna Kumar; Allen, Peter M

    2018-01-01

    Purpose: Variant myopia (VM) presents as a discrepancy of >1 diopter (D) between subjective and objective refraction, without the presence of any accommodative dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to create a clinical profile of VM. Methods: Fourteen eyes of 12 VM patients who had a discrepancy of >1D between retinoscopy and subjective acceptance under both cycloplegic and noncycloplegic conditions were included in the study. Fourteen eyes of 14 age- and refractive error-matched participants served as controls. Potential participants underwent a comprehensive orthoptic examination followed by retinoscopy (Ret), closed-field autorefractor (CA), subjective acceptance (SA), choroidal and retinal thickness, ocular biometry, and higher order spherical aberrations measurements. Results: In the VM eyes, a statistically and clinically significant difference was noted between the Ret and CA and Ret and SA under both cycloplegic and noncycloplegic conditions (multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance, P < 0.0001). A statistically significant difference was observed between the VM eyes, non-VM eyes, and controls for choroidal thickness in all the quadrants (Univariate ANOVA P < 0.05). The VM eyes had thinner choroids (197.21 ± 13.04 μ) compared to the non-VM eyes (249.25 ± 53.70 μ) and refractive error-matched controls (264.62 ± 12.53 μ). No statistically significant differences between groups in root mean square of total higher order aberrations and spherical aberration were observed. Conclusion: Accommodative etiology does not play a role in the refractive discrepancy seen in individuals with the variant myopic presentation. These individuals have thinner choroids in the eye with variant myopic presentation compared to the fellow eyes and controls. Hypotheses and clinical implications of variant myopia are discussed. PMID:29785987

  9. Face exploration dynamics differentiate men and women.

    PubMed

    Coutrot, Antoine; Binetti, Nicola; Harrison, Charlotte; Mareschal, Isabelle; Johnston, Alan

    2016-11-01

    The human face is central to our everyday social interactions. Recent studies have shown that while gazing at faces, each one of us has a particular eye-scanning pattern, highly stable across time. Although variables such as culture or personality have been shown to modulate gaze behavior, we still don't know what shapes these idiosyncrasies. Moreover, most previous observations rely on static analyses of small-sized eye-position data sets averaged across time. Here, we probe the temporal dynamics of gaze to explore what information can be extracted about the observers and what is being observed. Controlling for any stimuli effect, we demonstrate that among many individual characteristics, the gender of both the participant (gazer) and the person being observed (actor) are the factors that most influence gaze patterns during face exploration. We record and exploit the largest set of eye-tracking data (405 participants, 58 nationalities) from participants watching videos of another person. Using novel data-mining techniques, we show that female gazers follow a much more exploratory scanning strategy than males. Moreover, female gazers watching female actresses look more at the eye on the left side. These results have strong implications in every field using gaze-based models from computer vision to clinical psychology.

  10. Preferred retinal locus in macular disease: characteristics and clinical implications.

    PubMed

    Greenstein, Vivienne C; Santos, Rodrigo A V; Tsang, Stephen H; Smith, R Theodore; Barile, Gaetano R; Seiple, William

    2008-10-01

    To investigate the location and fixation stability of preferred retinal locations (PRLs) in patients with macular disease, and the relationship among areas of abnormal fundus autofluorescence, the PRL and visual sensitivity. Fifteen patients (15 eyes) were studied. Seven had Stargardt disease, 1 bull's eye maculopathy, 5 age-related macular degeneration, 1 Best disease, and 1 pattern dystrophy. All tested eyes had areas of abnormal fundus autofluorescence. The PRL was evaluated with fundus photography and the Nidek microperimeter. Visual field sensitivity was measured with the Nidek microperimeter. Of the 15 eyes, 4 had foveal and 11 had eccentric fixation. Eccentric PRLs were above the atrophic lesion and their stability did not depend on the degree of eccentricity from the fovea. Visual sensitivity was markedly decreased in locations corresponding to hypofluorescent areas. Sensitivity was not decreased in hyperfluorescent areas corresponding to flecks but was decreased if hyperfluorescence was in the form of dense annuli. Eccentric PRLs were in the superior retina in regions of normal fundus autofluorescence. Fixation stability was not correlated with the degree of eccentricity from the fovea. To assess the outcomes of treatment trials it is important to use methods that relate retinal morphology to visual function.

  11. The frontal eye fields limit the capacity of visual short-term memory in rhesus monkeys.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kyoung-Min; Ahn, Kyung-Ha

    2013-01-01

    The frontal eye fields (FEF) in rhesus monkeys have been implicated in visual short-term memory (VSTM) as well as control of visual attention. Here we examined the importance of the area in the VSTM capacity and the relationship between VSTM and attention, using the chemical inactivation technique and multi-target saccade tasks with or without the need of target-location memory. During FEF inactivation, serial saccades to targets defined by color contrast were unaffected, but saccades relying on short-term memory were impaired when the target count was at the capacity limit of VSTM. The memory impairment was specific to the FEF-coded retinotopic locations, and subject to competition among targets distributed across visual fields. These results together suggest that the FEF plays a crucial role during the entry of information into VSTM, by enabling attention deployment on targets to be remembered. In this view, the memory capacity results from the limited availability of attentional resources provided by FEF: The FEF can concurrently maintain only a limited number of activations to register the targets into memory. When lesions render part of the area unavailable for activation, the number would decrease, further reducing the capacity of VSTM.

  12. Eye-movements and ongoing task processing.

    PubMed

    Burke, David T; Meleger, Alec; Schneider, Jeffrey C; Snyder, Jim; Dorvlo, Atsu S S; Al-Adawi, Samir

    2003-06-01

    This study tests the relation between eye-movements and thought processing. Subjects were given specific modality tasks (visual, gustatory, kinesthetic) and assessed on whether they responded with distinct eye-movements. Some subjects' eye-movements reflected ongoing thought processing. Instead of a universal pattern, as suggested by the neurolinguistic programming hypothesis, this study yielded subject-specific idiosyncratic eye-movements across all modalities. Included is a discussion of the neurolinguistic programming hypothesis regarding eye-movements and its implications for the eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing theory.

  13. The anthropology of Carl Jung: Implications for pastoral care.

    PubMed

    Hunt-Meeks, S

    1983-09-01

    This article examines the basic tenets of Carl Jung's anthropology, including intrapsychic structure, relationships, society, and the process of individuation. It then turns to his ideas about God and religion. Jung builds his understanding of God from his work in psychology, and because of that method, there are several major problems with his theologizing. Nevertheless, his insights are extremely valuable to the field of pastoral care, and ministers would do very well to appreciate his contribution, though always with a critical eye to its limitation.

  14. Human lamina cribrosa insertion and age.

    PubMed

    Sigal, Ian A; Flanagan, John G; Lathrop, Kira L; Tertinegg, Inka; Bilonick, Richard

    2012-10-03

    To test the hypothesis that in healthy human eyes the lamina cribrosa (LC) insertion into the pia mater increases with age. The optic nerve heads (ONHs) of donor eyes fixed at either 5 or 50 mm Hg of IOP were sectioned, stained, and imaged under bright- and dark-field conditions. A 3-dimensional (3D) model of each ONH was reconstructed. From the 3D models we measured the area of LC insertion into the peripapillary scleral flange and into the pia, and computed the total area of insertion and fraction of LC inserting into the pia. Linear mixed effect models were used to determine if the measurements were associated with age or IOP. We analyzed 21 eyes from 11 individuals between 47 and 91 years old. The LC inserted into the pia in all eyes. The fraction of LC inserting into the pia (2.2%-29.6%) had a significant decrease with age (P = 0.049), which resulted from a nonsignificant increase in the total area of LC insertion (P = 0.41) and a nonsignificant decrease in the area of LC insertion into the pia (P = 0.55). None of the measures was associated with fixation IOP (P values 0.44-0.81). Differences between fellow eyes were smaller than differences between unrelated eyes. The LC insertion into the pia mater is common in middle-aged and older eyes, and does not increase with age. The biomechanical and vascular implications of the LC insertion into the pia mater are not well understood and should be investigated further.

  15. Human Lamina Cribrosa Insertion and Age

    PubMed Central

    Sigal, Ian A.; Flanagan, John G.; Lathrop, Kira L.; Tertinegg, Inka; Bilonick, Richard

    2012-01-01

    Purpose. To test the hypothesis that in healthy human eyes the lamina cribrosa (LC) insertion into the pia mater increases with age. Methods. The optic nerve heads (ONHs) of donor eyes fixed at either 5 or 50 mm Hg of IOP were sectioned, stained, and imaged under bright- and dark-field conditions. A 3-dimensional (3D) model of each ONH was reconstructed. From the 3D models we measured the area of LC insertion into the peripapillary scleral flange and into the pia, and computed the total area of insertion and fraction of LC inserting into the pia. Linear mixed effect models were used to determine if the measurements were associated with age or IOP. Results. We analyzed 21 eyes from 11 individuals between 47 and 91 years old. The LC inserted into the pia in all eyes. The fraction of LC inserting into the pia (2.2%–29.6%) had a significant decrease with age (P = 0.049), which resulted from a nonsignificant increase in the total area of LC insertion (P = 0.41) and a nonsignificant decrease in the area of LC insertion into the pia (P = 0.55). None of the measures was associated with fixation IOP (P values 0.44–0.81). Differences between fellow eyes were smaller than differences between unrelated eyes. Conclusions. The LC insertion into the pia mater is common in middle-aged and older eyes, and does not increase with age. The biomechanical and vascular implications of the LC insertion into the pia mater are not well understood and should be investigated further. PMID:22956611

  16. Smooth pursuitlike eye movements evoked by microstimulation in macaque nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis.

    PubMed

    Yamada, T; Suzuki, D A; Yee, R D

    1996-11-01

    1. Smooth pursuitlike eye movements were evoked with low current microstimulation delivered to rostral portions of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (rNRTP) in alert macaques. Microstimulation sites were selected by the observation of modulations in single-cell firing rates that were correlated with periodic smoothpursuit eye movements. Current intensities ranged from 10 to 120 microA and were routinely < 40 microA. Microstimulation was delivered either in the dark with no fixation, 100 ms after a fixation target was extinguished, or during maintained fixation of a stationary or moving target. Evoked eye movements also were studied under open-loop conditions with the target image stabilized on the retina. 2. Eye movements evoked in the absence of a target rapidly accelerated to a constant velocity that was maintained for the duration of the microstimulation. Evoked eye speeds ranged from 3.7 to 23 deg/s and averaged 11 deg/s. Evoked eye speed appeared to be linearly related to initial eye position with a sensitivity to initial eye position that averaged 0.23 deg.s-1.deg-1. While some horizontal and oblique smooth eye movements were elicited, microstimulation resulted in upward eye movements in 89% of the sites. 3. Evoked eye speed was found to be dependent on microstimulation pulse frequency and current intensity. Within limits, evoked eye speed increased with increases in stimulation frequency or current intensity. For stimulation frequencies < 300-400 Hz, only smooth pursuit-like eye movements were evoked. At higher stimulation frequencies, accompanying saccades consistently were elicited. 4. Feedback of retinal image motion interacted with the evoked eye movements to decrease eye speed if the visual motion was in the opposite direction as the evoked, pursuit-like eye movements. 5. The results implicate rNRTP as part of the neuronal substrate that controls smooth-pursuit eye movements. NRTP appears to be divided functionally into a rostral, pursuit-related portion and a caudal, saccade-related area. rNRTP is a component of a corticopontocerebellar circuit that presumably involves the pursuit area of the frontal eye field and that parallels the middle and medial superior temporal cerebral cortical/dorsalateral pontine nucleus (MT/MST-DLPN-cerebellum) pathway known to be involved also with regulating smooth-pursuit eye movements.

  17. Eye-rotation-induced spatial reorganization of horizontal connections in field 17 of the cat cortex.

    PubMed

    Shkorbatova, P Yu; Alekseenko, S V

    2006-06-01

    Six cats with rotation of one or both eyes (strabismus) produced surgically in the early postnatal period demonstrated torsional deviation of the eyes by 10-20 degrees in addition to the rotation. The spatial distribution of retrograde labeled neurons in field 17 was studied by microiontophoretic administration of horseradish peroxidase into individual cortical columns in fields 17 and 18. These studies showed that rotation of the eyes increased the extent of horizontal neuronal connections in field 17 along the projection of the vertical meridian of the field of vision. It is suggested that this reorganization of neuronal connections may support functional changes compensating for eye rotation, as described in the literature.

  18. Red square test for visual field screening. A sensitive and simple bedside test.

    PubMed

    Mandahl, A

    1994-12-01

    A reliable bedside test for screening of visual field defects is a valuable tool in the examination of patients with a putative disease affecting the sensory visual pathways. Conventional methods such as Donders' confrontation method, counting fingers in the visual field periphery, of two-hand confrontation are not sufficiently sensitive to detect minor but nevertheless serious visual field defects. More sensitive methods requiring only simple tools are also described. In this study, a test card with four red squares surrounding a fixation target, a black dot, with a total test area of about 11 x 12.5 degrees at a distance of 30 cm, was designed for testing experience of red colour saturation in four quadrants, red square test. The Goldmann visual field was used as reference. 125 consecutive patients with pituitary adenoma (159 eyes), craniopharyngeoma (9 eyes), meningeoma (21 eyes), vascular hemisphere lesion (40 eyes), hemisphere tumour (10 eyes) and hemisphere abscess (2 eyes) were examined. The Goldmann visual field and red square test were pathological in pituitary adenomas in 35%, in craniopharyngeomas in 44%, in meningeomas in 52% and in hemisphere tumours or abscess in 100% of the eyes. Among these, no false-normal or false-pathological tests were found. However, in vascular hemisphere disease the corresponding figures were Goldmann visual field 90% and red square test 85%. The 5% difference (4 eyes) was due to Goldmann visual field defects strictly peripheral to the central 15 degrees. These defects were easily diagnosed with two-hand confrontation and

  19. Implications in dosimetry of the implementation of the revised dose limit to the lens of the eye.

    PubMed

    Broughton, J; Cantone, M C; Ginjaume, M; Shah, B; Czarwinski, R

    2015-04-01

    In 2012, International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) established a Task Group to provide an assessment of the impact of the implementation of the ICRP-revised dose limit for the lens of the eye for occupational exposure. Associated Societies (ASs) of IRPA were asked to provide views and comments on the basis of a questionnaire addressing three principal topics: (i) implications for dosimetry, (ii) implications for methods of protection and (iii) wider implications of implementing the revised limits. A summary of the collated responses regarding dosimetry is presented and discussed. There is large agreement on the most critical aspects and difficulties in setting up an appropriate monitoring programme for the lens of the eyes. The recent international standards and technical documents provide guidance for some of the concerns but other challenges remain in terms of awareness, acceptance and practicalities. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  20. Looking at Eye Gaze Processing and Its Neural Correlates in Infancy--Implications for Social Development and Autism Spectrum Disorder

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hoehl, Stefanie; Reid, Vincent M.; Parise, Eugenio; Handl, Andrea; Palumbo, Letizia; Striano, Tricia

    2009-01-01

    The importance of eye gaze as a means of communication is indisputable. However, there is debate about whether there is a dedicated neural module, which functions as an eye gaze detector and when infants are able to use eye gaze cues in a referential way. The application of neuroscience methodologies to developmental psychology has provided new…

  1. Automated eye blink detection and correction method for clinical MR eye imaging.

    PubMed

    Wezel, Joep; Garpebring, Anders; Webb, Andrew G; van Osch, Matthias J P; Beenakker, Jan-Willem M

    2017-07-01

    To implement an on-line monitoring system to detect eye blinks during ocular MRI using field probes, and to reacquire corrupted k-space lines by means of an automatic feedback system integrated with the MR scanner. Six healthy subjects were scanned on a 7 Tesla MRI whole-body system using a custom-built receive coil. Subjects were asked to blink multiple times during the MR-scan. The local magnetic field changes were detected with an external fluorine-based field probe which was positioned close to the eye. The eye blink produces a field shift greater than a threshold level, this was communicated in real-time to the MR system which immediately reacquired the motion-corrupted k-space lines. The uncorrected images, using the original motion-corrupted data, showed severe artifacts, whereas the corrected images, using the reacquired data, provided an image quality similar to images acquired without blinks. Field probes can successfully detect eye blinks during MRI scans. By automatically reacquiring the eye blink-corrupted data, high quality MR-images of the eye can be acquired. Magn Reson Med 78:165-171, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  2. Long-term follow-up of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) receiving intraocular ciliary neurotrophic factor implants

    PubMed Central

    Birch, David G.; Bennett, Lea D.; Duncan, Jacque L.; Weleber, Richard G.; Pennesi, Mark E.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate the long-term efficacy of ciliary neurotrophic factor delivered via an intraocular encapsulated cell implant for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Design Long-term follow up of a multicenter, sham-controlled study. Methods Thirty-six patients at three CNTF4 sites were randomly assigned to receive a high- or low- dose implant in one eye and sham surgery in the fellow eye. The primary endpoint (change in visual field sensitivity at 12 months) has been reported previously.1 Here we report long-term visual acuity, visual field and optical coherence tomography (OCT) outcomes in 24 patients either retaining or explanting the device at 24 months relative to sham-treated eyes. Results Eyes retaining the implant showed significantly greater visual field loss from baseline than either explanted eyes or sham eyes through 42 months. By 60 months and continuing through 96 months, visual field loss was comparable among sham-treated eyes, eyes retaining the implant and explanted eyes, as was visual acuity and OCT macular volume. Conclusions Over the short term, ciliary neurotrophic factor released continuously from an intra-vitreal implant lead to loss of total visual field sensitivity that was greater than the natural progression in the sham-treated eye. This additional loss of sensitivity related to the active implant was reversible when the implant was removed. Over the long term (60 – 96 months), there was no evidence of efficacy for visual acuity, visual field sensitivity or OCT measures of retinal structure. PMID:27457255

  3. Saccade Generation by the Frontal Eye Fields in Rhesus Monkeys Is Separable from Visual Detection and Bottom-Up Attention Shift

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Kyoung-Min; Ahn, Kyung-Ha; Keller, Edward L.

    2012-01-01

    The frontal eye fields (FEF), originally identified as an oculomotor cortex, have also been implicated in perceptual functions, such as constructing a visual saliency map and shifting visual attention. Further dissecting the area’s role in the transformation from visual input to oculomotor command has been difficult because of spatial confounding between stimuli and responses and consequently between intermediate cognitive processes, such as attention shift and saccade preparation. Here we developed two tasks in which the visual stimulus and the saccade response were dissociated in space (the extended memory-guided saccade task), and bottom-up attention shift and saccade target selection were independent (the four-alternative delayed saccade task). Reversible inactivation of the FEF in rhesus monkeys disrupted, as expected, contralateral memory-guided saccades, but visual detection was demonstrated to be intact at the same field. Moreover, saccade behavior was impaired when a bottom-up shift of attention was not a prerequisite for saccade target selection, indicating that the inactivation effect was independent of the previously reported dysfunctions in bottom-up attention control. These findings underscore the motor aspect of the area’s functions, especially in situations where saccades are generated by internal cognitive processes, including visual short-term memory and long-term associative memory. PMID:22761923

  4. Saccade generation by the frontal eye fields in rhesus monkeys is separable from visual detection and bottom-up attention shift.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kyoung-Min; Ahn, Kyung-Ha; Keller, Edward L

    2012-01-01

    The frontal eye fields (FEF), originally identified as an oculomotor cortex, have also been implicated in perceptual functions, such as constructing a visual saliency map and shifting visual attention. Further dissecting the area's role in the transformation from visual input to oculomotor command has been difficult because of spatial confounding between stimuli and responses and consequently between intermediate cognitive processes, such as attention shift and saccade preparation. Here we developed two tasks in which the visual stimulus and the saccade response were dissociated in space (the extended memory-guided saccade task), and bottom-up attention shift and saccade target selection were independent (the four-alternative delayed saccade task). Reversible inactivation of the FEF in rhesus monkeys disrupted, as expected, contralateral memory-guided saccades, but visual detection was demonstrated to be intact at the same field. Moreover, saccade behavior was impaired when a bottom-up shift of attention was not a prerequisite for saccade target selection, indicating that the inactivation effect was independent of the previously reported dysfunctions in bottom-up attention control. These findings underscore the motor aspect of the area's functions, especially in situations where saccades are generated by internal cognitive processes, including visual short-term memory and long-term associative memory.

  5. Effect of bilateral eye movements on frontal interhemispheric gamma EEG coherence: implications for EMDR therapy.

    PubMed

    Propper, Ruth E; Pierce, Jenna; Geisler, Mark W; Christman, Stephen D; Bellorado, Nathan

    2007-09-01

    The use of bilateral eye movements (EMs) is an important component of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. The neural mechanisms underlying EMDR remain unclear. However, prior behavioral work looking at the effects of bilateral EMs on the retrieval of episodic memories suggests that the EMs enhance interhemispheric interaction. The present study examined the effects of the EMs used in EMDR on interhemispheric electroencephalogram coherence. Relative to noneye-movement controls, engaging in bilateral EMs led to decreased interhemispheric gamma electroencephalogram coherence. Implications for future work on EMDR and episodic memory are discussed.

  6. Characterization of Silicon Moth-Eye Antireflection Coatings for Astronomical Applications in the Infrared

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jeram, Sarik; Ge, Jian; Jiang, Peng; Phillips, Blayne

    2016-01-01

    Silicon moth-eye antireflective structures have emerged to be an excellent approachfor reducing the amount of light that is lost upon incidence on a given surface of optics made of silicon. This property has been exploited for a wide variety of products ranging from eyeglasses and flat-panel displays to solar panels. These materials typically come in the form of coatings that are applied to an optical substrate such as glass. Moth-eye coatings, made of a periodic array of subwavelength pillars on silicon substrates or other substrates, can produce the desired antireflection (AR) performance for a broad wavelength range and over a wide range of incident angles. In the field of astronomy, every photon striking a detector is significant - and thus, losses from reflectivity at the various optical interfaces before a detector can have significant implications to the science at hand. Moth-eye AR coatings on these optical interfaces may minimize their reflection losses while maximizing light throughput for a multitude of different astronomical instruments. In addition, moth-eye AR coatings, which are patterned directly on silicon surfaces, can significantly enhance the coating durability. At the University of Florida, we tested two moth-eye filters designed for use in the near-infrared regime at 1-8 microns by examining their optical properties, such as transmission, the scattered light, and wavefront quality, and testing the coatings at cryogenic temperatures to characterize their viability for use in both ground- and space-based infrared instruments. This presentation will report our lab evaluation results.

  7. Influence of eye rotation on peripheral eye length measurement obtained with a partial coherence interferometry instrument.

    PubMed

    Verkicharla, Pavan K; Suheimat, Marwan; Mallen, Edward A H; Atchison, David A

    2014-01-01

    The eye rotation approach for measuring peripheral eye length leads to concern about whether the rotation influences results, such as through pressure exerted by eyelids or extra-ocular muscles. This study investigated whether this approach is valid. Peripheral eye lengths were measured with a Lenstar LS 900 biometer for eye rotation and no-eye rotation conditions (head rotation for horizontal meridian and instrument rotation for vertical meridian). Measurements were made for 23 healthy young adults along the horizontal visual field (± 30°) and, for a subset of eight participants along the vertical visual field (± 25°). To investigate the influence of the duration of eye rotation, for six participants measurements were made at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 210 s after eye rotation to ± 30° along horizontal and vertical visual fields. Peripheral eye lengths were not significantly different for the conditions along the vertical meridian (F1,7 = 0.16, p = 0.71). The peripheral eye lengths for the conditions were significantly different along the horizontal meridian (F1,22 = 4.85, p = 0.04), although not at individual positions (p ≥ 0.10) and were not important. There were no apparent differences between the emmetropic and myopic groups. There was no significant change in eye length at any position after maintaining position for 210 s. Eye rotation and no-eye rotation conditions were similar for measuring peripheral eye lengths along horizontal and vertical visual field meridians at ± 30° and ± 25°, respectively. Either condition can be used to estimate retinal shape from peripheral eye lengths. © 2013 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2013 The College of Optometrists.

  8. Unilateral pigmentary retinopathy--a review of literature and case presentation.

    PubMed

    Stamate, Alina-Cristina; Burcea, Marian; Zemba, Mihail

    2016-01-01

    To report a rare case of unilateral pigmentary retinopathy and describe the clinical and visual field characteristics of this particular case. We present the case of a 30-year-old male patient with a gradual loss of the visual field on his left eye (LE) for the past 10 years, with further gradual painless loss of his central visual field in the last year, and no similar symptoms in his right eye. His past medical and ocular history were unremarkable. No family history of acquired or inherited diseases was determined. Based on the history, clinical findings, and visual field examination, the diagnosis of unilateral pigmentary retinopathy was established. Visual acuity and visual field in the left eye (LE) were severely affected, while in the right eye (RE), they were completely normal. In this case, distinct features of pigmentary retinopathy were observed only in one eye, with the fellow eye being unaffected. The diagnosis requires a long follow-up period, visual field and electrophysiological testing to rule out a delayed onset of a bilateral form of pigmentary retinopathy.

  9. Sunglasses with thick temples and frame constrict temporal visual field.

    PubMed

    Denion, Eric; Dugué, Audrey Emmanuelle; Augy, Sylvain; Coffin-Pichonnet, Sophie; Mouriaux, Frédéric

    2013-12-01

    Our aim was to compare the impact of two types of sunglasses on visual field and glare: one ("thick sunglasses") with a thick plastic frame and wide temples and one ("thin sunglasses") with a thin metal frame and thin temples. Using the Goldmann perimeter, visual field surface areas (cm²) were calculated as projections on a 30-cm virtual cupola. A V4 test object was used, from seen to unseen, in 15 healthy volunteers in the primary position of gaze ("base visual field"), then allowing eye motion ("eye motion visual field") without glasses, then with "thin sunglasses," followed by "thick sunglasses." Visual field surface area differences greater than the 14% reproducibility error of the method and having a p < 0.05 were considered significant. A glare test was done using a surgical lighting system pointed at the eye(s) at different incidence angles. No significant "base visual field" or "eye motion visual field" surface area variations were noted when comparing tests done without glasses and with the "thin sunglasses." In contrast, a 22% "eye motion visual field" surface area decrease (p < 0.001) was noted when comparing tests done without glasses and with "thick sunglasses." This decrease was most severe in the temporal quadrant (-33%; p < 0.001). All subjects reported less lateral glare with the "thick sunglasses" than with the "thin sunglasses" (p < 0.001). The better protection from lateral glare offered by "thick sunglasses" is offset by the much poorer ability to use lateral space exploration; this results in a loss of most, if not all, of the additional visual field gained through eye motion.

  10. Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and retinal nerve fibre layer changes within the macula in retinitis pigmentosa: a spectral domain optical coherence tomography study.

    PubMed

    Yoon, Chang Ki; Yu, Hyeong Gon

    2018-03-01

    To investigate how macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thicknesses within the macula change with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) severity. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to examine 177 patients with RP and 177 normal controls. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) line scan was used to grade RP severity. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) was categorized as more advanced if there was no identifiable inner segment ellipsoid (ISe) band (NISE) and as less advanced if an ISe band could be identified and peripheral loss of ISe was apparent (IISE). Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and RNFL thicknesses were manually measured on OCT images and analysed. Pearson's correlation analyses were used to examine correlations between GCIPL thickness, RNFL thickness, visual acuity (VA) and visual field extent in patients and controls. Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) was significantly thicker in IISE than in control eyes (p < 0.001), but significantly thinner in NISE than in IISE eyes (p < 0.001) in both horizontal and vertical OCT scans. Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) was significantly thicker in eyes with IISE and NISE than in control eyes in both horizontal and vertical meridians (all p < 0.001). Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness showed a weak positive correlation with vision, and RNFL thickness showed a weak negative correlation with vision and visual field extent. Based on these results, the inner retina, including the GCIPL and RNFL, maintains its gross integrity longer than the photoreceptor layer in RP. Additionally, thickening of the inner retina may have some functional implications in patients with RP. © 2017 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Knowledge and attitude of guardians towards eye health of primary school pupils in Ilorin, Nigeria.

    PubMed

    Ayanniyi, A A; Olatunji, F O; Mahmoud, A O; Ayanniyi, R O

    2010-03-01

    To determine guardians' knowledge and attitude towards pupils' eye health and draw implication for designing children-oriented ocular health messages. A survey of 1,393 guardians selected through multistage random sampling in Ilorin, Nigeria. Using structured questionnaire, information sought included guardians' demographic characteristics, relationship to pupils, occupation, awareness of eye specialists, perception of normal vision, pupils' eye complaints, and ways of treating children eye conditions. Data analysis was done with SPSS 12.0.1. The test of significance was performed using Chi square test and significance was taken at p < 0.05. Guardians comprised 689 (49.4%) males and 704 (50.6%) females, mean age 43.61 SD 11.45. Most (88.54%) were pupils' parents and (11.46%) were relations (n=1,318); (55.15%) were in low-paying occupations (n=1,311); (87.92%) were aware of eye specialists, (12.08%) unaware, (n=1192); (97.27%) adjudged normal vision at least important, (2.73%) not important (n=1,174). Pupils' eye complaints (n=914) included pain (26.04%), itching (24.73%), redness (21.12%), discharge (8.53%), blur vision (8.21%), photophobia (7.33%) and lacrimation (4.05%). Guardians (n=1,069) managed pupils' eye diseases using hospital treatment (61.65%), neglect (21.33%), self medication (9.26%) and traditional medication (7.76%). There were no significant associations between guardians' ways of managing pupils' eye diseases and their views on normal vision (p = 0.940); awareness of eye care specialists (p = 0.952); and economic occupational grouping (p = 0.959). The negative implications of neglecting eye diseases and use of self and harmful traditional eye-medications by some of the guardians need to be discouraged by appropriate eye health education.

  12. Revealing the 1 nm/s extensibility of nanoscale amorphous carbon in a scanning electron microscope.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Wei

    2013-01-01

    In an ultra-high vacuum scanning electron microscope, the edged branches of amorphous carbon film (∼10 nm thickness) can be continuously extended with an eye-identifying speed (on the order of ∼1 nm/s) under electron beam. Such unusual mobility of amorphous carbon may be associated with deformation promoted by the electric field, which resulted from an inner secondary electron potential difference from the main trunk of carbon film to the tip end of branches under electron beam. This result demonstrates importance of applying electrical effects to modify properties of carbon materials. It may have positive implications to explore some amorphous carbon as electron field emission device. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Smooth-pursuit eye-movement deficits with chemical lesions in macaque nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, D A; Yamada, T; Hoedema, R; Yee, R D

    1999-09-01

    Anatomic and neuronal recordings suggest that the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (NRTP) of macaques may be a major pontine component of a cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway that subserves the control of smooth-pursuit eye movements. The existence of such a pathway was implicated by the lack of permanent pursuit impairment after bilateral lesions in the dorsolateral pontine nucleus. To provide more direct evidence that NRTP is involved with regulating smooth-pursuit eye movements, chemical lesions were made in macaque NRTP by injecting either lidocaine or ibotenic acid. Injection sites first were identified by the recording of smooth-pursuit-related modulations in neuronal activity. The resulting lesions caused significant deficits in both the maintenance and the initiation of smooth-pursuit eye movements. After lesion formation, the gain of constant-velocity, maintained smooth-pursuit eye movements decreased, on the average, by 44%. Recovery of the ability to maintain smooth-pursuit eye movements occurred over approximately 3 days when maintained pursuit gains attained normal values. The step-ramp, "Rashbass" task was used to investigate the effects of the lesions on the initiation of smooth-pursuit eye movements. Eye accelerations averaged over the initial 80 ms of pursuit initiation were determined and found to be decremented, on the average, by 48% after the administration of ibotenic acid. Impairments in the initiation and maintenance of smooth-pursuit eye movements were directional in nature. Upward pursuit seemed to be the most vulnerable and was impaired in all cases independent of lesioning agent and type of pursuit investigated. Downward smooth pursuit seemed more resistant to the effects of chemical lesions in NRTP. Impairments in horizontal tracking were observed with examples of deficits in ipsilaterally and contralaterally directed pursuit. The results provide behavioral support for the physiologically and anatomic-based conclusion that NRTP is a component of a cortico-ponto-cerebellar circuit that presumably involves the pursuit area of the frontal eye field (FEF) and projects to ocular motor-related areas of the cerebellum. This FEF-NRTP-cerebellum path would parallel a middle and medial superior temporal cerebral cortical area-dorsolateral pontine nucleus-cerebellum pathway also known to be involved with regulating smooth-pursuit eye movements.

  14. Albertian errors in head-mounted displays: I. Choice of eye-point location for a near- or far-field task visualization.

    PubMed

    Rolland, Jannick; Ha, Yonggang; Fidopiastis, Cali

    2004-06-01

    A theoretical investigation of rendered depth and angular errors, or Albertian errors, linked to natural eye movements in binocular head-mounted displays (HMDs) is presented for three possible eye-point locations: the center of the entrance pupil, the nodal point, and the center of rotation of the eye. A numerical quantification was conducted for both the pupil and the center of rotation of the eye under the assumption that the user will operate solely in either the near field under an associated instrumentation setting or the far field under a different setting. Under these conditions, the eyes are taken to gaze in the plane of the stereoscopic images. Across conditions, results show that the center of the entrance pupil minimizes rendered angular errors, while the center of rotation minimizes rendered position errors. Significantly, this investigation quantifies that under proper setting of the HMD and correct choice of the eye points, rendered depth and angular errors can be brought to be either negligible or within specification of even the most stringent applications in performance of tasks in either the near field or the far field.

  15. Visual field defects of the contralateral eye of non-arteritic ischemic anterior optic neuropathy: are they related to sleep apnea?

    PubMed

    Aptel, Florent; Aryal-Charles, Nischal; Tamisier, Renaud; Pépin, Jean-Louis; Lesoin, Antoine; Chiquet, Christophe

    2017-06-01

    To evaluate whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is responsible for the visual field defects found in the fellow eyes of patients with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Prospective cross-sectional study. The visual fields of the fellow eyes of NAION subjects with OSA were compared to the visual fields of control OSA patients matched for OSA severity. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmological and general examination including Humphrey 24.2 SITA-Standard visual field and polysomnography. Visual field defects were classified according the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT) classification. From a cohort of 78 consecutive subjects with NAION, 34 unaffected fellow eyes were compared to 34 control eyes of subjects matched for OSA severity (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] 35.5 ± 11.6 vs 35.4 ± 9.4 events per hour, respectively, p = 0.63). After adjustment for age and body mass index, all visual field parameters were significantly different between the NAION fellow eyes and those of the control OSA groups, including mean deviation (-4.5 ± 3.7 vs -1.3 ± 1.8 dB, respectively, p < 0.05), visual field index (91.6 ± 10 vs 97.4 ± 3.5%, respectively, p = 0.002), pattern standard deviation (3.7 ± 2.3 vs 2.5 ± 2 dB, respectively, p = 0.015), and number of subjects with at least one defect on the IONDT classification (20 vs 10, respectively, p < 0.05). OSA alone does not explain the visual field defects frequently found in the fellow eyes of NAION patients.

  16. Asymmetries and Visual Field Summaries as Predictors of Glaucoma in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

    PubMed Central

    Levine, Richard A.; Demirel, Shaban; Fan, Juanjuan; Keltner, John L.; Johnson, Chris A.; Kass, Michael A.

    2007-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate whether baseline visual field data and asymmetries between eyes predict the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) participants. Methods A new index, mean prognosis (MP), was designed for optimal combination of visual field thresholds, to discriminate between eyes that developed POAG from eyes that did not. Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) in fellow eyes was used to construct measures of IOP asymmetry. Age-adjusted baseline thresholds were used to develop indicators of visual field asymmetry and summary measures of visual field defects. Marginal multivariate failure time models were constructed that relate the new index MP, IOP asymmetry, and visual field asymmetry to POAG onset for OHTS participants. Results The marginal multivariate failure time analysis showed that the MP index is significantly related to POAG onset (P < 0.0001) and appears to be a more highly significant predictor of POAG onset than either mean deviation (MD; P = 0.17) or pattern standard deviation (PSD; P = 0.046). A 1-mm Hg increase in IOP asymmetry between fellow eyes is associated with a 17% increase in risk for development of POAG. When threshold asymmetry between eyes existed, the eye with lower thresholds was at a 37% greater risk of development of POAG, and this feature was more predictive of POAG onset than the visual field index MD, though not as strong a predictor as PSD. Conclusions The MP index, IOP asymmetry, and binocular test point asymmetry can assist in clinical evaluation of eyes at risk of development of POAG. PMID:16936102

  17. Depth-estimation-enabled compound eyes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Woong-Bi; Lee, Heung-No

    2018-04-01

    Most animals that have compound eyes determine object distances by using monocular cues, especially motion parallax. In artificial compound eye imaging systems inspired by natural compound eyes, object depths are typically estimated by measuring optic flow; however, this requires mechanical movement of the compound eyes or additional acquisition time. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating object depths in a monocular compound eye imaging system based on the computational compound eye (COMPU-EYE) framework. In the COMPU-EYE system, acceptance angles are considerably larger than interommatidial angles, causing overlap between the ommatidial receptive fields. In the proposed depth estimation technique, the disparities between these receptive fields are used to determine object distances. We demonstrate that the proposed depth estimation technique can estimate the distances of multiple objects.

  18. Binocular Summation and Other Forms of Non-Dominant Eye Contribution in Individuals with Strabismic Amblyopia during Habitual Viewing

    PubMed Central

    Barrett, Brendan T.; Panesar, Gurvinder K.; Scally, Andrew J.; Pacey, Ian E.

    2013-01-01

    Background Adults with amblyopia (‘lazy eye’), long-standing strabismus (ocular misalignment) or both typically do not experience visual symptoms because the signal from weaker eye is given less weight than the signal from its fellow. Here we examine the contribution of the weaker eye of individuals with strabismus and amblyopia with both eyes open and with the deviating eye in its anomalous motor position. Methodology/Results The task consisted of a blue-on-yellow detection task along a horizontal line across the central 50 degrees of the visual field. We compare the results obtained in ten individuals with strabismic amblyopia with ten visual normals. At each field location in each participant, we examined how the sensitivity exhibited under binocular conditions compared with sensitivity from four predictions, (i) a model of binocular summation, (ii) the average of the monocular sensitivities, (iii) dominant-eye sensitivity or (iv) non-dominant-eye sensitivity. The proportion of field locations for which the binocular summation model provided the best description of binocular sensitivity was similar in normals (50.6%) and amblyopes (48.2%). Average monocular sensitivity matched binocular sensitivity in 14.1% of amblyopes’ field locations compared to 8.8% of normals’. Dominant-eye sensitivity explained sensitivity at 27.1% of field locations in amblyopes but 21.2% in normals. Non-dominant-eye sensitivity explained sensitivity at 10.6% of field locations in amblyopes but 19.4% in normals. Binocular summation provided the best description of the sensitivity profile in 6/10 amblyopes compared to 7/10 of normals. In three amblyopes, dominant-eye sensitivity most closely reflected binocular sensitivity (compared to two normals) and in the remaining amblyope, binocular sensitivity approximated to an average of the monocular sensitivities. Conclusions Our results suggest a strong positive contribution in habitual viewing from the non-dominant eye in strabismic amblyopes. This is consistent with evidence from other sources that binocular mechanisms are frequently intact in strabismic and amblyopic individuals. PMID:24205005

  19. Application of a wide-field phantom eye for optical coherence tomography and reflectance imaging.

    PubMed

    Corcoran, Anthony; Muyo, Gonzalo; van Hemert, Jano; Gorman, Alistair; Harvey, Andrew R

    2015-12-15

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectance imaging are used in clinical practice to measure the thickness and transverse dimensions of retinal features. The recent trend towards increasing the field of view (FOV) of these devices has led to an increasing significance of the optical aberrations of both the human eye and the device. We report the design, manufacture and application of the first phantom eye that reproduces the off-axis optical characteristics of the human eye, and allows the performance assessment of wide-field ophthalmic devices. We base our design and manufacture on the wide-field schematic eye, [Navarro, R. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A , 1985, 2 .] as an accurate proxy to the human eye and enable assessment of ophthalmic imaging performance for a [Formula: see text] external FOV. We used multi-material 3D-printed retinal targets to assess imaging performance of the following ophthalmic instruments: the Optos 200Tx, Heidelberg Spectralis, Zeiss FF4 fundus camera and Optos OCT SLO and use the phantom to provide an insight into some of the challenges of wide-field OCT.

  20. Application of a wide-field phantom eye for optical coherence tomography and reflectance imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Corcoran, Anthony; Muyo, Gonzalo; van Hemert, Jano; Gorman, Alistair; Harvey, Andrew R.

    2015-12-01

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectance imaging are used in clinical practice to measure the thickness and transverse dimensions of retinal features. The recent trend towards increasing the field of view (FOV) of these devices has led to an increasing significance of the optical aberrations of both the human eye and the device. We report the design, manufacture and application of the first phantom eye that reproduces the off-axis optical characteristics of the human eye, and allows the performance assessment of wide-field ophthalmic devices. We base our design and manufacture on the wide-field schematic eye, [Navarro, R. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, 1985, 2.] as an accurate proxy to the human eye and enable assessment of ophthalmic imaging performance for a ? external FOV. We used multi-material 3D-printed retinal targets to assess imaging performance of the following ophthalmic instruments: the Optos 200Tx, Heidelberg Spectralis, Zeiss FF4 fundus camera and Optos OCT SLO and use the phantom to provide an insight into some of the challenges of wide-field OCT.

  1. Diagnostic Ability of Wide-field Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Maps Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography for Detection of Preperimetric and Early Perimetric Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Lee, Won June; Na, Kyeong Ik; Kim, Young Kook; Jeoung, Jin Wook; Park, Ki Ho

    2017-06-01

    To evaluate the diagnostic ability of wide-field retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) maps with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) for detection of preperimetric (PPG) and early perimetric glaucoma (EG). One hundred eighty-four eyes, including 67 healthy eyes, 43 eyes with PPG, and 74 eyes with EG, were analyzed. Patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination including red-free RNFL photography, visual field testing and wide-field SS-OCT scanning (DRI-OCT-1 Atlantis; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). SS-OCT provides a wide-field RNFL thickness map and a SuperPixel map, which are composed of the RNFL deviation map of the peripapillary area and the deviation map of the composition of the ganglion cell layer with the inner plexiform layer and RNFL (GC-IPL+RNFL) in the macular area. The ability to discriminate PPG and EG from healthy eyes was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for all parameters and criteria provided by the wide-field SS-OCT scan. The wide-field RNFL thickness map using SS-OCT showed the highest sensitivity of PPG-diagnostic and EG-diagnostic performance compared with the other SS-OCT criteria based on the internal normative base (93.0 and 97.3%, respectively). Among the SS-OCT continuous parameters, the RFNL thickness of the 7 clock-hour, inferior and inferotemporal macular ganglion cell analyses showed the largest AUC of PPG-diagnostic and EG-diagnostic performance (AUC=0.809 to 0.865). The wide-field RNFL thickness map using SS-OCT performed well in distinguishing eyes with PPG and EG from healthy eyes. In the clinical setting, wide-field RNFL maps of SS-OCT can be useful tools for detection of early-stage glaucoma.

  2. Relationship between progression of visual field defect and intraocular pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Naito, Tomoko; Yoshikawa, Keiji; Mizoue, Shiro; Nanno, Mami; Kimura, Tairo; Suzumura, Hirotaka; Shiraga, Fumio

    2015-01-01

    To analyze the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and the progression of visual field defects in Japanese primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. The subjects of the study were patients undergoing treatment for POAG or NTG who had performed visual field tests at least ten times with a Humphrey field analyzer (Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm standard, C30-2 program). The progression of visual field defects was defined by a significantly negative value of the mean deviation slope at the final visual field test during the follow-up period. The relationships between the progression of visual field defects and IOP, as well as other clinical factors, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 156 eyes of 156 patients were included in the analysis. Significant progression of visual field defects was observed in 70 eyes of 70 patients (44.9%), while no significant progression was evident in 86 eyes of 86 patients (55.1%). The eyes with visual field defect progression had significantly lower baseline IOP (P<0.05), as well as significantly lower IOP reduction rate (P<0.01). The standard deviation of IOP values during follow-up was significantly greater in the eyes with visual field defect progression than in eyes without (P<0.05). Reducing IOP is thought to be useful for Japanese POAG or NTG patients to suppress the progression of visual field defects. In NTG, IOP management should take into account not only achieving the target IOP, but also minimizing the fluctuation of IOP during follow-up period.

  3. The subtlety of simple eyes: the tuning of visual fields to perceptual challenges in birds

    PubMed Central

    Martin, Graham R.

    2014-01-01

    Birds show interspecific variation both in the size of the fields of individual eyes and in the ways that these fields are brought together to produce the total visual field. Variation is found in the dimensions of all main parameters: binocular region, cyclopean field and blind areas. There is a phylogenetic signal with respect to maximum width of the binocular field in that passerine species have significantly broader field widths than non-passerines; broadest fields are found among crows (Corvidae). Among non-passerines, visual fields show considerable variation within families and even within some genera. It is argued that (i) the main drivers of differences in visual fields are associated with perceptual challenges that arise through different modes of foraging, and (ii) the primary function of binocularity in birds lies in the control of bill position rather than in the control of locomotion. The informational function of binocular vision does not lie in binocularity per se (two eyes receiving slightly different information simultaneously about the same objects from which higher-order depth information is extracted), but in the contralateral projection of the visual field of each eye. Contralateral projection ensures that each eye receives information from a symmetrically expanding optic flow-field from which direction of travel and time to contact targets can be extracted, particularly with respect to the control of bill position. PMID:24395967

  4. Multifocal visual evoked potential and automated perimetry abnormalities in strabismic amblyopes.

    PubMed

    Greenstein, Vivienne C; Eggers, Howard M; Hood, Donald C

    2008-02-01

    To compare visual field abnormalities obtained with standard automated perimetry (SAP) to those obtained with the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) technique in strabismic amblyopes. Humphrey 24-2 visual fields (HVF) and mfVEPs were obtained from each eye of 12 strabismic amblyopes. For the mfVEP, amplitudes and latencies were analyzed and probability plots were derived. Multifocal VEP and HVF hemifields were abnormal if they had clusters of two or more contiguous points at p < 0.01, or three or more contiguous points at p < 0.05 with at least one at p < 0.01. An eye was abnormal if it had an abnormal hemifield. On SAP, amblyopic eyes had significantly higher foveal thresholds (p = 0.003) and lower mean deviation values (p = 0.005) than fellow eyes. For the mfVEP, 11 amblyopic and 6 fellow eyes were abnormal. Of the 11 amblyopic eyes, 6 were abnormal on SAP. The deficits extended from the center to mid periphery. Monocular mfVEP latencies were significantly decreased for amblyopic eyes compared with control eyes (p < 0.0002). Both techniques revealed deficits in visual function across the visual field in strabismic amblyopes, but the mfVEP revealed deficits in fellow eyes and in more amblyopic eyes. In addition, mfVEP response latencies for amblyopic eyes were shorter than normal.

  5. Hawk Eyes I: Diurnal Raptors Differ in Visual Fields and Degree of Eye Movement

    PubMed Central

    O'Rourke, Colleen T.; Hall, Margaret I.; Pitlik, Todd; Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

    2010-01-01

    Background Different strategies to search and detect prey may place specific demands on sensory modalities. We studied visual field configuration, degree of eye movement, and orbit orientation in three diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae and Falconidae families. Methodology/Principal Findings We used an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique and an integrated 3D digitizer system. We found inter-specific variation in visual field configuration and degree of eye movement, but not in orbit orientation. Red-tailed Hawks have relatively small binocular areas (∼33°) and wide blind areas (∼82°), but intermediate degree of eye movement (∼5°), which underscores the importance of lateral vision rather than binocular vision to scan for distant prey in open areas. Cooper's Hawks' have relatively wide binocular fields (∼36°), small blind areas (∼60°), and high degree of eye movement (∼8°), which may increase visual coverage and enhance prey detection in closed habitats. Additionally, we found that Cooper's Hawks can visually inspect the items held in the tip of the bill, which may facilitate food handling. American Kestrels have intermediate-sized binocular and lateral areas that may be used in prey detection at different distances through stereopsis and motion parallax; whereas the low degree eye movement (∼1°) may help stabilize the image when hovering above prey before an attack. Conclusions We conclude that: (a) there are between-species differences in visual field configuration in these diurnal raptors; (b) these differences are consistent with prey searching strategies and degree of visual obstruction in the environment (e.g., open and closed habitats); (c) variations in the degree of eye movement between species appear associated with foraging strategies; and (d) the size of the binocular and blind areas in hawks can vary substantially due to eye movements. Inter-specific variation in visual fields and eye movements can influence behavioral strategies to visually search for and track prey while perching. PMID:20877645

  6. Hawk eyes I: diurnal raptors differ in visual fields and degree of eye movement.

    PubMed

    O'Rourke, Colleen T; Hall, Margaret I; Pitlik, Todd; Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

    2010-09-22

    Different strategies to search and detect prey may place specific demands on sensory modalities. We studied visual field configuration, degree of eye movement, and orbit orientation in three diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae and Falconidae families. We used an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique and an integrated 3D digitizer system. We found inter-specific variation in visual field configuration and degree of eye movement, but not in orbit orientation. Red-tailed Hawks have relatively small binocular areas (∼33°) and wide blind areas (∼82°), but intermediate degree of eye movement (∼5°), which underscores the importance of lateral vision rather than binocular vision to scan for distant prey in open areas. Cooper's Hawks' have relatively wide binocular fields (∼36°), small blind areas (∼60°), and high degree of eye movement (∼8°), which may increase visual coverage and enhance prey detection in closed habitats. Additionally, we found that Cooper's Hawks can visually inspect the items held in the tip of the bill, which may facilitate food handling. American Kestrels have intermediate-sized binocular and lateral areas that may be used in prey detection at different distances through stereopsis and motion parallax; whereas the low degree eye movement (∼1°) may help stabilize the image when hovering above prey before an attack. We conclude that: (a) there are between-species differences in visual field configuration in these diurnal raptors; (b) these differences are consistent with prey searching strategies and degree of visual obstruction in the environment (e.g., open and closed habitats); (c) variations in the degree of eye movement between species appear associated with foraging strategies; and (d) the size of the binocular and blind areas in hawks can vary substantially due to eye movements. Inter-specific variation in visual fields and eye movements can influence behavioral strategies to visually search for and track prey while perching.

  7. Increasing Spontaneous Retinal Activity before Eye Opening Accelerates the Development of Geniculate Receptive Fields

    PubMed Central

    Davis, Zachary W.; Chapman, Barbara

    2015-01-01

    Visually evoked activity is necessary for the normal development of the visual system. However, little is known about the capacity for patterned spontaneous activity to drive the maturation of receptive fields before visual experience. Retinal waves provide instructive retinotopic information for the anatomical organization of the visual thalamus. To determine whether retinal waves also drive the maturation of functional responses, we increased the frequency of retinal waves pharmacologically in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) during a period of retinogeniculate development before eye opening. The development of geniculate receptive fields after receiving these increased neural activities was measured using single-unit electrophysiology. We found that increased retinal waves accelerate the developmental reduction of geniculate receptive field sizes. This reduction is due to a decrease in receptive field center size rather than an increase in inhibitory surround strength. This work reveals an instructive role for patterned spontaneous activity in guiding the functional development of neural circuits. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Patterned spontaneous neural activity that occurs during development is known to be necessary for the proper formation of neural circuits. However, it is unknown whether the spontaneous activity alone is sufficient to drive the maturation of the functional properties of neurons. Our work demonstrates for the first time an acceleration in the maturation of neural function as a consequence of driving patterned spontaneous activity during development. This work has implications for our understanding of how neural circuits can be modified actively to improve function prematurely or to recover from injury with guided interventions of patterned neural activity. PMID:26511250

  8. Miniature curved artificial compound eyes

    PubMed Central

    Floreano, Dario; Pericet-Camara, Ramon; Viollet, Stéphane; Ruffier, Franck; Brückner, Andreas; Leitel, Robert; Buss, Wolfgang; Menouni, Mohsine; Expert, Fabien; Juston, Raphaël; Dobrzynski, Michal Karol; L’Eplattenier, Geraud; Recktenwald, Fabian; Mallot, Hanspeter A.; Franceschini, Nicolas

    2013-01-01

    In most animal species, vision is mediated by compound eyes, which offer lower resolution than vertebrate single-lens eyes, but significantly larger fields of view with negligible distortion and spherical aberration, as well as high temporal resolution in a tiny package. Compound eyes are ideally suited for fast panoramic motion perception. Engineering a miniature artificial compound eye is challenging because it requires accurate alignment of photoreceptive and optical components on a curved surface. Here, we describe a unique design method for biomimetic compound eyes featuring a panoramic, undistorted field of view in a very thin package. The design consists of three planar layers of separately produced arrays, namely, a microlens array, a neuromorphic photodetector array, and a flexible printed circuit board that are stacked, cut, and curved to produce a mechanically flexible imager. Following this method, we have prototyped and characterized an artificial compound eye bearing a hemispherical field of view with embedded and programmable low-power signal processing, high temporal resolution, and local adaptation to illumination. The prototyped artificial compound eye possesses several characteristics similar to the eye of the fruit fly Drosophila and other arthropod species. This design method opens up additional vistas for a broad range of applications in which wide field motion detection is at a premium, such as collision-free navigation of terrestrial and aerospace vehicles, and for the experimental testing of insect vision theories. PMID:23690574

  9. Driving simulation in the clinic: testing visual exploratory behavior in daily life activities in patients with visual field defects.

    PubMed

    Hamel, Johanna; Kraft, Antje; Ohl, Sven; De Beukelaer, Sophie; Audebert, Heinrich J; Brandt, Stephan A

    2012-09-18

    Patients suffering from homonymous hemianopia after infarction of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) report different degrees of constraint in daily life, despite similar visual deficits. We assume this could be due to variable development of compensatory strategies such as altered visual scanning behavior. Scanning compensatory therapy (SCT) is studied as part of the visual training after infarction next to vision restoration therapy. SCT consists of learning to make larger eye movements into the blind field enlarging the visual field of search, which has been proven to be the most useful strategy(1), not only in natural search tasks but also in mastering daily life activities(2). Nevertheless, in clinical routine it is difficult to identify individual levels and training effects of compensatory behavior, since it requires measurement of eye movements in a head unrestrained condition. Studies demonstrated that unrestrained head movements alter the visual exploratory behavior compared to a head-restrained laboratory condition(3). Martin et al.(4) and Hayhoe et al.(5) showed that behavior demonstrated in a laboratory setting cannot be assigned easily to a natural condition. Hence, our goal was to develop a study set-up which uncovers different compensatory oculomotor strategies quickly in a realistic testing situation: Patients are tested in the clinical environment in a driving simulator. SILAB software (Wuerzburg Institute for Traffic Sciences GmbH (WIVW)) was used to program driving scenarios of varying complexity and recording the driver's performance. The software was combined with a head mounted infrared video pupil tracker, recording head- and eye-movements (EyeSeeCam, University of Munich Hospital, Clinical Neurosciences). The positioning of the patient in the driving simulator and the positioning, adjustment and calibration of the camera is demonstrated. Typical performances of a patient with and without compensatory strategy and a healthy control are illustrated in this pilot study. Different oculomotor behaviors (frequency and amplitude of eye- and head-movements) are evaluated very quickly during the drive itself by dynamic overlay pictures indicating where the subjects gaze is located on the screen, and by analyzing the data. Compensatory gaze behavior in a patient leads to a driving performance comparable to a healthy control, while the performance of a patient without compensatory behavior is significantly worse. The data of eye- and head-movement-behavior as well as driving performance are discussed with respect to different oculomotor strategies and in a broader context with respect to possible training effects throughout the testing session and implications on rehabilitation potential.

  10. Stimulus-response incompatibility activates cortex proximate to three eye fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Merriam, E. P.; Colby, C. L.; Thulborn, K. R.; Luna, B.; Olson, C. R.; Sweeney, J. A.

    2001-01-01

    We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate cortical activation during the performance of three oculomotor tasks that impose increasing levels of cognitive demand. (1) In a visually guided saccade (VGS) task, subjects made saccades to flashed targets. (2) In a compatible task, subjects made leftward and rightward saccades in response to foveal presentation of the uppercase words "LEFT" or "RIGHT." (3) In a mixed task, subjects made rightward saccades in response to the lowercase word "left" and leftward saccades in response to the lowercase word "right" on incompatible trials (60%). The remaining 40% of trials required compatible responses to uppercase words. The VGS and compatible tasks, when compared to fixation, activated the three cortical eye fields: the supplementary eye field (SEF), the frontal eye field (FEF), and the parietal eye field (PEF). The mixed task, when compared to the compatible task, activated three additional cortical regions proximate to the three eye fields: (1) rostral to the SEF in medial frontal cortex; (2) rostral to the FEF in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC); (3) rostral and lateral to the PEF in posterior parietal cortex. These areas may contribute to the suppression of prepotent responses and in holding novel visuomotor associations in working memory. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

  11. The Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Point-of-Care Test in Dry Eye.

    PubMed

    Lanza, Nicole L; Valenzuela, Felipe; Perez, Victor L; Galor, Anat

    2016-04-01

    Dry eye is a common, multifactorial disease currently diagnosed by a combination of symptoms and signs. However, the subjective symptoms of dry eye poorly correlate to the current gold standard for diagnostic tests, reflecting the need to develop better objective tests for the diagnosis of dry eye. This review considers the role of ocular surface matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in dry eye and the implications of a novel point-of-care test that measures MMP-9 levels, InflammaDry (RPS, Sarasota, FL) on choosing appropriate therapeutic treatments. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. Statis omnidirectional stereoscopic display system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barton, George G.; Feldman, Sidney; Beckstead, Jeffrey A.

    1999-11-01

    A unique three camera stereoscopic omnidirectional viewing system based on the periscopic panoramic camera described in the 11/98 SPIE proceedings (AM13). The 3 panoramic cameras are equilaterally combined so each leg of the triangle approximates the human inter-ocular spacing allowing each panoramic camera to view 240 degree(s) of the panoramic scene, the most counter clockwise 120 degree(s) being the left eye field and the other 120 degree(s) segment being the right eye field. Field definition may be by green/red filtration or time discrimination of the video signal. In the first instance a 2 color spectacle is used in viewing the display or in the 2nd instance LCD goggles are used to differentiate the R/L fields. Radially scanned vidicons or re-mapped CCDs may be used. The display consists of three vertically stacked 120 degree(s) segments of the panoramic field of view with 2 fields/frame. Field A being the left eye display and Field B the right eye display.

  13. Effects of Peripheral Visual Field Loss on Eye Movements During Visual Search

    PubMed Central

    Wiecek, Emily; Pasquale, Louis R.; Fiser, Jozsef; Dakin, Steven; Bex, Peter J.

    2012-01-01

    Natural vision involves sequential eye movements that bring the fovea to locations selected by peripheral vision. How peripheral visual field loss (PVFL) affects this process is not well understood. We examine how the location and extent of PVFL affects eye movement behavior in a naturalistic visual search task. Ten patients with PVFL and 13 normally sighted subjects with full visual fields (FVF) completed 30 visual searches monocularly. Subjects located a 4° × 4° target, pseudo-randomly selected within a 26° × 11° natural image. Eye positions were recorded at 50 Hz. Search duration, fixation duration, saccade size, and number of saccades per trial were not significantly different between PVFL and FVF groups (p > 0.1). A χ2 test showed that the distributions of saccade directions for PVFL and FVL subjects were significantly different in 8 out of 10 cases (p < 0.01). Humphrey Visual Field pattern deviations for each subject were compared with the spatial distribution of eye movement directions. There were no significant correlations between saccade directional bias and visual field sensitivity across the 10 patients. Visual search performance was not significantly affected by PVFL. An analysis of eye movement directions revealed patients with PVFL show a biased directional distribution that was not directly related to the locus of vision loss, challenging feed-forward models of eye movement control. Consequently, many patients do not optimally compensate for visual field loss during visual search. PMID:23162511

  14. Multiconjugate adaptive optics applied to an anatomically accurate human eye model.

    PubMed

    Bedggood, P A; Ashman, R; Smith, G; Metha, A B

    2006-09-04

    Aberrations of both astronomical telescopes and the human eye can be successfully corrected with conventional adaptive optics. This produces diffraction-limited imagery over a limited field of view called the isoplanatic patch. A new technique, known as multiconjugate adaptive optics, has been developed recently in astronomy to increase the size of this patch. The key is to model atmospheric turbulence as several flat, discrete layers. A human eye, however, has several curved, aspheric surfaces and a gradient index lens, complicating the task of correcting aberrations over a wide field of view. Here we utilize a computer model to determine the degree to which this technology may be applied to generate high resolution, wide-field retinal images, and discuss the considerations necessary for optimal use with the eye. The Liou and Brennan schematic eye simulates the aspheric surfaces and gradient index lens of real human eyes. We show that the size of the isoplanatic patch of the human eye is significantly increased through multiconjugate adaptive optics.

  15. Nonmydriatic ultrawide field retinal imaging compared with dilated standard 7-field 35-mm photography and retinal specialist examination for evaluation of diabetic retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Silva, Paolo S; Cavallerano, Jerry D; Sun, Jennifer K; Noble, Jason; Aiello, Lloyd M; Aiello, Lloyd Paul

    2012-09-01

    To compare nonmydriatic stereoscopic Optomap ultrawide field images with dilated stereoscopic Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study 7-standard field 35-mm color 30-degree fundus photographs (ETDRS photography) and clinical examination for determining diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) severity. Single-site, prospective, comparative, instrument validation study. One hundred three diabetic patients (206 eyes) representing the full spectrum of DR severity underwent nonmydriatic ultrawide field 100-degree and 200-degree imaging, dilated ETDRS photography, and dilated fundus examination by a retina specialist. Two independent readers graded images to determine DR and DME severity. A third masked retina specialist adjudicated discrepancies. Based on ETDRS photography (n = 200), the results were as follows: no DR (n = 25 eyes [12.5%]), mild nonproliferative DR (NPDR; 47 [23.5%]), moderate NPDR (61 [30.5%]), severe NPDR (11 [5.5%]), very severe NPDR (3 [1.5%]), and proliferative DR (52 [2.5%]). One (0.5%) eye was ungradable and 6 eyes did not complete ETDRS photography. No DME was found in 114 eyes (57.0%), DME was found in 28 eyes (14.0%), and clinically significant DME was found in 47 eyes (23.5%), and 11 (5.5%) eyes were ungradable. Exact DR severity agreement between ultrawide field 100-degree imaging and ETDRS photography occurred in 84%, with agreement within 1 level in 91% (K(W) = 0.85; K = 0.79). Nonmydriatic ultrawide field images exactly matched clinical examination results for DR in 70% and were within 1 level in 93% (K(W) = 0.71; K = 0.61). Nonmydriatic ultrawide field imaging acquisition time was less than half that of dilated ETDRS photography (P < .0001). Nonmydriatic ultrawide field images compare favorably with dilated ETDRS photography and dilated fundus examination in determining DR and DME severity; however, they are acquired more rapidly. If confirmed in broader diabetic populations, nonmydriatic ultrawide field imaging may prove to be beneficial in DR evaluation in research and clinical settings. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Light emission from compound eye with conformal fluorescent coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martín-Palma, Raúl J.; Miller, Amy E.; Pulsifer, Drew P.; Lakhtakia, Akhlesh

    2015-03-01

    Compound eyes of insects are attractive biological systems for engineered biomimicry as artificial sources of light, given their characteristic wide angular field of view. A blowfly eye was coated with a thin conformal fluorescent film, with the aim of achieving wide field-of-view emission. Experimental results showed that the coated eye emitted visible light and that the intensity showed a weaker angular dependence than a fluorescent thin film deposited on a flat surface.

  17. [The 8-year follow-up study for clinical diagnostic potentials of frequency-doubling technology perimetry for perimetrically normal eyes of open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral visual field loss].

    PubMed

    Fan, X; Wu, L L; Xiao, G G; Ma, Z Z; Liu, F

    2018-03-11

    Objective: To analyze potentials of frequency-doubling technology perimetry (FDP) for diagnosing open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in perimetrically normal eyes of OAG patients diagnosed with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and relating factors from abnormalities on FDP to visual field loss on SAP. Methods: A prospective cohort study. Sixty-eight eyes of 68 OAG patients visiting the ophthalmic clinic of Peking University Third Hospital during November 2003 and October 2007 [32 primary open-angle glaucoma patients and 36 normal tension glaucoma patients, 32 males and 36 females, with an average age of (59±13) years] with unilateral field loss detected by SAP (Octopus101 tG2 program) were examined with the FDP N-30 threshold program (Humphrey Instruments) at baseline. Two groups, FDP positive group and FDP negative group, were divided based on the FDP results, and visual field examinations were followed by a series of SAP examinations for the perimetrically normal eyes over 8 years. During the follow-up, the difference of the converting rate of SAP tests between the two groups was analyzed. Differences between "convertors" and "non-convertors" of SAP tests in the FDP positive group, such as the cup-to-disk ratio and glaucomatous optic neuropathy rate, were also compared with the independent-sample t test or Wilcoxon two-sample test for continuous variable data and the χ(2) test or Fisher exact test for classified variable data and rates. Results: Forty-eight perimetrically normal eyes of 48 participants had complete data and a qualifying follow-up. Baseline FDP results were positive in 33 eyes and negative in 15 eyes. Of the eyes with positive FDP results, 22 eyes developed abnormal SAP results after 4.0 to 90.0 months (median 14.5 months) , whereas none of the eyes with negative FDP results developed abnormal SAP results. For perimetrically normal eyes in the FDP positive group, "converters" showed a greater cup-to-disk ratio (0.73±0.09 vs . 0.63±0.14, Wilcoxon two-sample test, P= 0.011) and more eyes with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (19/22 vs . 4/11, Fisher exact test, P= 0.006). Conclusions: In perimetrically normal eyes of OAG patients, FDP could detect visual field loss of these eyes and predict to some extent future visual field loss on SAP. Severity of glaucomatous optic neuropathy at baseline is related to converting from abnormalities on FDP to visual field loss on SAP. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 177-183) .

  18. [Possibilities of magnetotherapy in stabilization of visual function in patients with glaucoma].

    PubMed

    Bisvas Shutanto Kumar; Listopadova, N A

    1996-01-01

    Courses of magnetotherapy (MT) using ATOS device with 33 mT magnetic field induction were administered to 31 patients (43 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma with compensated intraocular pressure. The operation mode was intermittent, with 1.0 to 1.5 Hz field rotation frequency by 6 radii. The procedure is administered to a patient in a sitting posture with magnetic inductor held before the eye. The duration of a session is 10 min, a course consists of 10 sessions. Untreated eyes (n = 15) of the same patients were examined for control. The patients were examined before and 4 to 5 months after MT course. Vision acuity improved by 0.16 diopters, on an average, in 29 eyes (96.7%) out of 30 with vision acuity below 1.0 before treatment. Visocontrastometry was carried out using Visokontrastometer-DT device with spatial frequency range from 0.4 to 19 cycle/degree (12 frequencies) and 125 x 125 monitor. The orientation of lattices was horizontal and vertical. The contrasts ranged from 0.03 to 0.9 (12 levels). MT brought about an improvement of spatial contrast sensitivity by at least 7 values of 12 levels in 22 (84.6%) out of 26 eyes and was unchanged in 4 eyes. Visual field was examined using Humphry automated analyzer. A 120-point threshold test was used. After a course of MT, visual field deficit decreased by at least 10% in 31 (72%) out of 43 eyes, increased in 3, and was unchanged in 9 eyes; on an average, visual field deficit decreased by 22.4% vs. the initial value. After 4 to 5 months the changes in the vision acuity and visual field deficit were negligible. In controls these parameters did not appreciably change over the entire follow-up period.

  19. A Review of Cochrane Systematic Reviews of Interventions Relevant to Orthoptic Practice.

    PubMed

    Rowe, Fiona J; Elliott, Sue; Gordon, Iris; Shah, Anupa

    2017-09-01

    To present an overview of the range of systematic reviews on intervention trials pertinent to orthoptic practice, produced by the Cochrane Eyes and Vision group (CEV). We searched the 2016 Cochrane Library database (31.03.2016) to identify completed reviews and protocols of direct relevance to orthoptic practice. These reviews are currently completed and published, available on www.thecochranelibrary.com (free to UK health employees) or via the CEV website (http://eyes.cochrane.org/) . We found 27 completed CEV reviews across the topics of strabismus, amblyopia, refractive errors, and low vision. Seven completed CEV protocols addressed topics of strabismus, amblyopia, refractive errors, low vision, and screening. We found 3 completed Cochrane Stroke reviews addressing visual field loss, eye movement impairment, and age-related vision loss. The systematic review process presents an important opportunity for any clinician to contribute to the establishment of reliable, evidence-based orthoptic practice. Each review has an abstract and plain language summary that many non-clinicians find useful, followed by a full copy of the review (background, objectives, methods, results, discussion) with a conclusion section that is divided into implications for practice and implications for research. The current reviews provide patients/parents/carers with information about various different conditions and treatment options, but also provide clinicians with a summary of the available evidence on interventions, to use as a guide for both clinical practice and future research planning. The reviews identified in this overview highlight the evidence available for effective interventions for strabismus, amblyopia, refractive errors, and low vision or stroke rehabilitation as well as the gaps in the evidence base. Thus, a demand exists for future robust, randomized, controlled trials of such interventions of importance in orthoptic practice.

  20. Implications of the implementation of the revised dose limit to the lens of the eye: the view of IRPA professionals.

    PubMed

    Broughton, J; Cantone, M C; Ginjaume, M; Shah, B; Czarwinski, R

    2015-06-01

    In April 2011, the International Commission on Radiological Protection issued a statement on reduction of the equivalent dose limits for the lens of the eye, and strongly recommended its consideration in the revision of the International Atomic Energy Agency's International Basic Safety Standards on Radiation Protection. The reduced dose limit was incorporated in the final version of the Basic Safety Standards. As significant concern was expressed by radiation protection professionals worldwide, the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) established a task group to assess the impact of implementation of the revised dose limit for the lens of the eye for occupational exposure. IRPA Associate Societies (ASs) were asked for their views using a questionnaire addressing three topics: implications for dosimetry, implications for methods of protection, and wider implications. The responses received indicate various methods of approach and express different points of view, reflecting nuances of particular ASs or specific professional groups. Topic experts nominated by ASs were selected to assist with collation of responses, and a report was produced by the task group. Conclusions were drawn on the three issues, including potential cost implications. A number of recommendations were drawn from the responses received including: the request for more understanding about the relationship between exposure of the lens of the eye and cataract formation, and further guidance to assist implementation; the importance of economic and social considerations when introducing the limits into national regulations; the need to propose or define procedures related to employment of people with existing or pre-cataract conditions; and the practical aspects relating to dosimetry and protective equipment. © The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

  1. Specification of embryonic stem cell-derived tissues into eye fields by Wnt signaling using rostral diencephalic tissue-inducing culture.

    PubMed

    Sakakura, Eriko; Eiraku, Mototsugu; Takata, Nozomu

    2016-08-01

    The eyes are subdivided from the rostral diencephalon in early development. How the neuroectoderm regulates this subdivision, however, is largely unknown. Taking advantage of embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture using a Rax reporter line to monitor rostral diencephalon formation, we found that ESC-derived tissues at day 7 grown in Glasgow Minimum Expression Media (GMEM) containing knockout serum replacement (KSR) exhibited higher levels of expression of axin2, a Wnt target gene, than those grown in chemically defined medium (CDM). Surprisingly, Wnt agonist facilitated eye field-like tissue specification in CDM. In contrast, the addition of Wnt antagonist diminished eye field tissue formation in GMEM+KSR. Furthermore, the morphological formation of the eye tissue anlage, including the optic vesicle, was accompanied by Wnt signaling activation. Additionally, using CDM culture, we developed an efficient method for generating Rax+/Chx10+ retinal progenitors, which could become fully stratified retina. Here we provide a new avenue for exploring the mechanisms of eye field specification in vitro. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. [The clinical investigation of peripheral retinal changes of anterior uveitis].

    PubMed

    Guo, Chunying; Qiao, Lijun; Yang, Liu

    2015-10-01

    To observe the peripheral retinal changes of anterior uveitis patients using ultra-wide field fluorescein angiography. Retrospective case series study. Thirty-three eyes of 20 patients diagnosed as anterior uveitis from September to November 2013 in the ophthalmic clinic of Peking University First Hospital was included. All the patients underwent routine ocular examination, followed by ultra-wide field Fluorescein. There were 13 male patients and 7 female patients, aged 23-66, an average of 46 years old. The anterior uveitis recurrent in both eyes in 13 patients and only one eye in 7 patients. Uveitis duration ranging from months to 30 years. Twenty eyes were at the active stage of the anterior uveitis while 13 eyes in the quiescent stage. Peripheral retinal vessels leakage was detected in 57.6% (19/33) of the eyes, among which in eyes with active disease the rate of peripheral retinal vessels leakage was 75% (15/20), and in eyes with quiescent disease the rate was 30.8% (4/13). Optic disk hyperfluorescence was found in 6 of 20 eyes with active disease. Cystoid macular edema was found in 4 eyes. In addition, peripheral retinal hyperfluorescence dot and zone were detected in 2 eyes. Peripheral retinal vessels were detected to have inflammative leakage in patients of anterior uveitis by ultra-wide field fluorescein agiography. Peripheral retinal inflammation may still exist even in the quiescent stage of the anterior uveitis.

  3. Ocular Aberrations Across the Visual Field During Accommodation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Tao

    Myopia is classically defined as a mismatch between the optical power of the relaxed eye and its dioptric length. This definition is entirely foveocentric without concern for the contributions of peripheral refractive errors to myopia development. Long periods of steady near-work was considered to cause myopia development due to inadequate accommodation. Consequently, not only the on-axis optical features but also off-axis ones should be probed to gain insight about myopia progression. Moreover, these features need to be understood not only for the relaxed eye, but also for the accommodating eye. To acquire complete data set, a custom-built Indiana Scanning Aberrometer for Wavefront (I SAW) was developed to measure wavefront aberration along 37 line-of-sights at 8 different accommodation states in the central 30 degree visual field. We found that ocular refractive state changed uniformly over the central visual field as the eye accommodates up to 6D, and the accuracy of accommodation across the central visual field is similar to that measured in the fovea. No systematic difference between emmetropic and myopic eyes was evident. Then, a linear vector-summation rule for axial and oblique astigmatism was found to account for their interaction over the central visual field. Using this combination rule, our experimental evidence revealed no systematic effect of accommodation on axial or oblique astigmatism for two adult populations. The axial and oblique astigmatism of the whole eye is less than for the cornea alone, indicating a compensatory role for internal optics at all accommodative states. This compensation mechanism was further validated theoretically with schematic eye model. Lastly, we developed a hybrid method yielding customized eye models that accurately reproduce the empirical measurements and reasonably represent the anatomical structure, thus providing a mechanistic explanation for the changes in the eye's aberration structure that occur over the central visual field during accommodation.

  4. Assessment of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Nonmydriatic Ultra-Widefield Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (Optomap) Compared With ETDRS 7-Field Stereo Photography

    PubMed Central

    Kernt, Marcus; Hadi, Indrawati; Pinter, Florian; Seidensticker, Florian; Hirneiss, Christoph; Haritoglou, Christos; Kampik, Anselm; Ulbig, Michael W.; Neubauer, Aljoscha S.

    2012-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic properties of a nonmydriatic 200° ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) versus mydriatic Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) 7-field photography for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A consecutive series of 212 eyes of 141 patients with different levels of DR were examined. Grading of DR and clinically significant macular edema (CSME) from mydriatic ETDRS 7-field stereo photography was compared with grading obtained by Optomap Panoramic 200 SLO images. All SLO scans were performed through an undilated pupil, and no additional clinical information was used for evaluation of all images by the two independent, masked, expert graders. RESULTS Twenty-two eyes from ETDRS 7-field photography and 12 eyes from Optomap were not gradable by at least one grader because of poor image quality. A total of 144 eyes were analyzed regarding DR level and 155 eyes regarding CSME. For ETDRS 7-field photography, 22 eyes (18 for grader 2) had no or mild DR (ETDRS levels ≤ 20) and 117 eyes (111 for grader 2) had no CSME. A highly substantial agreement between both Optomap DR and CSME grading and ETDRS 7-field photography existed with κ = 0.79 for DR and 0.73 for CSME for grader 1, and κ = 0.77 (DR) and 0.77 (CSME) for grader 2. CONCLUSIONS Determination of CSME and grading of DR level from Optomap Panoramic 200 nonmydriatic images show a positive correlation with mydriatic ETDRS 7-field stereo photography. Both techniques are of sufficient quality to assess DR and CSME. Optomap Panoramic 200 images cover a larger retinal area and therefore may offer additional diagnostic properties. PMID:22912430

  5. Assessment of diabetic retinopathy using nonmydriatic ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Optomap) compared with ETDRS 7-field stereo photography.

    PubMed

    Kernt, Marcus; Hadi, Indrawati; Pinter, Florian; Seidensticker, Florian; Hirneiss, Christoph; Haritoglou, Christos; Kampik, Anselm; Ulbig, Michael W; Neubauer, Aljoscha S

    2012-12-01

    To compare the diagnostic properties of a nonmydriatic 200° ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) versus mydriatic Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) 7-field photography for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening. A consecutive series of 212 eyes of 141 patients with different levels of DR were examined. Grading of DR and clinically significant macular edema (CSME) from mydriatic ETDRS 7-field stereo photography was compared with grading obtained by Optomap Panoramic 200 SLO images. All SLO scans were performed through an undilated pupil, and no additional clinical information was used for evaluation of all images by the two independent, masked, expert graders. Twenty-two eyes from ETDRS 7-field photography and 12 eyes from Optomap were not gradable by at least one grader because of poor image quality. A total of 144 eyes were analyzed regarding DR level and 155 eyes regarding CSME. For ETDRS 7-field photography, 22 eyes (18 for grader 2) had no or mild DR (ETDRS levels ≤ 20) and 117 eyes (111 for grader 2) had no CSME. A highly substantial agreement between both Optomap DR and CSME grading and ETDRS 7-field photography existed with κ = 0.79 for DR and 0.73 for CSME for grader 1, and κ = 0.77 (DR) and 0.77 (CSME) for grader 2. Determination of CSME and grading of DR level from Optomap Panoramic 200 nonmydriatic images show a positive correlation with mydriatic ETDRS 7-field stereo photography. Both techniques are of sufficient quality to assess DR and CSME. Optomap Panoramic 200 images cover a larger retinal area and therefore may offer additional diagnostic properties.

  6. Design, simulation and evaluation of uniform magnetic field systems for head-free eye movement recordings with scleral search coils.

    PubMed

    Eibenberger, Karin; Eibenberger, Bernhard; Rucci, Michele

    2016-08-01

    The precise measurement of eye movements is important for investigating vision, oculomotor control and vestibular function. The magnetic scleral search coil technique is one of the most precise measurement techniques for recording eye movements with very high spatial (≈ 1 arcmin) and temporal (>kHz) resolution. The technique is based on measuring voltage induced in a search coil through a large magnetic field. This search coil is embedded in a contact lens worn by a human subject. The measured voltage is in direct relationship to the orientation of the eye in space. This requires a magnetic field with a high homogeneity in the center, since otherwise the field inhomogeneity would give the false impression of a rotation of the eye due to a translational movement of the head. To circumvent this problem, a bite bar typically restricts head movement to a minimum. However, the need often emerges to precisely record eye movements under natural viewing conditions. To this end, one needs a uniform magnetic field that is uniform over a large area. In this paper, we present the numerical and finite element simulations of the magnetic flux density of different coil geometries that could be used for search coil recordings. Based on the results, we built a 2.2 × 2.2 × 2.2 meter coil frame with a set of 3 × 4 coils to generate a 3D magnetic field and compared the measured flux density with our simulation results. In agreement with simulation results, the system yields a highly uniform field enabling high-resolution recordings of eye movements.

  7. Eye structure and amphibious foraging in albatrosses

    PubMed Central

    Martin, G. R.

    1998-01-01

    Anterior eye structure and retinal visual fields were determined in grey-headed and black-browed albatrosses, Diomedea melanophris and D. chrysostoma (Procellariiformes, Diomedeidae), using keratometry and an ophthalmoscopic reflex technique. Results for the two species were very similar and indicate that the eyes are of an amphibious optical design suggesting that albatross vision is well suited to the visual pursuit of active prey both on and below the ocean surface. The corneas are relatively flat (radius ca. 14.5 mm) and hence of low absolute refractive power (ca. 23 dioptres). In air the binocular fields are relatively long (vertical extent ca. 70 degrees) and narrow (maximum width in the plane of the optic axes 26–32 degrees), a topography found in a range of bird species that employ visual guidance of bill position when foraging. The cyclopean fields measure approximately 270 degrees in the horizontal plane, but there is a 60 degrees blind sector above the head owing to the positioning of the eyes below the protruding supraorbital ridges. Upon immersion the monocular fields decrease in width such that the binocular fields are abolished. Anterior eye structure, and visual field topography in both air and water, show marked similarity with those of the Humboldt penguin.

  8. Do the Eyes Have It? Using Eye Tracking to Assess Students Cognitive Dimensions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Nisiforou, Efi A.; Laghos, Andrew

    2013-01-01

    Field dependence/independence (FD/FI) is a significant dimension of cognitive styles. The paper presents results of a study that seeks to identify individuals' level of field independence during visual stimulus tasks processing. Specifically, it examined the relationship between the Hidden Figure Test (HFT) scores and the eye tracking metrics.…

  9. Visual field structure in the Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae): dimensions and regional variation in acuity.

    PubMed

    Rutowski, Ronald L; Warrant, Eric J

    2002-02-01

    Male Empress Leilia butterflies ( Asterocampa leilia) use a sit-and-wait tactic to locate mates. To see how vision might influence male behavior, we studied the morphology, optics, and receptor physiology of their eyes and found the following. (1) Each eye's visual field is approximately hemispherical with at most a 10 degrees overlap in the fields of the eyes. There are no large sexual differences in visual field dimensions. (2) In both sexes, rhabdoms in the frontal and dorsal ommatidia are longer than those in other eye regions. (3) Interommatidial angles are smallest frontally and around the equator of the eye. Minimum interommatidial angles are 0.9-1 degrees in males and 1.3-1.4 degrees in females. (4) Acceptance angles of ommatidia closely match interommatidial angles in the frontal region of the eye. We conclude that vision in these butterflies is mostly monocular and that males have more acute vision than females, especially in the frontal region (large facets, small interommatidial angles, small acceptance angles, long rhabdoms, and a close match between interommatidial angles and acceptance angles). This study also suggests that perched males direct their most acute vision where females are likely to appear but show no eye modifications that appear clearly related to a mate-locating tactic.

  10. Sleep violence--forensic science implications: polygraphic and video documentation.

    PubMed

    Mahowald, M W; Bundlie, S R; Hurwitz, T D; Schenck, C H

    1990-03-01

    During the past century, infrequent, anecdotal reports of sleep-related violence with forensic science implications have appeared. Recent rapid developments in the field of sleep-disorders medicine have resulted in greater understanding of a variety of sleep-related behaviors, and formal sleep-behavior monitoring techniques have permitted their documentation and classification. Sleep-related violence can be associated with a number of diagnosable and treatable sleep disorders, including (1) night terrors/sleepwalking, (2) nocturnal seizures, (3) rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-behavior disorder, (4) sleep drunkenness, and (5) psychogenic dissociative states occurring during the sleep period. Potentially violent automatized behavior, without consciousness, can and does occur during sleep. The violence resulting from these disorders may be misinterpreted as purposeful suicide, assault, or even homicide. Sleep-related violence must be added to the list of automatisms. A classification system of both waking and sleep-related automatic behavior is proposed, with recommendations for assessment of such behavior.

  11. Vision problems

    MedlinePlus

    ... shade or curtain hanging across part of your visual field. Optic neuritis : inflammation of the optic nerve ... to ask your doctor Images Crossed eyes Eye Visual acuity test Slit-lamp exam Visual field test ...

  12. Field of Vision Influences Sensory-Motor Control of Skilled and Less-Skilled Dart Players

    PubMed Central

    Rienhoff, Rebecca; Baker, Joseph; Fischer, Lennart; Strauss, Bernd; Schorer, Jörg

    2012-01-01

    One characteristic of perceptual expertise in sport and other domains is known as ’the quiet eye', which assumes that fixated information is processed during gaze stability and insufficient spatial information leads to a decrease in performance. The aims of this study were a) replicating inter- and intra-group variability and b) investigating the extent to which quiet eye supports information pick-up of varying fields of vision (i.e., central versus peripheral) using a specific eye-tracking paradigm to compare different skill levels in a dart throwing task. Differences between skill levels were replicated at baseline, but no significant differences in throwing performance were revealed among the visual occlusion conditions. Findings are generally in line with the association between quiet eye duration and aiming performance, but raise questions regarding the relevance of central vision information pick-up for the quiet eye. Key pointsInvestigation of throwing performance and quiet eye duration in dart throwing under several vision conditionsFirst investigation using a dynamic occlusion paradigm, manipulating field of vision in situReplication of previous findings concerning throwing performance and quiet eye durationNew insights about the role of central (and peripheral) vision concerning the quiet eye phenomena PMID:24149366

  13. Detection of posterior vortex veins in eyes with pathologic myopia by ultra-widefield indocyanine green angiography.

    PubMed

    Moriyama, Muka; Cao, Kejia; Ogata, Satoko; Ohno-Matsui, Kyoko

    2017-09-01

    To analyse the characteristics of posterior vortex veins detected in highly myopic eyes by wide-field indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). One hundred and fifty-eight consecutive patients (302 eyes) with high myopia (myopic refractive error >8.0 dioptres (D) or axial length ≥26.5 mm) were studied. Wide-field ICGA was performed with the Spectralis HRA module. Posterior vortex veins were found in 80 eyes (26%). The prevalence of posterior staphyloma was significantly higher in eyes in which posterior vortex vein was detected than in eyes without posterior vortex vein. The posterior vortex veins were classified into five types according to the site of exit from the eye; around the optic nerve in 28%, in the macular area in 17%, along the border of staphyloma in 6%, along the margin of macular atrophy or large peripapillary conus in 21%, and elsewhere in 28%. In one eye, two posterior vortex veins collected the choroidal venous blood from the entire fundus. Wide-field ICGA can analyse the characteristic features of choroidal blood outflow system through posterior vortex veins in highly myopic eyes. They may play an important role as routes of choroidal outflow in highly myopic eyes. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  14. High-resolution imaging of retinal nerve fiber bundles in glaucoma using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

    PubMed

    Takayama, Kohei; Ooto, Sotaro; Hangai, Masanori; Ueda-Arakawa, Naoko; Yoshida, Sachiko; Akagi, Tadamichi; Ikeda, Hanako Ohashi; Nonaka, Atsushi; Hanebuchi, Masaaki; Inoue, Takashi; Yoshimura, Nagahisa

    2013-05-01

    To detect pathologic changes in retinal nerve fiber bundles in glaucomatous eyes seen on images obtained by adaptive optics (AO) scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AO SLO). Prospective cross-sectional study. Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients with open-angle glaucoma and 21 normal eyes of 21 volunteer subjects underwent a full ophthalmologic examination, visual field testing using a Humphrey Field Analyzer, fundus photography, red-free SLO imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and imaging with an original prototype AO SLO system. The AO SLO images showed many hyperreflective bundles suggesting nerve fiber bundles. In glaucomatous eyes, the nerve fiber bundles were narrower than in normal eyes, and the nerve fiber layer thickness was correlated with the nerve fiber bundle widths on AO SLO (P < .001). In the nerve fiber layer defect area on fundus photography, the nerve fiber bundles on AO SLO were narrower compared with those in normal eyes (P < .001). At 60 degrees on the inferior temporal side of the optic disc, the nerve fiber bundle width was significantly lower, even in areas without nerve fiber layer defect, in eyes with glaucomatous eyes compared with normal eyes (P = .026). The mean deviations of each cluster in visual field testing were correlated with the corresponding nerve fiber bundle widths (P = .017). AO SLO images showed reduced nerve fiber bundle widths both in clinically normal and abnormal areas of glaucomatous eyes, and these abnormalities were associated with visual field defects, suggesting that AO SLO may be useful for detecting early nerve fiber bundle abnormalities associated with loss of visual function. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Dose limits to the lens of the eye: International Basic Safety Standards and related guidance.

    PubMed

    Boal, T J; Pinak, M

    2015-06-01

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safety requirements: 'General Safety Requirements Part 3--Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources: International Basic Safety Standards' (BSS) was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors at its meeting in September 2011, and was issued as General Safety Requirements Part 3 in July 2014. The equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye for occupational exposure in planned exposure situations was reduced from 150 mSv year(-1) to 20 mSv year(-1), averaged over defined periods of 5 years, with no annual dose in a single year exceeding 50 mSv. This reduction in the dose limit for the lens of the eye followed the recommendation of the International Commission on Radiological Protection in its statement on tissue reactions of 21 April 2011. IAEA has developed guidance on the implications of the new dose limit for the lens of the eye. This paper summarises the process that led to the inclusion of the new dose limit for the lens of the eye in the BSS, and the implications of the new dose limit. © The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

  16. The eyes of mesopelagic crustaceans. III. Thysanopoda tricuspidata (Euphausiacea).

    PubMed

    Meyer-Rochow, V B; Walsh, S

    1978-12-14

    The compound eyes of the mesopelagic eupausiid Thysanopoda tricuspidata were investigated by light-, scanning-, and transmission electron microscopy. The eyes are spherical and have a diameter that corresponds to 1/6 of the carapace length. The hexagonal facets have strongly curved outer surfaces. Although there are four crystalline cone cells, only two participate in the formation of the cone, which is 90-120 micrometer long and appears to have a radial gradient of refractive index. The clear zone, separating dioptric structures and retinula, is only 90-120 micrometer wide. In it lie the very large oval nuclei of the seven retinula cells. Directly in front of the 70 micrometer long and 15 micrometer thick rhabdom a lens-like structure of 12 micrometer diameter is developed. This structure, known in only a very few arthropods, seems to be present in all species of Euphausiacea studied to date. It is believed that the rhabdom lens improves near-field vision and absolute light sensitivity. Rod-shaped pigment grains and mitochondria of the tubular type are found in the plasma of retinula cells. The position of the proximal screening pigment as well as the microvillar organization in the rhabdom are indicative of light-adapted material. The orthogonal alignment of rhabdovilli suggests polarization sensitivity. Behind each rabdom there is a cup-shaped homogenous structure of unknown, but possibly optical function. Finally, the structure and the function of the euphysiid eye are reviewed and the functional implications of individual components are discussed.

  17. Neuronal Response Gain Enhancement prior to Microsaccades.

    PubMed

    Chen, Chih-Yang; Ignashchenkova, Alla; Thier, Peter; Hafed, Ziad M

    2015-08-17

    Neuronal response gain enhancement is a classic signature of the allocation of covert visual attention without eye movements. However, microsaccades continuously occur during gaze fixation. Because these tiny eye movements are preceded by motor preparatory signals well before they are triggered, it may be the case that a corollary of such signals may cause enhancement, even without attentional cueing. In six different macaque monkeys and two different brain areas previously implicated in covert visual attention (superior colliculus and frontal eye fields), we show neuronal response gain enhancement for peripheral stimuli appearing immediately before microsaccades. This enhancement occurs both during simple fixation with behaviorally irrelevant peripheral stimuli and when the stimuli are relevant for the subsequent allocation of covert visual attention. Moreover, this enhancement occurs in both purely visual neurons and visual-motor neurons, and it is replaced by suppression for stimuli appearing immediately after microsaccades. Our results suggest that there may be an obligatory link between microsaccade occurrence and peripheral selective processing, even though microsaccades can be orders of magnitude smaller than the eccentricities of peripheral stimuli. Because microsaccades occur in a repetitive manner during fixation, and because these eye movements reset neurophysiological rhythms every time they occur, our results highlight a possible mechanism through which oculomotor events may aid periodic sampling of the visual environment for the benefit of perception, even when gaze is prevented from overtly shifting. One functional consequence of such periodic sampling could be the magnification of rhythmic fluctuations of peripheral covert visual attention. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Recognizing patterns of visual field loss using unsupervised machine learning

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yousefi, Siamak; Goldbaum, Michael H.; Zangwill, Linda M.; Medeiros, Felipe A.; Bowd, Christopher

    2014-03-01

    Glaucoma is a potentially blinding optic neuropathy that results in a decrease in visual sensitivity. Visual field abnormalities (decreased visual sensitivity on psychophysical tests) are the primary means of glaucoma diagnosis. One form of visual field testing is Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) that tests sensitivity at 52 points within the visual field. Like other psychophysical tests used in clinical practice, FDT results yield specific patterns of defect indicative of the disease. We used Gaussian Mixture Model with Expectation Maximization (GEM), (EM is used to estimate the model parameters) to automatically separate FDT data into clusters of normal and abnormal eyes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to decompose each cluster into different axes (patterns). FDT measurements were obtained from 1,190 eyes with normal FDT results and 786 eyes with abnormal (i.e., glaucomatous) FDT results, recruited from a university-based, longitudinal, multi-center, clinical study on glaucoma. The GEM input was the 52-point FDT threshold sensitivities for all eyes. The optimal GEM model separated the FDT fields into 3 clusters. Cluster 1 contained 94% normal fields (94% specificity) and clusters 2 and 3 combined, contained 77% abnormal fields (77% sensitivity). For clusters 1, 2 and 3 the optimal number of PCA-identified axes were 2, 2 and 5, respectively. GEM with PCA successfully separated FDT fields from healthy and glaucoma eyes and identified familiar glaucomatous patterns of loss.

  19. Evaluating Silent Reading Performance with an Eye Tracking System in Patients with Glaucoma

    PubMed Central

    Murata, Noriaki; Fukuchi, Takeo

    2017-01-01

    Objective To investigate the relationship between silent reading performance and visual field defects in patients with glaucoma using an eye tracking system. Methods Fifty glaucoma patients (Group G; mean age, 52.2 years, standard deviation: 11.4 years) and 20 normal controls (Group N; mean age, 46.9 years; standard deviation: 17.2 years) were included in the study. All participants in Group G had early to advanced glaucomatous visual field defects but better than 20/20 visual acuity in both eyes. Participants silently read Japanese articles written horizontally while the eye tracking system monitored and calculated reading duration per 100 characters, number of fixations per 100 characters, and mean fixation duration, which were compared with mean deviation and visual field index values from Humphrey visual field testing (24–2 and 10–2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm standard) of the right versus left eye and the better versus worse eye. Results There was a statistically significant difference between Groups G and N in mean fixation duration (G, 233.4 msec; N, 215.7 msec; P = 0.010). Within Group G, significant correlations were observed between reading duration and 24–2 right mean deviation (rs = -0.280, P = 0.049), 24–2 right visual field index (rs = -0.306, P = 0.030), 24–2 worse visual field index (rs = -0.304, P = 0.032), and 10–2 worse mean deviation (rs = -0.326, P = 0.025). Significant correlations were observed between mean fixation duration and 10–2 left mean deviation (rs = -0.294, P = 0.045) and 10–2 worse mean deviation (rs = -0.306, P = 0.037), respectively. Conclusions The severity of visual field defects may influence some aspects of reading performance. At least concerning silent reading, the visual field of the worse eye is an essential element of smoothness of reading. PMID:28095478

  20. Altered transfer of visual motion information to parietal association cortex in untreated first-episode psychosis: Implications for pursuit eye tracking

    PubMed Central

    Lencer, Rebekka; Keedy, Sarah K.; Reilly, James L.; McDonough, Bruce E.; Harris, Margret S. H.; Sprenger, Andreas; Sweeney, John A.

    2011-01-01

    Visual motion processing and its use for pursuit eye movement control represent a valuable model for studying the use of sensory input for action planning. In psychotic disorders, alterations of visual motion perception have been suggested to cause pursuit eye tracking deficits. We evaluated this system in functional neuroimaging studies of untreated first-episode schizophrenia (N=24), psychotic bipolar disorder patients (N=13) and healthy controls (N=20). During a passive visual motion processing task, both patient groups showed reduced activation in the posterior parietal projection fields of motion-sensitive extrastriate area V5, but not in V5 itself. This suggests reduced bottom-up transfer of visual motion information from extrastriate cortex to perceptual systems in parietal association cortex. During active pursuit, activation was enhanced in anterior intraparietal sulcus and insula in both patient groups, and in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial thalamus in schizophrenia patients. This may result from increased demands on sensorimotor systems for pursuit control due to the limited availability of perceptual motion information about target speed and tracking error. Visual motion information transfer deficits to higher -level association cortex may contribute to well-established pursuit tracking abnormalities, and perhaps to a wider array of alterations in perception and action planning in psychotic disorders. PMID:21873035

  1. 77 FR 29668 - Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-05-18

    ... Study of Diseases Such as Cancer, Autoimmune Conditions, Dry Eye and Other Indications that Involve A 3..., such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and dry eye disease, and other conditions. This molecular... the Gli family. Mutations in human GLIS3 have been implicated in a syndrome characterized by neonatal...

  2. Novel wide-field x-ray optics for space

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hudec, René; Pína, Ladislav; Inneman, Adolf

    2017-11-01

    We report on the program of design and development of innovative very wide field X-ray optics for space applications. We describe the idea of wide field X-ray optics of the lobster-eye type of both Angel and Schmidt arrangements. This optics was suggested in 70ies but not yet used in space experiment due to severe manufacturing problems. The lobster-eye X-ray optics may achieve up to 180 degrees (diameter) field of view at angular resolution of order of 1 arcmin. We report on various prototypes of lobster-eye X-ray lenses based on alternative technologies (replicated double sided X-ray reflecting flats, float glass, replicated square channels etc.) as well as on their optical and X-ray tests. We also discuss the importance and performance of lobster-eye X-ray telescopes in future X-ray astronomy projects.

  3. Glaucomatous patterns in Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) perimetry data identified by unsupervised machine learning classifiers.

    PubMed

    Bowd, Christopher; Weinreb, Robert N; Balasubramanian, Madhusudhanan; Lee, Intae; Jang, Giljin; Yousefi, Siamak; Zangwill, Linda M; Medeiros, Felipe A; Girkin, Christopher A; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Goldbaum, Michael H

    2014-01-01

    The variational Bayesian independent component analysis-mixture model (VIM), an unsupervised machine-learning classifier, was used to automatically separate Matrix Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) perimetry data into clusters of healthy and glaucomatous eyes, and to identify axes representing statistically independent patterns of defect in the glaucoma clusters. FDT measurements were obtained from 1,190 eyes with normal FDT results and 786 eyes with abnormal FDT results from the UCSD-based Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) and African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES). For all eyes, VIM input was 52 threshold test points from the 24-2 test pattern, plus age. FDT mean deviation was -1.00 dB (S.D. = 2.80 dB) and -5.57 dB (S.D. = 5.09 dB) in FDT-normal eyes and FDT-abnormal eyes, respectively (p<0.001). VIM identified meaningful clusters of FDT data and positioned a set of statistically independent axes through the mean of each cluster. The optimal VIM model separated the FDT fields into 3 clusters. Cluster N contained primarily normal fields (1109/1190, specificity 93.1%) and clusters G1 and G2 combined, contained primarily abnormal fields (651/786, sensitivity 82.8%). For clusters G1 and G2 the optimal number of axes were 2 and 5, respectively. Patterns automatically generated along axes within the glaucoma clusters were similar to those known to be indicative of glaucoma. Fields located farther from the normal mean on each glaucoma axis showed increasing field defect severity. VIM successfully separated FDT fields from healthy and glaucoma eyes without a priori information about class membership, and identified familiar glaucomatous patterns of loss.

  4. Variable field-of-view visible and near-infrared polarization compound-eye endoscope.

    PubMed

    Kagawa, K; Shogenji, R; Tanaka, E; Yamada, K; Kawahito, S; Tanida, J

    2012-01-01

    A multi-functional compound-eye endoscope enabling variable field-of-view and polarization imaging as well as extremely deep focus is presented, which is based on a compact compound-eye camera called TOMBO (thin observation module by bound optics). Fixed and movable mirrors are introduced to control the field of view. Metal-wire-grid polarizer thin film applicable to both of visible and near-infrared lights is attached to the lenses in TOMBO and light sources. Control of the field-of-view, polarization and wavelength of the illumination realizes several observation modes such as three-dimensional shape measurement, wide field-of-view, and close-up observation of the superficial tissues and structures beneath the skin.

  5. COMPUTERIZED EXPERT SYSTEM FOR EVALUATION OF AUTOMATED VISUAL FIELDS FROM THE ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY DECOMPRESSION TRIAL: METHODS, BASELINE FIELDS, AND SIX-MONTH LONGITUDINAL FOLLOW-UP

    PubMed Central

    Feldon, Steven E

    2004-01-01

    ABSTRACT Purpose To validate a computerized expert system evaluating visual fields in a prospective clinical trial, the Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Decompression Trial (IONDT). To identify the pattern and within-pattern severity of field defects for study eyes at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Design Humphrey visual field (HVF) change was used as the outcome measure for a prospective, randomized, multi-center trial to test the null hypothesis that optic nerve sheath decompression was ineffective in treating nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and to ascertain the natural history of the disease. Methods An expert panel established criteria for the type and severity of visual field defects. Using these criteria, a rule-based computerized expert system interpreted HVF from baseline and 6-month visits for patients randomized to surgery or careful follow-up and for patients who were not randomized. Results A computerized expert system was devised and validated. The system was then used to analyze HVFs. The pattern of defects found at baseline for patients randomized to surgery did not differ from that of patients randomized to careful follow-up. The most common pattern of defect was a superior and inferior arcuate with central scotoma for randomized eyes (19.2%) and a superior and inferior arcuate for nonrandomized eyes (30.6%). Field patterns at 6 months and baseline were not different. For randomized study eyes, the superior altitudinal defects improved (P = .03), as did the inferior altitudinal defects (P = .01). For nonrandomized study eyes, only the inferior altitudinal defects improved (P = .02). No treatment effect was noted. Conclusions A novel rule-based expert system successfully interpreted visual field defects at baseline of eyes enrolled in the IONDT. PMID:15747764

  6. Confocal Adaptive Optics Imaging of Peripapillary Nerve Fiber Bundles: Implications for Glaucomatous Damage Seen on Circumpapillary OCT Scans.

    PubMed

    Hood, Donald C; Chen, Monica F; Lee, Dongwon; Epstein, Benjamin; Alhadeff, Paula; Rosen, Richard B; Ritch, Robert; Dubra, Alfredo; Chui, Toco Y P

    2015-04-01

    To improve our understanding of glaucomatous damage as seen on circumpapillary disc scans obtained with frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (fdOCT), fdOCT scans were compared to images of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber (RNF) bundles obtained with an adaptive optics-scanning light ophthalmoscope (AO-SLO). The AO-SLO images and fdOCT scans were obtained on 6 eyes of 6 patients with deep arcuate defects (5 points ≤-15 db) on 10-2 visual fields. The AO-SLO images were montaged and aligned with the fdOCT images to compare the RNF bundles seen with AO-SLO to the RNF layer thickness measured with fdOCT. All 6 eyes had an abnormally thin (1% confidence limit) RNF layer (RNFL) on fdOCT and abnormal (hyporeflective) regions of RNF bundles on AO-SLO in corresponding regions. However, regions of abnormal, but equal, RNFL thickness on fdOCT scans varied in appearance on AO-SLO images. These regions could be largely devoid of RNF bundles (5 eyes), have abnormal-appearing bundles of lower contrast (6 eyes), or have isolated areas with a few relatively normal-appearing bundles (2 eyes). There also were local variations in reflectivity of the fdOCT RNFL that corresponded to the variations in AO-SLO RNF bundle appearance. Relatively similar 10-2 defects with similar fdOCT RNFL thickness profiles can have very different degrees of RNF bundle damage as seen on fdOCT and AO-SLO. While the results point to limitations of fdOCT RNFL thickness as typically analyzed, they also illustrate the potential for improving fdOCT by attending to variations in local intensity.

  7. Blind ethics: Closing one's eyes polarizes moral judgments and discourages dishonest behavior.

    PubMed

    Caruso, Eugene M; Gino, Francesca

    2011-02-01

    Four experiments demonstrate that closing one's eyes affects ethical judgment and behavior because it induces people to mentally simulate events more extensively. People who considered situations with their eyes closed rather than open judged immoral behaviors as more unethical and moral behaviors as more ethical. In addition, considering potential decisions with closed eyes decreased stated intentions to behave ethically and actual self-interested behavior. This relationship was mediated by the more extensive mental simulation that occurred with eyes closed rather than open, which, in turn, intensified emotional reactions to the ethical situation. We discuss the implications of these findings for moral psychology and ethical decision making. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. [Long-term efficacy of laser peripheral iridotomy in preventing progression in eyes with pigment dispersion syndrome].

    PubMed

    Qing, Guoping; Zhang, Shaodan; Wang, Huaizhou; Wang, Tao; Wang, Shuhua; Chen, Hong; Wang, Hua; Wang, Ningli

    2014-07-01

    To evaluate the long-term efficacy of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) in preventing deterioration in eyes with pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS). A cohort study. Nineteen patients with PDS were treated with LPI and followed up periodically in Beijing Tongren Eye Center from May 2006 to April 2007. One eye of each patient was chosen randomly for the study. Main investigating items included iris configuration, intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber pigmentation, and visual field analysis. The average follow-up period was (6.5 ± 0.3) years. A paired sample t test was used to determine whether there is a significant difference between average values of pre- and post-LPI IOP and mean deviation of Humphrey visual field analysis in these PDS eyes. The average age of the 19 patients were (35.8 ± 7.1) years on admission. The initial IOP of the 19 eyes was (24.7 ± 2.2) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) before LPI. The mean deviation (MD) of Humphrey visual field analysis (VFA) were (-1.82 ± 1.26) dB (-4.34--0.28 dB) . All 19 eyes had concave iris and heavy trabecular pigmentation. The iris became flat in all PDS eyes after the laser treatment. At the last follow-up visit, the average IOP was 14.8 ± 2.0 (12-20) mmHg, which was statistically lower than that of baseline (t = 11.49, P < 0.01) . Extent of trabecular pigmentation reduced obviously in 16 eyes. No deterioration or new visual field defect was detected in any of the PDS eyes. MD of the last VFA was -1.79 ± 1.21 (-4.39--0.21 dB) . There was no statistical difference between MD of the last VFA and baseline (t = -0.26, P = 0.798). The long-term follow-up results showed that LPI prevents progression effectively in eyes with PDS.

  9. Development of a novel disposable lid speculum with a drape.

    PubMed

    Urano, Toru; Kasaoka, Masataka; Yamakawa, Ryoji; Yukihikotamai; Nakamura, Shoichiro

    2013-01-01

    To evaluate the clinical use of a newly-developed disposable lid speculum with a drape. LiDrape® is a cylindrical device that consists of two flexible rings of polyacetal resin with a transparent elastic silicone sheet attached to the rings. The novel device holds the eyelids between the rings, and a hole in the center of the device provides a surgical field. We used the novel device in cataract surgery (75 eyes), glaucoma surgery (eleven eyes), vitrectomy (ten eyes), and intravitreal injection (six eyes) and evaluated its clinical efficacy. The LiDrape was easy to attach and detach. The novel device was not detached from the eye during surgery. No eyelashes or secretions from the meibomian glands were seen in the surgical field, and the drape provided a sufficient surgical field. The LiDrape functions as a lid speculum as well as a drape. Our results showed that the novel device is useful for ocular surgeries.

  10. Bilateral Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy Caused by Eye Rubbing.

    PubMed

    Savastano, Alfonso; Savastano, Maria Cristina; Carlomusto, Laura; Savastano, Silvio

    2015-01-01

    In this report, we describe a particular condition of a 52-year-old man who showed advanced bilateral glaucomatous-like optic disc damage, even though the intraocular pressure resulted normal during all examinations performed. Visual field test, steady-state pattern electroretinogram, retinal nerve fiber layer and retinal tomographic evaluations were performed to evaluate the optic disc damage. Over a 4-year observational period, his visual acuity decreased to 12/20 in the right eye and counting fingers in the left eye. Visual fields were severely compromised, and intraocular pressure values were not superior to 14 mm Hg during routine examinations. An accurate anamnesis and the suspicion of this disease represent a crucial aspect to establish the correct diagnosis. In fact, our patient strongly rubbed his eyes for more than 10 h per day. Recurrent and continuous eye rubbing can induce progressive optic neuropathy, causing severe visual field damage similar to the pathology of advanced glaucoma.

  11. Exploring eye movements in patients with glaucoma when viewing a driving scene.

    PubMed

    Crabb, David P; Smith, Nicholas D; Rauscher, Franziska G; Chisholm, Catharine M; Barbur, John L; Edgar, David F; Garway-Heath, David F

    2010-03-16

    Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease and a leading cause of visual disability. Automated assessment of the visual field determines the different stages in the disease process: it would be desirable to link these measurements taken in the clinic with patient's actual function, or establish if patients compensate for their restricted field of view when performing everyday tasks. Hence, this study investigated eye movements in glaucomatous patients when viewing driving scenes in a hazard perception test (HPT). The HPT is a component of the UK driving licence test consisting of a series of short film clips of various traffic scenes viewed from the driver's perspective each containing hazardous situations that require the camera car to change direction or slow down. Data from nine glaucomatous patients with binocular visual field defects and ten age-matched control subjects were considered (all experienced drivers). Each subject viewed 26 different films with eye movements simultaneously monitored by an eye tracker. Computer software was purpose written to pre-process the data, co-register it to the film clips and to quantify eye movements and point-of-regard (using a dynamic bivariate contour ellipse analysis). On average, and across all HPT films, patients exhibited different eye movement characteristics to controls making, for example, significantly more saccades (P<0.001; 95% confidence interval for mean increase: 9.2 to 22.4%). Whilst the average region of 'point-of-regard' of the patients did not differ significantly from the controls, there were revealing cases where patients failed to see a hazard in relation to their binocular visual field defect. Characteristics of eye movement patterns in patients with bilateral glaucoma can differ significantly from age-matched controls when viewing a traffic scene. Further studies of eye movements made by glaucomatous patients could provide useful information about the definition of the visual field component required for fitness to drive.

  12. Exploring Eye Movements in Patients with Glaucoma When Viewing a Driving Scene

    PubMed Central

    Crabb, David P.; Smith, Nicholas D.; Rauscher, Franziska G.; Chisholm, Catharine M.; Barbur, John L.; Edgar, David F.; Garway-Heath, David F.

    2010-01-01

    Background Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease and a leading cause of visual disability. Automated assessment of the visual field determines the different stages in the disease process: it would be desirable to link these measurements taken in the clinic with patient's actual function, or establish if patients compensate for their restricted field of view when performing everyday tasks. Hence, this study investigated eye movements in glaucomatous patients when viewing driving scenes in a hazard perception test (HPT). Methodology/Principal Findings The HPT is a component of the UK driving licence test consisting of a series of short film clips of various traffic scenes viewed from the driver's perspective each containing hazardous situations that require the camera car to change direction or slow down. Data from nine glaucomatous patients with binocular visual field defects and ten age-matched control subjects were considered (all experienced drivers). Each subject viewed 26 different films with eye movements simultaneously monitored by an eye tracker. Computer software was purpose written to pre-process the data, co-register it to the film clips and to quantify eye movements and point-of-regard (using a dynamic bivariate contour ellipse analysis). On average, and across all HPT films, patients exhibited different eye movement characteristics to controls making, for example, significantly more saccades (P<0.001; 95% confidence interval for mean increase: 9.2 to 22.4%). Whilst the average region of ‘point-of-regard’ of the patients did not differ significantly from the controls, there were revealing cases where patients failed to see a hazard in relation to their binocular visual field defect. Conclusions/Significance Characteristics of eye movement patterns in patients with bilateral glaucoma can differ significantly from age-matched controls when viewing a traffic scene. Further studies of eye movements made by glaucomatous patients could provide useful information about the definition of the visual field component required for fitness to drive. PMID:20300522

  13. The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS): 7. The relationship between control of intraocular pressure and visual field deterioration.The AGIS Investigators.

    PubMed

    2000-10-01

    To investigate the association between control of intraocular pressure after surgical intervention for glaucoma and visual field deterioration. In the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study, eyes were randomly assigned to one of two sequences of glaucoma surgery, one beginning with argon laser trabeculoplasty and the other trabeculectomy. In the present article we examine the relationship between intraocular pressure and progression of visual field damage over 6 or more years of follow-up. In the first analysis, designated Predictive Analysis, we categorize 738 eyes into three groups based on intraocular pressure determinations over the first three 6-month follow-up visits. In the second analysis, designated Associative Analysis, we categorize 586 eyes into four groups based on the percent of 6-month visits over the first 6 follow-up years in which eyes presented with intraocular pressure less than 18 mm Hg. The outcome measure in both analyses is change from baseline in follow-up visual field defect score (range, 0 to 20 units). In the Predictive Analysis, eyes with early average intraocular pressure greater than 17.5 mm Hg had an estimated worsening during subsequent follow-up that was 1 unit of visual field defect score greater than eyes with average intraocular pressure less than 14 mm Hg (P =.002). This amount of worsening was greater at 7 years (1.89 units; P <.001) than at 2 years (0.64 units; P =.071). In the Associative Analysis, eyes with 100% of visits with intraocular pressure less than 18 mm Hg over 6 years had mean changes from baseline in visual field defect score close to zero during follow-up, whereas eyes with less than 50% of visits with intraocular pressure less than 18 mm Hg had an estimated worsening over follow-up of 0.63 units of visual field defect score (P =.083). This amount of worsening was greater at 7 years (1.93 units; P <.001) than at 2 years (0.25 units; P =.572). In both analyses low intraocular pressure is associated with reduced progression of visual field defect, supporting evidence from earlier studies of a protective role for low intraocular pressure in visual field deterioration.

  14. Glaucoma management in patients with osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP): the Singapore OOKP Study.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Rajesh S; Tan, Donald T H; Por, Yong-Ming; Oen, Francis T; Hoh, Sek-Tien; Parthasarathy, Anand; Aung, Tin

    2009-01-01

    To report diagnostic modalities and treatment options for glaucoma in eyes with osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis (OOKP). Eyes that underwent OOKP were evaluated for glaucoma at the time of the first postoperative visit, then at 1 and 3 months after the procedure, and thereafter every 6 months. All eyes underwent stereo-biomicroscopic optic nerve head (ONH) assessment, kinetic (Goldmann perimetry) and automated static visual field testing, ONH photography, Heidelberg retina tomograph, scanning laser polarimetery (GDx), and optical coherence tomography. Treatment of glaucoma was also reviewed. Average follow-up period was 19.1 (range: 5 to 31) months. Of the 15 eyes that underwent OOKP, 5 eyes had preexisting glaucoma. None of the other 10 eyes developed glaucoma after OOKP. ONH photography and visual field testing were the most reliable methods to assess status of the disease, whereas Heidelberg retina tomograph and optical coherence tomography could be performed with reasonable reproducibility and quality; GDx imaging was poor. All patients with glaucoma were treated with oral acetazolamide 500 mg twice a day. Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation was performed in 3 eyes at stage 2 of OOKP surgery. Progression of glaucoma was noted in 2 eyes on the basis of optic disc photographs and automated perimetry. Visual field testing and optic disc assessment with optic disc photographs seem to be effective methods to monitor eyes with OOKP for glaucoma. Treatment strategies include oral medications to lower intraocular pressure and cyclophotocoagulation.

  15. Bilateral Neuroretinitis in Cat Scratch Disease with Exudative, Obliterative Vasculitis in the Optic Disc.

    PubMed

    Tagawa, Yoshiaki; Suzuki, Yasuo; Sakaguchi, Takatoshi; Endoh, Hiroki; Yokoi, Masahiko; Kase, Manabu

    2014-01-01

    A 29-year-old fisherman exhibited optic disc oedema and peripapillary retinal detachment in the right eye, whereas in the left eye, optic atrophy and intraretinal exudates were already observed on first examination. About 6 months earlier, he noticed blurred vision of the left eye but took no medication. Visual acuity was 0.4 OD and 0.01 OS. Perimetry showed a large lower-half field defect with sparing 10° central field in the right eye and a large central scotoma in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography showed existence of arteriole or capillary nonperfusion and hyperpermeability of surrounding capillaries. Since serological examinations showed positive Bartonella immunoglobulin G (IgG) and other causes of neuroretinitis (NR) were excluded, NR in the present case was caused by cat scratch disease (CSD). Optic atrophy appeared 2 weeks after onset. Optical coherence tomography 13 weeks after onset revealed severe loss of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) superior and nasal to the optic disc in both eyes and temporal in the left eye. Visual acuity of the right eye improved to 1.2 by the treatment, whereas visual field defects were persistent. CSD-NR in the present case developed abrupt appearance of optic atrophy with severe RNFL loss in the right eye, which was elicited by exudative, obliterative vasculitis in the superficial layer of the optic disc.

  16. Scanning laser polarimetry, but not optical coherence tomography predicts permanent visual field loss in acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

    PubMed

    Kupersmith, Mark J; Anderson, Susan; Durbin, Mary; Kardon, Randy

    2013-08-15

    Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) reveals abnormal retardance of birefringence in locations of the edematous peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), which appear thickened by optical coherence tomography (OCT), in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). We hypothesize initial sector SLP RNFL abnormalities will correlate with long-term regional visual field loss due to ischemic injury. We prospectively performed automated perimetry, SLP, and high definition OCT (HD-OCT) of the RNFL in 25 eyes with acute NAION. We grouped visual field threshold and RNFL values into Garway-Heath inferior/superior disc sectors and corresponding superior/inferior field regions. We compared sector SLP RNFL thickness with corresponding visual field values at presentation and at >3 months. At presentation, 12 eyes had superior sector SLP reduction, 11 of which had inferior field loss. Six eyes, all with superior field loss, had inferior sector SLP reduction. No eyes had reduced OCT-derived RNFL acutely. Eyes with abnormal field regions had corresponding SLP sectors thinner (P = 0.003) than for sectors with normal field regions. During the acute phase, the SLP-derived sector correlated with presentation (r = 0.59, P = 0.02) and with >3-month after presentation (r = 0.44, P = 0.02) corresponding superior and inferior field thresholds. Abnormal RNFL birefringence occurs in sectors corresponding to regional visual field loss during acute NAION when OCT-derived RNFL shows thickening. Since the visual field deficits show no significant recovery, SLP can be an early marker for axonal injury, which may be used to assess recovery potential at RNFL locations with respect to new treatments for acute NAION.

  17. The effect of mitomycin C trabeculectomy on the progression of visual field defect in normal-tension glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Hagiwara, Y; Yamamoto, T; Kitazawa, Y

    2000-03-01

    We investigated in a prospective fashion the visual prognosis and complications in normal-tension glaucoma following unilateral trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C. Trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C was carried out unilaterally in 21 cases of normal-tension glaucoma. Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual prognosis, and complications were compared between the operated eyes and the non-operated fellow eyes. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 7 years. The IOP dropped significantly from 14.8+/-1.8 mmHg (mean +/- SD) to 9.6+/-3.9 mmHg in the operated eyes (P=0.0002, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), but did not drop in the non-operated eyes. The mean deviation (MD) was -12.69+/-6.41 dB preoperatively and -14.70+/-5.49 dB at the last clinic visit in the operated eyes, whereas in non-operated eyes it was -7.85+/-5.65 dB and -11.15+/-5.62 dB, respectively. The MD deteriorated significantly in both operated and non-operated eyes (operated eyes P=0.0239, non-operated eyes: P=0.0002; Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The MD slope was -0.37+/-0.60 dB/year and -0.71+/-0.89 dB/year for the operated and non-operated eyes, respectively (P=0.5243, Mann-Whitney U-test). Visual field deterioration was more frequently observed in the non-operated eyes by a pointwise definition of the progression (P<0.05, McNemar test). Visual acuity deteriorated in 6 of the operated eyes and in 5 of the non-operated eyes. Cataract developed in 6 (29%) of the 21 operated eyes, while among the non-operated eyes 4 (19%) developed cataract. Mitomycin C trabeculectomy is effective in delaying progression of visual field defect in normal-tension glaucoma, but complications may arise and cause some visual disturbance.

  18. A field evaluation of the Eye-Closure Interview with witnesses of serious crimes.

    PubMed

    Vredeveldt, Annelies; Tredoux, Colin G; Nortje, Alicia; Kempen, Kate; Puljević, Cheneal; Labuschagne, Gérard N

    2015-04-01

    Laboratory research shows that eye-closure during memory retrieval improves both the amount and the factual accuracy of memory reports about witnessed events. Based on these findings, we developed the Eye-Closure Interview, and examined its feasibility (in terms of compliance with the instructions) and effectiveness (in terms of the quantity and quality of reported information) in eyewitness interviews conducted by the South African Police Service. Police interviewers from the Facial Identification Unit were randomly assigned to receive Eye-Closure Interview training or no training. We analyzed 95 interviews with witnesses of serious crimes (including robbery, rape, and murder), some of whom were instructed to close their eyes during salient parts of the interview. Witnesses in the control condition rarely spontaneously closed their eyes, but witnesses in the Eye-Closure Interview condition kept their eyes closed during 97% of their descriptions, suggesting that the Eye-Closure Interview would be easy to implement in a field setting. Although witnesses who closed their eyes did not remember more information overall, the information they provided was considered to be of significantly greater forensic relevance (as reflected in 2 independent blind assessments, 1 by a senior police expert and 1 by a senior researcher). Thus, based on the findings from this field study and from previous laboratory research, we conclude that implementation of the Eye-Closure Interview in witness interviews would help police interviewers to elicit more valuable information from witnesses, which could be relevant to the police investigation and/or in court. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

  19. Hypodense regions (holes) in the retinal nerve fiber layer in frequency-domain OCT scans of glaucoma patients and suspects.

    PubMed

    Xin, Daiyan; Talamini, Christine L; Raza, Ali S; de Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V; Greenstein, Vivienne C; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Ritch, Robert; Hood, Donald C

    2011-09-09

    To better understand hypodense regions (holes) that appear in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (fdOCT) scans of patients with glaucoma and glaucoma suspects. Peripapillary circle (1.7-mm radius) and cube optic disc fdOCT scans were obtained on 208 eyes from 110 patients (57.4 ± 13.2 years) with glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and 45 eyes of 45 controls (48.0 ± 12.6 years) with normal results of fundus examination. Holes in the RNFL were identified independently by two observers on the circle scans. Holes were found in 33 (16%) eyes of 28 (25%) patients; they were not found in any of the control eyes. Twenty-four eyes had more than one hole. Although some holes were relatively large, others were small. In general, the holes were located adjacent to blood vessels; only three eyes had isolated holes that were not adjacent to a vessel. The holes tended to be in the regions that are thickest in healthy controls and were associated with arcuate defects in patients. Holes were not seen in the center of the temporal disc region. They were more common in the superior (25 eyes) than in the inferior (15 eyes) disc. Of the 30 eyes with holes with reliable visual fields, seven were glaucoma suspect eyes with normal visual fields. The holes in the RNFL seen in patients with GON were probably due to a local loss of RNFL fibers and can occur in the eyes of glaucoma suspects with normal visual fields.

  20. [Visual field progression in glaucoma: cluster analysis].

    PubMed

    Bresson-Dumont, H; Hatton, J; Foucher, J; Fonteneau, M

    2012-11-01

    Visual field progression analysis is one of the key points in glaucoma monitoring, but distinction between true progression and random fluctuation is sometimes difficult. There are several different algorithms but no real consensus for detecting visual field progression. The trend analysis of global indices (MD, sLV) may miss localized deficits or be affected by media opacities. Conversely, point-by-point analysis makes progression difficult to differentiate from physiological variability, particularly when the sensitivity of a point is already low. The goal of our study was to analyse visual field progression with the EyeSuite™ Octopus Perimetry Clusters algorithm in patients with no significant changes in global indices or worsening of the analysis of pointwise linear regression. We analyzed the visual fields of 162 eyes (100 patients - 58 women, 42 men, average age 66.8 ± 10.91) with ocular hypertension or glaucoma. For inclusion, at least six reliable visual fields per eye were required, and the trend analysis (EyeSuite™ Perimetry) of visual field global indices (MD and SLV), could show no significant progression. The analysis of changes in cluster mode was then performed. In a second step, eyes with statistically significant worsening of at least one of their clusters were analyzed point-by-point with the Octopus Field Analysis (OFA). Fifty four eyes (33.33%) had a significant worsening in some clusters, while their global indices remained stable over time. In this group of patients, more advanced glaucoma was present than in stable group (MD 6.41 dB vs. 2.87); 64.82% (35/54) of those eyes in which the clusters progressed, however, had no statistically significant change in the trend analysis by pointwise linear regression. Most software algorithms for analyzing visual field progression are essentially trend analyses of global indices, or point-by-point linear regression. This study shows the potential role of analysis by clusters trend. However, for best results, it is preferable to compare the analyses of several tests in combination with morphologic exam. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  1. Performance under dichoptic versus binocular viewing conditions - Effects of attention and task requirements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kimchi, Ruth; Gopher, Daniel; Rubin, Yifat; Raij, David

    1993-01-01

    Three experiments investigated subjects' ability to allocate attention and cope with task requirements under dichoptic versus binocular viewing conditions. Experiments 1 and 2 employed a target detection task in compound and noncompound stimuli, and Experiment 3 employed a relative-proximity judgment task. The tasks were performed in a focused attention condition in which subjects had to attend to the stimulus presented to one eye or field (under dichoptic and binocular viewing conditions, respectively) while ignoring the stimulus presented to the other eye or field, and in a divided attention condition in which subjects had to attend to the stimuli presented to both eyes or fields. Subjects' performance was affected by the interaction of attention conditions with task requirements, but it was generally the same under dichoptic and binocular viewing conditions. The more dependent the task was on finer discrimination, the more performance was impaired by divided attention. These results suggest that at least with discrete tasks and relatively short exposure durations, performance when each eye is presented with a separate stimulus is the same as when the entire field of stimulation is viewed by both eyes.

  2. Ocular-Motor Function and Information Processing: Implications for the Reading Process.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leisman, Gerald; Schwartz, Joddy

    This paper discusses the dichotomy between continually moving eyes and the lack of blurred visual experience. A discontinuous model of visual perception is proposed, with the discontinuities being phase and temporally related to saccadic eye movements. It is further proposed that deviant duration and angular velocity characteristics of saccades in…

  3. Orienting movements in area 9 identified by long-train ICMS.

    PubMed

    Lanzilotto, M; Perciavalle, V; Lucchetti, C

    2015-03-01

    The effect of intracortical microstimulation has been studied in several cortical areas from motor to sensory areas. The frontal pole has received particular attention, and several microstimulation studies have been conducted in the frontal eye field, supplementary eye field, and the premotor ear-eye field, but no microstimulation studies concerning area 9 are currently available in the literature. In the present study, to fill up this gap, electrical microstimulation was applied to area 9 in two macaque monkeys using long-train pulses of 500-700-800 and 1,000 ms, during two different experimental conditions: a spontaneous condition, while the animals were not actively fixating on a visual target, and during a visual fixation task. In these experiments, we identified backward ear movements, goal-directed eye movements, and the development of head forces. Kinematic parameters for ear and eye movements overlapped in the spontaneous condition, but they were different during the visual fixation task. In this condition, ear and eye kinematics have an opposite behavior: movement amplitude, duration, and maximal and mean velocities increase during a visual fixation task for the ear, while they decrease for the eye. Therefore, a top-down visual attention engagement could modify the kinematic parameters for these two effectors. Stimulation with the longest train durations, i.e., 800/1,000 ms, evokes not only the highest eye amplitude, but also a significant development of head forces. In this research article, we propose a new vision of the frontal oculomotor fields, speculating a role for area 9 in the control of goal-directed orienting behaviors and gaze shift control.

  4. Eye-Tracking as a Tool to Evaluate Functional Ability in Everyday Tasks in Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Kasneci, Enkelejda; Black, Alex A; Wood, Joanne M

    2017-01-01

    To date, few studies have investigated the eye movement patterns of individuals with glaucoma while they undertake everyday tasks in real-world settings. While some of these studies have reported possible compensatory gaze patterns in those with glaucoma who demonstrated good task performance despite their visual field loss, little is known about the complex interaction between field loss and visual scanning strategies and the impact on task performance and, consequently, on quality of life. We review existing approaches that have quantified the effect of glaucomatous visual field defects on the ability to undertake everyday activities through the use of eye movement analysis. Furthermore, we discuss current developments in eye-tracking technology and the potential for combining eye-tracking with virtual reality and advanced analytical approaches. Recent technological developments suggest that systems based on eye-tracking have the potential to assist individuals with glaucomatous loss to maintain or even improve their performance on everyday tasks and hence enhance their long-term quality of life. We discuss novel approaches for studying the visual search behavior of individuals with glaucoma that have the potential to assist individuals with glaucoma, through the use of personalized programs that take into consideration the individual characteristics of their remaining visual field and visual search behavior.

  5. FDTD analysis of temperature elevation in the lens of human and rabbit models due to near-field and far-field exposures at 2.45 GHz.

    PubMed

    Oizumi, Takuya; Laakso, Ilkka; Hirata, Akimasa; Fujiwara, Osamu; Watanabe, Soichi; Taki, Masao; Kojima, Masami; Sasaki, Hiroshi; Sasaki, Kazuyuki

    2013-07-01

    The eye is said to be one of the most sensitive organs to microwave heating. According to previous studies, the possibility of microwave-induced cataract formation has been experimentally investigated in rabbit and monkey eyes, but not for the human eye due to ethical reasons. In the present study, the temperature elevation in the lens, the skin around the eye and the core temperature of numerical human and rabbit models for far-field and near-field exposures at 2.45 GHz are investigated. The temperature elevations in the human and rabbit models were compared with the threshold temperatures for inducing cataracts, thermal pain in the skin and reversible health effects such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. For plane-wave exposure, the core temperature elevation is shown to be essential both in the human and in the rabbit models as suggested in the international guidelines and standards. For localised exposure of the human eye, the temperature elevation of the skin was essential, and the lens temperature did not reach its threshold for thermal pain. On the other hand, the lens temperature elevation was found to be dominant for the rabbit eye.

  6. Testing of visual field with virtual reality goggles in manual and visual grasp modes.

    PubMed

    Wroblewski, Dariusz; Francis, Brian A; Sadun, Alfredo; Vakili, Ghazal; Chopra, Vikas

    2014-01-01

    Automated perimetry is used for the assessment of visual function in a variety of ophthalmic and neurologic diseases. We report development and clinical testing of a compact, head-mounted, and eye-tracking perimeter (VirtualEye) that provides a more comfortable test environment than the standard instrumentation. VirtualEye performs the equivalent of a full threshold 24-2 visual field in two modes: (1) manual, with patient response registered with a mouse click, and (2) visual grasp, where the eye tracker senses change in gaze direction as evidence of target acquisition. 59 patients successfully completed the test in manual mode and 40 in visual grasp mode, with 59 undergoing the standard Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) testing. Large visual field defects were reliably detected by VirtualEye. Point-by-point comparison between the results obtained with the different modalities indicates: (1) minimal systematic differences between measurements taken in visual grasp and manual modes, (2) the average standard deviation of the difference distributions of about 5 dB, and (3) a systematic shift (of 4-6 dB) to lower sensitivities for VirtualEye device, observed mostly in high dB range. The usability survey suggested patients' acceptance of the head-mounted device. The study appears to validate the concepts of a head-mounted perimeter and the visual grasp mode.

  7. Eye-Tracking as a Tool to Evaluate Functional Ability in Everyday Tasks in Glaucoma

    PubMed Central

    Black, Alex A.

    2017-01-01

    To date, few studies have investigated the eye movement patterns of individuals with glaucoma while they undertake everyday tasks in real-world settings. While some of these studies have reported possible compensatory gaze patterns in those with glaucoma who demonstrated good task performance despite their visual field loss, little is known about the complex interaction between field loss and visual scanning strategies and the impact on task performance and, consequently, on quality of life. We review existing approaches that have quantified the effect of glaucomatous visual field defects on the ability to undertake everyday activities through the use of eye movement analysis. Furthermore, we discuss current developments in eye-tracking technology and the potential for combining eye-tracking with virtual reality and advanced analytical approaches. Recent technological developments suggest that systems based on eye-tracking have the potential to assist individuals with glaucomatous loss to maintain or even improve their performance on everyday tasks and hence enhance their long-term quality of life. We discuss novel approaches for studying the visual search behavior of individuals with glaucoma that have the potential to assist individuals with glaucoma, through the use of personalized programs that take into consideration the individual characteristics of their remaining visual field and visual search behavior. PMID:28293433

  8. Acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension and early glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Papaconstantinou, Dimitris; Georgalas, Ilias; Kalantzis, George; Karmiris, Efthimios; Koutsandrea, Chrysanthi; Diagourtas, Andreas; Ladas, Ioannis; Georgopoulos, Gerasimos

    2009-01-01

    To study acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OH) and early glaucoma. In a prospective study we evaluated 99 eyes of 56 patients with OH without visual field defects and no hereditary color deficiencies, followed up for 4 to 6 years (mean = 4.7 +/- 0.6 years). Color vision defects were studied using a special computer program for Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue test and visual field tests were performed with Humphrey analyzer using program 30-2. Both tests were repeated every six months. In fifty-six eyes, glaucomatous defects were observed during the follow-up period. There was a statistically significant difference in total error score (TES) between eyes that eventually developed glaucoma (157.89 +/- 31.79) and OH eyes (75.51 +/- 31.57) at the first examination (t value 12.816, p < 0.001). At the same time visual field indices were within normal limits in both groups. In the glaucomatous eyes the earliest statistical significant change in TES was identified at the first year of follow-up and was -20.62 +/- 2.75 (t value 9.08, p < 0.001) while in OH eyes was -2.11 +/- 4.36 (t value 1.1, p = 0.276). Pearson's coefficient was high in all examinations and showed a direct correlation between TES and mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation in both groups. Quantitative analysis of color vision defects provides the possibility of follow-up and can prove a useful means for detecting early glaucomatous changes in patients with normal visual fields.

  9. Early detection of glaucoma by means of a novel 3D computer‐automated visual field test

    PubMed Central

    Nazemi, Paul P; Fink, Wolfgang; Sadun, Alfredo A; Francis, Brian; Minckler, Donald

    2007-01-01

    Purpose A recently devised 3D computer‐automated threshold Amsler grid test was used to identify early and distinctive defects in people with suspected glaucoma. Further, the location, shape and depth of these field defects were characterised. Finally, the visual fields were compared with those obtained by standard automated perimetry. Patients and methods Glaucoma suspects were defined as those having elevated intraocular pressure (>21 mm Hg) or cup‐to‐disc ratio of >0.5. 33 patients and 66 eyes with risk factors for glaucoma were examined. 15 patients and 23 eyes with no risk factors were tested as controls. The recently developed 3D computer‐automated threshold Amsler grid test was used. The test exhibits a grid on a computer screen at a preselected greyscale and angular resolution, and allows patients to trace those areas on the grid that are missing in their visual field using a touch screen. The 5‐minute test required that the patients repeatedly outline scotomas on a touch screen with varied displays of contrast while maintaining their gaze on a central fixation marker. A 3D depiction of the visual field defects was then obtained that was further characterised by the location, shape and depth of the scotomas. The exam was repeated three times per eye. The results were compared to Humphrey visual field tests (ie, achromatic standard or SITA standard 30‐2 or 24‐2). Results In this pilot study 79% of the eyes tested in the glaucoma‐suspect group repeatedly demonstrated visual field loss with the 3D perimetry. The 3D depictions of visual field loss associated with these risk factors were all characteristic of or compatible with glaucoma. 71% of the eyes demonstrated arcuate defects or a nasal step. Constricted visual fields were shown in 29% of the eyes. No visual field changes were detected in the control group. Conclusions The 3D computer‐automated threshold Amsler grid test may demonstrate visual field abnormalities characteristic of glaucoma in glaucoma suspects with normal achromatic Humphrey visual field testing. This test may be used as a screening tool for the early detection of glaucoma. PMID:17504855

  10. Three-Dimensional Enhanced Imaging of Vitreoretinal Interface in Diabetic Retinopathy Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

    PubMed

    Adhi, Mehreen; Badaro, Emmerson; Liu, Jonathan J; Kraus, Martin F; Baumal, Caroline R; Witkin, Andre J; Hornegger, Joachim; Fujimoto, James G; Duker, Jay S; Waheed, Nadia K

    2016-02-01

    To analyze the vitreoretinal interface in diabetic eyes using 3-dimensional wide-field volumes acquired using high-speed, long-wavelength swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT). Prospective cross-sectional study. Fifty-six diabetic patients (88 eyes) and 11 healthy nondiabetic controls (22 eyes) were recruited. Up to 8 SSOCT volumes were acquired for each eye. A registration algorithm removed motion artifacts and merged multiple SSOCT volumes to improve signal. Vitreous visualization was enhanced using vitreous windowing method. Of 88 diabetic eyes, 20 eyes had no retinopathy, 21 eyes had nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without macular edema, 20 eyes had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) without macular edema, and 27 eyes had diabetic macular edema (DME) with either NPDR or PDR. Thick posterior hyaloid relative to healthy nondiabetic controls was observed in 0 of 20 (0%) diabetic eyes without retinopathy, 4 of 21 (19%) eyes with NPDR, 11 of 20 (55%) eyes with PDR, and 11 of 27 (41%) eyes with DME (P = .0001). Vitreoschisis was observed in 6 of 22 (27%) healthy nondiabetic eyes, 9 of 20 (45%) diabetic eyes without retinopathy, 10 of 21 (48%) eyes with NPDR, 13 of 20 (65%) eyes with PDR, and 17 of 27 (63%) eyes with DME (P = .007). While no healthy nondiabetic controls and diabetic eyes without retinopathy had adhesions/pegs between detached posterior hyaloid and retina, 1 of 21 (4%), 11 of 20 (55%), and 11 of 27 (41%) eyes with NPDR, PDR, and DME, respectively, demonstrated this feature (P = .0001). SSOCT with motion-correction and vitreous windowing provides wide-field 3-dimensional information of vitreoretinal interface in diabetic eyes. This may be useful in assessing progression of retinopathy, planning diabetic vitreous surgery, and predicting treatment outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Angular and linear fields of view of Galilean telescopes and telemicroscopes.

    PubMed

    Katz, Milton

    2007-06-01

    The calculation of the angular fields of view (FOVs) of Galilean telescopes generally necessitates the calculation of the pupils and ports. This, in turn, requires knowledge of the optical design of the telescope, in particular, the focal lengths or powers of the objective and ocular lenses. Equations for finding the FOV that obviate the need to calculate pupils and ports, or even to know the lens powers of the telescope, are presented in this article. The equations can be used to find the FOVs in image space of real Galilean telescopes of known magnification, merely by measuring the distance between the objective and ocular lenses and the diameter of the objective lens. The equations include the effects of eye pupil diameter and eye relief. Linear FOVs (LFOVs) of Galilean telemicroscopes are similarly determined. Two image space angular FOV equations were derived: (1) an equation to determine the angular FOVs of a telescope with various amounts of vignetting and eye relief; and (2) an equivalent equation for the LFOVs of telescopes fitted with lens caps for near vision. The FOV increases linearly with increasing vignetting. Increasing the eye relief results in a nonlinear decrease in the FOV, shown as a fraction of the normalized value for zero eye relief. Decrements in the FOVs with increasing eye relief as a fraction of the normalized field angle when the eye relief = 0 are shown to be constant regardless of the vignetting level. A transition of the objective lens from field stop to aperture stop occurs when the eye pupil diameter exceeds the diameter of the objective lens divided by the magnification. Equations have been derived for Galilean telescopes and telemicroscopes that make it unnecessary to find pupils and ports, or to know the powers of the lenses. They provide a direct and simple evaluation of angular and LFOVs as functions of magnification, objective lens diameter, eye pupil diameter, eye relief, and vignetting, and enable comparisons of actual telescopes.

  12. Differentiation between Vergence and Saccadic Functional Activity within the Human Frontal Eye Fields and Midbrain Revealed through fMRI

    PubMed Central

    Alkan, Yelda; Biswal, Bharat B.; Alvarez, Tara L.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose Eye movement research has traditionally studied solely saccade and/or vergence eye movements by isolating these systems within a laboratory setting. While the neural correlates of saccadic eye movements are established, few studies have quantified the functional activity of vergence eye movements using fMRI. This study mapped the neural substrates of vergence eye movements and compared them to saccades to elucidate the spatial commonality and differentiation between these systems. Methodology The stimulus was presented in a block design where the ‘off’ stimulus was a sustained fixation and the ‘on’ stimulus was random vergence or saccadic eye movements. Data were collected with a 3T scanner. A general linear model (GLM) was used in conjunction with cluster size to determine significantly active regions. A paired t-test of the GLM beta weight coefficients was computed between the saccade and vergence functional activities to test the hypothesis that vergence and saccadic stimulation would have spatial differentiation in addition to shared neural substrates. Results Segregated functional activation was observed within the frontal eye fields where a portion of the functional activity from the vergence task was located anterior to the saccadic functional activity (z>2.3; p<0.03). An area within the midbrain was significantly correlated with the experimental design for the vergence but not the saccade data set. Similar functional activation was observed within the following regions of interest: the supplementary eye field, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventral lateral prefrontal cortex, lateral intraparietal area, cuneus, precuneus, anterior and posterior cingulates, and cerebellar vermis. The functional activity from these regions was not different between the vergence and saccade data sets assessed by analyzing the beta weights of the paired t-test (p>0.2). Conclusion Functional MRI can elucidate the differences between the vergence and saccade neural substrates within the frontal eye fields and midbrain. PMID:22073141

  13. Tutorial on Biostatistics: Linear Regression Analysis of Continuous Correlated Eye Data.

    PubMed

    Ying, Gui-Shuang; Maguire, Maureen G; Glynn, Robert; Rosner, Bernard

    2017-04-01

    To describe and demonstrate appropriate linear regression methods for analyzing correlated continuous eye data. We describe several approaches to regression analysis involving both eyes, including mixed effects and marginal models under various covariance structures to account for inter-eye correlation. We demonstrate, with SAS statistical software, applications in a study comparing baseline refractive error between one eye with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the unaffected fellow eye, and in a study determining factors associated with visual field in the elderly. When refractive error from both eyes were analyzed with standard linear regression without accounting for inter-eye correlation (adjusting for demographic and ocular covariates), the difference between eyes with CNV and fellow eyes was 0.15 diopters (D; 95% confidence interval, CI -0.03 to 0.32D, p = 0.10). Using a mixed effects model or a marginal model, the estimated difference was the same but with narrower 95% CI (0.01 to 0.28D, p = 0.03). Standard regression for visual field data from both eyes provided biased estimates of standard error (generally underestimated) and smaller p-values, while analysis of the worse eye provided larger p-values than mixed effects models and marginal models. In research involving both eyes, ignoring inter-eye correlation can lead to invalid inferences. Analysis using only right or left eyes is valid, but decreases power. Worse-eye analysis can provide less power and biased estimates of effect. Mixed effects or marginal models using the eye as the unit of analysis should be used to appropriately account for inter-eye correlation and maximize power and precision.

  14. Interocular Difference of Peripheral Refraction in Anisomyopic Eyes of Schoolchildren

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Junhong; He, Ji C.; Chen, Yunyun; Xu, Jingjing; Wu, Haoran; Wang, Feifu; Lu, Fan; Jiang, Jun

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Refraction in the peripheral visual field is believed to play an important role in the development of myopia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in peripheral refraction among anisomyopia, isomyopia, and isoemmetropia for schoolchildren. Methods Thirty-eight anisomyopic children were recruited and divided into two groups: (1) both eyes were myopic (anisomyopic group, AM group) and (2) one eye was myopic and the contralateral eye was emmetropic (emmetropic anisomyopic group, EAM group). As controls, 45 isomyopic and isoemmetropic children were also recruited with age and central spherical equivalent (SE) matched to those of the AM and EAM groups. The controls were divided into three groups: (1) intermediate myopia group (SE matched to the more myopic eye of AM group), (2) low myopia group (SE matched to the less myopic eye of AM group and the more myopic eye of EAM group), and (3) emmetropia group (SE matched to the less myopic eye of EAM group). Peripheral refraction at 7 points across the central ±30° on the horizontal visual field with a 10° interval was measured with an autorefractor. Axial length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were also determined by using the Zeiss IOL-Master. Results The relative peripheral spherical equivalent [RPR(M)] and relative peripheral spherical value [RPR(S)] of the more myopic eye was shifted more hyperopically than the contralateral eye in both the AM and the EAM groups (both p<0.0001). The RPR(M, S) of the less myopic eyes in the AM and EAM groups showed a relatively flat trend across the visual field and were not significantly different from the emmetropia group. The RPR(M, S) of less myopic eyes in the AM group were shifted less hyperopically than in the isomyopic low myopia group and the more myopic eye of the EAM group [RPR(M), p = 0.007; RPR(S), p = 0.001], although the central SEs of the three groups were not significantly different from each other. However, RPR(M, S) of the more myopic eyes were not different from the corresponding isomyopic groups. There was also no significant difference in the relative peripheral astigmatism [RPR(J0, J45)] between the more and the less myopic eyes in either the AM or the EAM group. Conclusion Refraction of anisomyopia differs between the two eyes not only at the central visual field but also at the off-axis periphery. The relative peripheral refraction of the more myopic eye of anisomyopia was shifted hyperopically, as occurs in isomyopia with similar central subjective SE values. Less myopic eyes were much less hyperopically shifted in relative peripheral refraction than the corresponding isomyopic eyes, but are comparable to emmetropic eyes. This emmetropia-like relative peripheral refraction in less myopic eyes might be a factor responsible for slowing down the progression of myopia. PMID:26881745

  15. Interocular Difference of Peripheral Refraction in Anisomyopic Eyes of Schoolchildren.

    PubMed

    Chen, Junhong; He, Ji C; Chen, Yunyun; Xu, Jingjing; Wu, Haoran; Wang, Feifu; Lu, Fan; Jiang, Jun

    2016-01-01

    Refraction in the peripheral visual field is believed to play an important role in the development of myopia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in peripheral refraction among anisomyopia, isomyopia, and isoemmetropia for schoolchildren. Thirty-eight anisomyopic children were recruited and divided into two groups: (1) both eyes were myopic (anisomyopic group, AM group) and (2) one eye was myopic and the contralateral eye was emmetropic (emmetropic anisomyopic group, EAM group). As controls, 45 isomyopic and isoemmetropic children were also recruited with age and central spherical equivalent (SE) matched to those of the AM and EAM groups. The controls were divided into three groups: (1) intermediate myopia group (SE matched to the more myopic eye of AM group), (2) low myopia group (SE matched to the less myopic eye of AM group and the more myopic eye of EAM group), and (3) emmetropia group (SE matched to the less myopic eye of EAM group). Peripheral refraction at 7 points across the central ±30° on the horizontal visual field with a 10° interval was measured with an autorefractor. Axial length (AL), corneal curvature (CC), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were also determined by using the Zeiss IOL-Master. The relative peripheral spherical equivalent [RPR(M)] and relative peripheral spherical value [RPR(S)] of the more myopic eye was shifted more hyperopically than the contralateral eye in both the AM and the EAM groups (both p<0.0001). The RPR(M, S) of the less myopic eyes in the AM and EAM groups showed a relatively flat trend across the visual field and were not significantly different from the emmetropia group. The RPR(M, S) of less myopic eyes in the AM group were shifted less hyperopically than in the isomyopic low myopia group and the more myopic eye of the EAM group [RPR(M), p = 0.007; RPR(S), p = 0.001], although the central SEs of the three groups were not significantly different from each other. However, RPR(M, S) of the more myopic eyes were not different from the corresponding isomyopic groups. There was also no significant difference in the relative peripheral astigmatism [RPR(J0, J45)] between the more and the less myopic eyes in either the AM or the EAM group. Refraction of anisomyopia differs between the two eyes not only at the central visual field but also at the off-axis periphery. The relative peripheral refraction of the more myopic eye of anisomyopia was shifted hyperopically, as occurs in isomyopia with similar central subjective SE values. Less myopic eyes were much less hyperopically shifted in relative peripheral refraction than the corresponding isomyopic eyes, but are comparable to emmetropic eyes. This emmetropia-like relative peripheral refraction in less myopic eyes might be a factor responsible for slowing down the progression of myopia.

  16. The research of the style of angel lobster eye x-ray optical system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheng, HuaQi; Liu, YuJiao; Zhang, ShaoWei; Hou, LinBao; Li, XingLong

    2018-01-01

    This paper has developed the theory research of wide field Angel lobster eye X-ray optical system based on the principle of entirely incidence. Combine the configuration characteristic of lobster eye, recommend the conclusion of beam of light focus on the half of radius whether point or parallel light. Designed the microchannel through the principle of real ray trace and got the relationship among different parameters about it using numerical value emulation. Got pixels and illumination pictures validated the wide field focus characteristic of Angel lobster eye by simulating the optical system.

  17. Eye Movements of Patients with Tunnel Vision while Walking

    PubMed Central

    Vargas-Martín, Fernando; Peli, Eli

    2006-01-01

    Purpose To determine how severe peripheral field loss (PFL) affects the dispersion of eye movements relative to the head, while walking in real environments. This information should help to better define the visual field and clearance requirements for head-mounted mobility visual aids. Methods Eye positions relative to the head were recorded in five retinitis pigmentosa patients with less than 15° of visual field and three normally-sighted people, each walking in varied environments for more than 30 minutes. The eye position recorder was made portable by modifying a head-mounted ISCAN system. Custom data processing was implemented to reject unreliable data. Sample standard deviations of eye position (dispersion) were compared across subject groups and environments. Results PFL patients exhibited narrower horizontal eye position dispersions than normally-sighted subjects (9.4° vs. 14.2°, p < 0.0001) and PFL patients’ vertical dispersions were smaller when walking indoors than outdoors (8.2° vs. 10.3°, p = 0.048). Conclusions When walking, the PFL patients did not increase their scanning eye movements to compensate for missing peripheral vision information. Their horizontal scanning was actually reduced, possibly because saccadic amplitude is limited by a lack of peripheral stimulation. The results suggest that a field-of-view as wide as 40° may be needed for closed (immersive) head-mounted mobility aids, while a much narrower display, perhaps as narrow as 20°, might be sufficient with an open design. PMID:17122116

  18. Eye movements of patients with tunnel vision while walking.

    PubMed

    Vargas-Martín, Fernando; Peli, Eli

    2006-12-01

    To determine how severe peripheral field loss (PFL) affects the dispersion of eye movements relative to the head in patients walking in real environments. This information should help to define the visual field and clearance requirements for head-mounted mobility visual aids. Eye positions relative to the head were recorded in five patients with retinitis pigmentosa who had less than 15 degrees of visual field and in three normally sighted people, each walking in varied environments for more than 30 minutes. The eye-position recorder was made portable by modifying a head-mounted system (ISCAN, Burlington, MA). Custom data processing was implemented, to reject unreliable data. Sample standard deviations of eye position (dispersion) were compared across subject groups and environments. The patients with PFL exhibited narrower horizontal eye-position dispersions than did the normally sighted subjects (9.4 degrees vs. 14.2 degrees , P < 0.0001), and the vertical dispersions of patients with PFL were smaller when they were walking indoors than when walking outdoors (8.2 degrees vs. 10.3 degrees ; P = 0.048). When walking, the patients with PFL did not increase their scanning eye movements to compensate for missing peripheral vision information. Their horizontal scanning was actually reduced, possibly because of lack of peripheral stimulation. The results suggest that a field of view as wide as 40 degrees may be needed for closed (immersive) head-mounted mobility aids, whereas a much narrower display, perhaps as narrow as 20 degrees , may be sufficient with an open design.

  19. Identification of a novel mutation in the PTCH gene in a patient with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome with unusual ocular disorders.

    PubMed

    Romano, Mary; Iacovello, Daniela; Cascone, Nikhil C; Contestabile, Maria Teresa

    2011-01-01

    To document the clinical, functional, and in vivo microanatomic characteristics of a patient with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome with a novel nonsense mutation in PTCH (patched). Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, electrophysiologic testing, visual field, magnetic resonance imaging, and mutation screening of PTCH gene. Visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left. Fundus examination revealed myelinated nerve fibers in the left eye and bilateral epiretinal membranes with lamellar macular hole also documented with macular OCT. A reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layers in both eyes was found with fiber nervous OCT. Fluorescein angiography showed bilaterally foveal hyperfluorescence and the visual field revealed inferior hemianopia in the right eye. Pattern visual evoked potentials registered a reduction of amplitude in both eyes and latency was delayed in the left eye. Pattern electroretinogram showed a reduction in P50 and N95 peak time and a delay in P50 peak time in the left eye. Flash electroretinogram was reduced in rod response, maximal response, and oscillatory potentials in both eyes. Cone response was normal and 30-Hz flicker was slightly reduced in both eyes. Mutation screening identified a novel nonsense mutation in PTCH. A novel nonsense mutation in the PTCH gene was found. We report the occurrence of epiretinal membranes and the persistence of myelinated nerve fibers. Electrophysiologic and visual field alterations, supporting a neuroretinal dysfunction, were also documented.

  20. Terahertz Near-Field Imaging Using Enhanced Transmission through a Single Subwavelength Aperture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishihara, Kunihiko; Ikari, Tomofumi; Minamide, Hiroaki; Shikata, Jun-ichi; Ohashi, Keishi; Yokoyama, Hiroyuki; Ito, Hiromasa

    2005-07-01

    We demonstrate terahertz (THz) near-field imaging using resonantly enhanced transmission of THz-wave radiation (λ˜ 200 μm) through a bull’s eye structure (a single subwavelength aperture surrounded by concentric periodic grooves in a metal plate). The bull’s eye structure shows extremely large enhanced transmission, which has the advantage for a single subwavelength aperture. The spatial resolution for the bull’s eye structure (with an aperture diameter d=100 μm) is evaluated in the near-field region, and a resolution of 50 μm (corresponding to λ/4) is achieved. We obtain the THz near-field images of the subwavelength metal pattern with a spatial resolution below the diffraction limit.

  1. Comparison of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer loss and visual outcome in fellow eyes following sequential bilateral non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

    PubMed

    Dotan, Gad; Kesler, Anat; Naftaliev, Elvira; Skarf, Barry

    2015-05-01

    To report on the correlation of structural damage to the axons of the optic nerve and visual outcome following bilateral non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. A retrospective review of the medical records of 25 patients with bilateral sequential non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy was performed. Outcome measures were peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with the Stratus optical coherence tomography scanner, visual acuity and visual field loss. Median peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, mean deviation (MD) of visual field, and visual acuity of initially involved NAION eyes (54.00 µm, -17.77 decibels (dB), 0.4, respectively) were comparable to the same parameters measured following development of second NAION event in the other eye (53.70 µm, p = 0.740; -16.83 dB, p = 0.692; 0.4, p = 0.942, respectively). In patients with bilateral NAION, there was a significant correlation of peripapillary RNFL thickness (r = 0.583, p = 0.002) and MD of the visual field (r = 0.457, p = 0.042) for the pairs of affected eyes, whereas a poor correlation was found in visual acuity of these eyes (r = 0.279, p = 0.176). Peripapillary RNFL thickness following NAION was positively correlated with MD of visual field (r = 0.312, p = 0.043) and negatively correlated with logMAR visual acuity (r = -0.365, p = 0.009). In patients who experience bilateral NAION, the magnitude of RNFL loss is similar in each eye. There is a greater similarity in visual field loss than in visual acuity between the two affected eyes with NAION of the same individual.

  2. Effects of lenses with different power profiles on eye shape in chickens.

    PubMed

    Tepelus, Tudor Cosmin; Vazquez, Daniel; Seidemann, Anne; Uttenweiler, Dietmar; Schaeffel, Frank

    2012-02-01

    Defocus imposed to the periphery of the visual field can affect the development of foveal/central refractive errors. To make use of this observation, lenses can be designed to reduce myopia progression, but it is important to know which power profiles of the lenses are most effective. We have studied this question in chickens. Sixty male white leghorn chickens were used. From day 7 after hatching, they were treated for 5 days either with full field -7D or +7D lenses, with -7D lenses with a 4mm central hole, with hemi-field lenses of the same power, or with two different types of radial refractive gradient (RRG) lenses with increasing positive power from the center to the periphery, which were designed by Rodenstock GmbH, Munich, Germany. A macro file was written for "ImageJ" to trace and average the outlines of several excised eyes after treatment. Shapes of fellow control eyes and lens-treated eyes were compared in the horizontal and vertical meridians. Refractions were determined at -45°, 0°, and 45° over the horizontal visual field, at the beginning and at the end of experiments, using automated infrared photoretinoscopy. (1) Eye length, as determined by the new automated eye shape tracing technique, was well correlated with A-scan ultrasound data. (2) The effects of previously tested lens designs were reproduced with the new tracing technique. Full field lenses were by far the most effective (-7D: external axial length +0.24mm with an increase in eye volume of about 6%, +7D: -0.08 mm, with a decrease in eye volume of about 2%). Hemi-field lenses and negative lenses with a 4mm central hole induced conspicuous local changes in eye shape. (3) The first type of RRG lenses with a plano zone of about 4mm (equivalent to about ± 12.52° in the visual field for a vertex distance of 5mm) had no apparent effect on central refractions but induced small hyperopic shifts in the periphery, more significant in the temporal retina (+1.70 ± 1.70 D, p<0.001, paired t-test to untreated fellow eyes). The second type of RRG lenses with a small plano zone of 2mm (equivalent to ± 6.34°) induced peripheral hyperopia but also changed the central refraction (temporal retina +1.50 ± 1.17D, p<0.001, central retina +0.77 ± 1.15 D, p<0.01, nasal retina +1.47±1.35D, p<0.001, paired t-test to untreated control eyes). In the afoveate chick, RRG lenses have an effect on central refraction and eye growth only if the central plano zone is small (<4mm). For the second type of RRG lens with a central plano zone of about 2mm, inhibitory effects on eye growth were detected in both the center and periphery even though the optical power of the lenses in the periphery was low. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Acquisition of Cooperative Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for Advancing Man Machine Interface Research

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-08-24

    global sensor field of views (FOVs), mimicking biological systems such as an insect fly eye , but allowing multiple aperture configurations. Due to...synthetic, global sensor field of views (FOVs), mimicking biological systems such as an insect fly eye , but allowing multiple aperture configurations. Due to...such as an insect fly eye , but allowing multiple aperture configurations. Due to the desired nature of distributed networked aerial vehicles (for the

  4. Characteristics and Ophthalmic Manifestations of the Classic Dengue Fever Epidemic in Singapore (2005-2006).

    PubMed

    Koh, Yan Tong; Sanjay, Srinivasan

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this study was to report the characteristics and ophthalmic manifestations associated with dengue fever (DF) in the 2005-2006 DF epidemic in Singapore. A retrospective case series. Eleven patients (7 males, 4 females) who were 14 to 40 years old (mean age, 27.3 years) with visual complaints occurring 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of DF underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination. The presenting visual acuity (VA) ranged from 6/6 to counting fingers. Five patients had bilateral eye involvement. Ophthalmic findings included retinal hemorrhages (15 eyes), cotton wool spots (15 eyes), retinal pigment epithelium alterations (5 eyes), optic disc swelling (3 eyes), foveolitis (3 eyes), and hyperemia (2 eyes). Impaired color vision was noted in 12 eyes. Visual field defects were noted in 13 eyes; 4 of these eyes were asymptomatic. Fundus fluorescein angiography was done in 9 patients; the findings include choroidal hyperfluorescence (9 eyes), blocked fluorescence (8 eyes), and capillary nonperfusion (1 eye). In 2 eyes, it was normal. Electrophysiology confirmed optic neuropathy in 3 eyes and maculopathy in 1 eye. The follow-up ranged from 12 days to 12 months. The VA at the last follow-up ranged from no light perception to 6/6. Visual field abnormalities were noted in 5 eyes despite a normal VA. Dengue fever is associated with a wide spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations. Rarely, ophthalmic complications in DF can result in permanent visual impairment. Further work can be done to elucidate the relationship between systemic and ocular manifestations of DF.

  5. Contribution of the frontal eye field to gaze shifts in the head-unrestrained rhesus monkey: neuronal activity.

    PubMed

    Knight, T A

    2012-12-06

    The frontal eye field (FEF) has a strong influence on saccadic eye movements with the head restrained. With the head unrestrained, eye saccades combine with head movements to produce large gaze shifts, and microstimulation of the FEF evokes both eye and head movements. To test whether the dorsomedial FEF provides commands for the entire gaze shift or its separate eye and head components, we recorded extracellular single-unit activity in monkeys trained to make large head-unrestrained gaze shifts. We recorded 80 units active during gaze shifts, and closely examined 26 of these that discharged a burst of action potentials that preceded horizontal gaze movements. These units were movement or visuomovement related and most exhibited open movement fields with respect to amplitude. To reveal the relations of burst parameters to gaze, eye, and/or head movement metrics, we used behavioral dissociations of gaze, eye, and head movements and linear regression analyses. The burst number of spikes (NOS) was strongly correlated with movement amplitude and burst temporal parameters were strongly correlated with movement temporal metrics for eight gaze-related burst neurons and five saccade-related burst neurons. For the remaining 13 neurons, the NOS was strongly correlated with the head movement amplitude, but burst temporal parameters were most strongly correlated with eye movement temporal metrics (head-eye-related burst neurons, HEBNs). These results suggest that FEF units do not encode a command for the unified gaze shift only; instead, different units may carry signals related to the overall gaze shift or its eye and/or head components. Moreover, the HEBNs exhibit bursts whose magnitude and timing may encode a head displacement signal and a signal that influences the timing of the eye saccade, thereby serving as a mechanism for coordinating the eye and head movements of a gaze shift. Copyright © 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. SU-G-IeP4-09: Method of Human Eye Aberration Measurement Using Plenoptic Camera Over Large Field of View

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lv, Yang; Wang, Ruixing; Ma, Haotong

    Purpose: The measurement based on Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor(WFS), obtaining both the high and low order wave-front aberrations simultaneously and accurately, has been applied in the detection of human eyes aberration in recent years. However, Its application is limited by the small field of view (FOV), slight eye movement leads the optical bacon image exceeds the lenslet array which result in uncertain detection error. To overcome difficulties of precise eye location, the capacity of detecting eye wave-front aberration over FOV much larger than simply a single conjugate Hartmann WFS accurately and simultaneously is demanded. Methods: Plenoptic camera’s lenslet array subdivides themore » aperture light-field in spatial frequency domain, capture the 4-D light-field information. Data recorded by plenoptic cameras can be used to extract the wave-front phases associated to the eyes aberration. The corresponding theoretical model and simulation system is built up in this article to discuss wave-front measurement performance when utilizing plenoptic camera as wave-front sensor. Results: The simulation results indicate that the plenoptic wave-front method can obtain both the high and low order eyes wave-front aberration with the same accuracy as conventional system in single visual angle detectionand over FOV much larger than simply a single conjugate Hartmann systems. Meanwhile, simulation results show that detection of eye aberrations wave-front in different visual angle can be achieved effectively and simultaneously by plenoptic method, by both point and extended optical beacon from the eye. Conclusion: Plenoptic wave-front method possesses the feasibility in eye aberrations wave-front detection. With larger FOV, the method can effectively reduce the detection error brought by imprecise eye location and simplify the eye aberrations wave-front detection system comparing with which based on Shack-Hartmann WFS. Unique advantage of the plenoptic method lies in obtaining wave-front in different visual angle simultaneously, which provides an approach in building up 3-D model of eye refractor tomographically. Funded by the key Laboratory of High Power Laser and Physics, CAS Research Project of National University of Defense Technology No. JC13-07-01; National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 61205144.« less

  7. A Review of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Research Findings and Implications for Counsellors.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    MacCluskie, Kathryn C.

    1998-01-01

    States that within the last six years a new therapeutic technique for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), has emerged. Examines the strengths and weaknesses of published studies concerning EMDR, describes the nature of the debate about the efficacy of EMDR, and reviews implications…

  8. BMP signaling protects telencephalic fate by repressing eye identity and its Cxcr4-dependent morphogenesis.

    PubMed

    Bielen, Holger; Houart, Corinne

    2012-10-16

    Depletion of Wnt signaling is a major requirement for the induction of the anterior prosencephalon. However, the molecular events driving the differential regionalization of this area into eye-field and telencephalon fates are still unknown. Here we show that the BMP pathway is active in the anterior neural ectoderm during late blastula to early gastrula stage in zebrafish. Bmp2b mutants and mosaic loss-of-function experiments reveal that BMP acts as a repressor of eye-field fate through inhibition of its key transcription factor Rx3, thereby protecting the future telencephalon from acquiring eye identity. This BMP-driven mechanism initiates the establishment of the telencephalon prior to the involvement of Wnt antagonists from the anterior neural border. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Rx3 and BMP are respectively required to maintain and restrict the chemokine receptor cxcr4a, which in turn contributes to the morphogenetic separation of eye-field and telencephalic cells during early neurulation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Ultra-Wide Field Imaging in Paradoxical Worsening of Tubercular Multifocal Serpiginoid Choroiditis after the Initiation of Anti-Tubercular Therapy.

    PubMed

    Aggarwal, Kanika; Agarwal, Aniruddha; Deokar, Ankit; Singh, Ramandeep; Bansal, Reema; Sharma, Aman; Sharma, Kusum; Dogra, Mangat R; Gupta, Vishali

    2017-10-11

    To evaluate role of ultra-wide field (UWF) versus conventional imaging in the follow-up and paradoxical worsening (PW) of tubercular (TB) multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis (MSC). Prospective observational study of patients with TB MSC undergoing UWF imaging, autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography was performed. A circle simulating central 75° field representing conventional imaging was drawn on UWF images. The information yielded by the two modalities, progression of choroiditis lesions and PW was compared. 44 eyes (29 patients, mean age: 30.7 ± 9 years; 23 males) were included. UWF imaging showed additional lesions in 39/44 eyes (88.6%). Overall, 16/44 eyes (36.4%) showed PW; 3/16 eyes (18.7%) showed only peripheral PW, while 10/16 eyes showed both central and peripheral PW. Management was altered in 11 patients (37.93%) based on UWF imaging. UWF is more useful than conventional imaging in identifying additional choroiditis lesions, PW and altering the course of therapy in TB MSC.

  10. Underwater binocular imaging of aerial objects versus the position of eyes relative to the flat water surface.

    PubMed

    Barta, András; Horváth, Gábor

    2003-12-01

    The apparent position, size, and shape of aerial objects viewed binocularly from water change as a result of the refraction of light at the water surface. Earlier studies of the refraction-distorted structure of the aerial binocular visual field of underwater observers were restricted to either vertically or horizontally oriented eyes. Here we calculate the position of the binocular image point of an aerial object point viewed by two arbitrarily positioned underwater eyes when the water surface is flat. Assuming that binocular image fusion is performed by appropriate vergent eye movements to bring the object's image onto the foveae, the structure of the aerial binocular visual field is computed and visualized as a function of the relative positions of the eyes. We also analyze two erroneous representations of the underwater imaging of aerial objects that have occurred in the literature. It is demonstrated that the structure of the aerial binocular visual field of underwater observers distorted by refraction is more complex than has been thought previously.

  11. Personalized ophthalmology.

    PubMed

    Porter, L F; Black, G C M

    2014-07-01

    Ophthalmology has been an early adopter of personalized medicine. Drawing on genomic advances to improve molecular diagnosis, such as next-generation sequencing, and basic and translational research to develop novel therapies, application of genetic technologies in ophthalmology now heralds development of gene replacement therapies for some inherited monogenic eye diseases. It also promises to alter prediction, diagnosis and management of the complex disease age-related macular degeneration. Personalized ophthalmology is underpinned by an understanding of the molecular basis of eye disease. Two important areas of focus are required for adoption of personalized approaches: disease stratification and individualization. Disease stratification relies on phenotypic and genetic assessment leading to molecular diagnosis; individualization encompasses all aspects of patient management from optimized genetic counseling and conventional therapies to trials of novel DNA-based therapies. This review discusses the clinical implications of these twin strategies. Advantages and implications of genetic testing for patients with inherited eye diseases, choice of molecular diagnostic modality, drivers for adoption of personalized ophthalmology, service planning implications, ethical considerations and future challenges are considered. Indeed, whilst many difficulties remain, personalized ophthalmology truly has the potential to revolutionize the specialty. © 2014 The Authors. Clinical Genetics published by JohnWiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Comparison between wide-angle OCT angiography and ultra-wide field fluorescein angiography for detecting non-perfusion areas and retinal neovascularization in eyes with diabetic retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Sawada, Osamu; Ichiyama, Yusuke; Obata, Syunpei; Ito, Yuka; Kakinoki, Masashi; Sawada, Tomoko; Saishin, Yoshitsugu; Ohji, Masahito

    2018-04-30

    To compare the ability of wide-angle optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with that of ultra-wide field fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) to detect non-perfusion areas (NPAs) or retinal neovascularization (NV) in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Patients with DR underwent UWFFA using the Optos® panoramic 200Tx imaging system and wide-angle OCTA with 12 × 12 mm fields of five visual fixations using the PLEX Elite 9000®. We compared the abilities of UWFFA and OCTA to detect NPAs and NV. Fifty-eight eyes of 33 patients (mean age, 60.0 years old; female/male, 16/17) with DR were evaluated. NPAs were detected in 47 out of 58 eyes using UWFFA and in 48 eyes using OCTA. NVs were detected in 25 out of the 58 eyes using UWFFA and in 26 eyes using OCTA. The sensitivity for detection of NPA using OCTA was 0.98, and the specificity was 0.82. The sensitivity for detection of NV was 1.0, and the specificity was 0.97. The wide-angle OCTA seems to be clinically useful for the detection of NPAs or NV.

  13. Progression of visual field in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma - ProgF study 1.

    PubMed

    Aptel, Florent; Aryal-Charles, Nishal; Giraud, Jean-Marie; El Chehab, Hussam; Delbarre, Maxime; Chiquet, Christophe; Romanet, Jean-Paul; Renard, Jean-Paul

    2015-12-01

    To evaluate the visual field rate of progression of patients with treated ocular hypertension (OHT) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in clinical practice, using the mean deviation (MD) and the visual field index (VFI). Non-interventional cohort study. From a large multicentre database representative of the French population, 441 eyes of 228 patients with treated OHT or POAG followed up at least 6 years with Humphrey 24.2 Sita-Standard visual field examination at least twice a year were identified. From initial data, eyes were classified in five groups: 121 with OHT, 188 with early glaucoma (MD greater than -6 dB), 45 with moderate glaucoma (MD -6 to -12 dB), 41 with advanced glaucoma (MD -12 to -18 dB) and 46 with severe glaucoma (MD less than -18 dB). Rate of progression during the follow-up period was calculated using the trend analysis of the Guided Progression Analysis software. The mean duration of follow-up was 8.4 ± 2.7 years and the mean number of visual field, 18.4 ± 3.5. In eyes with OHT, rate of progression was -0.09 dB/year (-0.17%VFI/year). In eyes with POAG, rate of progression was -0.32 dB/year (-0.83%VFI/year) in eyes with early glaucoma, -0.52 dB/year (-1.81%VFI/year) in moderate glaucoma, -0.54 dB/year (-2.35%VFI/year) in advanced glaucoma and -0.45 dB/year (-1.97%VFI/year) in severe glaucoma. In eyes with POAG, a significant progression (p < 0.05) was detected in 159 of 320 eyes (49.7%) with trend analysis and 117 of 320 eyes (36.6%, likely progression) or 183 of 320 eyes (57.2%, possible and likely progression) with event analysis. Primary open-angle glaucoma is a progressive disease in the majority of patients despite cautioned treatment and follow-up. The rate of progression varies greatly among subjects. © 2015 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. [Features associated with retinal thickness extension in diabetic macular oedema].

    PubMed

    Razo Blanco-Hernández, Dulce Milagros; Lima-Gómez, Virgilio; García-Rubio, Yatzul Zuhaila

    2015-01-01

    Clinically significant macular edema has features that are associated with a major risk of visual loss, with thickening that involves the centre of the macula, field 7 or visual deficiency, although it is unknown if these features are related to retinal thickness extension. An observational, analytical, prospective, cross-sectional and open study was conducted. The sample was divided into initial visual acuity ≥0.5, central field thickness, center point thickness, field 7 and macular volume more than the reported 2 standard deviation mean value in eyes without retinopathy. The extension was determined by the number of the central field area equivalent thickening and these features were compared with by Student's t test for independent samples. A total of 199 eyes were included. In eyes with visual acuity of ≥0.5, the mean extension was 2.88±1.68 and 3.2±1.63 in area equivalent in eyes with visual acuity <0.5 (p=0.12). The mean extension in eyes with less than 2 standard deviation of central field thickness, center point thickness, field 7 and macular volume was significantly lower than in eyes with more than 2 standard deviations (1.9±0.93 vs. 4.07±1.49, 2.44±1.47 vs. 3.94±1.52, 1.79±1.07 vs. 3.61±1.57 and 1.6±0.9 vs. 3.9±1.4, respectively, p<0.001). The extension of retinal thickness is related with the anatomical features reported with a greater risk of visual loss, but is not related to initial visual deficiency. Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  15. Acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension and early glaucoma

    PubMed Central

    Papaconstantinou, Dimitris; Georgalas, Ilias; Kalantzis, George; Karmiris, Efthimios; Koutsandrea, Chrysanthi; Diagourtas, Andreas; Ladas, Ioannis; Georgopoulos, Gerasimos

    2009-01-01

    Purpose: To study acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OH) and early glaucoma. Methods: In a prospective study we evaluated 99 eyes of 56 patients with OH without visual field defects and no hereditary color deficiencies, followed up for 4 to 6 years (mean = 4.7 ± 0.6 years). Color vision defects were studied using a special computer program for Farnsworth–Munsell 100 hue test and visual field tests were performed with Humphrey analyzer using program 30–2. Both tests were repeated every six months. Results: In fifty-six eyes, glaucomatous defects were observed during the follow-up period. There was a statistically significant difference in total error score (TES) between eyes that eventually developed glaucoma (157.89 ± 31.79) and OH eyes (75.51 ± 31.57) at the first examination (t value 12.816, p < 0.001). At the same time visual field indices were within normal limits in both groups. In the glaucomatous eyes the earliest statistical significant change in TES was identified at the first year of follow-up and was −20.62 ± 2.75 (t value 9.08, p < 0.001) while in OH eyes was −2.11 ± 4.36 (t value 1.1, p = 0.276). Pearson’s coefficient was high in all examinations and showed a direct correlation between TES and mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation in both groups. Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of color vision defects provides the possibility of follow-up and can prove a useful means for detecting early glaucomatous changes in patients with normal visual fields. PMID:19668575

  16. Tutorial on Biostatistics: Linear Regression Analysis of Continuous Correlated Eye Data

    PubMed Central

    Ying, Gui-shuang; Maguire, Maureen G; Glynn, Robert; Rosner, Bernard

    2017-01-01

    Purpose To describe and demonstrate appropriate linear regression methods for analyzing correlated continuous eye data. Methods We describe several approaches to regression analysis involving both eyes, including mixed effects and marginal models under various covariance structures to account for inter-eye correlation. We demonstrate, with SAS statistical software, applications in a study comparing baseline refractive error between one eye with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the unaffected fellow eye, and in a study determining factors associated with visual field data in the elderly. Results When refractive error from both eyes were analyzed with standard linear regression without accounting for inter-eye correlation (adjusting for demographic and ocular covariates), the difference between eyes with CNV and fellow eyes was 0.15 diopters (D; 95% confidence interval, CI −0.03 to 0.32D, P=0.10). Using a mixed effects model or a marginal model, the estimated difference was the same but with narrower 95% CI (0.01 to 0.28D, P=0.03). Standard regression for visual field data from both eyes provided biased estimates of standard error (generally underestimated) and smaller P-values, while analysis of the worse eye provided larger P-values than mixed effects models and marginal models. Conclusion In research involving both eyes, ignoring inter-eye correlation can lead to invalid inferences. Analysis using only right or left eyes is valid, but decreases power. Worse-eye analysis can provide less power and biased estimates of effect. Mixed effects or marginal models using the eye as the unit of analysis should be used to appropriately account for inter-eye correlation and maximize power and precision. PMID:28102741

  17. Perception and Processing of Faces in the Human Brain Is Tuned to Typical Feature Locations

    PubMed Central

    Schwarzkopf, D. Samuel; Alvarez, Ivan; Lawson, Rebecca P.; Henriksson, Linda; Kriegeskorte, Nikolaus; Rees, Geraint

    2016-01-01

    Faces are salient social stimuli whose features attract a stereotypical pattern of fixations. The implications of this gaze behavior for perception and brain activity are largely unknown. Here, we characterize and quantify a retinotopic bias implied by typical gaze behavior toward faces, which leads to eyes and mouth appearing most often in the upper and lower visual field, respectively. We found that the adult human visual system is tuned to these contingencies. In two recognition experiments, recognition performance for isolated face parts was better when they were presented at typical, rather than reversed, visual field locations. The recognition cost of reversed locations was equal to ∼60% of that for whole face inversion in the same sample. Similarly, an fMRI experiment showed that patterns of activity evoked by eye and mouth stimuli in the right inferior occipital gyrus could be separated with significantly higher accuracy when these features were presented at typical, rather than reversed, visual field locations. Our findings demonstrate that human face perception is determined not only by the local position of features within a face context, but by whether features appear at the typical retinotopic location given normal gaze behavior. Such location sensitivity may reflect fine-tuning of category-specific visual processing to retinal input statistics. Our findings further suggest that retinotopic heterogeneity might play a role for face inversion effects and for the understanding of conditions affecting gaze behavior toward faces, such as autism spectrum disorders and congenital prosopagnosia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Faces attract our attention and trigger stereotypical patterns of visual fixations, concentrating on inner features, like eyes and mouth. Here we show that the visual system represents face features better when they are shown at retinal positions where they typically fall during natural vision. When facial features were shown at typical (rather than reversed) visual field locations, they were discriminated better by humans and could be decoded with higher accuracy from brain activity patterns in the right occipital face area. This suggests that brain representations of face features do not cover the visual field uniformly. It may help us understand the well-known face-inversion effect and conditions affecting gaze behavior toward faces, such as prosopagnosia and autism spectrum disorders. PMID:27605606

  18. 45 CFR 233.70 - Blindness.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses or a field defect in which the... diseases of the eye or by an optometrist, whichever the individual so selects. (i) No examination is necessary when both eyes are missing. (ii) Where an initial eye examination or re-examination is necessary...

  19. 45 CFR 233.70 - Blindness.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting glasses or a field defect in which the... diseases of the eye or by an optometrist, whichever the individual so selects. (i) No examination is necessary when both eyes are missing. (ii) Where an initial eye examination or re-examination is necessary...

  20. Testing of Visual Field with Virtual Reality Goggles in Manual and Visual Grasp Modes

    PubMed Central

    Wroblewski, Dariusz; Francis, Brian A.; Sadun, Alfredo; Vakili, Ghazal; Chopra, Vikas

    2014-01-01

    Automated perimetry is used for the assessment of visual function in a variety of ophthalmic and neurologic diseases. We report development and clinical testing of a compact, head-mounted, and eye-tracking perimeter (VirtualEye) that provides a more comfortable test environment than the standard instrumentation. VirtualEye performs the equivalent of a full threshold 24-2 visual field in two modes: (1) manual, with patient response registered with a mouse click, and (2) visual grasp, where the eye tracker senses change in gaze direction as evidence of target acquisition. 59 patients successfully completed the test in manual mode and 40 in visual grasp mode, with 59 undergoing the standard Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) testing. Large visual field defects were reliably detected by VirtualEye. Point-by-point comparison between the results obtained with the different modalities indicates: (1) minimal systematic differences between measurements taken in visual grasp and manual modes, (2) the average standard deviation of the difference distributions of about 5 dB, and (3) a systematic shift (of 4–6 dB) to lower sensitivities for VirtualEye device, observed mostly in high dB range. The usability survey suggested patients' acceptance of the head-mounted device. The study appears to validate the concepts of a head-mounted perimeter and the visual grasp mode. PMID:25050326

  1. Eyes in the sky. Interactions between asymptotic giant branch star winds and the interstellar magnetic field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van Marle, A. J.; Cox, N. L. J.; Decin, L.

    2014-10-01

    Context. The extended circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of evolved low-mass stars display a large variety of morphologies. Understanding the various mechanisms that give rise to these extended structures is important to trace their mass-loss history. Aims: Here, we aim to examine the role of the interstellar magnetic field in shaping the extended morphologies of slow dusty winds of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in an effort to pin-point the origin of so-called eye shaped CSEs of three carbon-rich AGB stars. In addition, we seek to understand if this pre-planetary nebula (PN) shaping can be responsible for asymmetries observed in PNe. Methods: Hydrodynamical simulations are used to study the effect of typical interstellar magnetic fields on the free-expanding spherical stellar winds as they sweep up the local interstellar medium (ISM). Results: The simulations show that typical Galactic interstellar magnetic fields of 5 to 10 μG are sufficient to alter the spherical expanding shells of AGB stars to appear as the characteristic eye shape revealed by far-infrared observations. The typical sizes of the simulated eyes are in accordance with the observed physical sizes. However, the eye shapes are transient in nature. Depending on the stellar and interstellar conditions, they develop after 20 000 to 200 000 yrs and last for about 50 000 to 500 000 yrs, assuming that the star is at rest relative to the local interstellar medium. Once formed, the eye shape develops lateral outflows parallel to the magnetic field. The explosion of a PN in the centre of the eye-shaped dust shell gives rise to an asymmetrical nebula with prominent inward pointing Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. Conclusions: Interstellar magnetic fields can clearly affect the shaping of wind-ISM interaction shells. The occurrence of the eyes is most strongly influenced by stellar space motion and ISM density. Observability of this transient phase is favoured for lines-of-sight perpendicular to the interstellar magnetic field direction. The simulations indicate that shaping of the pre-PN envelope can strongly affect the shape and size of PNe. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Movies are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

  2. Bio-inspired hemispherical compound eye camera

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Jianliang; Song, Young Min; Xie, Yizhu; Malyarchuk, Viktor; Jung, Inhwa; Choi, Ki-Joong; Liu, Zhuangjian; Park, Hyunsung; Lu, Chaofeng; Kim, Rak-Hwan; Li, Rui; Crozier, Kenneth B.; Huang, Yonggang; Rogers, John A.

    2014-03-01

    Compound eyes in arthropods demonstrate distinct imaging characteristics from human eyes, with wide angle field of view, low aberrations, high acuity to motion and infinite depth of field. Artificial imaging systems with similar geometries and properties are of great interest for many applications. However, the challenges in building such systems with hemispherical, compound apposition layouts cannot be met through established planar sensor technologies and conventional optics. We present our recent progress in combining optics, materials, mechanics and integration schemes to build fully functional artificial compound eye cameras. Nearly full hemispherical shapes (about 160 degrees) with densely packed artificial ommatidia were realized. The number of ommatidia (180) is comparable to those of the eyes of fire ants and bark beetles. The devices combine elastomeric compound optical elements with deformable arrays of thin silicon photodetectors, which were fabricated in the planar geometries and then integrated and elastically transformed to hemispherical shapes. Imaging results and quantitative ray-tracing-based simulations illustrate key features of operation. These general strategies seem to be applicable to other compound eye devices, such as those inspired by moths and lacewings (refracting superposition eyes), lobster and shrimp (reflecting superposition eyes), and houseflies (neural superposition eyes).

  3. Objective estimation of tropical cyclone innercore surface wind structure using infrared satellite images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Changjiang; Dai, Lijie; Ma, Leiming; Qian, Jinfang; Yang, Bo

    2017-10-01

    An objective technique is presented for estimating tropical cyclone (TC) innercore two-dimensional (2-D) surface wind field structure using infrared satellite imagery and machine learning. For a TC with eye, the eye contour is first segmented by a geodesic active contour model, based on which the eye circumference is obtained as the TC eye size. A mathematical model is then established between the eye size and the radius of maximum wind obtained from the past official TC report to derive the 2-D surface wind field within the TC eye. Meanwhile, the composite information about the latitude of TC center, surface maximum wind speed, TC age, and critical wind radii of 34- and 50-kt winds can be combined to build another mathematical model for deriving the innercore wind structure. After that, least squares support vector machine (LSSVM), radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), and linear regression are introduced, respectively, in the two mathematical models, which are then tested with sensitivity experiments on real TC cases. Verification shows that the innercore 2-D surface wind field structure estimated by LSSVM is better than that of RBFNN and linear regression.

  4. Cupping reversal in pediatric glaucoma--evaluation of the retinal nerve fiber layer and visual field.

    PubMed

    Ely, Amanda L; El-Dairi, Mays A; Freedman, Sharon F

    2014-11-01

    To identify optic nerve head (ONH) cupping reversal and associated optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Humphrey visual field changes in pediatric glaucoma. Retrospective observational case series. Sequential surgical cases of juvenile open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) with sustained postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction. Group 1 had preoperative and postoperative ONH photographs and OCT; Group 2 had preoperative clinical ONH assessment and postoperative imaging. Cupping evaluation was confirmed by masked glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology specialists. Of 80 cases, 9 eyes (9 children) met criteria for Group 1; 24 eyes (19 children) met criteria for Group 2. Group 1: Five of 9 eyes (56%) demonstrated cupping reversal, with preoperative vs postoperative mean IOP 34.2 ± 6.6 mm Hg vs 10.6 ± 4.1 mm Hg (P < .00001) and mean average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) 71.0 ± 30 μm vs 62.8 ± 24 μm (P = .4), respectively. RNFL was stable in 4 of 5 eyes (all juvenile OAG), but thinned (Δ = -41 μm) in 1 eye with PCG. Humphrey visual fields (reliable in 2 of 3 eyes) showed no significant change. Group 2: Fourteen of 24 PCG eyes (58%) demonstrated cupping reversal, with preoperative vs postoperative mean IOP 36.1 ± 8.9 mm Hg vs 13.3 ± 2.1 mm Hg (P < .00001). Two eyes had thin RNFL postoperatively despite healthy-appearing ONH. Postoperative RNFL showed statistically significant linear correlation with preoperative (but not postoperative) cup-to-disc ratio. Limitations include small numbers, few reliable Humphrey visual fields, and absent preoperative imaging (Group 2). Some eyes with IOP reduction and ONH cupping reversal show continued RNFL thinning postoperatively. The preoperative ONH cup-to-disc ratio predicted the postoperative RNFL better than the postoperative "reversed and smaller" cup-to-disc ratio. Cupping reversal in pediatric glaucoma may not predict improved ONH health and deserves further study. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Progression of Patterns (POP): A Machine Classifier Algorithm to Identify Glaucoma Progression in Visual Fields

    PubMed Central

    Goldbaum, Michael H.; Lee, Intae; Jang, Giljin; Balasubramanian, Madhusudhanan; Sample, Pamela A.; Weinreb, Robert N.; Liebmann, Jeffrey M.; Girkin, Christopher A.; Anderson, Douglas R.; Zangwill, Linda M.; Fredette, Marie-Josee; Jung, Tzyy-Ping; Medeiros, Felipe A.; Bowd, Christopher

    2012-01-01

    Purpose. We evaluated Progression of Patterns (POP) for its ability to identify progression of glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects. Methods. POP uses variational Bayesian independent component mixture model (VIM), a machine learning classifier (MLC) developed previously. VIM separated Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) VFs from a set of 2,085 normal and glaucomatous eyes into nine axes (VF patterns): seven glaucomatous. Stable glaucoma was simulated in a second set of 55 patient eyes with five VFs each, collected within four weeks. A third set of 628 eyes with 4,186 VFs (mean ± SD of 6.7 ± 1.7 VFs over 4.0 ± 1.4 years) was tested for progression. Tested eyes were placed into suspect and glaucoma categories at baseline, based on VFs and disk stereoscopic photographs; a subset of eyes had stereophotographic evidence of progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy (PGON). Each sequence of fields was projected along seven VIM glaucoma axes. Linear regression (LR) slopes generated from projections onto each axis yielded a degree of confidence (DOC) that there was progression. At 95% specificity, progression cutoffs were established for POP, visual field index (VFI), and mean deviation (MD). Guided progression analysis (GPA) was also compared. Results. POP identified a statistically similar number of eyes (P > 0.05) as progressing compared with VFI, MD, and GPA in suspects (3.8%, 2.7%, 5.6%, and 2.9%, respectively), and more eyes than GPA (P = 0.01) in glaucoma (16.0%, 15.3%, 12.0%, and 7.3%, respectively), and more eyes than GPA (P = 0.05) in PGON eyes (26.3%, 23.7%, 27.6%, and 14.5%, respectively). Conclusions. POP, with its display of DOC of progression and its identification of progressing VF defect pattern, adds to the information available to the clinician for detecting VF progression. PMID:22786913

  6. Disease Course of Patients with Unilateral Pigmentary Retinopathy

    PubMed Central

    Potsidis, Emorfily; Berson, Eliot L.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose. To evaluate the change in ocular function by eye in patients with unilateral pigmentary retinopathy. Methods. Longitudinal regression was used to estimate mean exponential rates of change in Goldmann visual field area (V4e white test light) and in full-field electroretinogram (ERG) amplitudes to 0.5- and 30-Hz white flashes in 15 patients with unilateral pigmentary retinopathy. Snellen visual acuity was assessed case by case. Results. Mean annual rates of change for the affected eyes were −4.9% for visual field area, −4.7% for ERG amplitude to 0.5-Hz flashes, and −4.6% for ERG amplitude to 30-Hz flashes. All three rates were faster than the corresponding age-related rates of change for the fellow normal eyes (P = 0.0006, P = 0.003, P = 0.03, respectively). An initial cone ERG implicit time to 30-Hz flashes in affected eyes ≥40 ms predicted a faster mean rate of decline of visual field area and of ERG amplitude to 0.5- and 30-Hz flashes (P < 0.0001 for all three measures). The visual acuity of affected eyes was more likely to decrease in patients presenting at >35 years of age than in patients presenting at a younger age (P = 0.0004). Conclusions. The affected eye in unilateral pigmentary retinopathy shows a progressive loss of peripheral retinal function that cannot be attributed to aging alone and that is faster in eyes with a more prolonged initial cone ERG implicit time. Patients presenting at >35 years of age are at greater risk for losing visual acuity. PMID:21989720

  7. Disease course of patients with unilateral pigmentary retinopathy.

    PubMed

    Potsidis, Emorfily; Berson, Eliot L; Sandberg, Michael A

    2011-11-29

    To evaluate the change in ocular function by eye in patients with unilateral pigmentary retinopathy. Longitudinal regression was used to estimate mean exponential rates of change in Goldmann visual field area (V4e white test light) and in full-field electroretinogram (ERG) amplitudes to 0.5- and 30-Hz white flashes in 15 patients with unilateral pigmentary retinopathy. Snellen visual acuity was assessed case by case. Mean annual rates of change for the affected eyes were -4.9% for visual field area, -4.7% for ERG amplitude to 0.5-Hz flashes, and -4.6% for ERG amplitude to 30-Hz flashes. All three rates were faster than the corresponding age-related rates of change for the fellow normal eyes (P = 0.0006, P = 0.003, P = 0.03, respectively). An initial cone ERG implicit time to 30-Hz flashes in affected eyes ≥ 40 ms predicted a faster mean rate of decline of visual field area and of ERG amplitude to 0.5- and 30-Hz flashes (P < 0.0001 for all three measures). The visual acuity of affected eyes was more likely to decrease in patients presenting at >35 years of age than in patients presenting at a younger age (P = 0.0004). The affected eye in unilateral pigmentary retinopathy shows a progressive loss of peripheral retinal function that cannot be attributed to aging alone and that is faster in eyes with a more prolonged initial cone ERG implicit time. Patients presenting at >35 years of age are at greater risk for losing visual acuity.

  8. Differences between Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Open Angle Glaucoma with Altitudinal Visual Field Defect.

    PubMed

    Han, Sangyoun; Jung, Jong Jin; Kim, Ungsoo Samuel

    2015-12-01

    To investigate the differences in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) change and optic nerve head parameters between non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and open angle glaucoma (OAG) with altitudinal visual field defect. Seventeen NAION patients and 26 OAG patients were enrolled prospectively. The standard visual field indices (mean deviation, pattern standard deviation) were obtained from the Humphrey visual field test and differences between the two groups were analyzed. Cirrus HD-OCT parameters were used, including optic disc head analysis, average RNFL thickness, and RNFL thickness of each quadrant. The mean deviation and pattern standard deviation were not significantly different between the groups. In the affected eye, although the disc area was similar between the two groups (2.00 ± 0.32 and 1.99 ± 0.33 mm(2), p = 0.586), the rim area of the OAG group was smaller than that of the NAION group (1.26 ± 0.56 and 0.61 ± 0.15 mm(2), respectively, p < 0.001). RNFL asymmetry was not different between the two groups (p = 0.265), but the inferior RNFL thickness of both the affected and unaffected eyes were less in the OAG group than in the NAION group. In the analysis of optic disc morphology, both affected and unaffected eyes showed significant differences between two groups. To differentiate NAION from OAG in eyes with altitudinal visual field defects, optic disc head analysis of not only the affected eye, but also the unaffected eye, by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography may be helpful.

  9. Fellow Eye Changes in Patients with Nonischemic Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: Assessment of Perfused Foveal Microvascular Density and Identification of Nonperfused Capillaries

    PubMed Central

    Pinhas, Alexander; Dubow, Michael; Shah, Nishit; Cheang, Eric; Liu, Chun L.; Razeen, Moataz; Gan, Alexander; Weitz, Rishard; Sulai, Yusufu N.; Chui, Toco Y.; Dubra, Alfredo; Rosen, Richard B.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Eyes fellow to nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) were examined for abnormalities, which might explain their increased risk for future occlusion, using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope fluorescein angiography. Methods Adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope fluorescein angiography foveal microvascular densities were calculated. Nonperfused capillaries adjacent to the foveal avascular zone were identified. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography, ultrawide field fluorescein angiographies, and microperimetry were also performed. Results Ten fellow eyes of nine nonischemic CRVO and 1 nonischemic hemi-CRVO subjects and four affected eyes of three nonischemic CRVO and one nonischemic hemi-CRVO subjects were imaged. Ninety percent of fellow eyes and 100% of affected eyes demonstrated at least 1 nonperfused capillary compared with 31% of healthy eyes. Fellow eye microvascular density (35 ± 3.6 mm−1) was significantly higher than that of affected eyes (25 ± 5.2 mm−1) and significantly lower than that of healthy eyes (42 ± 4.2 mm−1). Compared with healthy controls, spectral domain optical coherence tomography thicknesses showed no significant difference, whereas microperimetry and 2/9 ultrawide field fluorescein angiography revealed abnormalities in fellow eyes. Conclusion Fellow eye changes detectable on adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope fluorescein angiography reflect subclinical pathology difficult to detect using conventional imaging technologies. These changes may help elucidate the pathogenesis of nonischemic CRVO and help identify eyes at increased risk of future occlusion. PMID:25932560

  10. A unified dynamic neural field model of goal directed eye movements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quinton, J. C.; Goffart, L.

    2018-01-01

    Primates heavily rely on their visual system, which exploits signals of graded precision based on the eccentricity of the target in the visual field. The interactions with the environment involve actively selecting and focusing on visual targets or regions of interest, instead of contemplating an omnidirectional visual flow. Eye-movements specifically allow foveating targets and track their motion. Once a target is brought within the central visual field, eye-movements are usually classified into catch-up saccades (jumping from one orientation or fixation to another) and smooth pursuit (continuously tracking a target with low velocity). Building on existing dynamic neural field equations, we introduce a novel model that incorporates internal projections to better estimate the current target location (associated to a peak of activity). Such estimate is then used to trigger an eye movement, leading to qualitatively different behaviours depending on the dynamics of the whole oculomotor system: (1) fixational eye-movements due to small variations in the weights of projections when the target is stationary, (2) interceptive and catch-up saccades when peaks build and relax on the neural field, (3) smooth pursuit when the peak stabilises near the centre of the field, the system reaching a fixed point attractor. Learning is nevertheless required for tracking a rapidly moving target, and the proposed model thus replicates recent results in the monkey, in which repeated exercise permits the maintenance of the target within in the central visual field at its current (here-and-now) location, despite the delays involved in transmitting retinal signals to the oculomotor neurons.

  11. Distinct eye movement patterns enhance dynamic visual acuity.

    PubMed

    Palidis, Dimitrios J; Wyder-Hodge, Pearson A; Fooken, Jolande; Spering, Miriam

    2017-01-01

    Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) is the ability to resolve fine spatial detail in dynamic objects during head fixation, or in static objects during head or body rotation. This ability is important for many activities such as ball sports, and a close relation has been shown between DVA and sports expertise. DVA tasks involve eye movements, yet, it is unclear which aspects of eye movements contribute to successful performance. Here we examined the relation between DVA and the kinematics of smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements in a cohort of 23 varsity baseball players. In a computerized dynamic-object DVA test, observers reported the location of the gap in a small Landolt-C ring moving at various speeds while eye movements were recorded. Smooth pursuit kinematics-eye latency, acceleration, velocity gain, position error-and the direction and amplitude of saccadic eye movements were linked to perceptual performance. Results reveal that distinct eye movement patterns-minimizing eye position error, tracking smoothly, and inhibiting reverse saccades-were related to dynamic visual acuity. The close link between eye movement quality and DVA performance has important implications for the development of perceptual training programs to improve DVA.

  12. Distinct eye movement patterns enhance dynamic visual acuity

    PubMed Central

    Palidis, Dimitrios J.; Wyder-Hodge, Pearson A.; Fooken, Jolande; Spering, Miriam

    2017-01-01

    Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) is the ability to resolve fine spatial detail in dynamic objects during head fixation, or in static objects during head or body rotation. This ability is important for many activities such as ball sports, and a close relation has been shown between DVA and sports expertise. DVA tasks involve eye movements, yet, it is unclear which aspects of eye movements contribute to successful performance. Here we examined the relation between DVA and the kinematics of smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements in a cohort of 23 varsity baseball players. In a computerized dynamic-object DVA test, observers reported the location of the gap in a small Landolt-C ring moving at various speeds while eye movements were recorded. Smooth pursuit kinematics—eye latency, acceleration, velocity gain, position error—and the direction and amplitude of saccadic eye movements were linked to perceptual performance. Results reveal that distinct eye movement patterns—minimizing eye position error, tracking smoothly, and inhibiting reverse saccades—were related to dynamic visual acuity. The close link between eye movement quality and DVA performance has important implications for the development of perceptual training programs to improve DVA. PMID:28187157

  13. Improvement in conduction velocity after optic neuritis measured with the multifocal VEP.

    PubMed

    Yang, E Bo; Hood, Donald C; Rodarte, Chris; Zhang, Xian; Odel, Jeffrey G; Behrens, Myles M

    2007-02-01

    To test the efficacy of the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) technique after long-term latency changes in optic neuritis (ON)/multiple sclerosis (MS), mfVEPs were recorded in 12 patients with ON/MS. Sixty local VEP responses were recorded simultaneously. mfVEP was recorded from both eyes of 12 patients with ON/MS. Patients were tested twice after recovery from acute ON episodes, which occurred in 14 of the 24 eyes. After recovery, all eyes had 20/20 or better visual acuity and normal visual fields as measured with static automated perimetry (SAP). The time between the two postrecovery tests varied from 6 to 56 months. Between test days, the visual fields obtained with SAP remained normal. Ten of the 14 affected eyes showed improvement in median latency on the mfVEP. Six of these eyes fell at or below (improved latency) the 96% confidence interval for the control eyes. None of the 10 initially unaffected eyes fell below the 96% lower limit. Although the improvement was widespread across the field, it did not include all regions. For the six eyes showing clear improvement, on average, 78% of the points had latencies that were shorter on test 2 than on test 1. A substantial percentage of ON/MS patients show a long-term improvement in conduction velocity. Because this improvement can be local, the mfVEP should allow these improvements to be monitored in patients with ON/MS.

  14. Gaze toward Naturalistic Social Scenes by Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Implications for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Designs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Liang, Jiali; Wilkinson, Krista

    2018-01-01

    Purpose: A striking characteristic of the social communication deficits in individuals with autism is atypical patterns of eye contact during social interactions. We used eye-tracking technology to evaluate how the number of human figures depicted and the presence of sharing activity between the human figures in still photographs influenced visual…

  15. Application of 3-Dimensional Printing Technology to Construct an Eye Model for Fundus Viewing Study

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xinhua; Gao, Zhishan; Yuan, Dongqing; Liu, Qinghuai

    2014-01-01

    Objective To construct a life-sized eye model using the three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for fundus viewing study of the viewing system. Methods We devised our schematic model eye based on Navarro's eye and redesigned some parameters because of the change of the corneal material and the implantation of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Optical performance of our schematic model eye was compared with Navarro's schematic eye and other two reported physical model eyes using the ZEMAX optical design software. With computer aided design (CAD) software, we designed the 3D digital model of the main structure of the physical model eye, which was used for three-dimensional (3D) printing. Together with the main printed structure, polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) aspherical cornea, variable iris, and IOLs were assembled to a physical eye model. Angle scale bars were glued from posterior to periphery of the retina. Then we fabricated other three physical models with different states of ammetropia. Optical parameters of these physical eye models were measured to verify the 3D printing accuracy. Results In on-axis calculations, our schematic model eye possessed similar size of spot diagram compared with Navarro's and Bakaraju's model eye, much smaller than Arianpour's model eye. Moreover, the spherical aberration of our schematic eye was much less than other three model eyes. While in off- axis simulation, it possessed a bit higher coma and similar astigmatism, field curvature and distortion. The MTF curves showed that all the model eyes diminished in resolution with increasing field of view, and the diminished tendency of resolution of our physical eye model was similar to the Navarro's eye. The measured parameters of our eye models with different status of ametropia were in line with the theoretical value. Conclusions The schematic eye model we designed can well simulate the optical performance of the human eye, and the fabricated physical one can be used as a tool in fundus range viewing research. PMID:25393277

  16. Application of 3-dimensional printing technology to construct an eye model for fundus viewing study.

    PubMed

    Xie, Ping; Hu, Zizhong; Zhang, Xiaojun; Li, Xinhua; Gao, Zhishan; Yuan, Dongqing; Liu, Qinghuai

    2014-01-01

    To construct a life-sized eye model using the three-dimensional (3D) printing technology for fundus viewing study of the viewing system. We devised our schematic model eye based on Navarro's eye and redesigned some parameters because of the change of the corneal material and the implantation of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Optical performance of our schematic model eye was compared with Navarro's schematic eye and other two reported physical model eyes using the ZEMAX optical design software. With computer aided design (CAD) software, we designed the 3D digital model of the main structure of the physical model eye, which was used for three-dimensional (3D) printing. Together with the main printed structure, polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) aspherical cornea, variable iris, and IOLs were assembled to a physical eye model. Angle scale bars were glued from posterior to periphery of the retina. Then we fabricated other three physical models with different states of ammetropia. Optical parameters of these physical eye models were measured to verify the 3D printing accuracy. In on-axis calculations, our schematic model eye possessed similar size of spot diagram compared with Navarro's and Bakaraju's model eye, much smaller than Arianpour's model eye. Moreover, the spherical aberration of our schematic eye was much less than other three model eyes. While in off- axis simulation, it possessed a bit higher coma and similar astigmatism, field curvature and distortion. The MTF curves showed that all the model eyes diminished in resolution with increasing field of view, and the diminished tendency of resolution of our physical eye model was similar to the Navarro's eye. The measured parameters of our eye models with different status of ametropia were in line with the theoretical value. The schematic eye model we designed can well simulate the optical performance of the human eye, and the fabricated physical one can be used as a tool in fundus range viewing research.

  17. Dry eye disease: an immune-mediated ocular surface disorder

    PubMed Central

    Stevenson, William; Chauhan, Sunil K.; Dana, Reza

    2013-01-01

    Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disorder of the tears and ocular surface characterized by symptoms of dryness and irritation. Although the pathogenesis of dry eye disease is not fully understood, it is recognized that inflammation has a prominent role in the development and propagation of this debilitating condition. Factors that adversely affect tear film stability and osmolarity can induce ocular surface damage and initiate an inflammatory cascade that generates innate and adaptive immune responses. These immunoinflammatory responses lead to further ocular surface damage and the development of a self-perpetuating inflammatory cycle. Herein, we review the fundamental links between inflammation and dry eye disease and discuss the clinical implications of inflammation in disease management. PMID:22232476

  18. Cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsions for the treatment of dry eye: a review of the clinical evidence

    PubMed Central

    Ames, Philip; Galor, Anat

    2015-01-01

    Dry eye has gained recognition as a public health problem given its high prevalence, morbidity and cost implications. Although dry eye is common and affects patients’ quality of life, only one medication, cyclosporine 0.05% emulsion, has been approved by the US FDA for its treatment. In this review, we summarize the basic science and clinical data regarding the use of cyclosporine in the treatment of dry eye. Randomized controlled trials showed that cyclosporine emulsion outperformed vehicles in the majority of trials, consistently decreasing corneal staining and increasing Schirmer scores. Symptom improvement was more variable, however, with ocular dryness shown to be the most consistently improved symptom over vehicle. PMID:25960865

  19. 75 FR 72863 - Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-11-26

    ..., has had complete loss of vision in his right eye due to a traumatic injury in 1964. The best corrected..., ``While Eugene has suffered traumatic blindness of his right eye his visual field examination and function... injury to his right eye since 1984. The best corrected visual acuity in his right eye is 20/60 and in his...

  20. EDITORIAL: Special issue containing contributions from the Sixth Biennial Research Congress of The Eye and the Chip Special issue containing contributions from the Sixth Biennial Research Congress of The Eye and the Chip

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hessburg, Philip C.

    2011-06-01

    Once again Journal of Neural Engineering is devoting an issue to the field of visual neuro-prosthetics. These papers were presented at the Sixth Biennial Research Congress of The Eye and the ChipA 13 DVD set of all presentations at The Eye and the Chip 2010 is available from Carolyn Barth PhD, Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, 15415 E Jefferson, Grosse Pointe Park MI 48230, USA, 313.824.4710, clbarth@dioeyes.org, held in Detroit in September 2010. In the last decade this field has metamorphosed from 'in all probability a foolish and impractical dream' to a device approved for implantation in Europe and pending approval in the United States, and from a handful of serious efforts to several dozen on every continent save for Antartica. A recent comprehensive volume, Visual Prosthetics [1], edited by Gislin Dagnelie of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, focuses closely on this subject and is a tremendous addition to the literature. In his preface Dr Dagnelie notes as follows. 'In the year 2000, the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology had the inspiration to foster a new collaboration among visual prosthesis researchers, clinicians, and workers in low vision rehabilitation by creating and sponsoring a series of biennial meetings called 'The Eye and the Chip'. Successful beyond expectations, these meetings have become the premier gathering place for researchers from all parts of the world and from very different backgrounds. Invited speakers are scientists who are advancing the field, yet the scale and atmosphere allow all researchers, patients, and the media to come and be updated about progress over the past two years. More perhaps than at other scientific meetings, where investigators tend to gather within disciplines, participants at The Eye and the Chip are challenged to be open-minded, learn about and critique each other's work, and return home with fresh ideas for interdisciplinary approaches. The interdisciplinary character of this book reflects that same spirit.' A letter to us from our co-organizer of The Eye and the Chip, Joseph Rizzo MD, Harvard Medical School, furthers the point that the Research Congress Model is productive. This model is based on a belief that collegiality enhances collaboration and that collaboration accelerates progress. 'At the time of our first The Eye and the Chip meeting, now many years ago, the field of visual prosthetics was still in its infancy. The research community generally held a very skeptical attitude about the possible use of a bio-electronic implant to restore vision, despite the great success of cochlear implants. Over the last two decades our field has matured dramatically, and now there is widespread optimism about the potential for visual implants to help patients who are blind. 'The marked improvement in our status as a field is the result of excellent research from a large critical mass of scientists from throughout the world. It is the general opinion of researchers in our field that The Eye and the Chip meeting has provided the most vibrant source of scientific exchange for our field. The reasons for the success of this meeting relate to the fact that the meeting is devoted to a single topic, it is all-inclusive (anyone who is performing credible research in the field is invited to participate) and it provides a very substantial amount of time for open group discussions. These attributes expand the length of the meeting, which I understand increases the cost of the meeting, but the benefits have been remarkable for our field. Simply stated, The Eye and the Chip meeting provides the best venue for scientific and academic exchange in the world for the field of visual prosthetics.' And, furthermore, following a rather spirited discussion on the end points to be used in evaluating these devices on the third and final day of The Eye and the Chip last September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the leadership of the US National Eye Institute (NEI), held a fine one-day Congress, 'End Points' in Washington in early May. We, as leaders of The Eye and the Chip, are hopeful that the FDA will continue its meeting in the off-years between The Eye and the Chip research congresses. The field is now so important that an annual meeting exclusively devoted to the subject, especially if Journal of Neural Engineering continues to cover this important work, will not be excessive. References [1] Dagnelie G (ed) 2011 Visual Prosthetics (New York: Springer)

  1. Big-Eyed Bugs Have Big Appetite for Pests

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Many kinds of arthropod natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) inhabit crop fields in Arizona and can have a large negative impact on several pest insect species that also infest these crops. Geocoris spp., commonly known as big-eyed bugs, are among the most abundant insect predators in field c...

  2. Optical projectors simulate human eyes to establish operator's field of view

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Beam, R. A.

    1966-01-01

    Device projects visual pattern limits of the field of view of an operator as his eyes are directed at a given point on a control panel. The device, which consists of two projectors, provides instant evaluation of visual ability at a point on a panel.

  3. Micro-RNAs and their roles in eye disorders.

    PubMed

    Raghunath, Azhwar; Perumal, Ekambaram

    2015-01-01

    Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are members of the family of noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by translational repression and mRNA degradation. Initial identification of miRNAs revealed them only as developmental regulators; later, their radiated roles in various cellular processes have been established. They regulate several pathways, including developmental timing, hematopoiesis, organogenesis, apoptosis, cell differentiation and proliferation. Their roles in eye disorders are being explored by biologists around the world. Eye physiology requires the perfect orchestration of all the regulatory networks; any defect in any of the networks leads to eye disorders. The dysregulation of miRNA expression has been reported in many eye disorders, which paves the way for new therapeutics. This review summarizes the biogenesis of miRNAs and their role in eye disorders. miRNA studies also have implications for the understanding of various complex metabolic pathways leading to disorders of the eye. The ultimate understanding leads to potential opportunities in evaluating miRNAs as molecular biomarkers, prognostic tools, diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents for eye disorders. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  4. Combining EEG and eye tracking: identification, characterization, and correction of eye movement artifacts in electroencephalographic data

    PubMed Central

    Plöchl, Michael; Ossandón, José P.; König, Peter

    2012-01-01

    Eye movements introduce large artifacts to electroencephalographic recordings (EEG) and thus render data analysis difficult or even impossible. Trials contaminated by eye movement and blink artifacts have to be discarded, hence in standard EEG-paradigms subjects are required to fixate on the screen. To overcome this restriction, several correction methods including regression and blind source separation have been proposed. Yet, there is no automated standard procedure established. By simultaneously recording eye movements and 64-channel-EEG during a guided eye movement paradigm, we investigate and review the properties of eye movement artifacts, including corneo-retinal dipole changes, saccadic spike potentials and eyelid artifacts, and study their interrelations during different types of eye- and eyelid movements. In concordance with earlier studies our results confirm that these artifacts arise from different independent sources and that depending on electrode site, gaze direction, and choice of reference these sources contribute differently to the measured signal. We assess the respective implications for artifact correction methods and therefore compare the performance of two prominent approaches, namely linear regression and independent component analysis (ICA). We show and discuss that due to the independence of eye artifact sources, regression-based correction methods inevitably over- or under-correct individual artifact components, while ICA is in principle suited to address such mixtures of different types of artifacts. Finally, we propose an algorithm, which uses eye tracker information to objectively identify eye-artifact related ICA-components (ICs) in an automated manner. In the data presented here, the algorithm performed very similar to human experts when those were given both, the topographies of the ICs and their respective activations in a large amount of trials. Moreover it performed more reliable and almost twice as effective than human experts when those had to base their decision on IC topographies only. Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated an optimal balance of false positive and false negative at an area under curve (AUC) of more than 0.99. Removing the automatically detected ICs from the data resulted in removal or substantial suppression of ocular artifacts including microsaccadic spike potentials, while the relevant neural signal remained unaffected. In conclusion the present work aims at a better understanding of individual eye movement artifacts, their interrelations and the respective implications for eye artifact correction. Additionally, the proposed ICA-procedure provides a tool for optimized detection and correction of eye movement-related artifact components. PMID:23087632

  5. Sensitivity and specificity of Norwegian optometrists' evaluation of diabetic retinopathy in single-field retinal images - a cross-sectional experimental study.

    PubMed

    Sundling, Vibeke; Gulbrandsen, Pål; Straand, Jørund

    2013-01-10

    In the working age group, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of visual impairment. Regular eye examinations and early treatment of retinopathy can prevent visual loss, so screening for diabetic retinopathy is cost-effective. Dilated retinal digital photography with the additional use of ophthalmoscopy is the most effective and robust method of diabetic retinopathy screening. The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of diabetic retinopathy screening when performed by Norwegian optometrists. This study employed a cross-sectional experimental design. Seventy-four optometrists working in private optometric practice were asked to screen 14 single-field retinal images for possible diabetic retinopathy. The screening was undertaken using a web-based visual identification and management of ophthalmological conditions (VIMOC) examination. The images used in the VIMOC examination were selected from a population survey and had been previously examined by two independent ophthalmologists. In order to establish a "gold standard", images were only chosen for use in the VIMOC examination if they had elicited diagnostic agreement between the two independent ophthalmologists. To reduce the possibility of falsely high specificity occurring by chance, half the presented images were of retinas that were not affected by diabetic retinopathy. Sensitivity and specificity for diabetic retinopathy was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The mean (95%CI) sensitivity for identifying eyes with any diabetic retinopathy was 67% (62% to 72%). The mean (95%CI) specificity for identifying eyes without diabetic retinopathy was 84% (80% to 89%). The mean (95%CI) sensitivity for identifying eyes with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or moderate non-proliferative diabetes was 54% (47% to 61%) and 100%, respectively. Only four optometrists (5%) met the required standard of at least 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity that has been previously set for diabetic retinopathy screening programmes. The evaluation of retinal images for diabetic retinopathy by Norwegian optometrists does not meet the required screening standard of at least 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The introduction of measures to improve this situation could have implications for both formal optometric training and continuing optometric professional education.

  6. Sensitivity and specificity of Norwegian optometrists’ evaluation of diabetic retinopathy in single-field retinal images – a cross-sectional experimental study

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background In the working age group, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of visual impairment. Regular eye examinations and early treatment of retinopathy can prevent visual loss, so screening for diabetic retinopathy is cost-effective. Dilated retinal digital photography with the additional use of ophthalmoscopy is the most effective and robust method of diabetic retinopathy screening. The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of diabetic retinopathy screening when performed by Norwegian optometrists. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional experimental design. Seventy-four optometrists working in private optometric practice were asked to screen 14 single-field retinal images for possible diabetic retinopathy. The screening was undertaken using a web-based visual identification and management of ophthalmological conditions (VIMOC) examination. The images used in the VIMOC examination were selected from a population survey and had been previously examined by two independent ophthalmologists. In order to establish a “gold standard”, images were only chosen for use in the VIMOC examination if they had elicited diagnostic agreement between the two independent ophthalmologists. To reduce the possibility of falsely high specificity occurring by chance, half the presented images were of retinas that were not affected by diabetic retinopathy. Sensitivity and specificity for diabetic retinopathy was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The mean (95%CI) sensitivity for identifying eyes with any diabetic retinopathy was 67% (62% to 72%). The mean (95%CI) specificity for identifying eyes without diabetic retinopathy was 84% (80% to 89%). The mean (95%CI) sensitivity for identifying eyes with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or moderate non-proliferative diabetes was 54% (47% to 61%) and 100%, respectively. Only four optometrists (5%) met the required standard of at least 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity that has been previously set for diabetic retinopathy screening programmes. Conclusions The evaluation of retinal images for diabetic retinopathy by Norwegian optometrists does not meet the required screening standard of at least 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The introduction of measures to improve this situation could have implications for both formal optometric training and continuing optometric professional education. PMID:23305337

  7. Eye growth in the second decade of life: implications for the implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens.

    PubMed

    Wilson, M Edward; Trivedi, Rupal H; Burger, Berdine M

    2009-12-01

    There is a growing interest in multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children because they lose accommodation when a cataract is removed. Many have assumed that very little, if any, eye growth occurs in the second decade of life. Multifocal IOL implantation requires precise biometry to arrive at the correct IOL power for spectacle independence. If the eye grows and the refraction becomes myopic, spectacle dependence may return. Therefore, knowing when the eye has completed its growth is critical to the decision of when to implant a multifocal IOL. Ninety-eight eyes were analyzed retrospectively. Each had at least two axial length (AL) measurements using immersion A-scan ultrasound in the second decade of life. Globe AL was 23.36 +/- 1.52 mm at initial measurement and 23.89 +/- 1.64 mm at last measurement. Measurement data show variable growth throughout the second decade of life. Based on our data, a theoretical patient was constructed with an AL at age 10 of 23.11 mm, who would need an IOL power of 21.5 for emmetropia. That same patient would have an AL of 23.76 mm (IOL power of 19.5) at age 15 and 24.41 mm (IOL power of 17.5) at age 20. That is a 4-diopter change in the IOL power need. Axial eye growth continues throughout the second decade of life, at least to age 20. These data have important implications for the use of multifocal IOLs in the preteen and teenage years.

  8. Nanosecond pulsed electric field suppresses development of eyes and germ cells through blocking synthesis of retinoic acid in Medaka (Oryzias latipes).

    PubMed

    Shiraishi, Eri; Hosseini, Hamid; Kang, Dong K; Kitano, Takeshi; Akiyama, Hidenori

    2013-01-01

    Application of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) has attracted rising attention in various scientific fields including medical, pharmacological, and biological sciences, although its effects and molecular mechanisms leading to the effects remain poorly understood. Here, we show that a single, high-intensity (10-30 kV/cm), 60-ns PEF exposure affects gene expression and impairs development of eyes and germ cells in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Exposure of early blastula stage embryos to nsPEF down-regulated the expression of several transcription factors which are essential for eye development, causing abnormal eye formation. Moreover, the majority of the exposed genetic female embryos showed a fewer number of germ cells similar to that of the control (unexposed) genetic male at 9 days post-fertilization (dpf). However, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) treatment following the exposure rescued proliferation of germ cells and resumption of normal eye development, suggesting that the phenotypes induced by nsPEF are caused by a decrease of retinoic acid levels. These results confirm that nsPEFs induce novel effects during embryogenesis in medaka.

  9. Diagnostic Ability of Automated Pupillography in Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Rao, Harsha L; Kadambi, Sujatha V; Mehta, Pooja; Dasari, Srilakshmi; Puttaiah, Narendra K; Pradhan, Zia S; Rao, Dhanraj A S; Shetty, Rohit

    2017-05-01

    To evaluate the diagnostic ability of automated pupillography measurements in glaucoma and study the effect of inter-eye asymmetry in glaucomatous damage on the diagnostic ability. In an observational, cross-sectional study, 47 glaucoma patients and 42 control subjects underwent automated pupillography using a commercially available device. Diagnostic abilities of the pupillary response measurements were evaluated using area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) and sensitivities at fixed specificities. Influence of inter-eye asymmetry in glaucoma [inter-eye mean deviation (MD) difference on visual fields (VF)] on the diagnostic ability of pupillography parameters was evaluated by ROC regression approach. The AUCs of automated pupillography parameters ranged from 0.60 (amplitude score with peripheral blue stimulus) to 0.82 (amplitude score with full field white stimulus, Amp-FF-W). Sensitivity at 95% specificity ranged between 5% (amplitude score with full field blue stimulus) and 45% (amplitude score with full field green stimulus). Inter-eye MD difference significantly affected the diagnostic performance of automated pupillography parameters (p < 0.05). AUCs of Amp-FF-W at inter-eye MD difference of 0 dB, 5 dB, 10 dB and 15 dB were 0.71, 0.80, 0.87 and 0.93, respectively, according to the regression model. The corresponding sensitivities at 95% specificity were 20%, 34%, 50% and 66%, respectively. The diagnostic abilities of even the best automated pupillography parameters were only moderate in glaucoma. The performance of these pupillography measurements in detecting glaucoma significantly increased with greater inter-eye asymmetry in the glaucomatous damage.

  10. Secondary neutron dose measurement for proton eye treatment using an eye snout with a borated neutron absorber

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background We measured and assessed ways to reduce the secondary neutron dose from a system for proton eye treatment. Methods Proton beams of 60.30 MeV were delivered through an eye-treatment snout in passive scattering mode. Allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) etch detectors were used to measure the neutron dose in the external field at 0.00, 1.64, and 6.00 cm depths in a water phantom. Secondary neutron doses were measured and compared between those with and without a high-hydrogen–boron-containing block. In addition, the neutron energy and vertices distribution were obtained by using a Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation. Results The ratio of the maximum neutron dose equivalent to the proton absorbed dose (H(10)/D) at 2.00 cm from the beam field edge was 8.79 ± 1.28 mSv/Gy. The ratio of the neutron dose equivalent to the proton absorbed dose with and without a high hydrogen-boron containing block was 0.63 ± 0.06 to 1.15 ± 0.13 mSv/Gy at 2.00 cm from the edge of the field at depths of 0.00, 1.64, and 6.00 cm. Conclusions We found that the out-of-field secondary neutron dose in proton eye treatment with an eye snout is relatively small, and it can be further reduced by installing a borated neutron absorbing material. PMID:23866307

  11. Imaginal action: towards a Jungian conception of enactment, and an extraverted counterpart to active imagination.

    PubMed

    Brown, Robin S

    2018-04-01

    This theoretical paper considers the fashion in which Jung's psychology radically challenges modern assumptions concerning the nature of subjectivity. With an eye for the clinical implications of Jung's late work, the author introduces the idea of imaginal action. In order to explain what is meant by this, the paper begins by exploring how Jung's thinking demonstrates an underlying bias towards introversion. It is argued that while Jung's interest in synchronicity ultimately resulted in his developing a worldview that might address the introverted biases of his psychology, the clinical implications of this shift have not been sufficiently clarified. With reference to some short examples from experience, the author outlines a conception of relational synchronicity wherein the intrapsychic emerges non-projectively within the interpersonal field itself. Comparing and contrasting these occurrences to the more introverted practice of active imagination, it is claimed that such a notion is implicit in Jung's work and is needed as a corrective to his emphasis on interiority. The author suggests that imaginal action might be conceived as a distinctly Jungian approach to the psychoanalytic notion of enactment. It is also shown how the idea outlined might find further support from recent developments in the field of transpersonal psychology. © 2018, The Society of Analytical Psychology.

  12. Eye-tracking novice and expert geologist groups in the field and laboratory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cottrell, R. D.; Evans, K. M.; Jacobs, R. A.; May, B. B.; Pelz, J. B.; Rosen, M. R.; Tarduno, J. A.; Voronov, J.

    2010-12-01

    We are using an Active Vision approach to learn how novices and expert geologists acquire visual information in the field. The Active Vision approach emphasizes that visual perception is an active process wherein new information is acquired about a particular environment through exploratory eye movements. Eye movements are not only influenced by physical stimuli, but are also strongly influenced by high-level perceptual and cognitive processes. Eye-tracking data were collected on ten novices (undergraduate geology students) and 3 experts during a 10-day field trip across California focused on neotectonics. In addition, high-resolution panoramic images were captured at each key locality for use in a semi-immersive laboratory environment. Examples of each data type will be presented. The number of observers will be increased in subsequent field trips, but expert/novice differences are already apparent in the first set of individual eye-tracking records, including gaze time, gaze pattern and object recognition. We will review efforts to quantify these patterns, and development of semi-immersive environments to display geologic scenes. The research is a collaborative effort between Earth scientists, Cognitive scientists and Imaging scientists at the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology and with funding from the National Science Foundation.

  13. Rapid mapping of compound eye visual sampling parameters with FACETS, a highly automated wide-field goniometer.

    PubMed

    Douglass, John K; Wehling, Martin F

    2016-12-01

    A highly automated goniometer instrument (called FACETS) has been developed to facilitate rapid mapping of compound eye parameters for investigating regional visual field specializations. The instrument demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing the complete field of view of an insect eye in a fraction of the time required if using non-motorized, non-computerized methods. Faster eye mapping makes it practical for the first time to employ sample sizes appropriate for testing hypotheses about the visual significance of interspecific differences in regional specializations. Example maps of facet sizes are presented from four dipteran insects representing the Asilidae, Calliphoridae, and Stratiomyidae. These maps provide the first quantitative documentation of the frontal enlarged-facet zones (EFZs) that typify asilid eyes, which, together with the EFZs in male Calliphoridae, are likely to be correlated with high-spatial-resolution acute zones. The presence of EFZs contrasts sharply with the almost homogeneous distribution of facet sizes in the stratiomyid. Moreover, the shapes of EFZs differ among species, suggesting functional specializations that may reflect differences in visual ecology. Surveys of this nature can help identify species that should be targeted for additional studies, which will elucidate fundamental principles and constraints that govern visual field specializations and their evolution.

  14. Neuropathic ocular pain: an important yet underevaluated feature of dry eye

    PubMed Central

    Galor, A; Levitt, R C; Felix, E R; Martin, E R; Sarantopoulos, C D

    2015-01-01

    Dry eye has gained recognition as a public health problem given its prevalence, morbidity, and cost implications. Dry eye can have a variety of symptoms including blurred vision, irritation, and ocular pain. Within dry eye-associated ocular pain, some patients report transient pain whereas others complain of chronic pain. In this review, we will summarize the evidence that chronicity is more likely to occur in patients with dysfunction in their ocular sensory apparatus (ie, neuropathic ocular pain). Clinical evidence of dysfunction includes the presence of spontaneous dysesthesias, allodynia, hyperalgesia, and corneal nerve morphologic and functional abnormalities. Both peripheral and central sensitizations likely play a role in generating the noted clinical characteristics. We will further discuss how evaluating for neuropathic ocular pain may affect the treatment of dry eye-associated chronic pain. PMID:25376119

  15. Visual function affects prosocial behaviors in older adults.

    PubMed

    Teoli, Dac A; Smith, Merideth D; Leys, Monique J; Jain, Priyanka; Odom, J Vernon

    2016-02-01

    Eye-related pathological conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration commonly lead to decreased peripheral/central field, decreased visual acuity, and increased functional disability. We sought to answer if relationships exist between measures of visual function and reported prosocial behaviors in an older adult population with eye-related diagnoses. The sample consisted of adults, aged ≥ 60 years old, at an academic hospital's eye institute. Vision ranged from normal to severe impairment. Medical charts determined the visual acuities, ocular disease, duration of disease (DD), and visual fields (VF). Measures of giving help were via validated questionnaires on giving formal support (GFS) and giving informal support; measures of help received were perceived support (PS) and informal support received (ISR). ISR had subscales: tangible support (ISR-T), emotional support (ISR-E), and composite (ISR-C). Visual acuities of the better and worse seeing eyes were converted to LogMAR values. VF information converted to a 4-point rating scale of binocular field loss severity. DD was in years. Among 96 participants (mean age 73.28; range 60-94), stepwise regression indicated a relationship of visual variables to GFS (p < 0.05; Multiple R (2) = 0.1679 with acuity-better eye, VF rating, and DD), PS (p < 0.05; Multiple R (2) = 0.2254 with acuity-better eye), ISR-C (p < 0.05; Multiple R (2) = 0.041 with acuity-better eye), and ISR-T (p < 0.05; Multiple R (2) = 0.1421 with acuity-better eye). The findings suggest eye-related conditions can impact levels and perceptions of support exchanges. Our data reinforces the importance of visual function as an influence on prosocial behavior in older adults.

  16. Binocular Neurons in Parastriate Cortex: Interocular ‘Matching’ of Receptive Field Properties, Eye Dominance and Strength of Silent Suppression

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Chun; Dreher, Bogdan

    2014-01-01

    Spike-responses of single binocular neurons were recorded from a distinct part of primary visual cortex, the parastriate cortex (cytoarchitectonic area 18) of anaesthetized and immobilized domestic cats. Functional identification of neurons was based on the ratios of phase-variant (F1) component to the mean firing rate (F0) of their spike-responses to optimized (orientation, direction, spatial and temporal frequencies and size) sine-wave-luminance-modulated drifting grating patches presented separately via each eye. In over 95% of neurons, the interocular differences in the phase-sensitivities (differences in F1/F0 spike-response ratios) were small (≤0.3) and in over 80% of neurons, the interocular differences in preferred orientations were ≤10°. The interocular correlations of the direction selectivity indices and optimal spatial frequencies, like those of the phase sensitivies and optimal orientations, were also strong (coefficients of correlation r ≥0.7005). By contrast, the interocular correlations of the optimal temporal frequencies, the diameters of summation areas of the excitatory responses and suppression indices were weak (coefficients of correlation r ≤0.4585). In cells with high eye dominance indices (HEDI cells), the mean magnitudes of suppressions evoked by stimulation of silent, extra-classical receptive fields via the non-dominant eyes, were significantly greater than those when the stimuli were presented via the dominant eyes. We argue that the well documented ‘eye-origin specific’ segregation of the lateral geniculate inputs underpinning distinct eye dominance columns in primary visual cortices of mammals with frontally positioned eyes (distinct eye dominance columns), combined with significant interocular differences in the strength of silent suppressive fields, putatively contribute to binocular stereoscopic vision. PMID:24927276

  17. Detection of longitudinal visual field progression in glaucoma using machine learning.

    PubMed

    Yousefi, Siamak; Kiwaki, Taichi; Zheng, Yuhui; Suigara, Hiroki; Asaoka, Ryo; Murata, Hiroshi; Lemij, Hans; Yamanishi, Kenji

    2018-06-16

    Global indices of standard automated perimerty are insensitive to localized losses, while point-wise indices are sensitive but highly variable. Region-wise indices sit in between. This study introduces a machine-learning-based index for glaucoma progression detection that outperforms global, region-wise, and point-wise indices. Development and comparison of a prognostic index. Visual fields from 2085 eyes of 1214 subjects were used to identify glaucoma progression patterns using machine learning. Visual fields from 133 eyes of 71 glaucoma patients were collected 10 times over 10 weeks to provide a no-change, test-retest dataset. The parameters of all methods were identified using visual field sequences in the test-retest dataset to meet fixed 95% specificity. An independent dataset of 270 eyes of 136 glaucoma patients and survival analysis were utilized to compare methods. The time to detect progression in 25% of the eyes in the longitudinal dataset using global mean deviation (MD) was 5.2 years (95% confidence interval, 4.1 - 6.5 years); 4.5 years (4.0 - 5.5) using region-wise, 3.9 years (3.5 - 4.6) using point-wise, and 3.5 years (3.1 - 4.0) using machine learning analysis. The time until 25% of eyes showed subsequently confirmed progression after two additional visits were included were 6.6 years (5.6 - 7.4 years), 5.7 years (4.8 - 6.7), 5.6 years (4.7 - 6.5), and 5.1 years (4.5 - 6.0) for global, region-wise, point-wise, and machine learning analyses, respectively. Machine learning analysis detects progressing eyes earlier than other methods consistently, with or without confirmation visits. In particular, machine learning detects more slowly progressing eyes than other methods. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Secrets in the eyes of Black Oystercatchers: A new sexing technique

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Guzzetti, B.M.; Talbot, S.L.; Tessler, D.F.; Gill, V.A.; Murphy, E.C.

    2008-01-01

    Sexing oystercatchers in the field is difficult because males and females have identical plumage and are similar in size. Although Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) are sexually dimorphic, using morphology to determine sex requires either capturing both pair members for comparison or using discriminant analyses to assign sex probabilistically based on morphometric traits. All adult Black Oystercatchers have bright yellow eyes, but some of them have dark specks, or eye flecks, in their irides. We hypothesized that this easily observable trait was sex-linked and could be used as a novel diagnostic tool for identifying sex. To test this, we compared data for oystercatchers from genetic molecular markers (CHD-W/CHD-Z and HINT-W/HINT-Z), morphometric analyses, and eye-fleck category (full eye flecks, slight eye flecks, and no eye flecks). Compared to molecular markers, we found that discriminant analyses based on morphological characteristics yielded variable results that were confounded by geographical differences in morphology. However, we found that eye flecks were sex-linked. Using an eye-fleck model where all females have full eye flecks and males have either slight eye flecks or no eye flecks, we correctly assigned the sex of 117 of 125 (94%) oystercatchers. Using discriminant analysis based on morphological characteristics, we correctly assigned the sex of 105 of 119 (88%) birds. Using the eye-fleck technique for sexing Black Oystercatchers may be preferable for some investigators because it is as accurate as discriminant analysis based on morphology and does not require capturing the birds. ??2008 Association of Field Ornithologists.

  19. Analysis and implementation of the foveated vision of the raptor eye

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Long, Aaron D.; Narayanan, Ram M.; Kane, Timothy J.; Rice, Terence F.; Tauber, Michael J.

    2016-05-01

    A foveated optical system has non-uniform resolution across its field of view. Typically, the resolution of such a lens is peaked in the center region of field of view, such as in the human eye. In biological systems this is often a result of localized depressions on the retina called foveae. Birds of prey, or raptors, have two foveae in each eye, each of which accounts for a localized region of high magnification within the raptor's field of view. This paper presents an analysis of the bifoveated vision of raptors and presents a method whereby this unique optical characteristic may be achieved in an optical system using freeform optics and aberration correction techniques.

  20. Structural-metabolic organization of field 4 of the cat brain in normal conditions and after unilateral enucleation of the eye.

    PubMed

    Zykin, P A

    2005-01-01

    Comparative data on the structural-metabolic organization of field 4 of the cat brain in normal conditions and after unilateral enucleation of the eye are presented. Cytochrome oxidase was detected histochemically. Data were processed by a computerized method using an original video capture system. Data were obtained demonstrating the uneven distribution of enzyme along sublayer IlIb of field 4 in animals with unilateral enucleation. A hypothesis based on published data is suggested whereby the alternation of high- and low-reactive areas is evidence for the ordering of the retinal representations of the right and left eyes in the sensorimotor cortex.

  1. An Analysis of Eye Movement and Cognitive Load about the Editorial Design in Elementary Science Textbook

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kim, Seong-un; Lim, Sung-man; Kim, Eun-ae; Yang, Il-ho

    2016-01-01

    This study is for the implication of editorial design in science textbooks which are designed for student-centered instruction, when the elements of the editorial design are different, we focus on how the students' eye movement and cognitive load change. For this, we produced a new book for 5th grade students in elementary school that is modified…

  2. Personalized ophthalmology

    PubMed Central

    Porter, LF; Black, GCM

    2014-01-01

    Porter L.F., Black G.C.M. Personalized ophthalmology. Clin Genet 2014: 86: 1–11. © 2014 The Authors. Clinical Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2014 Ophthalmology has been an early adopter of personalized medicine. Drawing on genomic advances to improve molecular diagnosis, such as next-generation sequencing, and basic and translational research to develop novel therapies, application of genetic technologies in ophthalmology now heralds development of gene replacement therapies for some inherited monogenic eye diseases. It also promises to alter prediction, diagnosis and management of the complex disease age-related macular degeneration. Personalized ophthalmology is underpinned by an understanding of the molecular basis of eye disease. Two important areas of focus are required for adoption of personalized approaches: disease stratification and individualization. Disease stratification relies on phenotypic and genetic assessment leading to molecular diagnosis; individualization encompasses all aspects of patient management from optimized genetic counseling and conventional therapies to trials of novel DNA-based therapies. This review discusses the clinical implications of these twin strategies. Advantages and implications of genetic testing for patients with inherited eye diseases, choice of molecular diagnostic modality, drivers for adoption of personalized ophthalmology, service planning implications, ethical considerations and future challenges are considered. Indeed, whilst many difficulties remain, personalized ophthalmology truly has the potential to revolutionize the specialty. PMID:24665880

  3. Neural correlates of the eye dominance effect in human face perception: the left-visual-field superiority for faces revisited.

    PubMed

    Jung, Wookyoung; Kang, Joong-Gu; Jeon, Hyeonjin; Shim, Miseon; Sun Kim, Ji; Leem, Hyun-Sung; Lee, Seung-Hwan

    2017-08-01

    Faces are processed best when they are presented in the left visual field (LVF), a phenomenon known as LVF superiority. Although one eye contributes more when perceiving faces, it is unclear how the dominant eye (DE), the eye we unconsciously use when performing a monocular task, affects face processing. Here, we examined the influence of the DE on the LVF superiority for faces using event-related potentials. Twenty left-eye-dominant (LDE group) and 23 right-eye-dominant (RDE group) participants performed the experiments. Face stimuli were randomly presented in the LVF or right visual field (RVF). The RDE group exhibited significantly larger N170 amplitudes compared with the LDE group. Faces presented in the LVF elicited N170 amplitudes that were significantly more negative in the RDE group than they were in the LDE group, whereas the amplitudes elicited by stimuli presented in the RVF were equivalent between the groups. The LVF superiority was maintained in the RDE group but not in the LDE group. Our results provide the first neural evidence of the DE's effects on the LVF superiority for faces. We propose that the RDE may be more biologically specialized for face processing. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press.

  4. Neural correlates of the eye dominance effect in human face perception: the left-visual-field superiority for faces revisited

    PubMed Central

    Jung, Wookyoung; Kang, Joong-Gu; Jeon, Hyeonjin; Shim, Miseon; Sun Kim, Ji; Leem, Hyun-Sung

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Faces are processed best when they are presented in the left visual field (LVF), a phenomenon known as LVF superiority. Although one eye contributes more when perceiving faces, it is unclear how the dominant eye (DE), the eye we unconsciously use when performing a monocular task, affects face processing. Here, we examined the influence of the DE on the LVF superiority for faces using event-related potentials. Twenty left-eye-dominant (LDE group) and 23 right-eye-dominant (RDE group) participants performed the experiments. Face stimuli were randomly presented in the LVF or right visual field (RVF). The RDE group exhibited significantly larger N170 amplitudes compared with the LDE group. Faces presented in the LVF elicited N170 amplitudes that were significantly more negative in the RDE group than they were in the LDE group, whereas the amplitudes elicited by stimuli presented in the RVF were equivalent between the groups. The LVF superiority was maintained in the RDE group but not in the LDE group. Our results provide the first neural evidence of the DE’s effects on the LVF superiority for faces. We propose that the RDE may be more biologically specialized for face processing. PMID:28379584

  5. Eye gazing direction inspection based on image processing technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hao, Qun; Song, Yong

    2005-02-01

    According to the research result in neural biology, human eyes can obtain high resolution only at the center of view of field. In the research of Virtual Reality helmet, we design to detect the gazing direction of human eyes in real time and feed it back to the control system to improve the resolution of the graph at the center of field of view. In the case of current display instruments, this method can both give attention to the view field of virtual scene and resolution, and improve the immersion of virtual system greatly. Therefore, detecting the gazing direction of human eyes rapidly and exactly is the basis of realizing the design scheme of this novel VR helmet. In this paper, the conventional method of gazing direction detection that based on Purklinje spot is introduced firstly. In order to overcome the disadvantage of the method based on Purklinje spot, this paper proposed a method based on image processing to realize the detection and determination of the gazing direction. The locations of pupils and shapes of eye sockets change with the gazing directions. With the aid of these changes, analyzing the images of eyes captured by the cameras, gazing direction of human eyes can be determined finally. In this paper, experiments have been done to validate the efficiency of this method by analyzing the images. The algorithm can carry out the detection of gazing direction base on normal eye image directly, and it eliminates the need of special hardware. Experiment results show that the method is easy to implement and have high precision.

  6. Properties of the statpac visual field index.

    PubMed

    Artes, Paul H; O'Leary, Neil; Hutchison, Donna M; Heckler, Lisa; Sharpe, Glen P; Nicolela, Marcelo T; Chauhan, Balwantray C

    2011-06-08

    Purpose. To compare the properties of the visual field index (VFI) to those of mean deviation (MD) in patients with glaucoma. Methods. MD and VFI were calculated in data obtained from an ongoing longitudinal study in which patients with glaucoma (N = 109, 204 eyes) were observed for 9.8 years (median, 21 tests) with static automated perimetry. MD and VFI were compared in one test of each eye, and a subset of 30 tests were selected to compare the VFI with the judgments of eight experts who judged the percentage of the remaining visual field. In series of tests obtained over time, rates of change, statistical significance, evidence of nonlinearity, and variability were compared between both indices. Results. In single tests, MD and VFI were closely related (r = 0.88, P < 0.001). The relationship between both indices appeared linear, except in visual fields with MDs better than -5.0 dB where 29 (22%) of 129 eyes exhibited a ceiling effect (VFI = 100%). Based on this relationship, the predicted VFIs for visual fields with MDs of -5, -10, and -15 dB were 91%, 76%, and 60%, respectively. The percentage of remaining visual field suggested by the VFI exceeded the range of the experts' subjective judgments in 16 (53%) of 30 eyes. In series of tests obtained over time, rates of change with the two indices were closely related (r = 0.79, P < 0.001), and statistically significant reductions over time (P < 0.05) occurred in a similar number of eyes (92 [45%] with MD, and 87 [43%] with VFI). Of the 105 eyes with statistically significant (P < 0.05) negative trend in either MD or VFI, 74 (70%) showed such trends with both indices (κ = 0.69). The variability of MD and VFI increased with damage, and there was no evidence that change over time was more linear with VFI than with MD. Conclusions. The VFI provides a simple and understandable metric of visual field damage, but its estimates of remaining visual field were more optimistic than those of the experts. Rates of change over time with both indices were closely related, but the reliance of the VFI on pattern deviation probability maps caused a ceiling effect that may have reduced its sensitivity to change in eyes with early damage. In this group of patients there was no evidence to suggest that the VFI is either superior or inferior to the MD as a summary measure of visual field damage.

  7. Monitoring the eye lens: which dose quantity is adequate?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Behrens, R.; Dietze, G.

    2010-07-01

    Recent epidemiological studies suggest a rather low dose threshold (below 0.5 Gy) for the induction of a cataract of the eye lens. Some other studies even assume that there is no threshold at all. Therefore, protection measures have to be optimized and current dose limits for the eye lens may be reduced in the future. The question of which personal dose equivalent quantity is appropriate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens arises from this situation. While in many countries dosemeters calibrated in terms of the dose equivalent quantity Hp(0.07) have been seen as being adequate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens, this might be questionable in the case of reduced dose limits and, thus, it may become necessary to use the dose equivalent quantity Hp(3) for this purpose. To discuss this question, the dose conversion coefficients for the equivalent dose of the eye lens (in the following eye lens dose) were determined for realistic photon and beta radiation fields and compared with the values of the corresponding conversion coefficients for the different operational quantities. The values obtained lead to the following conclusions: in radiation fields where most of the dose comes from photons, especially x-rays, it is appropriate to use dosemeters calibrated in terms of Hp(0.07) on a slab phantom, while in other radiation fields (dominated by beta radiation or unknown contributions of photon and beta radiation) dosemeters calibrated in terms of Hp(3) on a slab phantom should be used. As an alternative, dosemeters calibrated in terms of Hp(0.07) on a slab phantom could also be used; however, in radiation fields containing beta radiation with the end point energy near 1 MeV, an overestimation of the eye lens dose by up to a factor of 550 is possible.

  8. Monitoring the eye lens: which dose quantity is adequate?

    PubMed

    Behrens, R; Dietze, G

    2010-07-21

    Recent epidemiological studies suggest a rather low dose threshold (below 0.5 Gy) for the induction of a cataract of the eye lens. Some other studies even assume that there is no threshold at all. Therefore, protection measures have to be optimized and current dose limits for the eye lens may be reduced in the future. The question of which personal dose equivalent quantity is appropriate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens arises from this situation. While in many countries dosemeters calibrated in terms of the dose equivalent quantity H(p)(0.07) have been seen as being adequate for monitoring the dose to the eye lens, this might be questionable in the case of reduced dose limits and, thus, it may become necessary to use the dose equivalent quantity H(p)(3) for this purpose. To discuss this question, the dose conversion coefficients for the equivalent dose of the eye lens (in the following eye lens dose) were determined for realistic photon and beta radiation fields and compared with the values of the corresponding conversion coefficients for the different operational quantities. The values obtained lead to the following conclusions: in radiation fields where most of the dose comes from photons, especially x-rays, it is appropriate to use dosemeters calibrated in terms of H(p)(0.07) on a slab phantom, while in other radiation fields (dominated by beta radiation or unknown contributions of photon and beta radiation) dosemeters calibrated in terms of H(p)(3) on a slab phantom should be used. As an alternative, dosemeters calibrated in terms of H(p)(0.07) on a slab phantom could also be used; however, in radiation fields containing beta radiation with the end point energy near 1 MeV, an overestimation of the eye lens dose by up to a factor of 550 is possible.

  9. Psychophysical assessment of low visual function in patients with retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs) with the Diagnosys full-field stimulus threshold (D-FST).

    PubMed

    Klein, M; Birch, D G

    2009-12-01

    To determine whether the Diagnosys full-field stimulus threshold (D-FST) is a valid, sensitive and repeatable psychophysical method of measuring and following visual function in low-vision subjects. Fifty-three affected eyes of 42 subjects with severe retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs) were tested with achromatic stimuli on the D-FST. Included were subjects who were either unable to perform a static perimetric field or had non-detectable or sub-microvolt electroretinograms (ERGs). A subset of 21 eyes of 17 subjects was tested on both the D-FST and the FST2, a previous established full-field threshold test. Seven eyes of 7 normal control subjects were tested on both the D-FST and the FST2. Results for the two methods were compared with the Bland-Altman test. On the D-FST, a threshold could successfully be determined for 13 of 14 eyes with light perception (LP) only (median 0.9 +/- 1.4 log cd/m2), and all eyes determined to be counting fingers (CF; median 0.3 +/- 1.8 log cd/m2). The median full-field threshold for the normal controls was -4.3 +/- 0.6 log cd/m2 on the D-FST and -4.8 +/- 0.9 log cd/m2 on the FST2. The D-FST offers a commercially available method with a robust psychophysical algorithm and is a useful tool for following visual function in low vision subjects.

  10. Light and dark adaptation of visually perceived eye level controlled by visual pitch.

    PubMed

    Matin, L; Li, W

    1995-01-01

    The pitch of a visual field systematically influences the elevation at which a monocularly viewing subject sets a target so as to appear at visually perceived eye level (VPEL). The deviation of the setting from true eye level average approximately 0.6 times the angle of pitch while viewing a fully illuminated complexly structured visual field and is only slightly less with one or two pitched-from-vertical lines in a dark field (Matin & Li, 1994a). The deviation of VPEL from baseline following 20 min of dark adaptation reaches its full value less than 1 min after the onset of illumination of the pitched visual field and decays exponentially in darkness following 5 min of exposure to visual pitch, either 30 degrees topbackward or 20 degrees topforward. The magnitude of the VPEL deviation measured with the dark-adapted right eye following left-eye exposure to pitch was 85% of the deviation that followed pitch exposure of the right eye itself. Time constants for VPEL decay to the dark baseline were the same for same-eye and cross-adaptation conditions and averaged about 4 min. The time constants for decay during dark adaptation were somewhat smaller, and the change during dark adaptation extended over a 16% smaller range following the viewing of the dim two-line pitched-from-vertical stimulus than following the viewing of the complex field. The temporal course of light and dark adaptation of VPEL is virtually identical to the course of light and dark adaptation of the scotopic luminance threshold following exposure to the same luminance. We suggest that, following rod stimulation along particular retinal orientations by portions of the pitched visual field, the storage of the adaptation process resides in the retinogeniculate system and is manifested in the focal system as a change in luminance threshold and in the ambient system as a change in VPEL. The linear model previously developed to account for VPEL, which was based on the interaction of influences from the pitched visual field and extraretinal influences from the body-referenced mechanism, was employed to incorporate the effects of adaptation. Connections between VPEL adaptation and other cases of perceptual adaptation of visual direction are described.

  11. Ethambutol/Linezolid Toxic Optic Neuropathy.

    PubMed

    Libershteyn, Yevgeniya

    2016-02-01

    To report a rare toxic optic neuropathy after long-term use of two medications: ethambutol and linezolid. A 65-year-old man presented to the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center in December 2014 for evaluation of progressive vision decrease in both eyes. The patient presented with best-corrected visual acuities of 20/400 in the right eye and counting fingers at 5 feet in the left eye. Color vision was significantly reduced in both eyes. Visual fields revealed a cecocentral defect in both eyes. His fundus and optic nerve examination was unremarkable. Because vision continued to decline after discontinuation of ethambutol, linezolid was also discontinued, after which vision, color vision, and visual fields improved. Because of these findings, the final diagnosis was toxic optic neuropathy. Final visual outcome was 20/30 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye. Drug-associated toxic optic neuropathy is a rare but vision-threatening condition. Diagnosis is made based on an extensive case history and careful clinical examination. The examination findings include varying decrease in vision, normal pupils and extraocular muscles, and unremarkable fundoscopy, with the possibility of swollen optic discs in the acute stage of the optic neuropathy. Other important findings descriptive of toxic optic neuropathy include decreased color vision and cecocentral visual field defects. This case illustrates the importance of knowledge of all medications and/or substances a patient consumes that may cause a toxic reaction and discontinuing them immediately if the visual functions are worsening or not improving.

  12. Development of a low cost high precision three-layer 3D artificial compound eye.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hao; Li, Lei; McCray, David L; Scheiding, Sebastian; Naples, Neil J; Gebhardt, Andreas; Risse, Stefan; Eberhardt, Ramona; Tünnermann, Andreas; Yi, Allen Y

    2013-09-23

    Artificial compound eyes are typically designed on planar substrates due to the limits of current imaging devices and available manufacturing processes. In this study, a high precision, low cost, three-layer 3D artificial compound eye consisting of a 3D microlens array, a freeform lens array, and a field lens array was constructed to mimic an apposition compound eye on a curved substrate. The freeform microlens array was manufactured on a curved substrate to alter incident light beams and steer their respective images onto a flat image plane. The optical design was performed using ZEMAX. The optical simulation shows that the artificial compound eye can form multiple images with aberrations below 11 μm; adequate for many imaging applications. Both the freeform lens array and the field lens array were manufactured using microinjection molding process to reduce cost. Aluminum mold inserts were diamond machined by the slow tool servo method. The performance of the compound eye was tested using a home-built optical setup. The images captured demonstrate that the proposed structures can successfully steer images from a curved surface onto a planar photoreceptor. Experimental results show that the compound eye in this research has a field of view of 87°. In addition, images formed by multiple channels were found to be evenly distributed on the flat photoreceptor. Additionally, overlapping views of the adjacent channels allow higher resolution images to be re-constructed from multiple 3D images taken simultaneously.

  13. One in the eye for an orthopaedic surgeon.

    PubMed Central

    Lourie, J.; Hamid, K.

    1996-01-01

    Despite many reports of injuries to surgeons during operative procedures, there is no record of an eye injury caused by a foreign body. Orthopaedic surgeons are particularly vulnerable to such injury. An instance in which a penetrating eye injury occurred while hammering a rasp into the femur during a hip replacement is described. There is a potential oblique trajectory for a foreign body to reach the eye from the operative field despite the use of a visor for eye protection. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 PMID:8659981

  14. The Sony PlayStation II EyeToy: low-cost virtual reality for use in rehabilitation.

    PubMed

    Rand, Debbie; Kizony, Rachel; Weiss, Patrice Tamar L

    2008-12-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of using a low-cost video-capture virtual reality (VR) platform, the Sony PlayStation II EyeToy, for the rehabilitation of older adults with disabilities. This article presents three studies that were carried out to provide information about the EyeToy's potential for use in rehabilitation. The first study included the testing of healthy young adults (N = 34) and compared their experiences using the EyeToy with those using GestureTek's IREX VR system in terms of a sense of presence, level of enjoyment, control, success, and perceived exertion. The second study aimed to characterize the VR experience of healthy older adults (N = 10) and to determine the suitability and usability of the EyeToy for this population and the third study aimed to determine the feasibility of the EyeToy for use by individuals (N = 12) with stroke at different stages. The implications of these three studies for applying the system to rehabilitation are discussed.

  15. A Sticky Situation.

    PubMed

    Weng, Christina Y; Khimani, Karima S; Foroozan, Rod; Gospe, Sidney M; Bhatti, M Tariq

    2018-04-26

    An 81-year-old man with bilateral progressively blurry vision and optic disc swelling was referred for evaluation. Examination and ancillary testing confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral vitreopapillary traction (VPT) accompanied by unilateral tractional retinoschisis in the right eye. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed to release the traction in both eyes. Visual acuity improved in the right eye and stabilized in the left eye. Retinoschisis in the right eye resolved. The visual field improved in both eyes, although the left eye demonstrated a persistent hemifield defect likely attributable to a prior optic neuropathy. Distinguishing VPT optic neuropathy (VPTON) from nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Magnetic eye tracking in mice

    PubMed Central

    Payne, Hannah L

    2017-01-01

    Eye movements provide insights about a wide range of brain functions, from sensorimotor integration to cognition; hence, the measurement of eye movements is an important tool in neuroscience research. We describe a method, based on magnetic sensing, for measuring eye movements in head-fixed and freely moving mice. A small magnet was surgically implanted on the eye, and changes in the magnet angle as the eye rotated were detected by a magnetic field sensor. Systematic testing demonstrated high resolution measurements of eye position of <0.1°. Magnetic eye tracking offers several advantages over the well-established eye coil and video-oculography methods. Most notably, it provides the first method for reliable, high-resolution measurement of eye movements in freely moving mice, revealing increased eye movements and altered binocular coordination compared to head-fixed mice. Overall, magnetic eye tracking provides a lightweight, inexpensive, easily implemented, and high-resolution method suitable for a wide range of applications. PMID:28872455

  17. Monocular Perceptual Deprivation from Interocular Suppression Temporarily Imbalances Ocular Dominance.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hyun-Woong; Kim, Chai-Youn; Blake, Randolph

    2017-03-20

    Early visual experience sculpts neural mechanisms that regulate the balance of influence exerted by the two eyes on cortical mechanisms underlying binocular vision [1, 2], and experience's impact on this neural balancing act continues into adulthood [3-5]. One recently described, compelling example of adult neural plasticity is the effect of patching one eye for a relatively short period of time: contrary to intuition, monocular visual deprivation actually improves the deprived eye's competitive advantage during a subsequent period of binocular rivalry [6-8], the robust form of visual competition prompted by dissimilar stimulation of the two eyes [9, 10]. Neural concomitants of this improvement in monocular dominance are reflected in measurements of brain responsiveness following eye patching [11, 12]. Here we report that patching an eye is unnecessary for producing this paradoxical deprivation effect: interocular suppression of an ordinarily visible stimulus being viewed by one eye is sufficient to produce shifts in subsequent predominance of that eye to an extent comparable to that produced by patching the eye. Moreover, this imbalance in eye dominance can also be induced by prior, extended viewing of two monocular images differing only in contrast. Regardless of how shifts in eye dominance are induced, the effect decays once the two eyes view stimuli equal in strength. These novel findings implicate the operation of interocular neural gain control that dynamically adjusts the relative balance of activity between the two eyes [13, 14]. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Physiological implications of the abnormal absence of the parietal foramen in a late Permian cynodont (Therapsida)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benoit, Julien; Abdala, Fernando; Van den Brandt, Marc J.; Manger, Paul R.; Rubidge, Bruce S.

    2015-12-01

    The third eye (pineal eye), an organ responsible for regulating exposure to sunlight in extant ectotherms, is located in an opening on the dorsal surface of the skull, the parietal foramen. The parietal foramen is absent in extant mammals but often observed in basal therapsids, the stem-group to true mammals. Here, we report the absence of the parietal foramen in a specimen of Cynosaurus suppostus, a Late Permian cynodont from South Africa (SA). Comparison with Procynosuchus delaharpeae, a contemporaneous non-mammalian cynodont from SA, demonstrates that the absence of this foramen is an abnormal condition for such a basal species. Because seasonality was marked during the Late Permian in SA, it is proposed that the third eye was functionally redundant in Cynosaurus, possibly due to the acquisition of better thermoregulation or the evolution of specialized cells in the lateral eyes to compensate for the role of the third eye.

  19. Optical coherence tomography detects characteristic retinal nerve fiber layer thickness corresponding to band atrophy of the optic discs.

    PubMed

    Kanamori, Akiyasu; Nakamura, Makoto; Matsui, Noriko; Nagai, Azusa; Nakanishi, Yoriko; Kusuhara, Sentaro; Yamada, Yuko; Negi, Akira

    2004-12-01

    To analyze retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in eyes with band atrophy by use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to evaluate the ability of OCT to detect this characteristic pattern of RNFL loss. Cross-sectional, retrospective study. Thirty-four eyes of 18 patients with bitemporal hemianopia caused by optic chiasm compression by chiasmal tumors were studied. All eyes were divided into 3 groups according to visual field loss grading after Goldmann perimetry. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements with OCT. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness around the optic disc was measured by OCT (3.4-mm diameter circle). Calculation of the changes in OCT parameters, including the horizontal (nasal + temporal quadrant RNFL thickness) and vertical values (superior + inferior quadrant RNFL thickness) was based on data from 160 normal eyes. Comparison between the 3 visual field grading groups was done with the analysis of variance test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the horizontal and vertical value were calculated, and the areas under the curve (AUC) were compared. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with band atrophy decreased in all OCT parameters. The reduction rate in average and temporal RNFL thickness and horizontal value was correlated with visual field grading. The AUC of horizontal value was 0.970+/-0.011, which was significantly different from AUC of vertical value (0.903+/-0.022). The degree of RNFL thickness reduction correlated with that of visual field defects. Optical coherence tomography was able to identify the characteristic pattern of RNFL loss in these eyes.

  20. Through Their Eyes: Tracking the Gaze of Students in a Geology Field Course

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Maltese, Adam V.; Balliet, Russell N.; Riggs, Eric M.

    2013-01-01

    The focus of this research was to investigate how students learn to do fieldwork through observation. This study addressed the following questions: (1) Can mobile eye-tracking devices provide a robust source of data to investigate the observations and workflow of novice students while participating in a field exercise? If so, what are the…

  1. The Eyes Have It

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1999-01-01

    NASA'S Ames Research Center contracted with SRI international to contract a device that would be able to anticipate, track, and monitor involuntary ocular movement horizontally, vertically, and with respect to depth-of-field. This development helped research institutions to understand the eye. The Eyetracker, manufactured and distributed by Forward Optical Technologies, Inc. is now used in the clinical/medical field.

  2. Investigation of the isoplanatic patch and wavefront aberration along the pupillary axis compared to the line of sight in the eye

    PubMed Central

    Nowakowski, Maciej; Sheehan, Matthew; Neal, Daniel; Goncharov, Alexander V.

    2012-01-01

    Conventional optical systems usually provide best image quality on axis, while showing unavoidable gradual decrease in image quality towards the periphery of the field. The optical system of the human eye is not an exception. Within a limiting boundary the image quality can be considered invariant with field angle, and this region is known as the isoplanatic patch. We investigate the isoplanatic patch of eight healthy eyes and measure the wavefront aberration along the pupillary axis compared to the line of sight. The results are used to discuss methods of ocular aberration correction in wide-field retinal imaging with particular application to multi-conjugate adaptive optics systems. PMID:22312578

  3. Relevance of wide-field autofluorescence imaging in Birdshot retinochoroidopathy: descriptive analysis of 76 eyes.

    PubMed

    Piffer, Anne-Laure Le; Boissonnot, Michèle; Gobert, Frédéric; Zenger, Anita; Wolf, Sebastian; Wolf, Ute; Korobelnik, Jean-François; Rougier, Marie-Bénédicte

    2014-09-01

    To study and classify retinal lesions in patients with birdshot disease using wide-field autofluorescence imaging and correlate them according to patients' visual status. A multicentre study was carried out on 76 eyes of 39 patients with birdshot disease, analysing colour images and under autofluorescence using the wide-field Optomap(®) imaging system. This was combined with a complete clinical exam and analysis of the macula with OCT. In over 80% of the eyes, a chorioretinal lesion has been observed under autofluorescence with a direct correlation between the extent of the lesion and visual status. The presence of macular hypo-autofluorescence was correlated with a decreased visual acuity, due to the presence of a macular oedema, active clinical inflammation or an epiretinal membrane. The hypo-autofluorescence observed correlated with the duration of the disease and the degree of inflammation in the affected eye, indicating a secondary lesion in the pigment epithelium in relation to the choroid. The pigment epithelium was affected in a diffuse manner, as in almost 50% of the eyes the wider peripheral retina was affected. Wide-field autofluorescence imaging could appear to be a useful examination when monitoring patients, to look for areas of macular hypo-autofluorescence responsible for an irreversible loss of vision. © 2013 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. Reduction in mean deviation values in automated perimetry in eyes with multifocal compared to monofocal intraocular lens implants.

    PubMed

    Farid, Marjan; Chak, Garrick; Garg, Sumit; Steinert, Roger F

    2014-08-01

    To evaluate differences in mean deviation values in automated perimetry in healthy eyes with multifocal compared to monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) implants. Prospective, age-matched, comparative analysis. Single-center, tertiary referral academic practice. A total of 37 healthy eyes in 37 patients with bilateral multifocal (n=22) or monofocal (n=15) IOL implants were studied. INTERVENTION/OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: Humphrey Visual Field 10-2 testing was performed on all patients. Mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) numerical values were evaluated and compared between groups. The average MD was -2.84 dB (SD 2.32) for the multifocal IOL group and -0.97 dB (SD 1.58) for the monofocal IOL group (P=.006). There was no significant difference in PSD between the 2 groups (P=.99). Eyes that had the visual field 10-2 testing≥6 months from time of IOL placement showed no improvement in MD when compared to eyes that were tested within 6 months from IOL placement. Multifocal IOL implants cause significant nonspecific reduction in MD values on Humphrey Visual Field 10-2 testing that does not improve with time or neuroadaptation. Multifocal IOL implants may be inadvisable in patients where central visual field reduction may not be tolerated, such as macular degeneration, retinal pigment epithelium changes, and glaucoma. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Computation of temperature elevation in rabbit eye irradiated by 2.45-GHz microwaves with different field configurations.

    PubMed

    Hirata, Akimasa; Watanabe, Soichi; Taki, Masao; Fujiwara, Osamu; Kojima, Masami; Sasaki, Kazuyuki

    2008-02-01

    This study calculated the temperature elevation in the rabbit eye caused by 2.45-GHz near-field exposure systems. First, we calculated specific absorption rate distributions in the eye for different antennas and then compared them with those observed in previous studies. Next, we re-examined the temperature elevation in the rabbit eye due to a horizontally-polarized dipole antenna with a C-shaped director, which was used in a previous study. For our computational results, we found that decisive factors of the SAR distribution in the rabbit eye were the polarization of the electromagnetic wave and antenna aperture. Next, we quantified the eye average specific absorption rate as 67 W kg(-1) for the dipole antenna with an input power density at the eye surface of 150 mW cm(-2), which was specified in the previous work as the minimum cataractogenic power density. The effect of administrating anesthesia on the temperature elevation was 30% or so in the above case. Additionally, the position where maximum temperature in the lens appears is discussed due to different 2.45-GHz microwave systems. That position was found to appear around the posterior of the lens regardless of the exposure condition, which indicates that the original temperature distribution in the eye was the dominant factor.

  6. Visual fields and eye morphology support color vision in a color-changing crab-spider.

    PubMed

    Insausti, Teresita C; Defrize, Jérémy; Lazzari, Claudio R; Casas, Jérôme

    2012-03-01

    Vision plays a major role in many spiders, being involved in prey hunting, orientation or substrate choice, among others. In Misumena vatia, which experiences morphological color changes, vision has been reported to be involved in substrate color matching. Electrophysiological evidence reveals that at least two types of photoreceptors are present in this species, but these data are not backed up by morphological evidence. This work analyzes the functional structure of the eyes of this spider and relates it to its color-changing abilities. A broad superposition of the visual field of the different eyes was observed, even between binocular regions of principal and secondary eyes. The frontal space is simultaneously analyzed by four eyes. This superposition supports the integration of the visual information provided by the different eye types. The mobile retina of the principal eyes of this spider is organized in three layers of three different types of rhabdoms. The third and deepest layer is composed by just one large rhabdom surrounded by dark screening pigments that limit the light entry. The three pairs of secondary eyes have all a single layer of rhabdoms. Our findings provide strong support for an involvement of the visual system in color matching in this spider. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Temporal visual field defects are associated with monocular inattention in chiasmal pathology.

    PubMed

    Fledelius, Hans C

    2009-11-01

    Chiasmal lesions have been shown to give rise occasionally to uni-ocular temporal inattention, which cannot be compensated for by volitional eye movement. This article describes the assessments of 46 such patients with chiasmal pathology. It aims to determine the clinical spectrum of this disorder, including interference with reading. Retrospective consecutive observational clinical case study over a 7-year period comprising 46 patients with chiasmal field loss of varying degrees. Observation of reading behaviour during monocular visual acuity testing ascertained from consecutive patients who appeared unable to read optotypes on the temporal side of the chart. Visual fields were evaluated by kinetic (Goldmann) and static (Octopus) techniques. Five patients who clearly manifested this condition are presented in more detail. The results of visual field testing were related to absence or presence of uni-ocular visual inattentive behaviour for distance visual acuity testing and/or reading printed text. Despite normal eye movements, the 46 patients making up the clinical series perceived only optotypes in the nasal part of the chart, in one eye or in both, when tested for each eye in turn. The temporal optotypes were ignored, and this behaviour persisted despite instruction to search for any additional letters temporal to those, which had been seen. This phenomenon of unilateral visual inattention held for both eyes in 18 and was unilateral in the remaining 28 patients. Partial or full reversibility after treatment was recorded in 21 of the 39 for whom reliable follow-up data were available. Reading a text was affected in 24 individuals, and permanently so in six. A neglect-like spatial unawareness and a lack of cognitive compensation for varying degrees of temporal visual field loss were present in all the patients observed. Not only is visual field loss a feature of chiasmal pathology, but the higher visual function of affording attention within the temporal visual field by means of using conscious thought to invoke appropriate compensatory eye movement was also absent. This suggests the possibility of 'trans-synaptic dysfunction' caused by loss of visual input to higher visual centres. When inattention to the temporal side is manifest on monocular visual testing it should raise the suspicion of chiasmal pathology.

  8. Frequency doubling technology perimetry for detection of visual field progression in glaucoma: a pointwise linear regression analysis.

    PubMed

    Liu, Shu; Yu, Marco; Weinreb, Robert N; Lai, Gilda; Lam, Dennis Shun-Chiu; Leung, Christopher Kai-Shun

    2014-05-02

    We compared the detection of visual field progression and its rate of change between standard automated perimetry (SAP) and Matrix frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDTP) in glaucoma. We followed prospectively 217 eyes (179 glaucoma and 38 normal eyes) for SAP and FDTP testing at 4-month intervals for ≥36 months. Pointwise linear regression analysis was performed. A test location was considered progressing when the rate of change of visual sensitivity was ≤-1 dB/y for nonedge and ≤-2 dB/y for edge locations. Three criteria were used to define progression in an eye: ≥3 adjacent nonedge test locations (conservative), any three locations (moderate), and any two locations (liberal) progressed. The rate of change of visual sensitivity was calculated with linear mixed models. Of the 217 eyes, 6.1% and 3.9% progressed with the conservative criteria, 14.5% and 5.6% of eyes progressed with the moderate criteria, and 20.1% and 11.7% of eyes progressed with the liberal criteria by FDTP and SAP, respectively. Taking all test locations into consideration (total, 54 × 179 locations), FDTP detected more progressing locations (176) than SAP (103, P < 0.001). The rate of change of visual field mean deviation (MD) was significantly faster for FDTP (all with P < 0.001). No eyes showed progression in the normal group using the conservative and the moderate criteria. With a faster rate of change of visual sensitivity, FDTP detected more progressing eyes than SAP at a comparable level of specificity. Frequency doubling technology perimetry can provide a useful alternative to monitor glaucoma progression.

  9. Characteristics of eyes with inner retinal cleavage.

    PubMed

    Hwang, Young Hoon; Kim, Yong Yeon; Kim, Hwang Ki; Sohn, Yong Ho

    2015-02-01

    Inner retinal cleavage can be misdiagnosed as a glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect. This study was performed to characterize eyes with inner retinal cleavage. Inner retinal cleavage is defined as the appearance of a dark spindle-shaped space between the nerve fibers. Patients who presented at our institution with inner retinal cleavage were enrolled in the study. All participants were evaluated by fundus examination, visual field testing with standard automated perimetry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. A total of 15 eyes of 11 subjects with inner retinal cleavage were included in the study. The median age of the subjects was 57 years (age range, 30-67 years). In each case, inner retinal cleavage was located adjacent to retinal blood vessels. Tissue bridging the cleavage area was observed in ten eyes. Six eyes had epiretinal membranes (ERMs), two eyes had glaucoma, and one eye had ERM in addition to glaucoma. Six eyes with inner retinal cleavage without combined ocular abnormalities had highly myopic refractive error (-6.50 to -8.50 diopters). Cross-sectional OCT images of the areas of inner retinal cleavage demonstrated defects with irregular margins and empty spaces in the inner layers of the retina. During the follow-up period, no eye showed changes in inner retinal layer cleavage or visual field sensitivity. Inner retinal cleavage was found in eyes with high myopia or ERMs. Inner retinal cleavage was associated with structural changes distinct from those associated with glaucomatous RNFL defects.

  10. Anterior segment photography in pediatric eyes using the Lytro light field handheld noncontact camera.

    PubMed

    Marcus, Inna; Tung, Irene T; Dosunmu, Eniolami O; Thiamthat, Warakorn; Freedman, Sharon F

    2013-12-01

    To compare anterior segment findings identified in young children using digital photographic images from the Lytro light field camera to those observed clinically. This was a prospective study of children <9 years of age with an anterior segment abnormality. Clinically observed anterior segment examination findings for each child were recorded and several digital images of the anterior segment of each eye captured with the Lytro camera. The images were later reviewed by a masked examiner. Sensitivity of abnormal examination findings on Lytro imaging was calculated and compared to the clinical examination as the gold standard. A total of 157 eyes of 80 children (mean age, 4.4 years; range, 0.1-8.9) were included. Clinical examination revealed 206 anterior segment abnormalities altogether: lids/lashes (n = 21 eyes), conjunctiva/sclera (n = 28 eyes), cornea (n = 71 eyes), anterior chamber (n = 14 eyes), iris (n = 43 eyes), and lens (n = 29 eyes). Review of Lytro photographs of eyes with clinically diagnosed anterior segment abnormality correctly identified 133 of 206 (65%) of all abnormalities. Additionally, 185 abnormalities in 50 children were documented at examination under anesthesia. The Lytro camera was able to document most abnormal anterior segment findings in un-sedated young children. Its unique ability to allow focus change after image capture is a significant improvement on prior technology. Copyright © 2013 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Ultra-wide-field autofluorescence imaging in non-traumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

    PubMed Central

    Witmer, M T; Cho, M; Favarone, G; Paul Chan, R V; D'Amico, D J; Kiss, S

    2012-01-01

    Purpose Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) affects the function of the retina before and after surgical repair. We investigated ultra-wide-field autofluorescence (UAF) abnormalities in patients with acute RRD to improve our understanding of the functional changes in the retina before and after surgery. Methods In this retrospective study, we present the UAF imaging findings of 16 patients with acute, non-traumatic RRD. Imaging was obtained with the Optos 200 Tx (Optos) in 14 eyes preoperatively and in 12 eyes postoperatively. Twelve eyes had RRDs that involved the macula (group A), whereas four eyes had macula-sparing RRDs (group B). Results All patients (100%) with bullous retinal detachments demonstrated hypofluorescence over the area of retinal detachment. A hyperfluorescent leading edge (HLE) to the retinal detachment was observed preoperatively in 100% of eyes in group A and 75% of eyes in group B. Preoperative UAF through the fovea of group A eyes was normal (30%), hypofluorescent (50%) or hyperfluorescent (20%). In all patients with a HLE preoperatively, the HLE resolved by the 1-month postoperative visit. A residual line of demarcation remained in 8 of the 12 eyes (67%). In group A eyes, postoperative granular autofluorescent changes were present in four of the nine (44%) eyes, and were associated with worse preoperative (P=0.04) and postoperative (P=0.09) visual acuity. Conclusion UAF imaging reveals abnormalities in RRDs that allow excellent demarcation of the extent of the retinal detachment and assist in preoperative characterization of the detachment and postoperative counselling. PMID:22722489

  12. Zebrafish mab21l2 is specifically expressed in the presumptive eye and tectum from early somitogenesis onwards.

    PubMed

    Kudoh, T; Dawid, I B

    2001-11-01

    Random screening for tissue specific genes in zebrafish by in situ hybridization led us to isolate a gene which showed highly restricted expression in the developing eyes and midbrain at somitogenesis stages. This gene was very similar to mouse and human mab21l2. The characteristic expression pattern of mab21l2 facilitates a detailed description of the morphogenesis of the eyes and midbrain in the zebrafish. In the eye field, mab21l2 expression illustrates the transformation of the eye field to form two separate eyes in the anterior neural plate. Mab21l2 staining in the cyclopic mutants, cyc and oep, exhibited incomplete splitting of the eye primodium. In the midbrain, mab21l2 is expressed in the tectum, and its expression follows the expansion of the tectal region. In mutants affecting the mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB), mab21l2 expression is affected differentially. In the noi/pax2.1 mutant, mab21l2 is down-regulated and the size of the tectum remains small, whereas in the ace/fgf8 mutant, mab21l2 expression persists although the shape of the tectum is altered.

  13. Eye Movements in Risky Choice

    PubMed Central

    Hermens, Frouke; Matthews, William J.

    2015-01-01

    Abstract We asked participants to make simple risky choices while we recorded their eye movements. We built a complete statistical model of the eye movements and found very little systematic variation in eye movements over the time course of a choice or across the different choices. The only exceptions were finding more (of the same) eye movements when choice options were similar, and an emerging gaze bias in which people looked more at the gamble they ultimately chose. These findings are inconsistent with prospect theory, the priority heuristic, or decision field theory. However, the eye movements made during a choice have a large relationship with the final choice, and this is mostly independent from the contribution of the actual attribute values in the choice options. That is, eye movements tell us not just about the processing of attribute values but also are independently associated with choice. The pattern is simple—people choose the gamble they look at more often, independently of the actual numbers they see—and this pattern is simpler than predicted by decision field theory, decision by sampling, and the parallel constraint satisfaction model. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. PMID:27522985

  14. Looking into the water with oblique head tilting: revision of the aerial binocular imaging of underwater objects.

    PubMed

    Horváth, Gábor; Buchta, Krisztián; Varjú, Dezsö

    2003-06-01

    It is a well-known phenomenon that when we look into the water with two aerial eyes, both the apparent position and the apparent shape of underwater objects are different from the real ones because of refraction at the water surface. Earlier studies of the refraction-distorted structure of the underwater binocular visual field of aerial observers were restricted to either vertically or horizontally oriented eyes. We investigate a generalized version of this problem: We calculate the position of the binocular image point of an underwater object point viewed by two arbitrarily positioned aerial eyes, including oblique orientations of the eyes relative to the flat water surface. Assuming that binocular image fusion is performed by appropriate vergent eye movements to bring the object's image onto the foveas, the structure of the underwater binocular visual field is computed and visualized in different ways as a function of the relative positions of the eyes. We show that a revision of certain earlier treatments of the aerial imaging of underwater objects is necessary. We analyze and correct some widespread erroneous or incomplete representations of this classical geometric optical problem that occur in different textbooks. Improving the theory of aerial binocular imaging of underwater objects, we demonstrate that the structure of the underwater binocular visual field of aerial observers distorted by refraction is more complex than has been thought previously.

  15. A wearable navigation display can improve attentiveness to the surgical field.

    PubMed

    Stewart, James; Billinghurst, Mark

    2016-06-01

    Surgical navigation is typically shown on a computer display that is distant from the patient, making it difficult for the surgeon to watch the patient while performing a guided task. We investigate whether a light-weight, untracked, wearable display (such as Google Glass, which has the same size and weight as corrective glasses) can improve attentiveness to the surgical field in a simulated surgical task. Three displays were tested: a computer monitor; a peripheral display above the eye; and a through-the-lens display in front of the eye. Twelve subjects performed a task to position and orient a tracked tool on a plastic femur. Both wearable displays were tested on the dominant and non-dominant eyes of each subject. Attentiveness during the task was measured by the time taken to respond to randomly illuminated LEDs on the femur. Attentiveness was improved with the wearable displays at the cost of a decrease in accuracy. The through-the-lens display performed better than the peripheral display. The peripheral display performed better when on the dominant eye, while the through-the-lens display performed better when on the non-dominant eye. Attentiveness to the surgical field can be improved with the use of a light-weight, untracked, wearable display. A through-the-lens display performs better than a peripheral display, and both perform better than a computer monitor. Eye dominance should be considered when positioning the display.

  16. Eye movement perimetry in glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Trope, G E; Eizenman, M; Coyle, E

    1989-08-01

    Present-day computerized perimetry is often inaccurate and unreliable owing to the need to maintain central fixation over long periods while repressing the normal response to presentation of peripheral stimuli. We tested a new method of perimetry that does not require prolonged central fixation. During this test eye movements were encouraged on presentation of a peripheral target. Twenty-three eyes were studied with an Octopus perimeter, with a technician monitoring eye movements. The sensitivity was 100% and the specificity 23%. The low specificity was due to the technician's inability to accurately monitor small eye movements in the central 6 degrees field. If small eye movements are monitored accurately with an eye tracker, eye movement perimetry could become an alternative method to standard perimetry.

  17. Elevation of autophagy markers in Sjögren syndrome dry eye.

    PubMed

    Byun, Yong-Soo; Lee, Hyun Jung; Shin, Soojung; Chung, So-Hyang

    2017-12-08

    Autophagy is known to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Sjögren syndrome (SS), but evidences are limited. We aimed to examine the levels of autophagy markers in tear film and conjunctival epithelial cells from SS dry eye patients, and analyze their correlations with clinical features. Patients with SS dry eye exhibited lower Schirmer values, lower tear breakup time, and higher ocular staining scores. In tears, ATG5 and LC3B-II/I levels were significantly higher in SS dry eye. ATG5 and LC3B-II mRNA in the conjunctiva were also elevated in SS dry eye compared with non-SS dry eye. The immunostaining of conjunctival epithelium showed a punctate pattern of ATG5 and LC3B-II in SS dry eye. These staining patterns were also observed in the lacrimal gland of SS animal models. ATG5 levels in tears and the conjunctival epithelium strongly correlated with ocular staining scores, and one month of topical corticosteroid treatment reduced both ATG5 and LC3B-II/I levels in tear film and the conjunctival epithelium of patients with SS dry eye. Our results suggest that autophagy is enhanced or dysregulated in SS and autophagy markers may be serve as both diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in SS dry eye.

  18. The relationship between better-eye and integrated visual field mean deviation and visual disability.

    PubMed

    Arora, Karun S; Boland, Michael V; Friedman, David S; Jefferys, Joan L; West, Sheila K; Ramulu, Pradeep Y

    2013-12-01

    To determine the extent of difference between better-eye visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD) and integrated VF (IVF) MD among Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE) subjects and a larger group of glaucoma clinic subjects and to assess how those measures relate to objective and subjective measures of ability/performance in SEE subjects. Retrospective analysis of population- and clinic-based samples of adults. A total of 490 SEE and 7053 glaucoma clinic subjects with VF loss (MD ≤-3 decibels [dB] in at least 1 eye). Visual field testing was performed in each eye, and IVF MD was calculated. Differences between better-eye and IVF MD were calculated for SEE and clinic-based subjects. In SEE subjects with VF loss, models were constructed to compare the relative impact of better-eye and IVF MD on driving habits, mobility, self-reported vision-related function, and reading speed. Difference between better-eye and IVF MD and relationship of better-eye and IVF MD with performance measures. The median difference between better-eye and IVF MD was 0.41 dB (interquartile range [IQR], -0.21 to 1.04 dB) and 0.72 dB (IQR, 0.04-1.45 dB) for SEE subjects and clinic-based patients with glaucoma, respectively, with differences of ≥ 2 dB between the 2 MDs observed in 9% and 18% of the groups, respectively. Among SEE subjects with VF loss, both MDs demonstrated similar associations with multiple ability and performance metrics as judged by the presence/absence of a statistically significant association between the MD and the metric, the magnitude of observed associations (odds ratios, rate ratios, or regression coefficients associated with 5-dB decrements in MD), and the extent of variability in the metric explained by the model (R(2)). Similar associations of similar magnitude also were noted for the subgroup of subjects with glaucoma and subjects in whom better-eye and IVF MD differed by ≥ 2 dB. The IVF MD rarely differs from better-eye MD, and similar associations between VF loss and visual disability are obtained using either MD. Unlike better-eye MD, IVF measurements require extra software/calculation. As such, information from studies using better-eye MD can be more easily integrated into clinical decision-making, making better-eye MD a robust and meaningful method for reporting VF loss severity. Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Syringomyelia presenting with unilateral optic neuropathy: a case report.

    PubMed

    Ngoo, Qi Zhe; Tai, Evelyn Li Min; Wan Hitam, Wan Hazabbah

    2017-01-01

    In this case report, we present two cases of syringomyelia with optic neuropathy. In Case 1, a 36-year-old Malay lady presented to our clinic with acute onset of blurring of vision in her left eye that she experienced since past 1 month. She was diagnosed with syringomyelia 12 years ago and was on conservative management. Her visual acuity was 6/6 in the right eye and counting fingers at 1 m in the left. There was a positive relative afferent pupillary defect in her left eye. Optic nerve functions of her left eye were reduced. Visual field showed a left inferior field defect. Her extraocular muscle movements were full. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine showed syringomyelia at the level of C2-C6 and T2-T9. Both of her optic nerves were normal. Her condition improved with intravenous and oral corticosteroids. In Case 2, a 44-year-old Malay lady presented to our clinic with a progressive central scotoma in her right eye that she experienced since past 1 month. She had previous history of recurrent episodes of weakness in both of her lower limbs from past 8 months. Visual acuity in her right and left eye was 6/9 and 6/6, respectively. The relative afferent pupillary defect in her right eye was positive. Optic nerve functions of her right eye were affected. Visual field showed a central scotoma in her right eye. Her extraocular muscle movements were full. Fundoscopy of her right eye showed a pale optic disc. Her left eye fundus was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine showed syringomyelia at T3-T6. Both of her optic nerves were normal. A diagnosis of syringomyelia with right optic atrophy was performed. Her condition improved with intravenous and oral corticosteroids. Optic neuropathy is a rare neuro-ophthalmic manifestation in patients with syringomyelia. Prompt diagnosis and timely management are essential to avoid a poor visual outcome. Intravenous corticosteroids are beneficial in the treatment of early optic neuropathy in syringomyelia.

  20. Impaired autophagy in macrophages promotes inflammatory eye disease.

    PubMed

    Santeford, Andrea; Wiley, Luke A; Park, Sunmin; Bamba, Sonya; Nakamura, Rei; Gdoura, Abdelaziz; Ferguson, Thomas A; Rao, P Kumar; Guan, Jun-Lin; Saitoh, Tatsuya; Akira, Shizuo; Xavier, Ramnik; Virgin, Herbert W; Apte, Rajendra S

    2016-10-02

    Autophagy is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Organs such as the eye and brain are immunologically privileged. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy is essential for maintaining ocular immune privilege. Deletion of multiple autophagy genes in macrophages leads to an inflammation-mediated eye disease called uveitis that can cause blindness. Loss of autophagy activates inflammasome-mediated IL1B secretion that increases disease severity. Inhibition of caspase activity by gene deletion or pharmacological means completely reverses the disease phenotype. Of interest, experimental uveitis was also increased in a model of Crohn disease, a systemic autoimmune disease in which patients often develop uveitis, offering a potential mechanistic link between macrophage autophagy and systemic disease. These findings directly implicate the homeostatic process of autophagy in blinding eye disease and identify novel pathways for therapeutic intervention in uveitis.

  1. Advanced pigment dispersion glaucoma secondary to phakic intraocular collamer lens implant.

    PubMed

    Ye, Clara; Patel, Cajal K; Momont, Anna C; Liu, Yao

    2018-06-01

    We report a case of pigment dispersion glaucoma secondary to uncomplicated phakic intraocular collamer lens (ICL) (Visian ICL™, Staar Inc., Monrovia, CA) implant that resulted in advanced visual field loss. A 50-year-old man presented for routine follow-up status post bilateral phakic intraocular collamer lens (ICL) placement 8 years earlier. He was incidentally found to have a decline in visual acuity from an anterior subcapsular cataract and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in the left eye. There were signs of pigment dispersion and no evidence of angle closure. Diffuse optic nerve thinning was consistent with advanced glaucomatous visual field defects. Pigment dispersion was also present in the patient's right eye, but without elevated IOP or visual field defects. The patient was treated with topical glaucoma medications and the phakic ICL in the left eye was removed concurrently with cataract surgery to prevent further visual field loss. Pigment dispersion glaucoma is a serious adverse outcome after phakic ICL implantation and regular post-operative monitoring may prevent advanced visual field loss.

  2. Truly simultaneous SS-OCT of the anterior and posterior human eye with full anterior chamber and 50° retinal field of views (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McNabb, Ryan P.; Viehland, Christian; Keller, Brenton; Vann, Robin R.; Izatt, Joseph A.; Kuo, Anthony N.

    2017-02-01

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionized clinical observation of the eye and is an indispensable part of the modern ophthalmic practice. Unlike many other ophthalmic imaging techniques, OCT provides three-dimensional information about the imaged eye. However, conventional clinical OCT systems image only the anterior or the posterior eye during a single acquisition. Newer OCT systems have begun to image both during the same acquisition but with compromises such as limited field of view in the posterior eye or requiring rapid switching between the anterior and posterior eye during the scan. We describe here the development and demonstration of an OCT system with truly simultaneous imaging of both the anterior and posterior eye capable of imaging the full anterior chamber width and 50° on the retina (macula, optic nerve, and arcades). The whole eye OCT system was developed using custom optics and optomechanics. Polarization was utilized to separate the imaging channels. We utilized a 200kHz swept-source laser (Axsun Technologies) centered at 1040±50nm of bandwidth. The clock signal generated by the laser was interpolated 4x to generate 5504 samples per laser sweep. With the whole eye OCT system, we simultaneously acquired anterior and posterior segments with repeated B-scans as well as three-dimensional volumes from seven healthy volunteers (other than refractive error). On three of these volunteers, whole eye OCT and partial coherence interferometry (LenStar PCI, Haag-Streit) were used to measure axial eye length. We measured a mean repeatability of ±47µm with whole eye OCT and a mean difference from PCI of -68µm.

  3. Detecting early functional damage in glaucoma suspect and ocular hypertensive patients with the multifocal VEP technique.

    PubMed

    Thienprasiddhi, Phamornsak; Greenstein, Vivienne C; Chu, David H; Xu, Li; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Ritch, Robert; Hood, Donald C

    2006-08-01

    To determine whether the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) technique can detect early functional damage in ocular hypertensive (OHT) and glaucoma suspect (GS) patients with normal standard achromatic automated perimetry (SAP) results. Twenty-five GS patients (25 eyes), 25 patients with OHT (25 eyes), and 50 normal controls (50 eyes) were enrolled in this study. All GS, OHT and normal control eyes had normal SAP as defined by a pattern standard deviation and mean deviation within the 95% confidence interval and a glaucoma hemifield test within normal limits on the Humphrey visual field 24-2 program. Eyes with GS had optic disc changes consistent with glaucoma with or without raised intraocular pressure (IOP), and eyes with OHT showed no evidence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and IOPs >or=22 mm Hg. Monocular mfVEPs were obtained from both eyes of each subject using a pattern-reversal dartboard array with 60 sectors. The entire display had a radius of 22.3 degrees. The mfVEPs, for each eye, were defined as abnormal when either the monocular or interocular probability plot had a cluster of 3 or more contiguous points with P<0.05 and at least 2 of these points with P<0.01. The mfVEP results were abnormal in 4% of the eyes from normal subjects. Abnormal mfVEPs were detected in 20% of the eyes of GS patients and 16% of the eyes of OHT patients. Significantly more mfVEP abnormalities were detected in GS patients than in normal controls. However, there was no significant difference in mfVEP results between OHT patients and normal controls. The mfVEP technique can detect visual field deficits in a minority of eyes with glaucomatous optic disks and normal SAP results.

  4. Optimizations and Applications in Head-Mounted Video-Based Eye Tracking

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Li, Feng

    2011-01-01

    Video-based eye tracking techniques have become increasingly attractive in many research fields, such as visual perception and human-computer interface design. The technique primarily relies on the positional difference between the center of the eye's pupil and the first-surface reflection at the cornea, the corneal reflection (CR). This…

  5. Opening a Window into Reading Development: Eye Movements' Role Within a Broader Literacy Research Framework.

    PubMed

    Miller, Brett; O'Donnell, Carol

    2013-01-01

    The cumulative body of eye movement research provides significant insight into how readers process text. The heart of this work spans roughly 40 years reflecting the maturity of both the topics under study and experimental approaches used to investigate reading. Recent technological advancements offer increased flexibility to the field providing the potential to more concertedly study reading and literacy from an individual differences perspective. Historically, eye movement research focused far less on developmental issues related to individual differences in reading; however, this issue and the broader change it represents signal a meaningful transition inclusive of individual differences. The six papers in this special issue signify the recent, increased attention to and recognition of eye movement research's transition to emphasize individual differences in reading while appreciating early contributions (e.g., Rayner, 1986) in this direction. We introduce these six papers and provide some historical context for the use of eye movement methodology to examine reading and context for the eye movement field's early transition to examining individual differences, culminating in future research recommendations.

  6. Eye Velocity Gain Fields in MSTd During Optokinetic Stimulation

    PubMed Central

    Brostek, Lukas; Büttner, Ulrich; Mustari, Michael J.; Glasauer, Stefan

    2015-01-01

    Lesion studies argue for an involvement of cortical area dorsal medial superior temporal area (MSTd) in the control of optokinetic response (OKR) eye movements to planar visual stimulation. Neural recordings during OKR suggested that MSTd neurons directly encode stimulus velocity. On the other hand, studies using radial visual flow together with voluntary smooth pursuit eye movements showed that visual motion responses were modulated by eye movement-related signals. Here, we investigated neural responses in MSTd during continuous optokinetic stimulation using an information-theoretic approach for characterizing neural tuning with high resolution. We show that the majority of MSTd neurons exhibit gain-field-like tuning functions rather than directly encoding one variable. Neural responses showed a large diversity of tuning to combinations of retinal and extraretinal input. Eye velocity-related activity was observed prior to the actual eye movements, reflecting an efference copy. The observed tuning functions resembled those emerging in a network model trained to perform summation of 2 population-coded signals. Together, our findings support the hypothesis that MSTd implements the visuomotor transformation from retinal to head-centered stimulus velocity signals for the control of OKR. PMID:24557636

  7. The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS): 14. Distinguishing progression of glaucoma from visual field fluctuations.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jonghyeon; Dally, Leonard G; Ederer, Fred; Gaasterland, Douglas E; VanVeldhuisen, Paul C; Blackwell, Beth; Sullivan, E Kenneth; Prum, Bruce; Shafranov, George; Beck, Allen; Spaeth, George L

    2004-11-01

    To determine the least worsening of a visual field (VF) and the least number of confirming tests needed to identify progression of glaucomatous VF defects. Cohort study of participants in a clinical trial. Seven hundred fifty-two eyes of 565 patients with advanced glaucoma. Visual field tests were quantified with the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) VF defect score and the Humphrey Field Analyzer mean deviation (MD). Follow-up was 8 to 13 years. Two measures based on the AGIS VF defect score: (1) sustained decrease of VF (SDVF), a worsening from baseline by 2 (alternatively, 3 or 4) or more units and sustained for 2 (alternatively, 3) consecutive 6-month visits and (2) after the occurrence of SDVF, the average percent of eyes with worsening by 2 (alternatively, 3 or 4) or more units from baseline. Two similar measures based on MD. Based on the original AGIS criteria for SDVF (a worsening of 4 units in the AGIS score sustained during 3 consecutive 6-month visits), 31% of eyes had an SDVF. The percent of eyes with a sustained event increases by approximately 10% when either the minimum number of units of field loss or the minimum number of 6-month visits during which the loss is sustained decreases by 1. During 3 years of follow-up after a sustained event, a worsening of at least 2 units was found in 72% of eyes that had a 2-visit sustained event. The same worsening was found in 84% of eyes that had a 3-visit sustained event. Through the next 10 years after a sustained event, based on worsening of 2, 3, or 4 units at 2 or 3 consecutive tests, the loss reoccurred, on average, in >/=75% of study eyes. Results for MD are similar. In patients with advanced glaucoma, a single confirmatory test 6 months after a VF worsening indicates with at least 72% probability a persistent defect when the worsening is defined by at least 2 units of AGIS score or by at least 2 decibels of MD. When the number of confirmatory tests is increased from 1 to 2, the percentage of eyes that show a persistent defect increases from 72% to 84%.

  8. Effects of a Blacklight Visual Field on Eye-Contact Training of Spastic Cerebral Palsied Children.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Poland, D. J.; Doebler, L, K.

    1980-01-01

    Four subjects, aged six to seven, identified as visually impaired, were given training in making eye contact with a stimulus under both white and black light visual field. All subjects performed better under the black light condition, even overcoming the expected practice effect when white light training followed black light training. (Author/SJL)

  9. PERCEPTION AND TELEVISION--PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS OF TELEVISION VIEWING.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    GUBA, EGON; AND OTHERS

    AN EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED FOR RECORDING EYE-MOVEMENT DATA. RAW DATA WERE IN THE FORM OF MOTION PICTURES TAKEN OF THE MONITOR OF A CLOSED LOOP TELEVISION SYSTEM. A TELEVISION CAMERA WAS MOUNTED ON THE SUBJECTS' FIELD OF VIEW. THE EYE MARKER APPEARED AS A SMALL SPOT OF LIGHT AND INDICATED THE POINT IN THE VISUAL FIELD AT WHICH THE SUBJECT…

  10. Shaping magnetic fields to direct therapy to ears and eyes.

    PubMed

    Shapiro, B; Kulkarni, S; Nacev, A; Sarwar, A; Preciado, D; Depireux, D A

    2014-07-11

    Magnetic fields have the potential to noninvasively direct and focus therapy to disease targets. External magnets can apply forces on drug-coated magnetic nanoparticles, or on living cells that contain particles, and can be used to manipulate them in vivo. Significant progress has been made in developing and testing safe and therapeutic magnetic constructs that can be manipulated by magnetic fields. However, we do not yet have the magnet systems that can then direct those constructs to the right places, in vivo, over human patient distances. We do not yet know where to put the external magnets, how to shape them, or when to turn them on and off to direct particles or magnetized cells-in blood, through tissue, and across barriers-to disease locations. In this article, we consider ear and eye disease targets. Ear and eye targets are too deep and complex to be targeted by a single external magnet, but they are shallow enough that a combination of magnets may be able to direct therapy to them. We focus on how magnetic fields should be shaped (in space and time) to direct magnetic constructs to ear and eye targets.

  11. Impact of nest predators, competitors, and ectoparasites on Pearly-eyed Thrashers, with comments on the potential implications for Puerto Rican Parrot recovery

    Treesearch

    Wayne J. Arendt

    2000-01-01

    Over the past 17 years, research on a rain forest population of the Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus), with additional observations on nesting Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona vittata) within the Sierra de Luquillo, Puerto Rico, has shown that reproductive success of thrashers and parrots is often greatly reduced as a result of the additive effects of a diverse...

  12. Variation of axial and oblique astigmatism with accommodation across the visual field

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Tao; Thibos, Larry N.

    2017-01-01

    In this study we investigated the impact of accommodation on axial and oblique astigmatism along 12 meridians of the central 30° of visual field and explored the compensation of corneal first-surface astigmatism by the remainder of the eye's optical system. Our experimental evidence revealed no systematic effect of accommodation on either axial or oblique astigmatism for two adult populations (myopic and emmetropic eyes). Although a few subjects exhibited systematic changes in axial astigmatism during accommodation, the dioptric value of these changes was much smaller than the amount of accommodation. For most subjects, axial and oblique astigmatism of the whole eye are both less than for the cornea alone, which indicates a compensatory role for internal optics at all accommodative states in both central and peripheral vision. A new method for determining the eye's optical axis based on visual field maps of oblique astigmatism revealed that, on average, the optical axis is 4.8° temporal and 0.39° superior to the foveal line-of-sight in object space, which agrees with previous results obtained by different methodologies and implies that foveal astigmatism includes a small amount of oblique astigmatism (0.06 D on average). Customized optical models of each eye revealed that oblique astigmatism of the corneal first surface is negligible along the pupillary axis for emmetropic and myopic eyes. Individual variation in the eye's optical axis is due in part to misalignment of the corneal and internal components that is consistent with tilting of the crystalline lens relative to the pupillary axis. PMID:28362902

  13. Visual acuity and visual field impairment in Usher syndrome.

    PubMed

    Edwards, A; Fishman, G A; Anderson, R J; Grover, S; Derlacki, D J

    1998-02-01

    To determine the extent of visual acuity and visual field impairment in patients with types 1 and 2 Usher syndrome. The records of 53 patients with type 1 and 120 patients with type 2 Usher syndrome were reviewed for visual acuity and visual field area at their most recent visit. Visual field areas were determined by planimetry of the II4e and V4e isopters obtained with a Goldmann perimeter. Both ordinary and logistic regression models were used to evaluate differences in visual acuity and visual field impairment between patients with type 1 and type 2 Usher syndrome. The difference in visual acuity of the better eye between patients with type 1 and type 2 varied by patient age (P=.01, based on a multiple regression model). The maximum difference in visual acuity between the 2 groups occurred during the third and fourth decades of life (with the type 1 patients being more impaired), while more similar acuities were seen in both younger and older patients. Fifty-one percent (n=27) of the type 1 patients had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better in at least 1 eye compared with 72% (n=87) of the type 2 patients (age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.9). Visual field area to both the II4e (P=.001) and V4e (P<.001) targets was more impaired in the better eye of type 1 patients than type 2 patients. A concentric central visual field greater than 20 degrees in at least 1 eye was present in 20 (59%) of the available 34 visual fields of type 1 patients compared with 70 (67%) of the available 104 visual fields of type 2 patients (age-adjusted odds ratio, 2.9) with the V4e target and in 6 (21%) of the available 29 visual fields of type 1 patients compared with 36 (38%) of the available 94 visual fields of type 2 patients (age-adjusted odds ratio, 4.9) with the II4e target. The fraction of patients who had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better and a concentric central visual field greater than 20 degrees to the II4e target in at least 1 eye was 17% (n=5) in the type 1 patients and 35% (n=33) in the type 2 patients (age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.9). Visual acuity and visual field area were more impaired in patients with type 1 than type 2 Usher syndrome. Of note, 27 of 53 type 1 (51%) and 87 of 120 type 2 (72%) patients had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better in at least 1 eye. These data are useful for overall counseling of patients with Usher syndrome.

  14. [Clinical findings in members of a Czech family with retinitis pigmentosa caused by the c.2426_2427delAG mutation in RPGR].

    PubMed

    Kousal, B; Skalická, P; Diblík, P; Kuthan, P; Langrová, H; Lišková, P

    2013-03-01

    To describe the phenotype of members of the first Czech retinitis pigmentosa family with an identified molecular genetic cause (c.2426_2427delAG in RPGR), followed for more than 13 years. Medical records were reviewed and a detailed ophthalmic examination including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and full-field and multifocal electroretinography (ERG) was performed in two affected males, three female carriers and one unaffected female. A 22-year-old male who denied suffering from nyctalopia had a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.63 in both eyes. Moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism were present bilaterally. Color vision and contrast sensitivity were normal. There was an eccentric constriction of the visual fields that spared the central 20 degrees in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed bilateral pigmentary changes in the mid-periphery. Full-field ERG documented a 10% rod and 20% cone response. The phenotype of his cousin, also aged 22 years, was more severe. He complained of nyctalopia since 12 years of age. His BCVA was 0.3 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye. Myopia and astigmatism were present bilaterally. Contrast sensitivity and color vision were severely impaired. Full field ERG was extinct, but some activity on multifocal ERG was still detectable. The constriction of the visual fields reached 5 degrees in both eyes. Fundus examination showed the typical retinitis pigmentosa appearance. All carriers denied that they suffered from nyctalopia, but two of them had decreased BCVA in at least one eye. None exhibited typical bone spicules or a tapetal-like reflex. Significant refractive errors were present in all eyes of the carriers. The finding of moderate or high myopia and astigmatism in males with retinitis pigmentosa as well as refractive errors in female relatives indicates possible X-linked inheritance, which may be especially important in pedigrees where the transmission pattern can not be clearly established. Our study highlights the inter-individual variability in phenotype observed in similar aged patients with identical ORF15 RPGR mutations.

  15. Eye movement difficulties in autism spectrum disorder: implications for implicit contextual learning.

    PubMed

    Kourkoulou, Anastasia; Kuhn, Gustav; Findlay, John M; Leekam, Susan R

    2013-06-01

    It is widely accepted that we use contextual information to guide our gaze when searching for an object. People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also utilise contextual information in this way; yet, their visual search in tasks of this kind is much slower compared with people without ASD. The aim of the current study was to explore the reason for this by measuring eye movements. Eye movement analyses revealed that the slowing of visual search was not caused by making a greater number of fixations. Instead, participants in the ASD group were slower to launch their first saccade, and the duration of their fixations was longer. These results indicate that slowed search in ASD in contextual learning tasks is not due to differences in the spatial allocation of attention but due to temporal delays in the initial-reflexive orienting of attention and subsequent-focused attention. These results have broader implications for understanding the unusual attention profile of individuals with ASD and how their attention may be shaped by learning. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Age-related differences in memory expression during infancy: using eye-tracking to measure relational memory in 6- and 12-month-olds.

    PubMed

    Richmond, Jenny L; Power, Jessica

    2014-09-01

    Relational memory, or the ability to bind components of an event into a network of linked representations, is a primary function of the hippocampus. Here we extend eye-tracking research showing that infants are capable of forming memories for the relation between arbitrarily paired scenes and faces, by looking at age-related changes in relational memory over the first year of life. Six- and 12-month-old infants were familiarized with pairs of faces and scenes before being tested with arrays of three familiar faces that were presented on a familiar scene. Preferential looking at the face that matches the scene is typically taken as evidence of relational memory. The results showed that while 6-month-old showed very early preferential looking when face/scene pairs were tested immediately, 12-month-old did not exhibit evidence of relational memory either immediately or after a short delay. Theoretical implications for the functional development of the hippocampus and practical implications for the use of eye tracking to measure memory during early life are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Evaluating the implementation and impacts of middle grades inquiry-based engineering design modules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harlan, Jessica M.

    This dissertation uses a format where I present and discuss three articles that were written in conjunction with my work on a research and evaluation team. The articles are based on a multi-year project researching and evaluating the design, development, and implementation of a middle grades integrated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program. Each of the articles demonstrates the complexity in researching and evaluating curricular development in multifaceted, rapidly changing environments. While the focus of each article differs, they all examine research and evaluation in the context of the design and development of middle grades engineering-design modules. The selected articles address challenges associated with assessing program objectives and evaluating program quality in complex education programs.The first article, presented in Chapter 2, provides an overview of the nature of the EYE program and examines the extent to which participation in the EYE program resulted in the achievement of program objectives. There is evidence that EYE Module participation has a positive impact on participating students as well as teachers. This study also revealed challenges associated with determining the impact of program participation simultaneously with program revisions and assessment development. The second article, presented in Chapter 3, examined the evaluation of fidelity of implementation of inquiry-oriented educational programs. This article was intended to examine one way of triangulating information to determine fidelity while considering variation in implementation consistent with program theories of learning. When applying this model to implementation of the EYE program, we found many teachers were implementing the modules with low to moderate fidelity, especially math teachers. The third article, presented in Chapter 4, examined the factor structure of an occupational values scale intended to measure student interest in STEM careers. When reviewing the assessment's evidence base, we found no published literature regarding the assessment's psychometric properties. We found that the AWE Work Values scale assesses two separate sets of occupational values: 1) using analytical and problem solving skills and 2) personal satisfaction. In Chapter 5, I discuss the implications of the research presented in these articles to the field of integrated STEM. This includes a need to further develop and test tools and methods for measuring program impact. While the articles address several issues related to research and evaluation within the context of K-12 integrated STEM education, the concepts and implications also apply to the general field of instructional design. The primary lesson is the need to systematically evaluate designed instruction, including measuring fidelity of implementation and designing evaluations in advance to ensure appropriate data are gathered. Recommendations for future research include identification of common outcomes for integrated STEM, psychometric testing of integrated STEM attitude measures, impacts of other factors such as interest in STEM, and development and testing of instructional design models for integrated STEM.

  18. Temperature profiles of patient-applied eyelid warming therapies.

    PubMed

    Wang, Michael T M; Gokul, Akilesh; Craig, Jennifer P

    2015-12-01

    To compare temperature profile characteristics (on and off eye) of two patient-applied heat therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD): an eye mask containing disposable warming units (EyeGiene(®)) and a microwave-heated flaxseed eye bag(®) (MGDRx EyeBag(®)). In vitro evaluation: surface temperature profiles of activated eye masks and heated eye bags(®) (both n=10), were tracked every 10s until return to ambient temperature. Heat-transfer assessment: outer and inner eyelid temperature profiles throughout the eye mask and eye bag(®) treatment application period (10min) were investigated in triplicate. The devices were applied for 12 different time intervals in a randomised order, with a cool-down period in between to ensure ocular temperatures returned to baseline. Temperature measurements were taken before and immediately after each application. In vitro evaluation: on profile, the eye bag(®) surface temperature peaked earlier (0±0 s vs. 100±20 s, p<0.001), cooled more slowly and displayed less variability than the eye mask (all p<0.05). Heat-transfer assessment: the eye bag(®) effected higher peak inner eyelid temperatures (38.1±0.4°C vs. 37.4±0.2°C, p=0.04), as well as larger inner eyelid temperature increases over the first 2 min, and between 9 and 10 min (all p<0.05). The eye bag(®) surface temperature profile displayed greater uniformity and slower cooling than the eye mask, and was demonstrated to be significantly more effective in raising ocular temperatures than the eye mask, both statistically and clinically. This has implications for MGD treatment, where the melting points of meibomian secretions are likely to be higher with increasing disease severity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Overcoming ocular drug delivery barriers through the use of physical forces.

    PubMed

    Huang, Di; Chen, Ying-Shan; Rupenthal, Ilva D

    2018-02-15

    Overcoming the physiological barriers in the eye remains a key obstacle in the field of ocular drug delivery. While ocular barriers naturally have a protective function, they also limit drug entry into the eye. Various pharmaceutical strategies, such as novel formulations and physical force-based techniques, have been investigated to weaken these barriers and transport therapeutic agents effectively to both the anterior and the posterior segments of the eye. This review summarizes and discusses the recent research progress in the field of ocular drug delivery with a focus on the application of physical methods, including electrical fields, sonophoresis, and microneedles, which can enhance penetration efficiency by transiently disrupting the ocular barriers in a minimally or non-invasive manner. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. A functional probe with bowtie aperture and bull's eye structure for nanolithograph

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Shuo; Li, Xu-Feng; Wang, Qiao; Guo, Ying-Yan; Pan, Shi

    2012-10-01

    The bowtie aperture surrounded by concentric gratings (the bull's eye structure) integrated on the near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) probe (aluminum coated fiber tip) for nanolithography has been investigated using the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method. By modifying the parameters of the bowtie aperture and the concentric gratings, a maximal field enhancement factor of 391.69 has been achieved, which is 18 times larger than that obtained from the single bowtie aperture. Additionally, the light spot depends on the gap size of the bowtie aperture and can be confined to sub-wavelength. The superiority of the combination of the bowtie aperture and the bull's eye structure is confirmed, and the mechanism for the electric field enhancement in this derived structure is analyzed.

  1. Features of the Retinotopic Representation in the Visual Wulst of a Laterally Eyed Bird, the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

    PubMed Central

    Michael, Neethu; Löwel, Siegrid; Bischof, Hans-Joachim

    2015-01-01

    The visual wulst of the zebra finch comprises at least two retinotopic maps of the contralateral eye. As yet, it is not known how much of the visual field is represented in the wulst neuronal maps, how the organization of the maps is related to the retinal architecture, and how information from the ipsilateral eye is involved in the activation of the wulst. Here, we have used autofluorescent flavoprotein imaging and classical anatomical methods to investigate such characteristics of the most posterior map of the multiple retinotopic representations. We found that the visual wulst can be activated by visual stimuli from a large part of the visual field of the contralateral eye. Horizontally, the visual field representation extended from -5° beyond the beak tip up to +125° laterally. Vertically, a small strip from -10° below to about +25° above the horizon activated the visual wulst. Although retinal ganglion cells had a much higher density around the fovea and along a strip extending from the fovea towards the beak tip, these areas were not overrepresented in the wulst map. The wulst area activated from the foveal region of the ipsilateral eye, overlapped substantially with the middle of the three contralaterally activated regions in the visual wulst, and partially with the other two. Visual wulst activity evoked by stimulation of the frontal visual field was stronger with contralateral than with binocular stimulation. This confirms earlier electrophysiological studies indicating an inhibitory influence of the activation of the ipsilateral eye on wulst activity elicited by stimulating the contralateral eye. The lack of a foveal overrepresentation suggests that identification of objects may not be the primary task of the zebra finch visual wulst. Instead, this brain area may be involved in the processing of visual information necessary for spatial orientation. PMID:25853253

  2. Optic nerve dysfunction during gravity inversion. Visual field abnormalities.

    PubMed

    Sanborn, G E; Friberg, T R; Allen, R

    1987-06-01

    Inversion in a head-down position (gravity inversion) results in an intraocular pressure of 35 to 40 mm Hg in normal subjects. We used computerized static perimetry to measure the visual fields of normal subjects during gravity inversion. There were no visual field changes in the central 6 degrees of the visual field compared with the baseline (preinversion) values. However, when the central 30 degrees of the visual field was tested, reversible visual field defects were found in 11 of 19 eyes. We believe that the substantial elevation of intraocular pressure during gravity inversion may pose potential risks to the eyes, and we recommend that inversion for extended periods of time be avoided.

  3. Relationship Between Optic Nerve Appearance and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness as Explored with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

    PubMed Central

    Aleman, Tomas S.; Huang, Jiayan; Garrity, Sean T.; Carter, Stuart B.; Aleman, Wendy D.; Ying, Gui-shuang; Tamhankar, Madhura A.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose To study the relationship between the appearance of the optic nerve and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods Records from patients with spectral domain-OCT imaging in a neuro-ophthalmology practice were reviewed. Eyes with glaucoma/glaucoma suspicion, macular/optic nerve edema, pseudophakia, and with refractive errors > 6D were excluded. Optic nerve appearance by slit lamp biomicroscopy was related to the RNFL thickness by spectral domain-OCT and to visual field results. Results Ninety-one patients (176 eyes; mean age: 49 ± 15 years) were included. Eighty-three eyes (47%) showed optic nerve pallor; 89 eyes (50.6%) showed RNFL thinning (sectoral or average peripapillary). Average peripapillary RNFL thickness in eyes with pallor (mean ± SD = 76 ± 17 μm) was thinner compared to eyes without pallor (91 ± 14 μm, P < 0.001). Optic nerve pallor predicted RNFL thinning with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 75%. Optic nerve appearance predicted RNFL thinning (with a sensitivity and specificity of 81%) when RNFL had thinned by ∼ 40%. Most patients with pallor had RNFL thinning with (66%) or without (25%) visual field loss; the remainder had normal RNFL and fields (5%) or with visual field abnormalities (4%). Conclusions Optic nerve pallor as a predictor of RNFL thinning showed fair sensitivity and specificity, although it is optimally sensitive/specific only when substantial RNFL loss has occurred. Translational Relevance Finding an acceptable relationship between the optic nerve appearance by ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain-OCT RNFL measures will help the clinician's interpretation of the information provided by this technology, which is gaining momentum in neuro-ophthalmic research. PMID:25374773

  4. The Rate of Visual Field Change in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study

    PubMed Central

    De Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V.; Gardiner, Stuart K.; Liebmann, Jeffrey M.; Cioffi, George A.; Ritch, Robert; Gordon, Mae O.; Kass, Michael A.

    2012-01-01

    Purpose. To assess the rate of change of visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD) in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). Methods. OHTS data were filtered to exclude eyes that had fewer than 10 reliable VFs or less than 5 years of follow-up or that reached a nonglaucomatous endpoint. The rate of change of MD (MDR) was calculated for each eye. Differences were sought between groups of eyes differing in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) outcome, how POAG was determined, and original randomization. Results. In total, 2609 eyes (1379 participants) met the selection criteria. The mean MDR was −0.08 ± 0.20 dB/y (±SD). POAG eyes (n = 359) had significantly worse MDRs (−0.26 ± 0.36 dB/y) than non-POAG eyes (n = 2250; −0.05 ± 0.14 dB/y; P < 0.001). Eyes that reached POAG endpoints based on only VF change (n = 74; −0.29 ± 0.31 dB/y) or only optic disc change (n = 158; −0.12 ± 0.19 dB/y) had significantly worse MDRs than non-POAG eyes (both P < 0.001). Eyes that reached POAG endpoints for both VF and optic disc change (n = 127) deteriorated more rapidly (−0.42 ± 0.46 dB/y) than eyes showing only VF change (P = 0.017) or only optic disc change (P < 0.001). There was not a significant association between MDR and original OHTS randomization (observe vs. treat, P = 0.168). Conclusions. Eyes that develop POAG have significantly worse MDRs than eyes that do not. Eyes that reached endpoints due to both VF and optic disc change had worse MDRs than eyes displaying change in only one of these. MDR was not significantly associated with randomization, suggesting that MDR may not be the best measure of VF change in early-stage POAG. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000125.) PMID:22159015

  5. Relative peripheral refraction in children: twelve-month changes in eyes with different ametropias.

    PubMed

    Lee, Tsui-Tsui; Cho, Pauline

    2013-05-01

    To determine the peripheral refraction of children with different types of ametropias and to evaluate the relationship between central refractive changes, baseline relative peripheral refraction (RPR) and changes in RPR over a 12-month monitoring period. Cycloplegic central and peripheral refraction were performed biannually on the right eyes of children aged 6-9 for 12 months, using an open-view autorefractor. Peripheral refraction were measured along 10°, 20° and 30° from central fixation in both nasal and temporal fields. Refractive data were transposed into M, J0 and J45 vectors for analyses. RPR was determined by subtracting the central measurement from each peripheral measurement. Hyperopic eyes showed relative peripheral myopia while myopic eyes had relative hyperopia across the central 60° horizontal field at baseline. Emmetropic eyes had relative myopia within but showed relative hyperopia beyond the central 30° field. However, there was no significant correlation between central refractive changes and baseline RPR or between changes in central refraction and RPR over twelve months in any refractive groups. Correlations between changes in PR and central myopic shift were found mainly in the nasal field in different groups. In the subgroup analysis on the initially emmetropic and the initially myopic groups, the subgroups with faster myopic progression did not have significantly different RPR from the subgroups with slower progression. The RPR pattern of the initially emmetropic and the initially myopic groups became more asymmetric at the end of the study period with a larger increase in relative hyperopia in the temporal field. RPR patterns were different among hyperopic, emmetropic and myopic eyes. However, baseline RPR and changes in RPR cannot predict changes in central refraction over time. Our results did not provide evidence to support the hypothesis of RPR as a causative factor for myopic central refractive changes in children. Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2013 The College of Optometrists.

  6. Detection of Visual Field Loss in Pituitary Disease: Peripheral Kinetic Versus Central Static

    PubMed Central

    Rowe, Fiona J.; Cheyne, Christopher P.; García-Fiñana, Marta; Noonan, Carmel P.; Howard, Claire; Smith, Jayne; Adeoye, Joanne

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Visual field assessment is an important clinical evaluation for eye disease and neurological injury. We evaluated Octopus semi-automated kinetic peripheral perimetry (SKP) and Humphrey static automated central perimetry for detection of neurological visual field loss in patients with pituitary disease. We carried out a prospective cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study comparing Humphrey central 30-2 SITA threshold programme with a screening protocol for SKP on Octopus perimetry. Humphrey 24-2 data were extracted from 30-2 results. Results were independently graded for presence/absence of field defect plus severity of defect. Fifty patients (100 eyes) were recruited (25 males and 25 females), with mean age of 52.4 years (SD = 15.7). Order of perimeter assessment (Humphrey/Octopus first) and order of eye tested (right/left first) were randomised. The 30-2 programme detected visual field loss in 85%, the 24-2 programme in 80%, and the Octopus combined kinetic/static strategy in 100% of eyes. Peripheral visual field loss was missed by central threshold assessment. Qualitative comparison of type of visual field defect demonstrated a match between Humphrey and Octopus results in 58%, with a match for severity of defect in 50%. Tests duration was 9.34 minutes (SD = 2.02) for Humphrey 30-2 versus 10.79 minutes (SD = 4.06) for Octopus perimetry. Octopus semi-automated kinetic perimetry was found to be superior to central static testing for detection of pituitary disease-related visual field loss. Where reliant on Humphrey central static perimetry, the 30-2 programme is recommended over the 24-2 programme. Where kinetic perimetry is available, this is preferable to central static programmes for increased detection of peripheral visual field loss. PMID:27928344

  7. Allocation of distinct organ fates from a precursor field requires a shift in expression and function of gene regulatory networks

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Jinjin; Baker, Luke R.; Bashirullah, Arash

    2018-01-01

    A common occurrence in metazoan development is the rise of multiple tissues/organs from a single uniform precursor field. One example is the anterior forebrain of vertebrates, which produces the eyes, hypothalamus, diencephalon, and telencephalon. Another instance is the Drosophila wing disc, which generates the adult wing blade, the hinge, and the thorax. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that are comprised of signaling pathways and batteries of transcription factors parcel the undifferentiated field into discrete territories. This simple model is challenged by two observations. First, many GRN members that are thought to control the fate of one organ are actually expressed throughout the entire precursor field at earlier points in development. Second, each GRN can simultaneously promote one of the possible fates choices while repressing the other alternatives. It is therefore unclear how GRNs function to allocate tissue fates if their members are uniformly expressed and competing with each other within the same populations of cells. We address this paradigm by studying fate specification in the Drosophila eye-antennal disc. The disc, which begins its development as a homogeneous precursor field, produces a number of adult structures including the compound eyes, the ocelli, the antennae, the maxillary palps, and the surrounding head epidermis. Several selector genes that control the fates of the eye and antenna, respectively, are first expressed throughout the entire eye-antennal disc. We show that during early stages, these genes are tasked with promoting the growth of the entire field. Upon segregation to distinct territories within the disc, each GRN continues to promote growth while taking on the additional roles of promoting distinct primary fates and repressing alternate fates. The timing of both expression pattern restriction and expansion of functional duties is an elemental requirement for allocating fates within a single field. PMID:29351292

  8. Design and simulation of a superposition compound eye system based on hybrid diffractive-refractive lenses.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Shuqing; Zhou, Luyang; Xue, Changxi; Wang, Lei

    2017-09-10

    Compound eyes offer a promising field of miniaturized imaging systems. In one application of a compound eye, superposition of compound eye systems forms a composite image by superposing the images produced by different channels. The geometric configuration of superposition compound eye systems is achieved by three micro-lens arrays with different pitches and focal lengths. High resolution is indispensable for the practicability of superposition compound eye systems. In this paper, hybrid diffractive-refractive lenses are introduced into the design of a compound eye system for this purpose. With the help of ZEMAX, two superposition compound eye systems with and without hybrid diffractive-refractive lenses were separately designed. Then, we demonstrate the effectiveness of using a hybrid diffractive-refractive lens to improve the image quality.

  9. Practice Patterns in Retinopathy of Prematurity Treatment for Disease Milder than Recommended by Guidelines

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, Mrinali Patel; Chan, RV. Paul; Anzures, Rachelle; Ostmo, Susan; Jonas, Karyn; Chiang, Michael F.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To characterize the frequency of and clinical indications for which experts treat retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) milder than Type 1 disease, the recommended threshold for treatment from established consensus guidelines. Design Descriptive analysis Methods Setting: Multicenter. Study Population: A database of 1444 eyes generated prospectively from all babies screened for ROP at one of 6 major ROP centers whose parents provided informed consent. Intervention: Retrospective review of the database and charts to identify all patients treated for ROP milder than Type 1. Main Outcome Measure: Indication(s) for treatment. Results 137 eyes of 70 infants were treated for ROP. Of these 137 eyes, 13 (9.5%) were treated despite a clinical diagnosis milder than Type 1 ROP. Indications for treatment included: active ROP with the fellow eye being treated for Type 1 ROP (2 eyes, 15.4%); concerning structural changes (9 eyes, 69.2%), including tangential traction with temporal vessel straightening concerning for macular dragging (8 eyes, 61.5%) and thick stage 3 membranes with anteroposterior traction concerning for progression to stage 4 ROP (3 eyes, 23.1%); persistent ROP at an advanced postmenstrual age (4 eyes, 30.8%); and/or vitreous hemorrhage (3 eyes, 23.1%). Conclusion Experts in this study occasionally recommended treatment in eyes with disease less than Type 1 ROP. This study has important clinical implications and highlights the role of individual clinical judgment in situations not covered by evidence-based treatment guidelines. PMID:26705094

  10. Exploring topical anti-glaucoma medication effects on the ocular surface in the context of the current understanding of dry eye.

    PubMed

    Wong, Aaron B C; Wang, Michael T M; Liu, Kevin; Prime, Zak J; Danesh-Meyer, Helen V; Craig, Jennifer P

    2018-07-01

    To assess tear film parameters, ocular surface characteristics, and dry eye symptomology in patients receiving topical anti-glaucoma medications. Thirty-three patients with a diagnosis of open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, receiving unilateral topical anti-glaucoma medication for at least 6 months, were recruited in a cross-sectional, investigator-masked, paired-eye comparison study. Tear film parameters, ocular surface characteristics, and dry eye symptomology of treated and fellow eyes were evaluated and compared. The mean ± SD age of the participants was 67 ± 12 years, and the mean ± SD treatment duration was 5.3 ± 4.4 years. Treated eyes had poorer non-invasive tear film breakup time (p = 0.03), tear film osmolarity (p = 0.04), bulbar conjunctival hyperaemia (p = 0.04), eyelid margin abnormality grade (p = 0.01), tear meniscus height (p = 0.03), and anaesthetised Schirmer value (p = 0.04) than fellow eyes. There were no significant differences in dry eye symptomology, meibomian gland assessments, and ocular surface staining between treated and fellow eyes (all p > 0.05). Adverse changes in tear film stability, tear osmolarity, conjunctival hyperaemia, and eyelid margins were observed in treated eyes. This suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may be implicated in the development of dry eye in patients receiving long term topical anti-glaucoma therapy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHM DISORDERS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

    PubMed

    Gros, Priti; Videnovic, Aleksandar

    2017-09-01

    Sleep disorders are among the most challenging non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and significantly affect quality of life. Research in this field has gained recent interest among clinicians and scientists and is rapidly evolving. This review is dedicated to sleep and circadian dysfunction associated with PD. Most primary sleep disorders may co-exist with PD; majority of these disorders have unique features when expressed in the PD population. We discuss the specific considerations related to the common sleep problems in Parkinson's disease including insomnia, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome, sleep disordered breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness and circadian rhythm disorders. Within each of these sleep disorders, we present updated definitions, epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, clinical implications and management. Furthermore, areas of potential interest for further research are outlined.

  12. Eye-Pursuit and Reafferent Head Movement Signals Carried by Pursuit Neurons in the Caudal Part of the Frontal Eye Fields during Head-Free Pursuit

    PubMed Central

    Kasahara, Satoshi; Akao, Teppei; Kurkin, Sergei; Peterson, Barry W.

    2009-01-01

    Eye and head movements are coordinated during head-free pursuit. To examine whether pursuit neurons in frontal eye fields (FEF) carry gaze-pursuit commands that drive both eye-pursuit and head-pursuit, monkeys whose heads were free to rotate about a vertical axis were trained to pursue a juice feeder with their head and a target with their eyes. Initially the feeder and target moved synchronously with the same visual angle. FEF neurons responding to this gaze-pursuit were tested for eye-pursuit of target motion while the feeder was stationary and for head-pursuit while the target was stationary. The majority of pursuit neurons exhibited modulation during head-pursuit, but their preferred directions during eye-pursuit and head-pursuit were different. Although peak modulation occurred during head movements, the onset of discharge usually was not aligned with the head movement onset. The minority of neurons whose discharge onset was so aligned discharged after the head movement onset. These results do not support the idea that the head-pursuit–related modulation reflects head-pursuit commands. Furthermore, modulation similar to that during head-pursuit was obtained by passive head rotation on stationary trunk. Our results suggest that FEF pursuit neurons issue gaze or eye movement commands during gaze-pursuit and that the head-pursuit–related modulation primarily reflects reafferent signals resulting from head movements. PMID:18483002

  13. The vestibular-related frontal cortex and its role in smooth-pursuit eye movements and vestibular-pursuit interactions

    PubMed Central

    Fukushima, Junko; Akao, Teppei; Kurkin, Sergei; Kaneko, Chris R.S.; Fukushima, Kikuro

    2006-01-01

    In order to see clearly when a target is moving slowly, primates with high acuity foveae use smooth-pursuit and vergence eye movements. The former rotates both eyes in the same direction to track target motion in frontal planes, while the latter rotates left and right eyes in opposite directions to track target motion in depth. Together, these two systems pursue targets precisely and maintain their images on the foveae of both eyes. During head movements, both systems must interact with the vestibular system to minimize slip of the retinal images. The primate frontal cortex contains two pursuit-related areas; the caudal part of the frontal eye fields (FEF) and supplementary eye fields (SEF). Evoked potential studies have demonstrated vestibular projections to both areas and pursuit neurons in both areas respond to vestibular stimulation. The majority of FEF pursuit neurons code parameters of pursuit such as pursuit and vergence eye velocity, gaze velocity, and retinal image motion for target velocity in frontal and depth planes. Moreover, vestibular inputs contribute to the predictive pursuit responses of FEF neurons. In contrast, the majority of SEF pursuit neurons do not code pursuit metrics and many SEF neurons are reported to be active in more complex tasks. These results suggest that FEF- and SEF-pursuit neurons are involved in different aspects of vestibular-pursuit interactions and that eye velocity coding of SEF pursuit neurons is specialized for the task condition. PMID:16917164

  14. Difference in Visual Processing Assessed by Eye Vergence Movements

    PubMed Central

    Solé Puig, Maria; Puigcerver, Laura; Aznar-Casanova, J. Antonio; Supèr, Hans

    2013-01-01

    Orienting visual attention is closely linked to the oculomotor system. For example, a shift of attention is usually followed by a saccadic eye movement and can be revealed by micro saccades. Recently we reported a novel role of another type of eye movement, namely eye vergence, in orienting visual attention. Shifts in visuospatial attention are characterized by the response modulation to a selected target. However, unlike (micro-) saccades, eye vergence movements do not carry spatial information (except for depth) and are thus not specific to a particular visual location. To further understand the role of eye vergence in visual attention, we tested subjects with different perceptual styles. Perceptual style refers to the characteristic way individuals perceive environmental stimuli, and is characterized by a spatial difference (local vs. global) in perceptual processing. We tested field independent (local; FI) and field dependent (global; FD) observers in a cue/no-cue task and a matching task. We found that FI observers responded faster and had stronger modulation in eye vergence in both tasks than FD subjects. The results may suggest that eye vergence modulation may relate to the trade-off between the size of spatial region covered by attention and the processing efficiency of sensory information. Alternatively, vergence modulation may have a role in the switch in cortical state to prepare the visual system for new incoming sensory information. In conclusion, vergence eye movements may be added to the growing list of functions of fixational eye movements in visual perception. However, further studies are needed to elucidate its role. PMID:24069140

  15. Eye Movement Suppression Interferes with Construction of Object-Centered Spatial Reference Frames in Working Memory

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wallentin, Mikkel; Kristensen, Line Burholt; Olsen, Jacob Hedeager; Nielsen, Andreas Hojlund

    2011-01-01

    The brain's frontal eye fields (FEF), responsible for eye movement control, are known to be involved in spatial working memory (WM). In a previous fMRI experiment (Wallentin, Roepstorff & Burgess, Neuropsychologia, 2008) it was found that FEF activation was primarily related to the formation of an object-centered, rather than egocentric, spatial…

  16. Priorities and trends in the study of proteins in eye research, 1924–2014

    PubMed Central

    Semba, Richard D.; Lam, Maggie; Sun, Kai; Zhang, Pingbo; Schaumberg, Debra A.; Ferrucci, Luigi; Ping, Peipei; Van Eyk, Jennifer E.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To identify the proteins that are relevant to eye research and develop assays for the study of a set of these proteins. Experimental Design We conducted a bibliometric analysis by merging gene lists for human and mouse from the National Center for Biotechnology Information FTP site and combining them with PubMed references that were retrieved with the search terms “eye”[MeSH Terms] OR “eye”[All Fields] OR “eyes”[All Fields]. Results For human and mouse eye studies, respectively, the total number of publications was 13,525 and 23,895, and the total number of proteins was 4,050 and 4,717. For proteins in human and mouse eye studies, respectively, 88.7% and 81.7% had five or fewer citations. The top fifty most intensively studied proteins for human and mouse eye studies were generally in the areas of photoreceptors and phototransduction, inflammation and angiogenesis, neurodevelopment, lens transparency, and cell cycle and cellular processes. We proposed selected reaction monitoring assays that were developed in silico for the top fifty most intensively studied proteins in human and mouse eye research. Conclusions and clinical relevance We conclude that scientists engaged in eye research tend to focus on the same proteins. Newer resources and tools in proteomics can expand the investigations to lesser-known proteins of the eye. PMID:26123431

  17. Arthropod eye-inspired digital camera with unique imaging characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Jianliang; Song, Young Min; Xie, Yizhu; Malyarchuk, Viktor; Jung, Inhwa; Choi, Ki-Joong; Liu, Zhuangjian; Park, Hyunsung; Lu, Chaofeng; Kim, Rak-Hwan; Li, Rui; Crozier, Kenneth B.; Huang, Yonggang; Rogers, John A.

    2014-06-01

    In nature, arthropods have a remarkably sophisticated class of imaging systems, with a hemispherical geometry, a wideangle field of view, low aberrations, high acuity to motion and an infinite depth of field. There are great interests in building systems with similar geometries and properties due to numerous potential applications. However, the established semiconductor sensor technologies and optics are essentially planar, which experience great challenges in building such systems with hemispherical, compound apposition layouts. With the recent advancement of stretchable optoelectronics, we have successfully developed strategies to build a fully functional artificial apposition compound eye camera by combining optics, materials and mechanics principles. The strategies start with fabricating stretchable arrays of thin silicon photodetectors and elastomeric optical elements in planar geometries, which are then precisely aligned and integrated, and elastically transformed to hemispherical shapes. This imaging device demonstrates nearly full hemispherical shape (about 160 degrees), with densely packed artificial ommatidia. The number of ommatidia (180) is comparable to those of the eyes of fire ants and bark beetles. We have illustrated key features of operation of compound eyes through experimental imaging results and quantitative ray-tracing-based simulations. The general strategies shown in this development could be applicable to other compound eye devices, such as those inspired by moths and lacewings (refracting superposition eyes), lobster and shrimp (reflecting superposition eyes), and houseflies (neural superposition eyes).

  18. Insights into autofluorescence patterns in Stargardt macular dystrophy using ultra-wide-field imaging.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Vinod

    2017-10-01

    To characterize autofluorescence (AF) patterns occurring in Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD1) using ultra-wide-field (UWF) imaging. This paper is a cross-sectional observational study of 22 eyes of 11 patients (mean age 23.44 years) with Stargardt disease-fundus flavimaculatus who presented with decrease of vision at a tertiary eye care center. UWF short-wave AF images were obtained from all the patients using an Optos TX200 instrument. The main outcome measures were to assess patterns of AF changes seen on UWF AF imaging. All eyes showed a central area of hypoautofluorescence at the macula along with retinal flecks extending centrifugally as well as to the nasal side of the optic disc. Peripapillary sparing was seen in 100% of the eyes. Flecks were seen to be hypoautofluorescent in the center and hyperautofluorescent in the periphery in 77.8% eyes and were only hyperfluorescent in 27.2%. A background-increased fluorescence was visible in 100% of eyes, the outer boundary of which was marked by distribution of flecks in 81.9% eyes. A characteristic inferonasal vertical line was seen separating the nasal hypoautofluorescent area from the temporal hyperautofluorescent area in all the eyes. UWF AF changes in STGD1 are not limited to the posterior pole and may extend more peripherally. UWF imaging is a useful tool for the assessment of patients with Stargardt macular dystrophy.

  19. Relationship between saccadic eye movements and formation of the Krukenberg's spindle-a CFD study.

    PubMed

    Boushehrian, Hamidreza Hajiani; Abouali, Omid; Jafarpur, Khosrow; Ghaffarieh, Alireza; Ahmadi, Goodarz

    2017-09-01

    In this research, a series of numerical simulations for evaluating the effects of saccadic eye movement on the aqueous humour (AH) flow field and movement of pigment particles in the anterior chamber (AC) was performed. To predict the flow field of AH in the AC, the unsteady forms of continuity, momentum balance and conservation of energy equations were solved using the dynamic mesh technique for simulating the saccadic motions. Different orientations of the human eye including horizontal, vertical and angles of 10° and 20° were considered. The Lagrangian particle trajectory analysis approach was used to find the trajectories of pigment particles in the eye. Particular attention was given to the relation between the saccadic eye movement and potential formation of Krukenberg's spindle in the eye. The simulation results revealed that the natural convection flow was an effective mechanism for transferring pigment particles from the iris to near the cornea. In addition, the saccadic eye movement was the dominant mechanism for deposition of pigment particles on the cornea, which could lead to the formation of Krukenberg's spindle. The effect of amplitude of saccade motion angle in addition to the orientation of the eye on the formation of Krukenberg's spindle was investigated. © The authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. All rights reserved.

  20. Peripheral refraction with eye and head rotation with contact lenses.

    PubMed

    Lopes-Ferreira, Daniela P; Neves, Helena I F; Faria-Ribeiro, Miguel; Queirós, António; Fernandes, Paulo R B; González-Méijome, José M

    2015-04-01

    To evaluate the impact of eye and head rotation in the measurement of peripheral refraction with an open-field autorefractometer in myopic eyes wearing two different center-distance designs of multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs). Nineteen right eyes from 19 myopic patients (average central M ± SD = -2.67 ± 1.66 D) aged 20-27 years (mean ± SD = 23.2 ± 3.3 years) were evaluated using a Grand-Seiko autorefractometer. Patients were fitted with one multifocal aspheric center-distance contact lens (Biofinity Multifocal D(®)) and with one multi-concentric MFCL (Acuvue Oasys for Presbyopia). Axial and peripheral refraction were evaluated by eye rotation and by head rotation under naked eye condition and with each MFCL fitted randomly and in independent sessions. For the naked eye, refractive pattern (M, J0 and J45) across the central 60° of the horizontal visual field values did not show significant changes measured by rotating the eye or rotating the head (p > 0.05). Similar results were obtained wearing the Biofinity D, for both testing methods, no obtaining significant differences to M, J0 and J45 values (p > 0.05). For Acuvue Oasys for presbyopia, also no differences were found when comparing measurements obtained by eye and head rotation (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis did not showed a significant interaction between testing method and lens type neither with measuring locations (MANOVA, p > 0.05). There were significant differences in M and J0 values between naked eyes and each MFCL. Measurements of peripheral refraction by rotating the eye or rotating the head in myopic patients wearing dominant design or multi-concentric multifocal silicone hydrogel contact lens are comparable. Copyright © 2014 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. The role of eye movements in decision making and the prospect of exposure effects.

    PubMed

    Bird, Gary D; Lauwereyns, Johan; Crawford, Matthew T

    2012-05-01

    The aim of the current study was to follow on from previous findings that eye movements can have a causal influence on preference formation. Shimojo et al. (2003) previously found that faces that were presented for a longer duration in a two alternative forced choice task were more likely to be judged as more attractive. This effect only occurred when an eye movement was made towards the faces (with no effect when faces were centrally presented). The current study replicated Shimojo et al.'s (2003) design, whilst controlling for potential inter-stimuli interference in central presentations. As per previous findings, when eye movements were made towards the stimuli, faces that were presented for longer durations were preferred. However, faces that were centrally presented (thus not requiring an eye movement) were also preferred in the current study. The presence of an exposure duration effect for centrally presented faces casts doubt on the necessity of the eye movement in this decision making process and has implications for decision theories that place an emphasis on the role of eye movements in decision making. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Comparison of distance and near visual acuity in patients with vision loss due to cataract.

    PubMed

    Mercado, Carmel L; Doroslovački, Pavle; Wang, Jiangxia; Siddiqui, Aazim A; Kolker, Andrew F; Kolker, Richard J

    2017-02-01

    The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is a disparity in distance and near best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in cataract eyes. 102 patients with cataract (N = 121 eyes) were seen in clinic between January and November 2013 at the Wilmer Eye Institute Comprehensive Eye Service. An age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) group (N = 27 eyes) was also identified for comparison. Distance and near BCVA were measured as part of the standard ophthalmic evaluation. Snellen measurements were converted to their LogMAR equivalents for statistical analysis. Near was better than distance BCVA with mean difference of 1.38 lines (P < 0.001) in the cataract eyes. This disparity was not seen in the ARMD eyes. Near-distance BCVA disparity is a statistically significant finding seen with cataracts. This may have further implications in patients with both cataract and ARMD as the presence of disparity may suggest a cataract etiology playing a greater role in vision loss. This comparison may be useful for surgical prognostication and as a quick triage tool in conjunction with, or in place of, a potential acuity meter and dilated near-pinhole test.

  3. Ophthalmological implications of the chronic infections with the hepatitis C Virus.

    PubMed

    Anisia-Iuliana, Alexa; Alina, Cantermir; Elena, Ciuntu Roxana; Dorin, Chiseliţă

    2015-01-01

    Objectives. Report of a clinical case reuniting the dry eye syndrome in a severe form, the Mooren's ulcer and necrotizing anterior scleritis with inflammation, with bilateral affectation in the context of chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus. Methods. A female patient aged 66 diagnosed with chronic hepatitis with HCV, with ophthalmological antecedents of Mooren's ulcer and severe form of dry eye syndrome in both eyes, comes to the emergency unit with hypopyon corneal ulcer in the right eye, shortly afterwards developing necrotizing anterior scleritis with inflammation. The patient is administered treatment for chronic hepatitis C, following which the ARN-HCV viremia decreases without ocular exacerbations. When the viremia level increases again, two lesions indicating necrotizing anterior scleritis are observed in the left eye. The evolution is favourable with topical and systemic treatment with corticosteroids. Complicated cataract is surgically treated in the right eye and vitreous humour is collected during surgery. Results. Visual acuity increases in the right eye after the surgery, while antibodies-HCV are identified in the vitreous humour. Conclusions. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus displays multiple extra-hepatic manifestations and the ophthalmological ones require a multidisciplinary approach from both the chronic diseases practitioner and the ophthalmologist.

  4. Ophthalmological implications of the chronic infections with the hepatitis C Virus

    PubMed Central

    Anisia-Iuliana, Alexa; Alina, Cantermir; Elena, Ciuntu Roxana; Dorin, Chiseliţă

    2015-01-01

    Objectives. Report of a clinical case reuniting the dry eye syndrome in a severe form, the Mooren’s ulcer and necrotizing anterior scleritis with inflammation, with bilateral affectation in the context of chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus. Methods. A female patient aged 66 diagnosed with chronic hepatitis with HCV, with ophthalmological antecedents of Mooren’s ulcer and severe form of dry eye syndrome in both eyes, comes to the emergency unit with hypopyon corneal ulcer in the right eye, shortly afterwards developing necrotizing anterior scleritis with inflammation. The patient is administered treatment for chronic hepatitis C, following which the ARN-HCV viremia decreases without ocular exacerbations. When the viremia level increases again, two lesions indicating necrotizing anterior scleritis are observed in the left eye. The evolution is favourable with topical and systemic treatment with corticosteroids. Complicated cataract is surgically treated in the right eye and vitreous humour is collected during surgery. Results. Visual acuity increases in the right eye after the surgery, while antibodies-HCV are identified in the vitreous humour. Conclusions. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus displays multiple extra-hepatic manifestations and the ophthalmological ones require a multidisciplinary approach from both the chronic diseases practitioner and the ophthalmologist. PMID:29450318

  5. Hemiretinal form deprivation: evidence for local control of eye growth and refractive development in infant monkeys.

    PubMed

    Smith, Earl L; Huang, Juan; Hung, Li-Fang; Blasdel, Terry L; Humbird, Tammy L; Bockhorst, Kurt H

    2009-11-01

    To determine whether refractive development in primates is mediated by local retinal mechanisms, the authors examined the effects of hemiretinal form deprivation on ocular growth and the pattern of peripheral refractions in rhesus monkeys. Beginning at approximately 3 weeks of age, nine infant monkeys were reared wearing monocular diffuser lenses that eliminated form vision in the nasal field (nasal field diffuser [NFD]). Control data were obtained from the nontreated fellow eyes, 24 normal monkeys, and 19 monkeys treated with full-field diffusers. Refractive development was assessed by retinoscopy performed along the pupillary axis and at eccentricities of 15 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees. Central axial dimensions and eye shape were assessed by A-scan ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Hemiretinal form deprivation altered refractive development in a regionally selective manner, typically producing myopia in the treated hemifields. In particular, six of the NFD monkeys exhibited substantial amounts (-1.81 to -9.00 D) of relative myopia in the nasal field that were most obvious at the 15 degrees and 30 degrees nasal field eccentricities. The other three NFD monkeys exhibited small amounts of relative hyperopia in the treated field. The alterations in peripheral refraction were associated with local, region-specific alterations in vitreous chamber depth in the treated hemiretina. The effects of form deprivation on refractive development and eye growth in primates are mediated by mechanisms, presumably retinal, that integrate visual signals in a spatially restricted manner and exert their influence locally.

  6. Structural-functional relationships between eye orbital imaging biomarkers and clinical visual assessments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yao, Xiuya; Chaganti, Shikha; Nabar, Kunal P.; Nelson, Katrina; Plassard, Andrew; Harrigan, Rob L.; Mawn, Louise A.; Landman, Bennett A.

    2017-02-01

    Eye diseases and visual impairment affect millions of Americans and induce billions of dollars in annual economic burdens. Expounding upon existing knowledge of eye diseases could lead to improved treatment and disease prevention. This research investigated the relationship between structural metrics of the eye orbit and visual function measurements in a cohort of 470 patients from a retrospective study of ophthalmology records for patients (with thyroid eye disease, orbital inflammation, optic nerve edema, glaucoma, intrinsic optic nerve disease), clinical imaging, and visual function assessments. Orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) images were retrieved and labeled in 3D using multi-atlas label fusion. Based on the 3D structures, both traditional radiology measures (e.g., Barrett index, volumetric crowding index, optic nerve length) and novel volumetric metrics were computed. Using stepwise regression, the associations between structural metrics and visual field scores (visual acuity, functional acuity, visual field, functional field, and functional vision) were assessed. Across all models, the explained variance was reasonable (R2 0.1-0.2) but highly significant (p < 0.001). Instead of analyzing a specific pathology, this study aimed to analyze data across a variety of pathologies. This approach yielded a general model for the connection between orbital structural imaging biomarkers and visual function.

  7. Visual–Motor Transformations Within Frontal Eye Fields During Head-Unrestrained Gaze Shifts in the Monkey

    PubMed Central

    Sajad, Amirsaman; Sadeh, Morteza; Keith, Gerald P.; Yan, Xiaogang; Wang, Hongying; Crawford, John Douglas

    2015-01-01

    A fundamental question in sensorimotor control concerns the transformation of spatial signals from the retina into eye and head motor commands required for accurate gaze shifts. Here, we investigated these transformations by identifying the spatial codes embedded in visually evoked and movement-related responses in the frontal eye fields (FEFs) during head-unrestrained gaze shifts. Monkeys made delayed gaze shifts to the remembered location of briefly presented visual stimuli, with delay serving to dissociate visual and movement responses. A statistical analysis of nonparametric model fits to response field data from 57 neurons (38 with visual and 49 with movement activities) eliminated most effector-specific, head-fixed, and space-fixed models, but confirmed the dominance of eye-centered codes observed in head-restrained studies. More importantly, the visual response encoded target location, whereas the movement response mainly encoded the final position of the imminent gaze shift (including gaze errors). This spatiotemporal distinction between target and gaze coding was present not only at the population level, but even at the single-cell level. We propose that an imperfect visual–motor transformation occurs during the brief memory interval between perception and action, and further transformations from the FEF's eye-centered gaze motor code to effector-specific codes in motor frames occur downstream in the subcortical areas. PMID:25491118

  8. Peripapillary schisis in open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Dhingra, N; Manoharan, R; Gill, S; Nagar, M

    2017-03-01

    PurposeTo report clinical features, topographic findings and outcome of 10 eyes with peripapillary schisis in open-angle glaucoma.Patients and methodsA retrospective review of patients with open-angle glaucoma who were noted to have peripapillary schisis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) were included. Serial peripapillary and macula infrared and OCT images, visual acuity, visual fields, and schisis appearance were reviewed.ResultsTen eyes of nine patients with open-angle glaucoma were detected to have the presence of peripapillary schisis. Nerve fibre layer schisis was detected in all eyes and one eye had an associated macular schisis. None of the eyes had an acquired pit of the optic nerve or pathological myopia. The mean intraocular pressures at detection was 18.3±4.3 mm Hg and the schisis resolved in four eyes after a mean follow-up of 21.2±8.8 months. Visual field worsening was noted in 4 of the 10 eyes and the resolution of schisis resulted in significant reduction in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.ConclusionsPeripapillary schisis detected during the normal course of open-angle glaucoma can resolve spontaneously and rarely involves the macula. Its resolution leads to reduction in RNFL thickness; therefore, caution is advised while interpreting serial scans.

  9. Catadioptric planar compound eye with large field of view.

    PubMed

    Deng, Huaxia; Gao, Xicheng; Ma, Mengchao; Li, Yunyang; Li, Hang; Zhang, Jin; Zhong, Xiang

    2018-05-14

    The planar compound eye has the advantages of simple structure and no requirement for complex relay optical elements, but the field of view (FOV) is very difficult to expand. Overcoming the limitation of FOV, especially with simple structures, is a great challenge for the development of planar compound eyes. Different from the existing designs that only considering refraction, this article proposes a catadioptric planar compound eye based on the reflection and refraction to expand the FOV. In the proposed design, the incident light from a large angle is reflected into the lenslet array by two rotationally symmetric mirrors whose surface equations are optimized by mathematical and optical softwares. The FOV of the proposed catadioptric planar compound eye theoretically can reach 96.6°, which is much wider than the opening record of 70°. Moreover, no distortion of the imaging system can be obtained theoretically in this design. Simulation results show a linearity of better than 99% for the most of the incident angles. The verification experiments show that the FOV of the proposed device can reach 90.7° while the FOV of the corresponding planar compound eye without mirrors is 41.6°. The proposed catadioptric planar compound eye has the great potential in monitoring, detection and virtual reality since the FOV has been widen significantly.

  10. Computational modelling of temperature rises in the eye in the near field of radiofrequency sources at 380, 900 and 1800 MHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wainwright, P. R.

    2007-07-01

    This paper reports calculations of the temperature rises induced in the eye and lens by near-field exposure to radiation from communication handsets, using the finite difference time domain method and classical bioheat equation. Various models are compared, including the analytic solution for a sphere, a finite element model of an isolated eye and a modern model of the whole head. The role of the blood supply to the choroid in moderating temperature is discussed. Three different frequencies are considered, namely 380 MHz (used by TETRA), and 900 and 1800 MHz (used by GSM mobile phones). At 380 MHz, monopole and helical antennas are compared. An 'equivalent blood flow' is derived for the choroid in order to facilitate comparison of the whole head and isolated eye models. In the whole head model, the heating of the lens receives a significant contribution from energy absorbed outside the eye. The temperature rise in the lens is compared to the ICNIRP-recommended average specific energy absorption rate (SAR) and the SAR averaged over the eye alone. The temperature rise may reach 1.4 °C at the ICNIRP occupational exposure limit if an antenna is placed less than 24 mm from the eye and the exposure is sufficiently prolonged.

  11. How aquatic water-beetle larvae with small chambered eyes overcome challenges of hunting under water.

    PubMed

    Stowasser, Annette; Buschbeck, Elke K

    2014-11-01

    A particularly unusual visual system exists in the visually guided aquatic predator, the Sunburst Diving Beetle, Thermonectus marmoratus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). The question arises: how does this peculiar visual system function? A series of experiments suggests that their principal eyes (E1 and E2) are highly specialized for hunting. These eyes are tubular and have relatively long focal lengths leading to high image magnification. Their retinae are linear, and are divided into distinct green-sensitive distal and UV and polarization-sensitive proximal portions. Each distal retina, moreover, has many tiers of photoreceptors with rhabdomeres the long axis of which are peculiarly oriented perpendicular to the light path. Based on detailed optical investigations, the lenses of these eyes are bifocal and project focused images onto specific retinal tiers. Behavioral experiments suggest that these larvae approach prey within their eyes' near-fields, and that they can correctly gauge prey distances even when conventional distance-vision mechanisms are unavailable. In the near-field of these eyes object distance determines which of the many retinal layers receive the best-focused images. This retinal organization could facilitate an unusual distance-vision mechanism. We here summarize past findings and discuss how these eyes allow Thermonectus larvae to be such successful predators.

  12. Computational modelling of temperature rises in the eye in the near field of radiofrequency sources at 380, 900 and 1800 MHz.

    PubMed

    Wainwright, P R

    2007-06-21

    This paper reports calculations of the temperature rises induced in the eye and lens by near-field exposure to radiation from communication handsets, using the finite difference time domain method and classical bioheat equation. Various models are compared, including the analytic solution for a sphere, a finite element model of an isolated eye and a modern model of the whole head. The role of the blood supply to the choroid in moderating temperature is discussed. Three different frequencies are considered, namely 380 MHz (used by TETRA), and 900 and 1800 MHz (used by GSM mobile phones). At 380 MHz, monopole and helical antennas are compared. An 'equivalent blood flow' is derived for the choroid in order to facilitate comparison of the whole head and isolated eye models. In the whole head model, the heating of the lens receives a significant contribution from energy absorbed outside the eye. The temperature rise in the lens is compared to the ICNIRP-recommended average specific energy absorption rate (SAR) and the SAR averaged over the eye alone. The temperature rise may reach 1.4 degrees C at the ICNIRP occupational exposure limit if an antenna is placed less than 24 mm from the eye and the exposure is sufficiently prolonged.

  13. Adalimumab and Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Kinard, Krista; Walsh, Jessica A; Penmetsa, Gopi K; Warner, Judith E A

    2014-01-01

    Sequential anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy was observed in a patient treated with a tumour necrosis factor α (TNF) inhibitor, adalimumab, for ankylosing spondylitis. He developed decreased visual acuity in the right eye after 17 months of treatment. Findings showed right optic disc oedema with haemorrhages and visual field defect. Adalimumab was discontinued and vision stabilised. After restarting adalimumab, he developed optic neuropathy in the left eye. Findings showed optic disc oedema, with haemorrhages and visual field changes in the left eye. Adalimumab may be associated with optic neuropathy; providers prescribing TNF inhibitors should be aware of optic neuropathy as a potential complication.

  14. Contralateral eye comparison on changes in visual field following laser in situ keratomileusis vs photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: a randomized clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Mostafaei, A; Sedgipour, M R; Sadeghi-Bazargani, H

    2009-12-01

    Study purpose was to compare the changes of Visual Field (VF) during laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) VS photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). This randomized, double blind, study involved 54 eyes of 27 Myopia patients who underwent LASIK or PRK procedures for contralateral eyes in each patient. Using Humphrey 30-2 SITA standard, the Mean Defect (MD) and Pattern Standard Deviation (PSD) were evaluated preoperatively and three months after surgery. At the same examination optical zone size, papillary and corneal diameters were also evaluated. There was no clinically significant difference in PSD and MD measurements between treated eyes with LASIK or PRK in any zone pre and postoperatively. VF may not be affected by corneal changes induced by LASIK or PRK three months after surgery.

  15. Lateralization of magnetic compass orientation in a migratory bird

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiltschko, Wolfgang; Traudt, Joachim; Güntürkün, Onur; Prior, Helmut; Wiltschko, Roswitha

    2002-10-01

    Lateralization of brain functions, once believed to be a human characteristic, has now been found to be widespread among vertebrates. In birds, asymmetries of visual functions are well studied, with each hemisphere being specialized for different tasks. Here we report lateralized functions of the birds' visual system associated with magnetoperception, resulting in an extreme asymmetry of sensing the direction of the magnetic field. We found that captive migrants tested in cages with the magnetic field as the only available orientation cue were well oriented in their appropriate migratory direction when using their right eye only, but failed to show a significant directional preference when using their left eye. This implies that magnetoreception for compass orientation, assumed to take place in the eyes alongside the visual processes, is strongly lateralized, with a marked dominance of the right eye/left brain hemisphere.

  16. Improved high-resolution ultrasonic imaging of the eye.

    PubMed

    Silverman, Ronald H; Ketterling, Jeffrey A; Mamou, Jonathan; Coleman, D Jackson

    2008-01-01

    Currently, virtually all clinical diagnostic ultrasound systems used in ophthalmology are based on fixed-focus, single-element transducers. High-frequency (> or = 20-MHz) transducers introduced to ophthalmology during the last decade have led to improved resolution and diagnostic capabilities for assessment of the anterior segment and the retina. However, single-element transducers are restricted to a small depth of field, limiting their capacity to image the eye as a whole. We fabricated a 20-MHz annular array probe prototype consisting of 5 concentric transducer elements and scanned an ex vivo human eye. Synthetically focused images of the bank eye showed improved depth of field and sensitivity, allowing simultaneous display of the anterior and posterior segments and the full lens contour. This capability may be useful in assessment of vitreoretinal pathologies and investigation of the accommodative mechanism.

  17. Relationship among visual field, blood flow, and neural structure measurements in glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Hwang, John C; Konduru, Ranjith; Zhang, Xinbo; Tan, Ou; Francis, Brian A; Varma, Rohit; Sehi, Mitra; Greenfield, David S; Sadda, Srinivas R; Huang, David

    2012-05-17

    To determine the relationship among visual field, neural structural, and blood flow measurements in glaucoma. Case-control study. Forty-seven eyes of 42 patients with perimetric glaucoma were age-matched with 27 normal eyes of 27 patients. All patients underwent Doppler Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography to measure retinal blood flow and standard glaucoma evaluation with visual field testing and quantitative structural imaging. Linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship among visual field, blood flow, and structure, after all variables were converted to logarithmic decibel scale. Retinal blood flow was reduced in glaucoma eyes compared to normal eyes (P < 0.001). Visual field loss was correlated with both reduced retinal blood flow and structural loss of rim area and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). There was no correlation or paradoxical correlation between blood flow and structure. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that reduced blood flow and structural loss are independent predictors of visual field loss. Each dB decrease in blood flow was associated with at least 1.62 dB loss in mean deviation (P ≤ 0.001), whereas each dB decrease in rim area and RNFL was associated with 1.15 dB and 2.56 dB loss in mean deviation, respectively (P ≤ 0.03). There is a close link between reduced retinal blood flow and visual field loss in glaucoma that is largely independent of structural loss. Further studies are needed to elucidate the causes of the vascular dysfunction and potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Blood flow measurement may be useful as an independent assessment of glaucoma severity.

  18. Evaluating Glaucomatous Retinal Nerve Fiber Damage by GDx VCC Polarimetry in Taiwan Chinese Population

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Hsin-Yi; Huang, Mei-Ling; Huang, Wei-Cheng

    2010-01-01

    Purpose To study the capability of scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC) to detect differences in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between normal and glaucomatous eyes in a Taiwan Chinese population. Methods This study included 44 normal eyes and 107 glaucomatous eyes. The glaucomatous eyes were divided into three subgroups on the basis of its visual field defects (early, moderate, severe). Each subject underwent a GDx-VCC exam and visual field testing. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AROC) of each relevant parameter was used to differentiate normal from each glaucoma subgroup, respectively. The correlation between visual field index and each parameter was evaluated for the eyes in the glaucoma group. Results For normal vs. early glaucoma, the parameter with the best AROC was Nerve fiber indicator (NFI) (0.942). For normal vs. moderate glaucoma, the parameter showing the best AROC was NFI (0.985). For normal vs. severe glaucoma, the parameter that had the best AROC was NFI (1.000). For early vs. moderate glaucoma, the parameter with the best AROC was NFI (0.732). For moderate vs. severe, the parameter showing the best AROC was temporal-superior-nasal-inferior-temporal average (0.652). For early vs. severe, the parameter with the best AROC was NFI (0.852). Conclusions GDx-VCC-measured parameters may serve as a useful tool to distinguish normal from glaucomatous eyes; in particular, NFI turned out to be the best discriminating parameter.

  19. Morphological Features and Important Parameters of Large Optic Discs for Diagnosing Glaucoma

    PubMed Central

    Okimoto, Satoshi; Yamashita, Keiko; Shibata, Tetsuo; Kiuchi, Yoshiaki

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To compare the optic disc parameters of glaucomatous eyes to those of non-glaucomatous eyes with large discs. Methods We studied 225 consecutive eyes with large optic discs (>2.82 mm2): 91 eyes with glaucoma and 134 eyes without glaucoma. An eye was diagnosed with glaucoma when visual field defects were detected by the Humphrey Field Analyzer. All of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II) parameters were compared between the non-glaucomatous and glaucomatous eyes. A logistic regression analysis of the HRT II parameters was used to establish a new formula for diagnosing glaucoma, and the sensitivity and specificity of the Moorfields Regression Analysis (MRA) was compared to the findings made by our analyses. Results The mean disc area was 3.44±0.50 mm2 in the non-glaucomatous group and 3.40±0.52 mm2 in the glaucoma group. The cup area, cup volume, cup-to-disc area ratio, linear cup/disc ratio, mean cup depth, and the maximum cup depth were significantly larger in glaucomatous eyes than in the non-glaucomatous eyes. The rim area, rim volume, cup shape measurement, mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and RFNL cross-sectional area were significantly smaller in glaucomatous eyes than in non-glaucomatous eyes. The cup-to-disc area ratio, the height variation contour (HVC), and the RNFL cross-sectional area were important parameters for diagnosing the early stage glaucoma, and the cup-to-disc area ratio and cup volume were useful for diagnosing advanced stage glaucoma in eyes with a large optic disc. The new formula had higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing glaucoma than MRA. Conclusions The cup-to-disc area ratio, HVC, RNFL cross-sectional area, and cup volume were important parameters for diagnosing glaucoma in eyes with a large optic disc. The important disc parameters to diagnose glaucoma depend on the stage of glaucoma in patients with large discs. PMID:25798580

  20. Rate of progression of total, upper, and lower visual field defects in patients with open-angle glaucoma and high myopia.

    PubMed

    Yoshino, Takaiko; Fukuchi, Takeo; Togano, Tetsuya; Sakaue, Yuta; Seki, Masaaki; Tanaka, Takayuki; Ueda, Jun

    2016-03-01

    We evaluated the rate of progression of total, upper, and lower visual field defects in patients with treated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with high myopia (HM). Seventy eyes of 70 POAG patients with HM [≤-8 diopters (D)] were examined. The mean deviation (MD) slope and the upper and lower total deviation (upper TD, lower TD) slopes of the Humphrey Field Analyzer were calculated in patients with high-tension glaucoma (HTG) (>21 mmHg) versus normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) (≤21 mmHg). The mean age of all the patients (29 eyes with HTG and 41 eyes with NTG) was 48.5 ± 9.6 years. The MD slope, and upper and lower TD slopes of the HM group were compared to those of the non-HM group (NHM) (>-8 D) selected from 544 eyes in 325 age-matched POAG patients. In all, 70 eyes with HM and NHM were examined. The mean MD slope was -0.33 ± 0.33 dB/year in the HM, and -0.38 ± 0.49 dB/year in the NHM. There were no statistical differences between the HM and NHM (p = 0.9565). In the comparison of HTG versus NTG patients in both groups, the MD slope, and upper and lower TD slopes were similar. The rate of progression of total, upper, and lower visual field defects was similar among patients with HM and NHM. Although HM is a risk factor for the onset of glaucoma, HM may not be a risk factor for progression of visual field defects as assessed by the progression rate under treatment.

  1. An artificial elementary eye with optic flow detection and compositional properties.

    PubMed

    Pericet-Camara, Ramon; Dobrzynski, Michal K; Juston, Raphaël; Viollet, Stéphane; Leitel, Robert; Mallot, Hanspeter A; Floreano, Dario

    2015-08-06

    We describe a 2 mg artificial elementary eye whose structure and functionality is inspired by compound eye ommatidia. Its optical sensitivity and electronic architecture are sufficient to generate the required signals for the measurement of local optic flow vectors in multiple directions. Multiple elementary eyes can be assembled to create a compound vision system of desired shape and curvature spanning large fields of view. The system configurability is validated with the fabrication of a flexible linear array of artificial elementary eyes capable of extracting optic flow over multiple visual directions. © 2015 The Author(s).

  2. The relationship between temperamental traits and the level of performance of an eye-hand co-ordination task in jet pilots.

    PubMed

    Biernacki, Marcin; Tarnowski, Adam

    2008-01-01

    When assessing the psychological suitability for the profession of a pilot, it is important to consider personality traits and psychomotor abilities. Our study aimed at estimating the role of temperamental traits as components of pilots' personality in eye-hand co-ordination. The assumption was that differences in the escalation of the level of temperamental traits, as measured with the Formal Characteristic of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI), will significantly influence eye-hand co-ordination. At the level of general scores, enhanced briskness proved to be the most important trait for eye-hand co-ordination. An analysis of partial scores additionally underlined the importance of sensory sensitivity, endurance and activity. The application of eye-hand co-ordination tasks, which involve energetic and temporal dimensions of performance, helped to disclose the role of biologically-based personality traits in psychomotor performance. The implication of these findings for selecting pilots is discussed.

  3. Nutrients for the aging eye

    PubMed Central

    Rasmussen, Helen M; Johnson, Elizabeth J

    2013-01-01

    The incidence of age-related eye diseases is expected to rise with the aging of the population. Oxidation and inflammation are implicated in the etiology of these diseases. There is evidence that dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatories may provide benefit in decreasing the risk of age-related eye disease. Nutrients of interest are vitamins C and E, β-carotene, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. While a recent survey finds that among the baby boomers (45–65 years old), vision is the most important of the five senses, well over half of those surveyed were not aware of the important nutrients that play a key role in eye health. This is evident from a national survey that finds that intake of these key nutrients from dietary sources is below the recommendations or guidelines. Therefore, it is important to educate this population and to create an awareness of the nutrients and foods of particular interest in the prevention of age-related eye disease. PMID:23818772

  4. The eyes don't have it: lie detection and Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

    PubMed

    Wiseman, Richard; Watt, Caroline; ten Brinke, Leanne; Porter, Stephen; Couper, Sara-Louise; Rankin, Calum

    2012-01-01

    Proponents of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) claim that certain eye-movements are reliable indicators of lying. According to this notion, a person looking up to their right suggests a lie whereas looking up to their left is indicative of truth telling. Despite widespread belief in this claim, no previous research has examined its validity. In Study 1 the eye movements of participants who were lying or telling the truth were coded, but did not match the NLP patterning. In Study 2 one group of participants were told about the NLP eye-movement hypothesis whilst a second control group were not. Both groups then undertook a lie detection test. No significant differences emerged between the two groups. Study 3 involved coding the eye movements of both liars and truth tellers taking part in high profile press conferences. Once again, no significant differences were discovered. Taken together the results of the three studies fail to support the claims of NLP. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

  5. The Eyes Don’t Have It: Lie Detection and Neuro-Linguistic Programming

    PubMed Central

    Wiseman, Richard; Watt, Caroline; ten Brinke, Leanne; Porter, Stephen; Couper, Sara-Louise; Rankin, Calum

    2012-01-01

    Proponents of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) claim that certain eye-movements are reliable indicators of lying. According to this notion, a person looking up to their right suggests a lie whereas looking up to their left is indicative of truth telling. Despite widespread belief in this claim, no previous research has examined its validity. In Study 1 the eye movements of participants who were lying or telling the truth were coded, but did not match the NLP patterning. In Study 2 one group of participants were told about the NLP eye-movement hypothesis whilst a second control group were not. Both groups then undertook a lie detection test. No significant differences emerged between the two groups. Study 3 involved coding the eye movements of both liars and truth tellers taking part in high profile press conferences. Once again, no significant differences were discovered. Taken together the results of the three studies fail to support the claims of NLP. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. PMID:22808128

  6. Effects of individual differences in verbal skills on eye-movement patterns during sentence reading

    PubMed Central

    Kuperman, Victor; Van Dyke, Julie A.

    2011-01-01

    This study is a large-scale exploration of the influence that individual reading skills exert on eye-movement behavior in sentence reading. Seventy one non-college-bound 16–24 year-old speakers of English completed a battery of 18 verbal and cognitive skill assessments, and read a series of sentences as their eye movements were monitored. Statistical analyses were performed to establish what tests of reading abilities were predictive of eye-movement patterns across this population and how strong the effects were. We found that individual scores in rapid automatized naming and word identification tests (i) were the only participant variables with reliable predictivity throughout the time-course of reading; (ii) elicited effects that superceded in magnitude the effects of established predictors like word length or frequency; and (iii) strongly modulated the influence of word length and frequency on fixation times. We discuss implications of our findings for testing reading ability, as well as for research of eye-movements in reading. PMID:21709808

  7. Personal identification by eyes.

    PubMed

    Marinović, Dunja; Njirić, Sanja; Coklo, Miran; Muzić, Vedrana

    2011-09-01

    Identification of persons through the eyes is in the field of biometrical science. Many security systems are based on biometric methods of personal identification, to determine whether a person is presenting itself truly. The human eye contains an extremely large number of individual characteristics that make it particularly suitable for the process of identifying a person. Today, the eye is considered to be one of the most reliable body parts for human identification. Systems using iris recognition are among the most secure biometric systems.

  8. Objective measurement of the optical image quality in the human eye

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Navarro, Rafael M.

    2001-05-01

    This communication reviews some recent studies on the optical performance of the human eye. Although the retinal image cannot be recorded directly, different objective methods have been developed, which permit to determine optical quality parameters, such as the Point Spread Function (PSF), the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), the geometrical ray aberrations or the wavefront distortions, in the living human eye. These methods have been applied in both basic and applied research. This includes the measurement of the optical performance of the eye across visual field, the optical quality of eyes with intraocular lens implants, the aberrations induced by LASIK refractive surgery, or the manufacture of customized phase plates to compensate the wavefront aberration in the eye.

  9. Eye gaze tracking based on the shape of pupil image

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Rui; Qiu, Jian; Luo, Kaiqing; Peng, Li; Han, Peng

    2018-01-01

    Eye tracker is an important instrument for research in psychology, widely used in attention, visual perception, reading and other fields of research. Because of its potential function in human-computer interaction, the eye gaze tracking has already been a topic of research in many fields over the last decades. Nowadays, with the development of technology, non-intrusive methods are more and more welcomed. In this paper, we will present a method based on the shape of pupil image to estimate the gaze point of human eyes without any other intrusive devices such as a hat, a pair of glasses and so on. After using the ellipse fitting algorithm to deal with the pupil image we get, we can determine the direction of the fixation by the shape of the pupil.The innovative aspect of this method is to utilize the new idea of the shape of the pupil so that we can avoid much complicated algorithm. The performance proposed is very helpful for the study of eye gaze tracking, which just needs one camera without infrared light to know the changes in the shape of the pupil to determine the direction of the eye gazing, no additional condition is required.

  10. Microrobots: a new era in ocular drug delivery.

    PubMed

    Fusco, Stefano; Ullrich, Franziska; Pokki, Juho; Chatzipirpiridis, George; Özkale, Berna; Sivaraman, Kartik M; Ergeneman, Olgaç; Pané, Salvador; Nelson, Bradley J

    2014-11-01

    Ocular microrobots have the potential to change the way in which we treat a variety of diseases at the anterior and the posterior segments of the eye. Wireless manipulation and positioning of drug delivery magnetic millimeter and submillimeter platforms into the eye constitute a potential route for minimally invasive targeted therapy. However, the field is still in its infancy and faces challenges related to the fabrication, control an interaction with complex biological environments. This review briefly introduces the complex anatomy and physiology of the eye, which renders limitations to the current treatments of ocular diseases. The topical administration of eye drops, intravitreal injections and drug delivery implants is briefly mentioned together with their drawbacks. The authors also analyze the minimally invasive microrobotic approach as an alternative method and report the recent advancements in the fabrication, control, manipulation and drug delivery. Although microrobotics is a young field, a significant amount of work has been developed to face different challenges related to the minimally invasive manipulation of microdevices in the eye. Current research is already at the state of in vivo testing for systems and their biocompatibility. It is expected that the general concepts acquired will soon be applied for specific interventions, especially for posterior eye pathologies.

  11. Acidic mammalian chitinase in dry eye conditions.

    PubMed

    Musumeci, Maria; Aragona, Pasquale; Bellin, Milena; Maugeri, Francesco; Rania, Laura; Bucolo, Claudio; Musumeci, Salvatore

    2009-07-01

    An acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) seems to be implicated in allergic asthma and allergic ocular pathologies. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of AMCase during Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) dry eye diseases. Six patients with MGD dry eye (20-58 years, median 40) and six patients with dry eye associated to SS (32-60 years, median 47) were enrolled in this study. AMCase activity was measured in tears and AMCase mRNA expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction from RNA extracted from epithelial cells of the conjunctiva. Six healthy adult subjects of the same age (34-44 years, median 39) were also studied as the control group. AMCase activity was significantly increased in patients affected by MGD dry eye (18.54 +/- 1.5 nmol/ml/h) and SS dry eye (8.94 +/- 1.0 nmol/ml/h) respectively, compared to healthy controls (1.6 +/- 0.2 nmol/ml/h). AMCase activity was higher in the tears of subjects with MGD dry eye (P < 0.001). AMCase mRNA was detected in conjunctival epithelial cells and the expression was significantly higher in MGD dry eye than SS dry eye. A significant correlation between AMCase activity in the tears and mRNA in conjunctival epithelial cells was found. AMCase may be an important marker in the pathogenesis of dry eye, suggesting the potential role of AMCase as a therapeutic target in these frequent pathologies.

  12. Impaired Activation of Visual Attention Network for Motion Salience Is Accompanied by Reduced Functional Connectivity between Frontal Eye Fields and Visual Cortex in Strabismic Amblyopia

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Hao; Crewther, Sheila G.; Liang, Minglong; Laycock, Robin; Yu, Tao; Alexander, Bonnie; Crewther, David P.; Wang, Jian; Yin, Zhengqin

    2017-01-01

    Strabismic amblyopia is now acknowledged to be more than a simple loss of acuity and to involve alterations in visually driven attention, though whether this applies to both stimulus-driven and goal-directed attention has not been explored. Hence we investigated monocular threshold performance during a motion salience-driven attention task involving detection of a coherent dot motion target in one of four quadrants in adult controls and those with strabismic amblyopia. Psychophysical motion thresholds were impaired for the strabismic amblyopic eye, requiring longer inspection time and consequently slower target speed for detection compared to the fellow eye or control eyes. We compared fMRI activation and functional connectivity between four ROIs of the occipital-parieto-frontal visual attention network [primary visual cortex (V1), motion sensitive area V5, intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye fields (FEF)], during a suprathreshold version of the motion-driven attention task, and also a simple goal-directed task, requiring voluntary saccades to targets randomly appearing along a horizontal line. Activation was compared when viewed monocularly by controls and the amblyopic and its fellow eye in strabismics. BOLD activation was weaker in IPS, FEF and V5 for both tasks when viewing through the amblyopic eye compared to viewing through the fellow eye or control participants' non-dominant eye. No difference in V1 activation was seen between the amblyopic and fellow eye, nor between the two eyes of control participants during the motion salience task, though V1 activation was significantly less through the amblyopic eye than through the fellow eye and control group non-dominant eye viewing during the voluntary saccade task. Functional correlations of ROIs within the attention network were impaired through the amblyopic eye during the motion salience task, whereas this was not the case during the voluntary saccade task. Specifically, FEF showed reduced functional connectivity with visual cortical nodes during the motion salience task through the amblyopic eye, despite suprathreshold detection performance. This suggests that the reduced ability of the amblyopic eye to activate the frontal components of the attention networks may help explain the aberrant control of visual attention and eye movements in amblyopes. PMID:28484381

  13. A case report of ophthalmic artery emboli secondary to Calcium Hydroxylapatite filler injection for nose augmentation- long-term outcome.

    PubMed

    Cohen, Eyal; Yatziv, Yossi; Leibovitch, Igal; Kesler, Anat; Cnaan, Ran Ben; Klein, Ainat; Goldenberg, Dafna; Habot-Wilner, Zohar

    2016-07-08

    Filler injection for face augmentation is a common cosmetic procedure in the last decades, in our case report we describe long-term outcomes of a devastating complication of ophthalmic artery emboli following Calcium Hydroxylapatite filler injection to the nose bridge. A healthy 24-year-old women received a Calcium Hydroxylapatite filler injection to her nose bridge for the correction of nose asymmetry 8 years post rhinoplasty. She developed sudden right eye ocular pain and visual disturbances. Visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and visual field in the right eye showed inferior arch with fixation sparing and supero-temporal central scotoma. Examination revealed marked periorbital edema and hematoma, ptosis, ocular movements limitation, an infero-temporal branch retinal artery occlusion and multiple choroidal emboli. Eighteen months post initial presentation ptosis and eye movements returned normal and choroidal emboli absorbed almost completely. However, visual acuity declined to 20/60, visual field showed severe progressive deterioration with a central and supero-nasal field remnant and the optic disc became pallor. Cosmetic injection of calcium hydroxylapatite to the nose bridge can result in arterial emboli to the ophthalmic system with optic nerve, retinal and choroidal involvement causing long term severe visual acuity and visual field impairment.

  14. Practical landmarks for visual field disability in glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Saunders, Luke J; Russell, Richard A; Crabb, David P

    2012-09-01

    To assess whether mean deviation (MD) from automated perimetry is related to the visual field (VF) component for legal fitness to drive (LFTD) in glaucoma patients. Monocular 24-2 VFs of 2604 patients with bilateral VF damage were retrospectively investigated. Integrated visual fields were calculated and used as a surrogate to assess LFTD according to current UK driving licence criteria. The better eye MD (BEMD), worse eye MD (WEMD) and a measure utilising MD of both eyes were compared, to assess respective diagnostic capabilities to predict LFTD (using the integrated visual field surrogate test as the gold standard) and a 'Probability of Failure' (PoF) for various defect levels was calculated. BEMD appears to be a good predictor of the VF component for a patient's LFTD (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve: 96.2%); MDs from both eyes offered no significant extra diagnostic power (area under the curve: 96.4%). PoF for BEMD thresholds of ≤-10 dB and ≤-14 dB were 70 (95% CI 66% to 74%) and 92% (87% to 95%), respectively. There is a strong relationship between BEMD and a patient's LFTD. PoF values for LFTD associated with readily available MD values provide practical landmarks for VF disability in glaucoma.

  15. White matter fiber integrity of the saccadic eye movement network differs between schizophrenia and healthy groups.

    PubMed

    Schaeffer, David J; Rodrigue, Amanda L; Burton, Courtney R; Pierce, Jordan E; Murphy, Megan N; Clementz, Brett A; McDowell, Jennifer E

    2017-12-01

    Recent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies suggest that altered white matter fiber integrity is a pathophysiological feature of schizophrenia. Lower white matter integrity is associated with poor cognitive control, a characteristic of schizophrenia that can be measured using antisaccade tasks. Although the functional neural correlates of poor antisaccade performance have been well documented, fewer studies have investigated the extent to which white matter fibers connecting the functional nodes of this network contribute to antisaccade performance. The aim of the present study was to assess the white matter structural integrity of fibers connecting two functional nodes (putamen and medial frontal eye fields) of the saccadic eye movement network implicated in poor antisaccade performance in schizophrenia. To evaluate white matter integrity, DTI was acquired on subjects with schizophrenia and two comparison groups: (a) behaviorally matched healthy comparison subjects with low levels of cognitive control (LCC group), and (b) healthy subjects with high levels of cognitive control (HCC group). White matter fibers were tracked between functional regions of interest generated from antisaccade fMRI activation maps, and measures of diffusivity were quantified. The results demonstrated lower white matter integrity in the schizophrenia group than in the HCC group, but not the LCC group who showed similarly poor cognitive control performance. Overall, the results suggest that these alterations are not specific to the disease process of schizophrenia, but may rather be a function of uncontrolled cognitive factors that are concomitant with the disease but also observed in some healthy people. © 2017 Society for Psychophysiological Research.

  16. Toward building an anatomically correct solid eye model with volumetric representation of retinal morphology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zawadzki, Robert J.; Rowe, T. Scott; Fuller, Alfred R.; Hamann, Bernd; Werner, John S.

    2010-02-01

    An accurate solid eye model (with volumetric retinal morphology) has many applications in the field of ophthalmology, including evaluation of ophthalmic instruments and optometry/ophthalmology training. We present a method that uses volumetric OCT retinal data sets to produce an anatomically correct representation of three-dimensional (3D) retinal layers. This information is exported to a laser scan system to re-create it within solid eye retinal morphology of the eye used in OCT testing. The solid optical model eye is constructed from PMMA acrylic, with equivalent optical power to that of the human eye (~58D). Additionally we tested a water bath eye model from Eyetech Ltd. with a customized retina consisting of five layers of ~60 μm thick biaxial polypropylene film and hot melt rubber adhesive.

  17. Compound eyes of insects and crustaceans: Some examples that show there is still a lot of work left to be done.

    PubMed

    Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno

    2015-03-01

    Similarities and differences between the 2 main kinds of compound eye (apposition and superposition) are briefly explained before several promising topics for research on compound eyes are being introduced. Research on the embryology and molecular control of the development of the insect clear-zone eye with superposition optics is one of the suggestions, because almost all of the developmental work on insect eyes in the past has focused on eyes with apposition optics. Age- and habitat-related ultrastructural studies of the retinal organization are another suggestion and the deer cad Lipoptena cervi, which has an aerial phase during which it is winged followed by a several months long parasitic phase during which it is wingless, is mentioned as a candidate species. Sexual dimorphism expressing itself in many species as a difference in eye structure and function provides another promising field for compound eye researchers and so is a focus on compound eye miniaturization in very small insects, especially those that are aquatic and belong to species, in which clear-zone eyes are diagnostic or are tiny insects that are not aquatic, but belong to taxa like the Diptera for instance, in which open rather than closed rhabdoms are the rule. Structures like interommatidial hairs and glands as well as corneal microridges are yet another field that could yield interesting results and in the past has received insufficient consideration. Finally, the dearth of information on distance vision and depth perception is mentioned and a plea is made to examine the photic environment inside the foam shelters of spittle bugs, chrysales of pupae and other structures shielding insects and crustaceans. © 2014 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  18. Cone Integrity in Glaucoma: An Adaptive-Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Study.

    PubMed

    Hasegawa, Tomoko; Ooto, Sotaro; Takayama, Kohei; Makiyama, Yukiko; Akagi, Tadamichi; Ikeda, Hanako O; Nakanishi, Hideo; Suda, Kenji; Yamada, Hiroshi; Uji, Akihito; Yoshimura, Nagahisa

    2016-11-01

    To investigate photoreceptor changes in eyes with glaucoma. Cross-sectional study. The study included 35 eyes of 35 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma who had suffered parafoveal visual field loss at least 3 years previously, as well as 21 eyes of 21 normal subjects. Eyes with an axial length ≥26.0 mm were excluded. All subjects underwent a full ophthalmologic examination, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) and prototype adaptive-optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AO-SLO) imaging. As determined using AO-SLO, eyes with glaucoma did not differ significantly from normal eyes in terms of either cone density (26 468 ± 3392 cones/m 2 vs 26 147 ± 2700 cones/m 2 , respectively; P = .77; measured 0.5 mm from the foveal center) or cone spatial organization (ratio of hexagonal Voronoi domain: 43.7% ± 4.4% vs 44.3% ± 4.9%; P = .76; measured 0.5 mm from the foveal center). Furthermore, SDOCT showed that the 2 groups did not differ significantly in terms of the photoreceptor-related layer thickness, and that the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone band was continuous in all normal and glaucoma eyes. In glaucoma eyes with vertically asymmetric severity, the more affected side did not significantly differ from the less affected side in terms of cone density, cone spatial organization, or photoreceptor-related layer thickness. In 8 eyes (22.9%) with glaucoma, dark, partition-like areas surrounded the cones on the AO-SLO. Both AO-SLO and SDOCT showed cone integrity in eyes with glaucoma, even in areas with visual field and nerve fiber loss. In AO-SLO, microcystic lesions in the inner nuclear layer may influence images of the cone mosaic. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Computational see-through near-eye displays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maimone, Andrew S.

    See-through near-eye displays with the form factor and field of view of eyeglasses are a natural choice for augmented reality systems: the non-encumbering size enables casual and extended use and large field of view enables general-purpose spatially registered applications. However, designing displays with these attributes is currently an open problem. Support for enhanced realism through mutual occlusion and the focal depth cues is also not found in eyeglasses-like displays. This dissertation provides a new strategy for eyeglasses-like displays that follows the principles of computational displays, devices that rely on software as a fundamental part of image formation. Such devices allow more hardware simplicity and flexibility, showing greater promise of meeting form factor and field of view goals while enhancing realism. This computational approach is realized in two novel and complementary see-through near-eye display designs. The first subtractive approach filters omnidirectional light through a set of optimized patterns displayed on a stack of spatial light modulators, reproducing a light field corresponding to in-focus imagery. The design is thin and scales to wide fields of view; see-through is achieved with transparent components placed directly in front of the eye. Preliminary support for focal cues and environment occlusion is also demonstrated. The second additive approach uses structured point light illumination to form an image with a minimal set of rays. Each of an array of defocused point light sources is modulated by a region of a spatial light modulator, essentially encoding an image in the focal blur. See-through is also achieved with transparent components and thin form factors and wide fields of view (>= 100 degrees) are demonstrated. The designs are examined in theoretical terms, in simulation, and through prototype hardware with public demonstrations. This analysis shows that the proposed computational near-eye display designs offer a significantly different set of trade-offs than conventional optical designs. Several challenges remain to make the designs practical, most notably addressing diffraction limits.

  20. Impact of Glaucoma and Dry Eye on Text-Based Searching.

    PubMed

    Sun, Michelle J; Rubin, Gary S; Akpek, Esen K; Ramulu, Pradeep Y

    2017-06-01

    We determine if visual field loss from glaucoma and/or measures of dry eye severity are associated with difficulty searching, as judged by slower search times on a text-based search task. Glaucoma patients with bilateral visual field (VF) loss, patients with clinically significant dry eye, and normally-sighted controls were enrolled from the Wilmer Eye Institute clinics. Subjects searched three Yellow Pages excerpts for a specific phone number, and search time was recorded. A total of 50 glaucoma subjects, 40 dry eye subjects, and 45 controls completed study procedures. On average, glaucoma patients exhibited 57% longer search times compared to controls (95% confidence interval [CI], 26%-96%, P < 0.001), and longer search times were noted among subjects with greater VF loss ( P < 0.001), worse contrast sensitivity ( P < 0.001), and worse visual acuity ( P = 0.026). Dry eye subjects demonstrated similar search times compared to controls, though worse Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) vision-related subscores were associated with longer search times ( P < 0.01). Search times showed no association with OSDI symptom subscores ( P = 0.20) or objective measures of dry eye ( P > 0.08 for Schirmer's testing without anesthesia, corneal fluorescein staining, and tear film breakup time). Text-based visual search is slower for glaucoma patients with greater levels of VF loss and dry eye patients with greater self-reported visual difficulty, and these difficulties may contribute to decreased quality of life in these groups. Visual search is impaired in glaucoma and dry eye groups compared to controls, highlighting the need for compensatory strategies and tools to assist individuals in overcoming their deficiencies.

  1. Glaucoma Diagnostic Capabilities of Foveal Avascular Zone Parameters Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography According to Visual Field Defect Location.

    PubMed

    Kwon, Junki; Choi, Jaewan; Shin, Joong Won; Lee, Jiyun; Kook, Michael S

    2017-12-01

    To assess the diagnostic ability of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters to discriminate glaucomatous eyes with visual field defects (VFDs) in different locations (central vs. peripheral) from normal eyes. Totally, 125 participants were separated into 3 groups: normal (n=45), glaucoma with peripheral VFD (PVFD, n=45), and glaucoma with central VFD (CVFD, n=35). The FAZ area, perimeter, and circularity and parafoveal vessel density were calculated from optical coherence tomography angiography images. The diagnostic ability of the FAZ parameters and other structural parameters was determined according to glaucomatous VFD location. Associations between the FAZ parameters and central visual function were evaluated. A larger FAZ area and longer FAZ perimeter were observed in the CVFD group than in the PVFD and normal groups. The FAZ area, perimeter, and circularity were better in differentiating glaucomatous eyes with CVFDs from normal eyes [areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), 0.78 to 0.88] than in differentiating PVFDs from normal eyes (AUC, 0.51 to 0.64). The FAZ perimeter had a similar AUC value to the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness for differentiating eyes with CVFDs from normal eyes (all P>0.05, the DeLong test). The FAZ area was significantly correlated with central visual function (β=-112.7, P=0.035, multivariate linear regression). The FAZ perimeter had good diagnostic capability in differentiating glaucomatous eyes with CVFDs from normal eyes, and may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for detecting glaucomatous patients with CVFDs.

  2. Report of Task Group on the implications of the implementation of the ICRP recommendations for a revised dose limit to the lens of the eye.

    PubMed

    Broughton, J; Cantone, M C; Ginjaume, M; Shah, B

    2013-12-01

    This report was commissioned by the IRPA President to provide an assessment of the impact on members of IRPA Associate Societies of the introduction of ICRP recommendations for a reduced dose limit for the lens of the eye. The report summarises current practice and considers possible changes that may be required. Recommendations for further collaboration, clarification and changes to working practices are suggested.

  3. Tear clearance implications for ocular surface health.

    PubMed

    de Paiva, Cintia Sade; Pflugfelder, Stephen C

    2004-03-01

    Tear clearance/turnover provides a global assessment of the function of the lacrimal functional unit and of tear exchange on the ocular surface. It is an indirect measure of dry eye induced inflammation on the ocular surface. It shows better correlation with the severity of ocular irritation symptoms and corneal epithelial disease in dry eye than the Schirmer 1 test. Delayed tear clearance may prove to be the best measure for identifying patients with tear film disorders who may respond to anti-inflammatory therapy.

  4. Clinical Verification of Image Warping as a Potential Aid for the Visually Handicapped

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Loshin, David

    1996-01-01

    The bulk of this research was to designed determine potential of the Programmable Remapper (PR) as a device to enhance vision for the visually handicapped. This research indicated that remapping would have potential as a low vision device if the eye position could be monitored with feedback to specify the proper location of the remapped image. This must be accomplished at high rate so that there is no lag of the image behind the eye position. Since at this time, there is no portable eye monitor device (at a reasonable cost) that will operate under the required conditions, it would not be feasible to continue with remapping experiments for patients with central field defects. However, since patients with peripheral field defects do not have the same eye positioning requirements, they may indeed benefit from this technology. Further investigations must be performed to determine plausibility of this application of remapping.

  5. Monocular tool control, eye dominance, and laterality in New Caledonian crows.

    PubMed

    Martinho, Antone; Burns, Zackory T; von Bayern, Auguste M P; Kacelnik, Alex

    2014-12-15

    Tool use, though rare, is taxonomically widespread, but morphological adaptations for tool use are virtually unknown. We focus on the New Caledonian crow (NCC, Corvus moneduloides), which displays some of the most innovative tool-related behavior among nonhumans. One of their major food sources is larvae extracted from burrows with sticks held diagonally in the bill, oriented with individual, but not species-wide, laterality. Among possible behavioral and anatomical adaptations for tool use, NCCs possess unusually wide binocular visual fields (up to 60°), suggesting that extreme binocular vision may facilitate tool use. Here, we establish that during natural extractions, tool tips can only be viewed by the contralateral eye. Thus, maintaining binocular view of tool tips is unlikely to have selected for wide binocular fields; the selective factor is more likely to have been to allow each eye to see far enough across the midsagittal line to view the tool's tip monocularly. Consequently, we tested the hypothesis that tool side preference follows eye preference and found that eye dominance does predict tool laterality across individuals. This contrasts with humans' species-wide motor laterality and uncorrelated motor-visual laterality, possibly because bill-held tools are viewed monocularly and move in concert with eyes, whereas hand-held tools are visible to both eyes and allow independent combinations of eye preference and handedness. This difference may affect other models of coordination between vision and mechanical control, not necessarily involving tools. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. EDITORIAL: The Eye and The Chip 2008 The Eye and The Chip 2008

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rizzo, Joseph F.; O'Malley, Edward R.; Hessburg, Philip C.

    2009-06-01

    Over the course of the past decade, The Eye and The Chip world congress on visual neuro-prosthetic devices has become a premier meeting for those who believe that 'artificial' vision will one day be used to improve the quality of life of visually impaired patients. Although substantial progress has been made, there are numerous unresolved issues, like the preferred methods for wireless communication, placement of devices, and materials and design among others. The Eye and The Chip meeting of 2008, held in Detroit on 12-14 June 2008, provided important new information about these and other important topics, and thus served to advance this field of scientific research. From a research seedling a decade ago to the crowd of superb presentations in Detroit last June, a very real sense of justifiable optimism has developed. The prospects of artificial vision are no longer remote. Many of the researchers expressed confidence that implantable devices will provide the hoped-for level of vision to justify their widespread use in the future. The often dramatic successes of cochlear implants continues to provide credence that artificial stimulation of nerve tissue is a plausible strategy to restore vision. The Eye and The Chip 2008 attracted researchers from four continents (North America, Europe, Asia and Australia). The meeting also benefited from the attendance and presentations by representatives of the FDA, who have been present for all The Eye and The Chip meetings. The 2008 meeting was also enhanced by the inclusion of a new and related scientific field that shares the goal of restoring vision to the blind—the field of molecular restoration of retinal function by insertion of channelrhodopsin. Just as the field of ophthalmology went from Ridley's primitive intraocular lens replacement to implants useful in virtually every cataract patient in one surgeon's clinical lifetime, the field of retinal prostheses seems to be following a very similar trajectory. Likewise, the field of visual prosthetics continues to amass evidence that suggests that its long-term future is promising. We are grateful to the scientists who made the congress a success, to the Journal of Neural Engineering for organizing this special issue, to the financial supporters who made the congress possible and to the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology staff who worked tirelessly and without complaint to bring home a superb congress. We invite you to attend the next The Eye and The Chip meeting, which will be held in 2011.

  7. Induction soldering of photovoltaic system components

    DOEpatents

    Kumaria, Shashwat; de Leon, Briccio

    2015-11-17

    A method comprises positioning a pair of photovoltaic wafers in a side-by-side arrangement. An interconnect is placed on the pair of wafers such that the interconnect overlaps both wafers of the pair, solder material being provided between the interconnect and the respective wafers. A solder head is then located adjacent the interconnect, and the coil is energized to effect inductive heating of the solder material. The solder head comprises an induction coil shaped to define an eye, and a magnetic field concentrator located at least partially in the eye of the coil. The magnetic field concentrator defines a passage extending axially through the eye of the coil, and may be of a material with a high magnetic permeability.

  8. OPTICS OF CONDUCTIVE KERATOPLASTY: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRESBYOPIA MANAGEMENT

    PubMed Central

    Hersh, Peter S

    2005-01-01

    Purpose To define the corneal optics of conductive keratoplasty (CK) and assess the clinical implications for hyperopia and presbyopia management. Methods Four analyses were done. (1) Multifocal effects: In a prospective study of CK, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) for a given refractive error in 72 postoperative eyes was compared to control eyes. (2) Surgically induced astigmatism (SIA): 203 eyes were analyzed for magnitude and axis of SIA. (3) Higher-order optical aberrations: Corneal higher-order optical aberrations were assessed for 36 eyes after CK and a similar patient population after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). (4) Presbyopia clinical trial: Visual acuity, refractive result, and patient questionnaires were analyzed for 150 subjects in a prospective, multicenter clinical trial of presbyopia management with CK. Results (1) 63% and 82% of eyes after CK had better UCVA at distance and near, respectively, than controls. (2) The mean SIA was 0.23 diopter (D) steepening at 175° (P < .001); mean magnitude was 0.66 D (SD, 0.43 D). (3) After CK, composite fourth- and sixth-order spherical aberration increased; change in (Z12) spherical aberration alone was not statistically significant. When compared to hyperopic LASIK, there was a statistically significant increase in composite fourth- and sixth-order spherical aberration (P < .01) and spherical aberration (Z12) alone (P < .02); spherical aberration change was more prolate after CK. (4) After the CK monovision procedure, 80% of patients had J3 or better binocular UCVA at near; 84% of patients were satisfied. Satisfaction was associated with near UCVA of J3 or better in the monovision eye (P = .001) and subjectively good postoperative depth perception (P = .038). Conclusions CK seems to produce functional corneal multifocality with definable introduction of SIA and higher-order optical aberrations, and development of a more prolate corneal contour. These optical factors may militate toward improved near vision function. PMID:17057812

  9. Progressive Decrease of Peripapillary Angioflow Vessel Density During Structural and Visual Field Progression in Early Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Holló, Gábor

    2017-07-01

    To present a case of early primary open-angle glaucoma in which retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and visual field progression were accompanied with significant progression of peripapillary angioflow vessel density (PAFD) measured with optical coherence tomographic angiography. A 68-year-old female patient who was under topical intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering medication for 20 years for ocular hypertension of the right and preperimetric primary open-angle glaucoma of the left eye (with reproducible inferotemporal and superotemporal neuroretinal rim and RNFL loss) was prospectively imaged with the AngioVue OCT for RNFLT, GCC thickness, and PAFD, and investigated with the Octopus Normal G2 visual field test on the same days at 6-month intervals for 18 months, while the IOP of the left eye escaped from control. IOP of the left eye fluctuated between 14 and 30 mm Hg in the study period. RNFLT, GCC thickness, and peripapillary PAFD all decreased significantly (linear regression analysis, P=0.030, 0.040, and 0.020, respectively), and a significant 2.1 dB/y progression was seen for a superior visual field cluster. The RNFLT, peripapillary PAFD, and visual field of the right eye remained normal and unchanged. In our case IOP elevation, glaucomatous visual field conversion, and structural progression were accompanied with significant progressive decrease of peripapillary PAFD. The simultaneous thinning of RNFLT and GCC and decrease of peripapillary PAFD suggest that PAFD may potentially be an additional indicator of early progression in primary open-angle glaucoma.

  10. Eye-bank preparation of endothelial tissue.

    PubMed

    Boynton, Grace E; Woodward, Maria A

    2014-07-01

    Eye-bank preparation of endothelial tissue for keratoplasty continues to evolve. Although eye-bank personnel have become comfortable and competent at Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), tissue preparation and tissue transport, optimization of preparation methods continues. Surgeons and eye-bank personnel should be up to date on the research in the field. As surgeons transit to Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK), eye banks have risen to the challenge of preparing tissue. Eye banks are refining their DMEK preparation and transport techniques. This article covers refinements to DSAEK tissue preparation, innovations to prepare DMEK tissue, and nuances to improve donor cornea tissue quality. As eye bank-supplied corneal tissue is the main source of tissue for many corneal surgeons, it is critical to stay informed about tissue handling and preparation. Ultimately, the surgeon is responsible for the transplantation, so involvement of clinicians in eye-banking practices and advocacy for pursuing meaningful research in this area will benefit clinical patient outcomes.

  11. The eyes have it: Using eye tracking to inform information processing strategies in multi-attributes choices.

    PubMed

    Ryan, Mandy; Krucien, Nicolas; Hermens, Frouke

    2018-04-01

    Although choice experiments (CEs) are widely applied in economics to study choice behaviour, understanding of how individuals process attribute information remains limited. We show how eye-tracking methods can provide insight into how decisions are made. Participants completed a CE, while their eye movements were recorded. Results show that although the information presented guided participants' decisions, there were also several processing biases at work. Evidence was found of (a) top-to-bottom, (b) left-to-right, and (c) first-to-last order biases. Experimental factors-whether attributes are defined as "best" or "worst," choice task complexity, and attribute ordering-also influence information processing. How individuals visually process attribute information was shown to be related to their choices. Implications for the design and analysis of CEs and future research are discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  12. Quantifying Pilot Visual Attention in Low Visibility Terminal Operations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ellis, Kyle K.; Arthur, J. J.; Latorella, Kara A.; Kramer, Lynda J.; Shelton, Kevin J.; Norman, Robert M.; Prinzel, Lawrence J.

    2012-01-01

    Quantifying pilot visual behavior allows researchers to determine not only where a pilot is looking and when, but holds implications for specific behavioral tracking when these data are coupled with flight technical performance. Remote eye tracking systems have been integrated into simulators at NASA Langley with effectively no impact on the pilot environment. This paper discusses the installation and use of a remote eye tracking system. The data collection techniques from a complex human-in-the-loop (HITL) research experiment are discussed; especially, the data reduction algorithms and logic to transform raw eye tracking data into quantified visual behavior metrics, and analysis methods to interpret visual behavior. The findings suggest superior performance for Head-Up Display (HUD) and improved attentional behavior for Head-Down Display (HDD) implementations of Synthetic Vision System (SVS) technologies for low visibility terminal area operations. Keywords: eye tracking, flight deck, NextGen, human machine interface, aviation

  13. Long-Range Correlation in alpha-Wave Predominant EEG in Human

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharif, Asif; Chyan Lin, Der; Kwan, Hon; Borette, D. S.

    2004-03-01

    The background noise in the alpha-predominant EEG taken from eyes-open and eyes-closed neurophysiological states is studied. Scale-free characteristic is found in both cases using the wavelet approach developed by Simonsen and Nes [1]. The numerical results further show the scaling exponent during eyes-closed is consistently lower than eyes-open. We conjecture the origin of this difference is related to the temporal reconfiguration of the neural network in the brain. To further investigate the scaling structure of the EEG background noise, we extended the second order statistics to higher order moments using the EEG increment process. We found that the background fluctuation in the alpha-predominant EEG is predominantly monofractal. Preliminary results are given to support this finding and its implication in brain functioning is discussed. [1] A.H. Simonsen and O.M. Nes, Physical Review E, 58, 2779¡V2748 (1998).

  14. Nerve Fiber Flux Analysis Using Wide-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography.

    PubMed

    Tan, Ou; Liu, Liang; Liu, Li; Huang, David

    2018-02-01

    To devise a method to quantify nerve fibers over their arcuate courses over an extended peripapillary area using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Participants were imaged with 8 × 8-mm volumetric OCT scans centered at the optic disc. A new quantity, nerve fiber flux (NFF), represents the cross-sectional area transected perpendicular to the nerve fibers. The peripapillary area was divided into 64 tracks with equal flux. An iterative algorithm traced the trajectory of the tracks assuming that the relative distribution of the NFF was conserved with compensation for fiber connections to ganglion cells on the macular side. Average trajectory was averaged from normal eyes and use to calculate the NFF maps for glaucomatous eyes. The NFF maps were divided into eight sectors that correspond to visual field regions. There were 24 healthy and 10 glaucomatous eyes enrolled. The algorithm converged on similar patterns of NFL tracks for all healthy eyes. In glaucomatous eyes, NFF correlated with visual field sensitivity in the arcuate sectors (Spearman ρ = 0.53-0.62). Focal nerve fiber loss in glaucomatous eyes appeared as uniform tracks of NFF defects that followed the expected arcuate fiber trajectory. Using an algorithm based on the conservation of flux, we derived nerve fiber trajectories in the peripapillary area. The NFF map is useful for the visualization of focal defects and quantification of sector nerve fiber loss from wide-area volumetric OCT scans. NFF provides a cumulative measure of volumetric loss along nerve fiber tracks and could improve the detection of focal glaucoma damage.

  15. Attention in dichoptic and binocular vision

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kimchi, Ruth; Rubin, Yifat; Gopher, Daniel; Raij, David

    1989-01-01

    The ability of human subjected to mobilize attention and cope with task requirements under dichoptic and binocular viewing was investigated in an experiment employing a target search task. Subjects were required to search for a target at either the global level, the local level, or at both levels of a compound stimulus. The tasks were performed in a focused attention condition in which subjects had to attend to the stimulus presented to one eye/field (under dichoptic and binocular viewings, respectively) and to ignore the stimulus presented to the irrelevant eye/field, and in a divided attention condition in which subjects had to attend to the stimuli presented to both eyes/fields. Subjects' performance was affected mainly by attention conditions which interacted with task requirements, rather than by viewing situation. An interesting effect of viewing was found for the local-directed search task in which the cost of dividing attention was higher under binocular than under dichoptic viewing.

  16. Visual-Motor Transformations Within Frontal Eye Fields During Head-Unrestrained Gaze Shifts in the Monkey.

    PubMed

    Sajad, Amirsaman; Sadeh, Morteza; Keith, Gerald P; Yan, Xiaogang; Wang, Hongying; Crawford, John Douglas

    2015-10-01

    A fundamental question in sensorimotor control concerns the transformation of spatial signals from the retina into eye and head motor commands required for accurate gaze shifts. Here, we investigated these transformations by identifying the spatial codes embedded in visually evoked and movement-related responses in the frontal eye fields (FEFs) during head-unrestrained gaze shifts. Monkeys made delayed gaze shifts to the remembered location of briefly presented visual stimuli, with delay serving to dissociate visual and movement responses. A statistical analysis of nonparametric model fits to response field data from 57 neurons (38 with visual and 49 with movement activities) eliminated most effector-specific, head-fixed, and space-fixed models, but confirmed the dominance of eye-centered codes observed in head-restrained studies. More importantly, the visual response encoded target location, whereas the movement response mainly encoded the final position of the imminent gaze shift (including gaze errors). This spatiotemporal distinction between target and gaze coding was present not only at the population level, but even at the single-cell level. We propose that an imperfect visual-motor transformation occurs during the brief memory interval between perception and action, and further transformations from the FEF's eye-centered gaze motor code to effector-specific codes in motor frames occur downstream in the subcortical areas. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press.

  17. The effect of topical anesthesia on the rat electroretinogram.

    PubMed

    Sandalon, Shai; Ofri, Ron

    2009-04-01

    Topical anesthetics are recommended when electroretinograms (ERGs) are recorded using contact lens electrodes. However, these drugs act by blocking voltage-gated Na+ channels. Since such channels have been located in both the inner and outer retina of many species, topical anesthesia could affect the ERG recordings in these subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxybuprocaine, a commonly used ester local anesthetic, on the rat ERG. Full-field scotopic and pattern ERGs (PERGs) were recorded successively from both eyes of seven rats. One eye was randomly treated with oxybuprocaine 15 min prior to recording. In 10 rats unilateral full-field photopic ERG recordings were conducted prior to, and 15 min after, treatment. B-wave amplitude ratios of the experimental/control eyes were 1.13, 1.30, and 1.35 for the three intensities used to record scotopic ERG responses, and 1.04 for the photopic ERG responses. PERG amplitude ratios of the experimental/control eyes were 1.10, 1.21, 1.21, 1.24, and 1.26 for the five patterns used. Treatment had no significant negative effect on signal amplitude or implicit time of the full-field ERG or PERG. In fact, amplitudes of signals from treated eyes tended to be (insignificantly) higher, though this might reflect better position of the active electrode rather than a biological effect. We conclude that oxybuprocaine has no negative effect on the rat ERG.

  18. Chronic Electromagnetic Exposure at Occupational Safety Level Does Not Affect the Metabolic Profile nor Cornea Healing after LASIK Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Dabouis, Vincent; Gentilhomme, Edgar; Vignal, Rodolphe; Bourbon, Fréderic; Fauvelle, Florence; Debouzy, Jean-Claude

    2014-01-01

    LASIK eye surgery has become a very common practice for myopic people, especially those in the military. Sometimes undertaken by people who need to keep a specific medical aptitude, this surgery could be performed in secret from the hierarchy and from the institute medical staff. However, even though the eyes have been previously described as one of the most sensitive organs to electromagnetic fields in the human body, no data exist on the potential deleterious effects of electromagnetic fields on the healing eye. The consequences of chronic long-lasting radar exposures at power density, in accordance with the occupational safety standards (9.71 GHz, 50 W/m2), were investigated on cornea healing. The metabolic and clinical statuses after experimental LASIK keratotomy were assessed on the different eye segments in a New Zealand rabbit model. The analysis methods were performed after 5 months of exposure (1 hour/day, 3 times/week). Neither clinical or histological examinations, nor experimental data, such as light scattering, 1H-NMR HRMAS metabolomics, 13C-NMR spectra of lipidic extracts, and antioxidant status, evidenced significant modifications. It was concluded that withdrawing the medical aptitude of people working in electromagnetic field environments (i.e., radar operators in the navy) after eye surgery was not justified. PMID:24757560

  19. Driving with Binocular Visual Field Loss? A Study on a Supervised On-Road Parcours with Simultaneous Eye and Head Tracking

    PubMed Central

    Aehling, Kathrin; Heister, Martin; Rosenstiel, Wolfgang; Schiefer, Ulrich; Papageorgiou, Elena

    2014-01-01

    Post-chiasmal visual pathway lesions and glaucomatous optic neuropathy cause binocular visual field defects (VFDs) that may critically interfere with quality of life and driving licensure. The aims of this study were (i) to assess the on-road driving performance of patients suffering from binocular visual field loss using a dual-brake vehicle, and (ii) to investigate the related compensatory mechanisms. A driving instructor, blinded to the participants' diagnosis, rated the driving performance (passed/failed) of ten patients with homonymous visual field defects (HP), including four patients with right (HR) and six patients with left homonymous visual field defects (HL), ten glaucoma patients (GP), and twenty age and gender-related ophthalmologically healthy control subjects (C) during a 40-minute driving task on a pre-specified public on-road parcours. In order to investigate the subjects' visual exploration ability, eye movements were recorded by means of a mobile eye tracker. Two additional cameras were used to monitor the driving scene and record head and shoulder movements. Thus this study is novel as a quantitative assessment of eye movements and an additional evaluation of head and shoulder was performed. Six out of ten HP and four out of ten GP were rated as fit to drive by the driving instructor, despite their binocular visual field loss. Three out of 20 control subjects failed the on-road assessment. The extent of the visual field defect was of minor importance with regard to the driving performance. The site of the homonymous visual field defect (HVFD) critically interfered with the driving ability: all failed HP subjects suffered from left homonymous visual field loss (HL) due to right hemispheric lesions. Patients who failed the driving assessment had mainly difficulties with lane keeping and gap judgment ability. Patients who passed the test displayed different exploration patterns than those who failed. Patients who passed focused longer on the central area of the visual field than patients who failed the test. In addition, patients who passed the test performed more glances towards the area of their visual field defect. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that the extent of visual field per se cannot predict driving fitness, because some patients with HVFDs and advanced glaucoma can compensate for their deficit by effective visual scanning. Head movements appeared to be superior to eye and shoulder movements in predicting the outcome of the driving test under the present study scenario. PMID:24523869

  20. Site of potential operating microscope light-induced phototoxicity on the human retina during temporal approach eye surgery.

    PubMed

    Pavilack, M A; Brod, R D

    2001-02-01

    To determine the site of focal illumination on the retina of phakic human cadaver eyes from an operating microscope positioned for temporal approach eye surgery. Experimental study. A Zeiss OPMI-6SFR operating microscope (Zeiss Humphrey Systems, Dublin, CA) was positioned over two phakic human cadaver eyes to measure the site of the focal illumination on the retina by directly observing the illumination on the posterior scleral surface of the globe. External localization of the foveola was made by direct observation using scleral indentation and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Various combinations of microscope angulation and field of view were analyzed. Distance of focal illumination from the operating room microscope relative to the foveola was measured. The diameter of the "hot spot" of focal illumination on the retina was 4.0 mm. With the eye positioned straight ahead and the level operating room microscope positioned for temporal approach eye surgery, the center of retinal illumination was 0.9 and 1.4 mm nasal relative to the foveola when the microscope field of view was centered over the cornea and temporal limbus, respectively. With the microscope angled 5, 10, 15, and 20 degrees temporally (oculars tilted toward surgeon), the center of the illumination was displaced nasal to the foveola by 1.1, 1.5, 3.8, and 5.1 mm, respectively, when the field of view was centered over the cornea and 1.5, 2.6, 4.7, and 6.0 mm, respectively, nasal to the foveola when centered over the temporal limbus. Retinal illumination from an operating microscope positioned for temporal approach eye surgery has the potential for light-induced injury to the fovea. Angulation of the operating microscope by up to 10 degrees temporally when the microscope field of view was centered over the cornea and up to 5 degrees temporally when centered over the temporal limbus was not adequate to displace the focal illumination off the foveola when the eye was in the straight-ahead position. Tilting the operating microscope 15 degrees or more temporally when centered on the pupil and 10 degrees or more when centered over the temporal limbus should safely displace the retinal light exposure away from the fovea during temporal approach surgery. Suggestions for reducing the risk of iatrogenic phototoxicity are reviewed.

  1. A New GaAs Laser Radar for Atmospheric Measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brown, R. T.; Stoliar, A. P.

    1973-01-01

    A special GaAs lidar using fiber coupled diode lasers was constructed for the purpose of measuring the extinction coefficient distribution within a large atmospheric volume at a rate compatible with atmospheric kinematics. The technique is based on taking backscatter signature ratios over spatial increments after the returns are normalized by pulse integration. Essential aspects of the lidar design are beam pulse power, repetition rate, detection system dynamic range and decay linearity. It was necessary to preclude the possibility of eye hazard under any operating conditions, including directly viewing the emitting aperture at close distance with a night-adapted eye. The electronic signal processing and control circuits were built to allow versatile operations. Extinction coefficient measurements were made in fog and clouds using a low-power laboratory version of the lidar, demonstrating feasibility. Data are presented showing range squared corrected backscatter profiles converted to extinction coefficient profiles, temporal signal fluctuations, and solar induced background noise. These results aided in the design of the lidar which is described. Functional tests of this lidar and the implications relevant to the design of a prototype model are discussed. This work was jointly sponsored by Sperry Rand Corporation under its Independent Research and Development program; the Air Force Avionics Laboratory, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio; and the Naval Ammunition Depot, Crane, Indiana.

  2. Change of Retinal Nerve Layer Thickness in Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Revealed by Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

    PubMed

    Han, Mei; Zhao, Chen; Han, Quan-Hong; Xie, Shiyong; Li, Yan

    2016-08-01

    To examine the changes of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) by serial morphometry using Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Retrospective study in patients with newly diagnosed NAION (n=33, all unilateral) and controls (n=75 unilateral NAION patients with full contralateral eye vision) who underwent FD-OCT of the optic disk, optic nerve head (ONH), and macula within 1 week of onset and again 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later. The patients showed no improvement in vision during follow-up. Within 1 week of onset, all NAION eyes exhibited severe ONH fiber crowding and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) edema. Four had subretinal fluid accumulation and 12 had posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) at the optic disc surface. Ganglion cell complex (GCC) and RNFL thicknesses were reduced at 1 and 3 months (p < 0.05), with no deterioration thereafter. Initial RNFL/GCC contraction magnitude in the superior hemisphere correlated with the severity of inferior visual field deficits. NAION progression is characterized by an initial phase of accelerated RNFL and GCC deterioration. These results reveal that the kinetic change of neural retina in NAION and may have implication on the time window for treatment of NAION. FD-OCT is useful in the evaluation of NAION.

  3. Eyes On the Ground: Year 2 Assessment.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brost, Randolph; Little, Charles Q.; McDaniel, Michael

    The goal of the Eyes On the Ground project is to develop tools to aid IAEA inspectors. Our original vision was to produce a tool that would take three-dimensional measurements of an unknown piece of equipment, construct a semantic representation of the measured object, and then use the resulting data to infer possible explanations of equipment function. We report our tests of a 3-d laser scanner to obtain 3-d point cloud data, and subsequent tests of software to convert the resulting point clouds into primitive geometric objects such as planes and cylinders. These tests successfully identified pipes of moderate diametermore » and planar surfaces, but also incurred significant noise. We also investigated the IAEA inspector task context, and learned that task constraints may present significant obstacles to using 3-d laser scanners. We further learned that equipment scale and enclosing cases may confound our original goal of equipment diagnosis. Meanwhile, we also surveyed the rapidly evolving field of 3-d measurement technology, and identified alternative sensor modalities that may prove more suitable for inspector use in a safeguards context. We conclude with a detailed discussion of lessons learned and the resulting implications for project goals. Approved for public release; further dissemination unlimited.« less

  4. Eyes On the Ground: Path Forward Analysis.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brost, Randolph; Little, Charles Q.; peter-stein, natacha

    A previous report assesses our progress to date on the Eyes On the Ground project, and reviews lessons learned [1]. In this report, we address the implications of those lessons in defining the most productive path forward for the remainder of the project. We propose two main concepts: Interactive Diagnosis and Model-Driven Assistance. Among these, the Model-Driven Assistance concept appears the most promising. The Model-Driven Assistance concept is based on an approximate but useful model of a facility, which provides a unified representation for storing, viewing, and analyzing data that is known about the facility. This representation provides value tomore » both inspectors and IAEA headquarters, and facilitates communication between the two. The concept further includes a lightweight, portable field tool to aid the inspector in executing a variety of inspection tasks, including capture of images and 3-d scan data. We develop a detailed description of this concept, including its system components, functionality, and example use cases. The envisioned tool would provide value by reducing inspector cognitive load, streamlining inspection tasks, and facilitating communication between the inspector and teams at IAEA headquarters. We conclude by enumerating the top implementation priorities to pursue in the remaining limited time of the project. Approved for public release; further dissemination unlimited.« less

  5. Reduced response cluster size in early visual areas explains the acuity deficit in amblyopia.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yufeng; Feng, Lixia; Zhou, Yifeng

    2017-05-03

    Focal visual stimulation typically results in the activation of a large portion of the early visual cortex. This spread of activity is attributed to long-range lateral interactions. Such long-range interactions may serve to stabilize a visual representation or to simply modulate incoming signals, and any associated dysfunction in long-range activation may reduce sensitivity to visual information in conditions such as amblyopia. We sought to measure the dispersion of cortical activity following local visual stimulation in a group of patients with amblyopia and matched normal. Twenty adult anisometropic amblyopes and 10 normal controls participated in this study. Using a multifocal stimulation, we simultaneously measured cluster sizes to multiple stimulation points in the visual field. We found that the functional MRI (fMRI) response cluster size that corresponded to the fellow eye was significantly larger as opposed to that corresponding to the amblyopic eye and that the fMRI response cluster size at the two more central retinotopic locations correlated with amblyopia acuity deficit. Our results suggest that the amblyopic visual cortex has a diminished long-range communication as evidenced by significantly smaller cluster of activity as measured with fMRI. These results have important implications for models of amblyopia and approaches to treatment.

  6. Alternative arrangements for the delivery of eye care services within staff model managed care organizations.

    PubMed

    Soroka, Mort; Reis, Lesley; Krumholz, David; Krasner, Mel; Portello, Joan

    2003-11-01

    Eye care services, though accounting for only a small fraction of healthcare costs, encompass a unique spectrum of professional staffing options that can enhance efficiency and decrease costs within staff model managed care organizations. This study was designed to describe and assess alternative staffing arrangements and cost implications for the delivery of eye care services by optometrists, ophthalmologists, and primary care physicians within staff model managed care organizations. The clinical records of individual patients--rather than administrative and billing files--at three managed care organizations are the principal source of information. Clinical auditors extracted data on ambulatory eye care services provided for conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion/erosion, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Our findings document the substantial role optometrists play in the delivery of eye care, whether they provide the care independently or in collaboration with an ophthalmologist. The levels of remuneration for optometrists are roughly one third to one half the annual rate for ophthalmologists. Staffing arrangements that use optometrists to the full extent of their professional training can provide significant cost savings. The cost-effectiveness of using the services of optometrists capable of delivering high-quality eye care can be demonstrated. Potential cost savings for staff model managed care organizations may accrue if the roles, functions, and availability of eye providers are adjusted.

  7. Effects of visual expertise on a novel eye-size illusion: Implications for holistic face processing

    PubMed Central

    Fu, Genyue; Dong, Yan; Quinn, Paul C.; Xiao, Wen S.; Wang, Qiandong; Chen, Guowei; Pascalis, Olivier; Lee, Kang

    2015-01-01

    The present study examined the effect of visual experience on the magnitude of a novel eye-size illusion: when the size of a face’s frame is increased or decreased but eye size is unchanged, observers judge the size of the eyes to be different from that in the original face frame. In the current study, we asked Chinese and Caucasian participants to judge eye size in different pairs of faces and measured the magnitude of the illusion when the faces were own- or other-age (adult vs. infant faces) and when the faces were own- or other-race (Chinese vs. Caucasian faces). We found an other-age effect and an other-race effect with the eye-size illusion: The illusion was more pronounced with own-race and own-age faces than with other-race and other-age faces. These findings taken together suggest that visual experience with faces influences the magnitude of this novel illusion. Extensive experience with certain face categories strengthens the illusion in the context of these categories, but lack of it reduces the magnitude of the illusion. Our results further imply that holistic processing may play an important role in engendering the eye-size illusion. PMID:26048685

  8. Intravitreal bevacizumab versus laser treatment in type 1 retinopathy of prematurity: report on fluorescein angiographic findings.

    PubMed

    Lepore, Domenico; Quinn, Graham E; Molle, Fernando; Baldascino, Antonio; Orazi, Lorenzo; Sammartino, Maria; Purcaro, Velia; Giannantonio, Carmen; Papacci, Patrizia; Romagnoli, Costantino

    2014-11-01

    To compare the structural outcome at 9 months of eyes treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab with fellow eyes treated with conventional laser photoablation in zone I type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Single randomized controlled trial. All inborn babies with type 1 zone I ROP at a single institution were included in the study. One eye was randomized to receive an intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg bevacizumab; the fellow eye received conventional laser photoablation. Digital fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography (FA) using the RetCam (Clarity Medical Systems Inc., Pleasanton, CA) were performed before treatment and 9 months after treatment. Presence of retinal and choroidal abnormalities on FA at 9 months. Thirteen infants were enrolled; 1 died 3 months after birth. One laser-treated eye progressed to stage 5 retinal detachment. The remaining 23 eyes had favorable structural results at the 9-month follow-up and provided FA results. At 9 months of age, all eyes treated with a bevacizumab injection were noted to have abnormalities at the periphery (large avascular area, abnormal branching, shunt) or the posterior pole (hyperfluorescent lesion, absence of foveal avascular zone). These posterior and peripheral lesions were not observed in the majority of the lasered eyes. This study documents significant vascular and macular abnormalities of eyes in the bevacizumab group. Long-lasting implications of these abnormalities for visual function of the child need to be studied. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Motor mechanisms of vertical fusion in individuals with superior oblique paresis.

    PubMed

    Mudgil, Ananth V; Walker, Mark; Steffen, Heimo; Guyton, David L; Zee, David S

    2002-06-01

    We wanted to determine the mechanisms of motor vertical fusion in patients with superior oblique paresis and to correlate these mechanisms with surgical outcomes. Ten patients with superior oblique paresis underwent 3-axis, bilateral, scleral search coil eye movement recordings. Eye movements associated with fusion were analyzed. Six patients had decompensated congenital superior oblique paresis and 4 had acquired superior oblique paresis. All patients with acquired superior oblique paresis relied predominantly on the vertical rectus muscles for motor fusion. Patients with congenital superior oblique paresis were less uniform in their mechanisms for motor fusion: 2 patients used predominantly the oblique muscles, 2 patients used predominantly the vertical recti, and 2 patients used predominantly the superior oblique in the hyperdeviated eye and the superior rectus in the hypodeviated eye. The last 2 patients developed the largest changes in torsional eye alignment relative to changes in vertical eye alignment and were the only patients to develop symptomatic surgical overcorrections. There are 3 different mechanisms for vertical fusion in individuals with superior oblique paresis, with the predominant mechanism being the vertical recti. A subset of patients with superior oblique paresis uses predominantly the superior oblique muscle in the hyperdeviated paretic eye and the superior rectus muscle in the fellow eye for fusion. This results in intorsion of both eyes, causing a large change in torsional alignment. The consequent cyclodisparity, in addition to the existing vertical deviation, may make fusion difficult. The differing patterns of vertical fusional vergence may have implications for surgical treatment.

  10. The genetics of congenital aniridia-a guide for the ophthalmologist.

    PubMed

    Landsend, Erlend S; Utheim, Øygunn A; Pedersen, Hilde R; Lagali, Neil; Baraas, Rigmor C; Utheim, Tor P

    Congenital aniridia is a rare panocular disease caused by fundamental disturbances in the development of the eye, characterized primarily by hypoplasia of the iris and macula. Severe secondary complications such as keratopathy, cataract, and glaucoma are common and often lead to considerable visual impairment or blindness. Many complications in aniridia patients are difficult to treat and present a challenge for the ophthalmologist. Increasingly, associated nonocular features of the disease are also being recognized. Over the past decades, major steps have been made in the understanding of the genetic basis of aniridia. Moreover, recent studies have prepared the ground for future treatment options based on specific mutations. Therefore, specific knowledge about genetics in aniridia has become more important than ever. We provide an overview of the field of aniridia genetics and its clinical implications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Penetrating eye injury in war.

    PubMed

    Biehl, J W; Valdez, J; Hemady, R K; Steidl, S M; Bourke, D L

    1999-11-01

    The percentage of penetrating eye injuries in war has increased significantly in this century compared with the total number of combat injuries. With the increasing use of fragmentation weapons and possibly laser weapons on the battle-field in the future, the rate of eye injuries may exceed the 13% of the total military injuries found in Operations Desert Storm/Shield. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), eye injuries revealed that retained foreign bodies and posterior segment injuries have an improved prognosis in future military ophthalmic surgery as a result of modern diagnostic and treatment modalities. Compared with the increasing penetrating eye injuries on the battlefield, advances in ophthalmic surgery are insignificant. Eye armor, such as visors that flip up and down and protect the eyes from laser injury, needs to be developed. Similar eye protection is being developed in civilian sportswear. Penetrating eye injury in the civilian sector is becoming much closer to the military model and is now comparable for several reasons.

  12. Seeing the future: using Xenopus to understand eye regeneration.

    PubMed

    Tseng, Ai-Sun

    2017-01-01

    Studies of Xenopus eye development have contributed considerably to the understanding of vertebrate neurogenesis, including eye field specification, cell fate determination and identification of genes critical for eye formation. This knowledge has served as a solid foundation for cellular and molecular examinations of the robust regenerative capacity of the Xenopus eye. The retina, lens, and the optic nerve are capable of regeneration after injury in both larval and adult stages. Here, we discuss the current models for studying eye regeneration in Xenopus and their potential applications for providing insights into human eye diseases. As Xenopus has many of the same tools that are available for other regeneration models, we thus highlight the distinct strengths and versatility of this organism that make it especially suited for extrapolating and testing strategies aimed at promoting regeneration and repair in eye tissues. Furthermore, we outline a promising future for the use of new techniques and approaches to address outstanding questions in understanding eye regeneration. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Optical coherence tomography measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer in normal and juvenile glaucomatous eyes.

    PubMed

    Mrugacz, Malgorzata; Bakunowicz-Lazarczyk, Alina

    2005-01-01

    The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess and compare the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in normal and glaucomatous eyes of children using the optical coherence tomograph. The mean RNFL thickness of normal eyes (n=26) was compared with that of glaucomatous eyes (n=26). The eyes were classified into diagnostic groups based on conventional ophthalmological physical examination, Humphrey 30-2 visual fields, stereoscopic optic nerve head photography, and optical coherence tomography. The mean RNFL was significantly thinner in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes: 95+/-26.3 and 132+/-24.5 microm, respectively. More specifically, the RNFL was significantly thinner in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes in the inferior quadrant: 87+/-23.5 and 122+/-24.2 microm, respectively. The mean and inferior quadrant RFNL thicknesses as measured by the optical coherence tomograph showed a statistically significant correlation with glaucoma. Optical coherence tomography may contribute to tracking of juvenile glaucoma progression. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  14. Dissecting patterns of preparatory activity in the frontal eye fields during pursuit target selection.

    PubMed

    Raghavan, Ramanujan T; Joshua, Mati

    2017-10-01

    We investigated the composition of preparatory activity of frontal eye field (FEF) neurons in monkeys performing a pursuit target selection task. In response to the orthogonal motion of a large and a small reward target, monkeys initiated pursuit biased toward the direction of large reward target motion. FEF neurons exhibited robust preparatory activity preceding movement initiation in this task. Preparatory activity consisted of two components, ramping activity that was constant across target selection conditions, and a flat offset in firing rates that signaled the target selection condition. Ramping activity accounted for 50% of the variance in the preparatory activity and was linked most strongly, on a trial-by-trial basis, to pursuit eye movement latency rather than to its direction or gain. The offset in firing rates that discriminated target selection conditions accounted for 25% of the variance in the preparatory activity and was commensurate with a winner-take-all representation, signaling the direction of large reward target motion rather than a representation that matched the parameters of the upcoming movement. These offer new insights into the role that the frontal eye fields play in target selection and pursuit control. They show that preparatory activity in the FEF signals more strongly when to move rather than where or how to move and suggest that structures outside the FEF augment its contributions to the target selection process. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used the smooth eye movement pursuit system to link between patterns of preparatory activity in the frontal eye fields and movement during a target selection task. The dominant pattern was a ramping signal that did not discriminate between selection conditions and was linked, on trial-by-trial basis, to movement latency. A weaker pattern was composed of a constant signal that discriminated between selection conditions but was only weakly linked to the movement parameters. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

  15. Differences in children and adolescents' ability of reporting two CVS-related visual problems.

    PubMed

    Hu, Liang; Yan, Zheng; Ye, Tiantian; Lu, Fan; Xu, Peng; Chen, Hao

    2013-01-01

    The present study examined whether children and adolescents can correctly report dry eyes and blurred distance vision, two visual problems associated with computer vision syndrome. Participants are 913 children and adolescents aged 6-17. They were asked to report their visual problems, including dry eyes and blurred distance vision, and received an eye examination, including tear film break-up time (TFBUT) and visual acuity (VA). Inconsistency was found between participants' reports of dry eyes and TFBUT results among all 913 participants as well as for all of four subgroups. In contrast, consistency was found between participants' reports of blurred distance vision and VA results among 873 participants who had never worn glasses as well as for the four subgroups. It was concluded that children and adolescents are unable to report dry eyes correctly; however, they are able to report blurred distance vision correctly. Three practical implications of the findings were discussed. Little is known about children's ability to report their visual problems, an issue critical to diagnosis and treatment of children's computer vision syndrome. This study compared children's self-reports and clinic examination results and found children can correctly report blurred distance vision but not dry eyes.

  16. Bridging the Gap: Understanding Eye Movements and Attentional Mechanisms is Key to Improving Amblyopia Treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gambacorta, Christina Grace

    Amblyopia is a developmental visual disorder resulting in sensory, motor and attentional deficits, including delays in both saccadic and manual reaction time. It is unclear whether this delay is due to differences in sensory processing of the stimulus, or the processes required to dis-engage/shift/re-engage attention when moving the eye from fixation to a saccadic target. In the first experiment we compare asymptotic saccadic and manual reaction times between the two eyes, using equivalent stimulus strength to account for differences in sensory processing. In a follow-up study, we modulate RT by removing the fixation dot, which is thought to release spatial attention at the fovea, and reduces reaction time in normal observers. Finally, we discuss the implications for these findings on future amblyopic treatment, specifically dichoptic video game playing. Playing videogames may help engage the attentional network, leading to greater improvements than traditional treatment of patching the non- amblyopic eye. Further, when treatment involves both eyes, fixation stability may be improved during the therapeutic intervention, yielding a better outcome than just playing a video game with a patch over the non-amblyopic eye.

  17. Effect of sub-Tenon's and peribulbar anesthesia on intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude.

    PubMed

    Pianka, P; Weintraub-Padova, H; Lazar, M; Geyer, O

    2001-08-01

    To compare the effect of peribulbar and sub-Tenon's anesthesia on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in the injected eye and the fellow noninjected (control) eye. Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. This prospective study measured IOP and OPA at baseline and 1 and 10 minutes after administration of lidocaine anesthesia in 40 consecutive adult patients having elective cataract surgery. The IOP remained stable throughout the study with both modes of anesthesia. One minute after injection of the anesthetic agent, the OPA was significantly decreased in the injected eyes in both the sub-Tenon's (24%; P < .05) and peribulbar (25%; P < .05) groups. The decrease in the OPA in the sub-Tenon's group (14%; P < .05) was detectable after 10 minutes in the control eyes. In the peribulbar anesthesia group, the OPA in the control eyes increased significantly (9%; P < .05) 1 minute after injection of the anesthetic agent, returning to preinjection levels 10 minutes after the injection. The OPA in the eyes in which lidocaine was injected decreased significantly in both the sub-Tenon's and peribulbar groups. These findings have implications for the management of patients whose ocular circulation may be compromised.

  18. Effect of a patient training video on visual field test reliability

    PubMed Central

    Sherafat, H; Spry, P G D; Waldock, A; Sparrow, J M; Diamond, J P

    2003-01-01

    Aims: To evaluate the effect of a visual field test educational video on the reliability of the first automated visual field test of new patients. Methods: A prospective, randomised, controlled trial of an educational video on visual field test reliability of patients referred to the hospital eye service for suspected glaucoma was undertaken. Patients were randomised to either watch an educational video or a control group with no video. The video group was shown a 4.5 minute audiovisual presentation to familiarise them with the various aspects of visual field examination with particular emphasis on sources of unreliability. Reliability was determined using standard criteria of fixation loss rate less than 20%, false positive responses less than 33%, and false negative responses less than 33%. Results: 244 patients were recruited; 112 in the video group and 132 in the control group with no significant between group difference in age, sex, and density of field defects. A significant improvement in reliability (p=0.015) was observed in the group exposed to the video with 85 (75.9%) patients having reliable results compared to 81 (61.4%) in the control group. The difference was not significant for the right (first tested) eye with 93 (83.0%) of the visual fields reliable in the video group compared to 106 (80.0%) in the control group (p = 0.583), but was significant for the left (second tested) eye with 97 (86.6 %) of the video group reliable versus 97 (73.5%) of the control group (p = 0.011). Conclusions: The use of a brief, audiovisual patient information guide on taking the visual field test produced an improvement in patient reliability for individuals tested for the first time. In this trial the use of the video had most of its impact by reducing the number of unreliable fields from the second tested eye. PMID:12543740

  19. Effect of a patient training video on visual field test reliability.

    PubMed

    Sherafat, H; Spry, P G D; Waldock, A; Sparrow, J M; Diamond, J P

    2003-02-01

    To evaluate the effect of a visual field test educational video on the reliability of the first automated visual field test of new patients. A prospective, randomised, controlled trial of an educational video on visual field test reliability of patients referred to the hospital eye service for suspected glaucoma was undertaken. Patients were randomised to either watch an educational video or a control group with no video. The video group was shown a 4.5 minute audiovisual presentation to familiarize them with the various aspects of visual field examination with particular emphasis on sources of unreliability. Reliability was determined using standard criteria of fixation loss rate less than 20%, false positive responses less than 33%, and false negative responses less than 33%. 244 patients were recruited; 112 in the video group and 132 in the control group with no significant between group difference in age, sex, and density of field defects. A significant improvement in reliability (p=0.015) was observed in the group exposed to the video with 85 (75.9%) patients having reliable results compared to 81 (61.4%) in the control group. The difference was not significant for the right (first tested) eye with 93 (83.0%) of the visual fields reliable in the video group compared to 106 (80.0%) in the control group (p = 0.583), but was significant for the left (second tested) eye with 97 (86.6 %) of the video group reliable versus 97 (73.5%) of the control group (p = 0.011). The use of a brief, audiovisual patient information guide on taking the visual field test produced an improvement in patient reliability for individuals tested for the first time. In this trial the use of the video had most of its impact by reducing the number of unreliable fields from the second tested eye.

  20. Clinical Ethics Consultation After God: Implications for Advocacy and Neutrality.

    PubMed

    Parker, J Clint

    2018-06-01

    In After God: Morality and Bioethics in a Secular Age, H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. explores the broad implications for moral reasoning once a culture has lost a God's-eye perspective. In this paper, I focus on the implications of Engelhardt's views for clinical ethics consultation. I begin by examining the question of whether clinical ethics consultants (CECs) should advocate a particular viewpoint and/or process during consultations or adopt a neutral stance. I then examine the implications of Engelhardt's views for this question. Finally, I discuss some of Engelhardt's foundational ontological, metaphysical, meta-ethical, and epistemological commitments and how these commitments connect to his views on clinical ethics consultation.

  1. Fixation Patterns and Reading Rates in Eyes with Central Scotomas from Advanced Atrophic Age-related Macular Degeneration and Stargardt Disease

    PubMed Central

    Sunness, Janet S.; Applegate, Carol A.; Haselwood, David; Rubin, Gary S.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose To study fixation patterns and reading rates in eyes with central scotomas from geographic atrophy (GA) of age-related macular degeneration and to compare fixation patterns with those of patients with Stargardt disease. Methods Scanning laser ophthalmoscope analysis of fixation patterns in eyes with 20/80 to 20/200 visual acuity. Included were 41 eyes of 35 patients with GA and 10 eyes of 5 patients with Stargardt disease. The patients with GA also were tested for maximum reading rate, and the size of the areas of atrophy were measured by fundus photograph analysis. Results Sixty-three percent of GA eyes fixating outside the atrophy placed the scotoma to the right of fixation in visual field space, 22% placed the scotoma above fixation, and 15% placed it to the left, regardless of the laterality of the GA eye. Fixation was stable in subsequent years of testing for scotoma placement to the right of or above fixation. All GA eyes fixated immediately adjacent to the atrophy. In contrast, seven of ten eyes with Stargardt disease fixated at a considerable distance from the scotoma border, with the dense scotoma far above the fixation site in visual field space. For the patients with GA, the maximum reading rate was highly correlated with size of the atrophic area, but not with age or visual acuity within the limited visual acuity range tested. There was a trend to more rapid reading with the scotoma above fixation and slower reading with the scotoma to the left. Conclusion There is a preference for fixation with the scotoma to the right in eyes with GA. Patients with Stargardt disease use different strategies for fixation, perhaps due to subclinical pathology adjacent to the atrophic regions. The size of the atrophic area in GA plays the predominant role in reading rate for eyes that have already lost foveal vision. PMID:8841306

  2. A kinematic model for 3-D head-free gaze-shifts

    PubMed Central

    Daemi, Mehdi; Crawford, J. Douglas

    2015-01-01

    Rotations of the line of sight are mainly implemented by coordinated motion of the eyes and head. Here, we propose a model for the kinematics of three-dimensional (3-D) head-unrestrained gaze-shifts. The model was designed to account for major principles in the known behavior, such as gaze accuracy, spatiotemporal coordination of saccades with vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), relative eye and head contributions, the non-commutativity of rotations, and Listing's and Fick constraints for the eyes and head, respectively. The internal design of the model was inspired by known and hypothesized elements of gaze control physiology. Inputs included retinocentric location of the visual target and internal representations of initial 3-D eye and head orientation, whereas outputs were 3-D displacements of eye relative to the head and head relative to shoulder. Internal transformations decomposed the 2-D gaze command into 3-D eye and head commands with the use of three coordinated circuits: (1) a saccade generator, (2) a head rotation generator, (3) a VOR predictor. Simulations illustrate that the model can implement: (1) the correct 3-D reference frame transformations to generate accurate gaze shifts (despite variability in other parameters), (2) the experimentally verified constraints on static eye and head orientations during fixation, and (3) the experimentally observed 3-D trajectories of eye and head motion during gaze-shifts. We then use this model to simulate how 2-D eye-head coordination strategies interact with 3-D constraints to influence 3-D orientations of the eye-in-space, and the implications of this for spatial vision. PMID:26113816

  3. Optics of wide-angle panoramic viewing system-assisted vitreous surgery.

    PubMed

    Chalam, Kakarla V; Shah, Vinay A

    2004-01-01

    The purpose of the article is to describe the optics of the contact wide-angle lens system with stereo-reinverter for vitreous surgery. A panoramic viewing system is made up of two components; an indirect ophthalmoscopy lens system for fundus image viewing, which is placed on the patient's cornea as a contact lens, and a separate removable prism system for reinversion of the image mounted on the microscope above the zooming system. The system provides a 104 degrees field of view in a phakic emmetropic eye with minification, which can be magnified by the operating microscope. It permits a binocular stereoptic view even through a small pupil (3 mm) or larger. In an air-filled phakic eye, field of view increases to approximately 130 degrees. The obtained image of the patient's fundus is reinverted to form true, erect, stereoscopic image by the reinversion system. In conclusion, this system permits wide-angle panoramic view of the surgical field. The contact lens neutralizes the optical irregularities of the corneal surface and allows improved visualization in eyes with irregular astigmatism induced by corneal scars. Excellent visualization is achieved in complex clinical situations such as miotic pupils, lenticular opacities, and in air-filled phakic eyes.

  4. Solar retinopathy. A study from Nepal and from Germany.

    PubMed

    Rai, N; Thuladar, L; Brandt, F; Arden, G B; Berninger, T A

    1998-01-01

    319 patients with a solar retinopathy were seen in an eye clinic in Nepal within 20 months. All patients had either a positive history of sun-gazing or typical circumscribed scars in the foveal area. In more than 80% of the patients the visual acuity was 6/12 or better and did not deteriorate over time. 126 (40%) patients had a history of gazing at the sun during an eclipse, 33 (10%) were sun worshipers and 4 (1%) were in both categories. Three years later 29 patients were re-examined in a follow-up study. Only 16 had had visual disturbances directly after they had gazed into the sun. No colour vision defects were seen in any of the 44 affected eyes, when tested with Panel D 15, while four patients (6 eyes) had some uncertainty with the tritan plates of the Ishihara test charts. Metamorphopsia were recorded in 11 eyes. Five German patients with solar retinopathy were examined in more detail. Colour contrast sensitivity (CCS) was tested for the central and the peripheral visual field. CCS for tritan axis was raised in all patients for the central visual field, while it was normal for the peripheral visual field.

  5. Low vision system for rapid near- and far-field magnification switching.

    PubMed

    Ambrogi, Nicholas; Dias-Carlson, Rachel; Gantner, Karl; Gururaj, Anisha; Hanumara, Nevan; Narain, Jaya; Winter, Amos; Zielske, Iris; Satgunam, PremNandhini; Bagga, Deepak Kumar; Gothwal, Vijaya

    2015-01-01

    People suffering from low vision, a condition caused by a variety of eye-related diseases and/or disorders, find their ability to read greatly improved when text is magnified between 2 and 6 times. Assistive devices currently on the market are either geared towards reading text far away (~20 ft.) or very near (~2 ft.). This is a problem especially for students suffering from low vision, as they struggle to flip their focus between the chalkboard (far-field) and their notes (near- field). A solution to this problem is of high interest to eye care facilities in the developing world - no devices currently exist that have the aforementioned capabilities at an accessible price point. Through consultation with specialists at L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in India, the authors propose, design and demonstrate a device that fills this need, directed primarily at the Indian market. The device utilizes available hardware technologies to electronically capture video ahead of the user and zoom and display the image in real-time on LCD screens mounted in front of the user's eyes. This design is integrated as a wearable system in a glasses form-factor.

  6. The Monocular Duke of Urbino.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Stephen G; Leffler, Christopher T; Chavis, Pamela S; Khan, Faraaz; Bermudez, Dennis; Flynn, Harry W

    2016-01-01

    Federico da Montefeltro (1422-1482), the Duke of Urbino, was a well-known historical figure during the Italian Renaissance. He is the subject of a famous painting by Piero della Francesca (1416-1492), which displays the Duke from the left and highlights his oddly shaped nose. The Duke is known to have lost his right eye due to an injury sustained during a jousting tournament, which is why the painting portrays him from the left. Some historians teach that the Duke subsequently underwent nasal surgery to remove tissue from the bridge of his nose in order to expand his visual field in an attempt to compensate for the lost eye. In theory, removal of a piece of the nose may have expanded the nasal visual field, especially the "eye motion visual field" that encompasses eye movements. In addition, removing part of the nose may have reduced some of the effects of ocular parallax. Finally, shifting of the visual egocenter may have occurred, although this seems likely unrelated to the proposed nasal surgery. Whether or not the Duke actually underwent the surgery cannot be proven, but it seems unlikely that this would have substantially improved his visual function.

  7. Some characteristics of optokinetic eye-movement patterns : a comparative study.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1970-07-01

    Long-associated with transportation ('railroad nystagmus'), optokinetic (OPK) nystagmus is an eye-movement reaction which occurs when a series of moving objects crosses the visual field or when an observer moves past a series of objects. Similar cont...

  8. Monocular focal retinal lesions induce short-term topographic plasticity in adult cat visual cortex.

    PubMed Central

    Calford, M B; Schmid, L M; Rosa, M G

    1999-01-01

    Electrophysiological recording in primary visual cortex (VI) was performed both prior to and in the hours immediately following the creation of a discrete retinal lesion in one eye with an argon laser. Lesion projection zones (LPZs; 21-64 mm2) were defined in the visual cortex by mapping the extent of the lesion onto the topographic representation in cortex. There was no effect on neuronal responses to the unlesioned eye or on its topographic representation. However, within hours of producing the retinal lesion, receptive fields obtained from stimulation of the lesioned eye were displaced onto areas surrounding the scotoma and were enlarged compared with the corresponding field obtained through the normal eye. The proportion of such responsive recording sites increased during the experiment such that 8-11 hours post-lesion, 56% of recording sites displayed neurons responsive to the lesioned eye. This is an equivalent proportion to that previously reported with long-term recovery (three weeks to three months). Responsive neurons were evident as far as 2.5 mm inside the border of the LPZ. The reorganization of the lesioned eye representation produced binocular disparities as great as 15 degrees, suggesting interactions between sites in VI up to 5.5 mm apart. PMID:10189714

  9. Eye-Tracking Technology and the Dynamics of Natural Gaze Behavior in Sports: A Systematic Review of 40 Years of Research.

    PubMed

    Kredel, Ralf; Vater, Christian; Klostermann, André; Hossner, Ernst-Joachim

    2017-01-01

    Reviewing 60 studies on natural gaze behavior in sports, it becomes clear that, over the last 40 years, the use of eye-tracking devices has considerably increased. Specifically, this review reveals the large variance of methods applied, analyses performed, and measures derived within the field. The results of sub-sample analyses suggest that sports-related eye-tracking research strives, on the one hand, for ecologically valid test settings (i.e., viewing conditions and response modes), while on the other, for experimental control along with high measurement accuracy (i.e., controlled test conditions with high-frequency eye-trackers linked to algorithmic analyses). To meet both demands, some promising compromises of methodological solutions have been proposed-in particular, the integration of robust mobile eye-trackers in motion-capture systems. However, as the fundamental trade-off between laboratory and field research cannot be solved by technological means, researchers need to carefully weigh the arguments for one or the other approach by accounting for the respective consequences. Nevertheless, for future research on dynamic gaze behavior in sports, further development of the current mobile eye-tracking methodology seems highly advisable to allow for the acquisition and algorithmic analyses of larger amounts of gaze-data and further, to increase the explanatory power of the derived results.

  10. Impact of Glaucoma and Dry Eye on Text-Based Searching

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Michelle J.; Rubin, Gary S.; Akpek, Esen K.; Ramulu, Pradeep Y.

    2017-01-01

    Purpose We determine if visual field loss from glaucoma and/or measures of dry eye severity are associated with difficulty searching, as judged by slower search times on a text-based search task. Methods Glaucoma patients with bilateral visual field (VF) loss, patients with clinically significant dry eye, and normally-sighted controls were enrolled from the Wilmer Eye Institute clinics. Subjects searched three Yellow Pages excerpts for a specific phone number, and search time was recorded. Results A total of 50 glaucoma subjects, 40 dry eye subjects, and 45 controls completed study procedures. On average, glaucoma patients exhibited 57% longer search times compared to controls (95% confidence interval [CI], 26%–96%, P < 0.001), and longer search times were noted among subjects with greater VF loss (P < 0.001), worse contrast sensitivity (P < 0.001), and worse visual acuity (P = 0.026). Dry eye subjects demonstrated similar search times compared to controls, though worse Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) vision-related subscores were associated with longer search times (P < 0.01). Search times showed no association with OSDI symptom subscores (P = 0.20) or objective measures of dry eye (P > 0.08 for Schirmer's testing without anesthesia, corneal fluorescein staining, and tear film breakup time). Conclusions Text-based visual search is slower for glaucoma patients with greater levels of VF loss and dry eye patients with greater self-reported visual difficulty, and these difficulties may contribute to decreased quality of life in these groups. Translational Relevance Visual search is impaired in glaucoma and dry eye groups compared to controls, highlighting the need for compensatory strategies and tools to assist individuals in overcoming their deficiencies. PMID:28670502

  11. Refraction and the axial length of the eyeball in patients with the optic disc drusen.

    PubMed

    Obuchowska, Iwona; Mariak, Zofia

    2009-01-01

    The aim of the study was to demonstrate the relationship between the optic disc drusen (ODD) and the axial length of the eyeball as well as refractive error. We examined prospectively 40 patients with ODD, 18 men and 22 women, age range from 34 to 69 years. All subjects underwent full ophthalmic examination, visual field testing and color-coded duplex sonography of the ocular vessels. Refraction was determined with an autorefractometer (Topcon RM-8000B) and further refined subjectively. Spherical equivalent refraction was calculated as the spherical dioptre plus one half of the cylindrical dioptre. Axial lengths were measured with a Sonomed ultrasound scanner model E-Z Scan AB5500. Clinical signs were observed in 65% of the eyes with drusen, among them, 38% had symptoms of visual acuity loss and all had visual fields defects. There were 21 eyes (18 eyes with and 3 without drusen), with a recorded refractive error. Significant differences in hyperopia were observed between the eyes with and without drusen (p = 0.048). The rate of occurrence of myopia did not differ significantly between affected and unaffected eyes (p = 0.06). The mean spherical equivalent refraction and axial dimensions of the eye differed significantly among the groups of eyes with and without drusen (p < 0.05). Significant differences in mean values of peak-systolic and end-diastolic velocities (p < 0.001) as well as in the resistivity index (p = 0.047) were observed between eyes with and without drusen. The optic disc drusen are often associated with shorter and hyperopic eyes. This anatomical conditions and vascular factors may contribute to pathogenesis of drusen.

  12. Effect of the incidence angle to free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Lai-xian; Sun, Hua-yan; Zhao, Yan-zhong; Zheng, Yong-hui; Shan, Cong-miao

    2013-08-01

    Based on the cat-eye effect of optical system, free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector can build communication link rapidly. Compared to classical free space optical communication system, system based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector has great advantages such as building communication link more rapidly, a passive terminal is smaller, lighter and lower power consuming. The incident angle is an important factor of cat-eye effect, so it will affect the retro-reflecting communication link. In this paper, the principle and work flow of free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector were introduced. Then, using the theory of geometric optics, the equivalent model of modulating retro-reflector with incidence angle was presented. The analytical solution of active area and retro-reflected light intensity of cat-eye modulating retro-reflector were given. Noise of PIN photodetector was analyzed, based on which, bit error rate of free space optical communication based on cat-eye modulating retro-reflector was presented. Finally, simulations were done to study the effect of incidence angle to the communication. The simulation results show that the incidence angle has little effect on active area and retro-reflected light intensity when the incidence beam is in the active field angle of cat-eye modulating retro-reflector. With certain system and condition, the communication link can rapidly be built when the incidence light beam is in the field angle, and the bit error rate increases greatly with link range. When link range is smaller than 35Km, the bit error rate is less than 10-16.

  13. Design of retinal-projection-based near-eye display with contact lens.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yuhang; Chen, Chao Ping; Mi, Lantian; Zhang, Wenbo; Zhao, Jingxin; Lu, Yifan; Guo, Weiqian; Yu, Bing; Li, Yang; Maitlo, Nizamuddin

    2018-04-30

    We propose a design of a retinal-projection-based near-eye display for achieving ultra-large field of view, vision correction, and occlusion. Our solution is highlighted by a contact lens combo, a transparent organic light-emitting diode panel, and a twisted nematic liquid crystal panel. Its design rules are set forth in detail, followed by the results and discussion regarding the field of view, angular resolution, modulation transfer function, contrast ratio, distortion, and simulated imaging.

  14. Objective eye-gaze behaviour during face-to-face communication with proficient alaryngeal speakers: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Evitts, Paul; Gallop, Robert

    2011-01-01

    There is a large body of research demonstrating the impact of visual information on speaker intelligibility in both normal and disordered speaker populations. However, there is minimal information on which specific visual features listeners find salient during conversational discourse. To investigate listeners' eye-gaze behaviour during face-to-face conversation with normal, laryngeal and proficient alaryngeal speakers. Sixty participants individually participated in a 10-min conversation with one of four speakers (typical laryngeal, tracheoesophageal, oesophageal, electrolaryngeal; 15 participants randomly assigned to one mode of speech). All speakers were > 85% intelligible and were judged to be 'proficient' by two certified speech-language pathologists. Participants were fitted with a head-mounted eye-gaze tracking device (Mobile Eye, ASL) that calculated the region of interest and mean duration of eye-gaze. Self-reported gaze behaviour was also obtained following the conversation using a 10 cm visual analogue scale. While listening, participants viewed the lower facial region of the oesophageal speaker more than the normal or tracheoesophageal speaker. Results of non-hierarchical cluster analyses showed that while listening, the pattern of eye-gaze was predominantly directed at the lower face of the oesophageal and electrolaryngeal speaker and more evenly dispersed among the background, lower face, and eyes of the normal and tracheoesophageal speakers. Finally, results show a low correlation between self-reported eye-gaze behaviour and objective regions of interest data. Overall, results suggest similar eye-gaze behaviour when healthy controls converse with normal and tracheoesophageal speakers and that participants had significantly different eye-gaze patterns when conversing with an oesophageal speaker. Results are discussed in terms of existing eye-gaze data and its potential implications on auditory-visual speech perception. © 2011 Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.

  15. Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) for retinal and optic nerve diseases: a case report of improvement in relapsing auto-immune optic neuropathy.

    PubMed

    Weiss, Jeffrey N; Levy, Steven; Benes, Susan C

    2015-09-01

    We present the results from a patient with relapsing optic neuropathy treated within the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS). SCOTS is an Institutional Review Board approved clinical trial and has become the largest ophthalmology stem cell study registered at the National Institutes of Health to date (www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT 01920867). SCOTS utilizes autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) for treatment of retinal and optic nerve diseases. Pre-treatment and post-treatment comprehensive eye exams of a 54 year old female patient were performed both at the Florida Study Center, USA and at The Eye Center of Columbus, USA. As a consequence of a relapsing optic neuritis, the patient's previously normal visual acuity decreased to between 20/350 and 20/400 in the right eye and to 20/70 in the left eye. Significant visual field loss developed bilaterally. The patient underwent a right eye vitrectomy with injection of BMSCs into the optic nerve of the right eyeand retrobulbar, subtenon and intravitreal injection of BMSCs in the left eye. At 15 months after SCOTS treatment, the patient's visual acuity had improved to 20/150 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Bilateral visual fields improved markedly. Both macular thickness and fast retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were maximally improved at 3 and 6 months after SCOTS treatment. The patient also reduced her mycophenylate dose from 1,500 mg per day to 500 mg per day and required no steroid pulse therapy during the 15-month follow up.

  16. Orienting Auditory Spatial Attention Engages Frontal Eye Fields and Medial Occipital Cortex in Congenitally Blind Humans

    PubMed Central

    Garg, Arun; Schwartz, Daniel; Stevens, Alexander A.

    2007-01-01

    What happens in vision related cortical areas when congenitally blind (CB) individuals orient attention to spatial locations? Previous neuroimaging of sighted individuals has found overlapping activation in a network of frontoparietal areas including frontal eye-fields (FEF), during both overt (with eye movement) and covert (without eye movement) shifts of spatial attention. Since voluntary eye movement planning seems irrelevant in CB, their FEF neurons should be recruited for alternative functions if their attentional role in sighted individuals is only due to eye movement planning. Recent neuroimaging of the blind has also reported activation in medial occipital areas, normally associated with visual processing, during a diverse set of non-visual tasks, but their response to attentional shifts remains poorly understood. Here, we used event-related fMRI to explore FEF and medial occipital areas in CB individuals and sighted controls with eyes closed (SC) performing a covert attention orienting task, using endogenous verbal cues and spatialized auditory targets. We found robust stimulus-locked FEF activation of all CB subjects, similar but stronger than in SC, suggesting that FEF plays a role in endogenous orienting of covert spatial attention even in individuals in whom voluntary eye movements are irrelevant. We also found robust activation in bilateral medial occipital cortex in CB but not in SC subjects. The response decreased below baseline following endogenous verbal cues but increased following auditory targets, suggesting that the medial occipital area in CB does not directly engage during cued orienting of attention but may be recruited for processing of spatialized auditory targets. PMID:17397882

  17. NAAMES Photo Essay

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2017-12-08

    In a room adjacent to the working laboratories on the Atlantis, a storeroom holds spare parts, supplies and various odds and ends—potential solutions for ingenious researchers to solve problems in the field. --- The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) is a five year investigation to resolve key processes controlling ocean system function, their influences on atmospheric aerosols and clouds and their implications for climate. Michael Starobin joined the NAAMES field campaign on behalf of Earth Expeditions and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Office of Communications. He presented stories about the important, multi-disciplinary research being conducted by the NAAMES team, with an eye towards future missions on the NASA drawing board. This is a NAAMES photo essay put together by Starobin, a collection of 49 photographs and captions. Photo and Caption Credit: Michael Starobin NASA image use policy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

  18. NAAMES Photo Essay

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2017-12-08

    Daily science team meetings are an integral part of NAAMES field work. Chris Hostetler (pointing) is the project scientist. --- The North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) is a five year investigation to resolve key processes controlling ocean system function, their influences on atmospheric aerosols and clouds and their implications for climate. Michael Starobin joined the NAAMES field campaign on behalf of Earth Expeditions and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Office of Communications. He presented stories about the important, multi-disciplinary research being conducted by the NAAMES team, with an eye towards future missions on the NASA drawing board. This is a NAAMES photo essay put together by Starobin, a collection of 49 photographs and captions. Photo and Caption Credit: Michael Starobin NASA image use policy NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

  19. Screening Intervals for Diabetic Retinopathy and Implications for Care.

    PubMed

    Scanlon, Peter H

    2017-09-05

    The purpose of this study is to review the evidence that lower risk groups who could safely be screened less frequently for sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (DR) than annually. Data have demonstrated that people with no DR in either eye are at a low risk of progression to sight-threatening DR over a 2-year period (event rate 4.8 per 1000 person years), irrespective of whether the screening method is one-field non-mydriatic or two-field mydriatic digital photography. Low risk has been defined as no retinopathy on two consecutive screening episodes or no retinopathy on one screening episode combined with risk factor data. The risk of an extension to 2 years is less than 5 per 1000 person years in a population with a national screening programme, and the general standard of diabetes care is relatively good, whether low risk is defined as no retinopathy on two consecutive screening episodes or no retinopathy on one screening episode combined with other risk factor data. The definition used in different populations is likely to depend on the availability of data.

  20. Melatonin and deprivation myopia in chickens.

    PubMed

    Hoffmann, M; Schaeffel, F

    1996-01-01

    Chicken eyes elongate and become myopic if they are covered with translucent diffusors which degrade the retinal image ('deprivation myopia'). Since it has been shown that dopamine D2/D4 receptors (which mediate inhibition of melatonin synthesis) are also implicated in deprivation myopia, we have studied the role of melatonin in the visual control of eye growth. We have found that (1) diurnal melatonin rhythms and melatonin content in the retina are unchanged during deprivation myopia development despite the breakdown of both diurnal growth rhythms of the eye and diurnal rhythms in retinal dopamine metabolism, (2) diurnal melatonin rhythms and melatonin content in the retina remain unchanged after application of the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and presumably also after 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) application which both have a suppressive effect on deprivation myopia and (3) deprivation myopia was slightly reduced in both eyes after unilateral intravitreal injection of melatonin, despite that deprivation myopia is based on a mechanism intrinsic to the eye. We conclude that melatonin is not involved in the retinal signaling pathway translating visual experience to deprivation myopia.

  1. Instability of ocular torsion in zero gravity - Possible implications for space motion sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Diamond, Shirley G.; Markham, Charles H.; Money, Ken E.

    1990-01-01

    It is proposed that study of the eye torsion reflex and its behavior under novel gravitational states may possibly provide the basis for a long-sought test to predict space motion sickness (SMS). Measures of eye torsion such as ocular counterrolling and spontaneous eye torsion, were examined during hypo- and hypergravity in parabolic flight on the NASA KC-135 aircraft. Ten subjects, including two astronauts, one who had experienced SMS and one who had not, were ranked according to scores of torsional inability at 0 G and divided into two equal groups of high and low susceptibility to SMS. At 1.8 G the groups were significantly different in both the instability measure and the measure of torsional ability. No differences were detected in eye torsion in either 0 G or 1.8 G and none of the tests were significantly different in 1 G. Results suggest that tests of eye torsion on the KC-135 might differentiate those who would experience SMS from those who would not, although it is noted that this is not yet proven.

  2. Automatic and Direct Identification of Blink Components from Scalp EEG

    PubMed Central

    Kong, Wanzeng; Zhou, Zhanpeng; Hu, Sanqing; Zhang, Jianhai; Babiloni, Fabio; Dai, Guojun

    2013-01-01

    Eye blink is an important and inevitable artifact during scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. The main problem in EEG signal processing is how to identify eye blink components automatically with independent component analysis (ICA). Taking into account the fact that the eye blink as an external source has a higher sum of correlation with frontal EEG channels than all other sources due to both its location and significant amplitude, in this paper, we proposed a method based on correlation index and the feature of power distribution to automatically detect eye blink components. Furthermore, we prove mathematically that the correlation between independent components and scalp EEG channels can be translating directly from the mixing matrix of ICA. This helps to simplify calculations and understand the implications of the correlation. The proposed method doesn't need to select a template or thresholds in advance, and it works without simultaneously recording an electrooculography (EOG) reference. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can automatically recognize eye blink components with a high accuracy on entire datasets from 15 subjects. PMID:23959240

  3. Ultraviolet B eye irradiation aggravates atopic dermatitis via adrenocorticotropic hormone and NLRP3 inflammasome in NC/Nga mice.

    PubMed

    Hiramoto, Keiichi; Yamate, Yurika; Yokoyama, Satoshi

    2018-05-01

    Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation has been shown to improve atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the relationship between UVB eye irradiation and AD is not known. This issue was addressed using a mouse model of AD. The eyes of NC/Nga mice were irradiated with UVB at a dose of 1.0 kJ/m 2 using a 20SE sunlamp for the duration of the experimental period. AD symptoms deteriorated upon UVB eye irradiation. The levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the plasma and nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing (NLRP)3 and neutrophil markers in the skin were increased in UVB-irradiated mice. Treatment with inhibitors of ACTH, caspase-1, interleukin-18, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) partly reversed the effects of irradiation, with the greatest improvement observed upon ACTH inhibition. The NLRP3 inflammasome was implicated in the effects of UVB irradiation. UVB eye irradiation causes AD symptom deterioration, which is likely mediated by ACTH and the activity of the inflammasome. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. Acting without seeing: eye movements reveal visual processing without awareness.

    PubMed

    Spering, Miriam; Carrasco, Marisa

    2015-04-01

    Visual perception and eye movements are considered to be tightly linked. Diverse fields, ranging from developmental psychology to computer science, utilize eye tracking to measure visual perception. However, this prevailing view has been challenged by recent behavioral studies. Here, we review converging evidence revealing dissociations between the contents of perceptual awareness and different types of eye movement. Such dissociations reveal situations in which eye movements are sensitive to particular visual features that fail to modulate perceptual reports. We also discuss neurophysiological, neuroimaging, and clinical studies supporting the role of subcortical pathways for visual processing without awareness. Our review links awareness to perceptual-eye movement dissociations and furthers our understanding of the brain pathways underlying vision and movement with and without awareness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Acting without seeing: Eye movements reveal visual processing without awareness Miriam Spering & Marisa Carrasco

    PubMed Central

    Spering, Miriam; Carrasco, Marisa

    2015-01-01

    Visual perception and eye movements are considered to be tightly linked. Diverse fields, ranging from developmental psychology to computer science, utilize eye tracking to measure visual perception. However, this prevailing view has been challenged by recent behavioral studies. We review converging evidence revealing dissociations between the contents of perceptual awareness and different types of eye movements. Such dissociations reveal situations in which eye movements are sensitive to particular visual features that fail to modulate perceptual reports. We also discuss neurophysiological, neuroimaging and clinical studies supporting the role of subcortical pathways for visual processing without awareness. Our review links awareness to perceptual-eye movement dissociations and furthers our understanding of the brain pathways underlying vision and movement with and without awareness. PMID:25765322

  6. Treatment planning systems for external whole brain radiation therapy: With and without MLC (multi leaf collimator) optimization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Budiyono, T.; Budi, W. S.; Hidayanto, E.

    2016-03-01

    Radiation therapy for brain malignancy is done by giving a dose of radiation to a whole volume of the brain (WBRT) followed by a booster at the primary tumor with more advanced techniques. Two external radiation fields given from the right and left side. Because the shape of the head, there will be an unavoidable hotspot radiation dose of greater than 107%. This study aims to optimize planning of radiation therapy using field in field multi-leaf collimator technique. A study of 15 WBRT samples with CT slices is done by adding some segments of radiation in each field of radiation and delivering appropriate dose weighting using a TPS precise plan Elekta R 2.15. Results showed that this optimization a more homogeneous radiation on CTV target volume, lower dose in healthy tissue, and reduced hotspots in CTV target volume. Comparison results of field in field multi segmented MLC technique with standard conventional technique for WBRT are: higher average minimum dose (77.25% ± 0:47%) vs (60% ± 3:35%); lower average maximum dose (110.27% ± 0.26%) vs (114.53% ± 1.56%); lower hotspot volume (5.71% vs 27.43%); and lower dose on eye lenses (right eye: 9.52% vs 18.20%); (left eye: 8.60% vs 16.53%).

  7. Wide field-of-view bifocal eyeglasses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barbero, Sergio; Rubinstein, Jacob

    2015-09-01

    When vision is affected simultaneously by presbyopia and myopia or hyperopia, a solution based on eyeglasses implies a surface with either segmented focal regions (e.g. bifocal lenses) or a progressive addition profile (PALs). However, both options have the drawback of reducing the field-of-view for each power position, which restricts the natural eye-head movements of the wearer. To avoid this serious limitation we propose a new solution which is essentially a bifocal power-adjustable optical design ensuring a wide field-of-view for every viewing distance. The optical system is based on the Alvarez principle. Spherical refraction correction is considered for different eccentric gaze directions covering a field-of-view range up to 45degrees. Eye movements during convergence for near objects are included. We designed three bifocal systems. The first one provides 3 D for far vision (myopic eye) and -1 D for near vision (+2 D Addition). The second one provides a +3 D addition with 3 D for far vision. Finally the last system is an example of reading glasses with +1 D power Addition.

  8. Investigating the usefulness of a cluster-based trend analysis to detect visual field progression in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Aoki, Shuichiro; Murata, Hiroshi; Fujino, Yuri; Matsuura, Masato; Miki, Atsuya; Tanito, Masaki; Mizoue, Shiro; Mori, Kazuhiko; Suzuki, Katsuyoshi; Yamashita, Takehiro; Kashiwagi, Kenji; Hirasawa, Kazunori; Shoji, Nobuyuki; Asaoka, Ryo

    2017-12-01

    To investigate the usefulness of the Octopus (Haag-Streit) EyeSuite's cluster trend analysis in glaucoma. Ten visual fields (VFs) with the Humphrey Field Analyzer (Carl Zeiss Meditec), spanning 7.7 years on average were obtained from 728 eyes of 475 primary open angle glaucoma patients. Mean total deviation (mTD) trend analysis and EyeSuite's cluster trend analysis were performed on various series of VFs (from 1st to 10th: VF1-10 to 6th to 10th: VF6-10). The results of the cluster-based trend analysis, based on different lengths of VF series, were compared against mTD trend analysis. Cluster-based trend analysis and mTD trend analysis results were significantly associated in all clusters and with all lengths of VF series. Between 21.2% and 45.9% (depending on VF series length and location) of clusters were deemed to progress when the mTD trend analysis suggested no progression. On the other hand, 4.8% of eyes were observed to progress using the mTD trend analysis when cluster trend analysis suggested no progression in any two (or more) clusters. Whole field trend analysis can miss local VF progression. Cluster trend analysis appears as robust as mTD trend analysis and useful to assess both sectorial and whole field progression. Cluster-based trend analyses, in particular the definition of two or more progressing cluster, may help clinicians to detect glaucomatous progression in a timelier manner than using a whole field trend analysis, without significantly compromising specificity. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  9. Emerging applications of eye-tracking technology in dermatology.

    PubMed

    John, Kevin K; Jensen, Jakob D; King, Andy J; Pokharel, Manusheela; Grossman, Douglas

    2018-04-06

    Eye-tracking technology has been used within a multitude of disciplines to provide data linking eye movements to visual processing of various stimuli (i.e., x-rays, situational positioning, printed information, and warnings). Despite the benefits provided by eye-tracking in allowing for the identification and quantification of visual attention, the discipline of dermatology has yet to see broad application of the technology. Notwithstanding dermatologists' heavy reliance upon visual patterns and cues to discriminate between benign and atypical nevi, literature that applies eye-tracking to the study of dermatology is sparse; and literature specific to patient-initiated behaviors, such as skin self-examination (SSE), is largely non-existent. The current article provides a review of eye-tracking research in various medical fields, culminating in a discussion of current applications and advantages of eye-tracking for dermatology research. Copyright © 2018 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Eye movement identification based on accumulated time feature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Baobao; Wu, Qiang; Sun, Jiande; Yan, Hua

    2017-06-01

    Eye movement is a new kind of feature for biometrical recognition, it has many advantages compared with other features such as fingerprint, face, and iris. It is not only a sort of static characteristics, but also a combination of brain activity and muscle behavior, which makes it effective to prevent spoofing attack. In addition, eye movements can be incorporated with faces, iris and other features recorded from the face region into multimode systems. In this paper, we do an exploring study on eye movement identification based on the eye movement datasets provided by Komogortsev et al. in 2011 with different classification methods. The time of saccade and fixation are extracted from the eye movement data as the eye movement features. Furthermore, the performance analysis was conducted on different classification methods such as the BP, RBF, ELMAN and SVM in order to provide a reference to the future research in this field.

  11. [Clinical feature of chronic compressive optic neuropathy without optic atrophy].

    PubMed

    Jiang, Libin; Shi, Jitong; Liu, Wendong; Kang, Jun; Wang, Ningli

    2014-12-01

    To investigate the clinical feature of the chronic compressive optic neuropathy without optic atrophy. Retrospective cases series study. The clinical data of 25 patients (37 eyes) with chronic compressive optic neuropathy without optic atrophy, treated in Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, from October, 2005 to March, 2014, were collected. Those patients had been showing visual symptoms for 6 months or longer, but missed diagnosed or misdiagnosed as other eye diseases due to their normal or slightly changed fundi. The collected data including visual acuities, visual fields, neuroimaging and/or pathologic diagnosis were analyzed. Among the 25 patients, there were 5 males and 20 females, and their ages range from 9 to 74 years [average (47.5 ± 13.4) years]. All patients suffered progressive impaired vision in single eye or both eyes, without exophthalmos or abnormal eye movements. Except one patient had a headache, other patients did not show systemic symptoms. The corrected visual acuities were between HM to 1.0, and their appearances of optic discs and colors of fundi were normal. After neuroimaging and/or pathological examination, it was proven that 14 patients suffered tuberculum sellae meningiomas, 5 patients with hypophysoma, 3 patient with optic nerve sheath meningioma in orbital apex, 1 patient with cavernous hemangioma, 1 patient with vascular malformation in orbital apex and 1 patient with optic nerve glioma. Among the 19 patients whose suffered occupied lesions of saddle area, 14 patients underwent visual field examinations, and only 4 patients showed classic visual field defects caused by optic chiasmal lesions. Occult progressive visual loss was the most important clinical feature of the disease.

  12. Unsupervised Gaussian Mixture-Model With Expectation Maximization for Detecting Glaucomatous Progression in Standard Automated Perimetry Visual Fields.

    PubMed

    Yousefi, Siamak; Balasubramanian, Madhusudhanan; Goldbaum, Michael H; Medeiros, Felipe A; Zangwill, Linda M; Weinreb, Robert N; Liebmann, Jeffrey M; Girkin, Christopher A; Bowd, Christopher

    2016-05-01

    To validate Gaussian mixture-model with expectation maximization (GEM) and variational Bayesian independent component analysis mixture-models (VIM) for detecting glaucomatous progression along visual field (VF) defect patterns (GEM-progression of patterns (POP) and VIM-POP). To compare GEM-POP and VIM-POP with other methods. GEM and VIM models separated cross-sectional abnormal VFs from 859 eyes and normal VFs from 1117 eyes into abnormal and normal clusters. Clusters were decomposed into independent axes. The confidence limit (CL) of stability was established for each axis with a set of 84 stable eyes. Sensitivity for detecting progression was assessed in a sample of 83 eyes with known progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy (PGON). Eyes were classified as progressed if any defect pattern progressed beyond the CL of stability. Performance of GEM-POP and VIM-POP was compared to point-wise linear regression (PLR), permutation analysis of PLR (PoPLR), and linear regression (LR) of mean deviation (MD), and visual field index (VFI). Sensitivity and specificity for detecting glaucomatous VFs were 89.9% and 93.8%, respectively, for GEM and 93.0% and 97.0%, respectively, for VIM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve areas for classifying progressed eyes were 0.82 for VIM-POP, 0.86 for GEM-POP, 0.81 for PoPLR, 0.69 for LR of MD, and 0.76 for LR of VFI. GEM-POP was significantly more sensitive to PGON than PoPLR and linear regression of MD and VFI in our sample, while providing localized progression information. Detection of glaucomatous progression can be improved by assessing longitudinal changes in localized patterns of glaucomatous defect identified by unsupervised machine learning.

  13. Comparison of Nondiabetic Retinal Findings Identified With Nonmydriatic Fundus Photography vs Ultrawide Field Imaging in an Ocular Telehealth Program.

    PubMed

    Silva, Paolo S; Cavallerano, Jerry D; Haddad, Nour Maya N; Tolls, Dorothy; Thakore, Komal; Patel, Bina; Sehizadeh, Mina; Tolson, Ann M; Sun, Jennifer K; Aiello, Lloyd Paul

    2016-03-01

    Ultrawide field imaging (UWFI) is increasingly being used in teleophthalmology settings. Given the greater area of the retina imaged, we evaluated the ability of UWFI vs nonmydriatic fundus photography (NMFP) to detect nondiabetic retinal findings in a teleophthalmology program. We conducted a retrospective single-center comparative cohort study from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013, imaging 3864 and 3971 consecutive teleophthalmology patients (7728 and 7942 eyes) using NMFP and UWFI, respectively. Standard diabetic retinopathy evaluation and nondiabetic findings were compared between the 2 imaging modalities. In patients without diabetic retinopathy (2243 by NMFP and 2252 by UWFI), the rate of identification of nondiabetic findings by NMFP (451 patients [20.1%]) and UWFI (490 [21.8%]) were comparable (P = .19). Ultrawide field imaging increased the identification of choroidal nevi by 27% (406 eyes [5.3%] by NMFP vs 545 eyes [6.9%] by UWFI; P < .001) and chorioretinal atrophy or scarring by 116% (50 eyes [0.6%] by NMFP vs 101 eyes [1.3%] by UWFI; P < .001). No peripheral retinal findings were identified with NMFP, while UWFI detected 25 retinal tears (0.3%; P < .001), 54 lattice and peripheral degenerations (0.7%; P < .001), and 142 cases of vitreous detachment or floaters (1.8%; P < .001). Data analysis was performed from November 1, 2013, to May 1, 2014. In eyes without diabetic retinopathy, approximately 20% may have ocular findings identified on retinal imaging, which emphasizes the role of retinal imaging in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2 regardless of the severity of retinopathy. In this cohort, UWFI increased the identification of peripheral retinal and vitreous pathologic findings.

  14. Relationship between consecutive deterioration of mean deviation value and progression of visual field defect in open-angle glaucoma.

    PubMed

    Naito, Tomoko; Yoshikawa, Keiji; Mizoue, Shiro; Nanno, Mami; Kimura, Tairo; Suzumura, Hirotaka; Takeda, Ryuji; Shiraga, Fumio

    2015-01-01

    To analyze the relationship between consecutive deterioration of mean deviation (MD) value and glaucomatous visual field (VF) progression in open-angle glaucoma (OAG), including primary OAG and normal tension glaucoma. The subjects of the study were patients undergoing treatment for OAG who had performed VF tests at least 10 times with a Humphrey field analyzer (SITA standard, C30-2 program). The VF progression was defined by a significantly negative MD slope (MD slope worsening) at the final VF test during the follow-up period. The relationship between the MD slope worsening and the consecutive deterioration of MD value were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 165 eyes of 165 patients were included in the analysis. Significant progression of VF defects was observed in 72 eyes of 72 patients (43.6%), while no significant progression was evident in 93 eyes of 93 patients (56.4%). There was significant relationship between the frequency of consecutive deterioration of MD value and MD slope worsening (P<0.0001, Cochran-Armitage trend test). A significant association was observed for MD slope worsening in the eyes with three (odds ratio: 2.1, P=0.0224) and four (odds ratio: 3.6, P=0.0008) consecutive deterioration of MD value in multiple logistic regression analysis, but no significant association in the eyes with two consecutive deterioration (odds ratio: 1.1, P=0.8282). The eyes with VF progression had significantly lower intraocular pressure reduction rate (P<0.01). This retrospective study has shown that three or more consecutive deterioration of MD value might be a predictor to future significant MD slope worsening in OAG.

  15. Frontal eye field, where art thou? Anatomy, function, and non-invasive manipulation of frontal regions involved in eye movements and associated cognitive operations

    PubMed Central

    Vernet, Marine; Quentin, Romain; Chanes, Lorena; Mitsumasu, Andres; Valero-Cabré, Antoni

    2014-01-01

    The planning, control and execution of eye movements in 3D space relies on a distributed system of cortical and subcortical brain regions. Within this network, the Eye Fields have been described in animals as cortical regions in which electrical stimulation is able to trigger eye movements and influence their latency or accuracy. This review focuses on the Frontal Eye Field (FEF) a “hub” region located in Humans in the vicinity of the pre-central sulcus and the dorsal-most portion of the superior frontal sulcus. The straightforward localization of the FEF through electrical stimulation in animals is difficult to translate to the healthy human brain, particularly with non-invasive neuroimaging techniques. Hence, in the first part of this review, we describe attempts made to characterize the anatomical localization of this area in the human brain. The outcome of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Magneto-encephalography (MEG) and particularly, non-invasive mapping methods such a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are described and the variability of FEF localization across individuals and mapping techniques are discussed. In the second part of this review, we will address the role of the FEF. We explore its involvement both in the physiology of fixation, saccade, pursuit, and vergence movements and in associated cognitive processes such as attentional orienting, visual awareness and perceptual modulation. Finally in the third part, we review recent evidence suggesting the high level of malleability and plasticity of these regions and associated networks to non-invasive stimulation. The exploratory, diagnostic, and therapeutic interest of such interventions for the modulation and improvement of perception in 3D space are discussed. PMID:25202241

  16. Dioptric defocus maps across the visual field for different indoor environments.

    PubMed

    García, Miguel García; Ohlendorf, Arne; Schaeffel, Frank; Wahl, Siegfried

    2018-01-01

    One of the factors proposed to regulate the eye growth is the error signal derived from the defocus in the retina and actually, this might arise from defocus not only in the fovea but the whole visual field. Therefore, myopia could be better predicted by spatio-temporally mapping the 'environmental defocus' over the visual field. At present, no devices are available that could provide this information. A 'Kinect sensor v1' camera (Microsoft Corp.) and a portable eye tracker were used for developing a system for quantifying 'indoor defocus error signals' across the central 58° of the visual field. Dioptric differences relative to the fovea (assumed to be in focus) were recorded over the visual field and 'defocus maps' were generated for various scenes and tasks.

  17. Improved heat transfer modeling of the eye for electromagnetic wave exposures.

    PubMed

    Hirata, Akimasa

    2007-05-01

    This study proposed an improved heat transfer model of the eye for exposure to electromagnetic (EM) waves. Particular attention was paid to the difference from the simplified heat transfer model commonly used in this field. From our computational results, the temperature elevation in the eye calculated with the simplified heat transfer model was largely influenced by the EM absorption outside the eyeball, but not when we used our improved model.

  18. Relationship between Scanning Laser Polarimetry with Enhanced Corneal Compensation and with Variable Corneal Compensation

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Kyung Hoon; Choi, Jaewan; Lee, Chang Hwan; Cho, Beom-Jin; Kook, Michael S.

    2008-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate the structure-function relationships between retinal sensitivity measured by Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVFA) and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with variable corneal compensation (VCC) and enhanced corneal compensation (ECC) in glaucomatous and healthy eyes. Methods Fifty-three eyes with an atypical birefringence pattern (ABP) based on SLP-VCC (28 glaucomatous eyes and 25 normal healthy eyes) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. RNFL thickness was measured by both VCC and ECC techniques, and the visual field was examined by HVFA with 24-2 full-threshold program. The relationships between RNFL measurements in superior and inferior sectors and corresponding retinal mean sensitivity were sought globally and regionally with linear regression analysis in each group. Coefficients of the determination were calculated and compared between VCC and ECC techniques. Results In eyes with ABP, R2 values for the association between SLP parameters and retinal sensitivity were 0.06-0.16 with VCC, whereas they were 0.21-0.48 with ECC. The association of RNFL thickness with retinal sensitivity was significantly better with ECC than with VCC in 5 out of 8 regression models between SLP parameters and HVF parameters (P<0.05). Conclusions The strength of the structure-function association was higher with ECC than with VCC in eyes with ABP, which suggests that the ECC algorithm is a better approach for evaluating the structure-function relationship in eyes with ABP. PMID:18323701

  19. A wide angle low coherence interferometry based eye length optometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meadway, Alexander; Siegwart, John; Wildsoet, Christine; Norton, Thomas; Zhang, Yuhua

    2015-03-01

    Interest in eye growth regulation has burgeoned with the rise in myopia prevalence world-wide. Eye length and eye shape are fundamental metrics for related research, but current in vivo measurement techniques are generally limited to the optical axis of the eye. We describe a high resolution, time domain low coherence interferometry based optometer for measuring the eye length of small animals over a wide field of view. The system is based upon a Michelson interferometer using a superluminescent diode as a source, including a sample arm and a reference arm. The sample arm is split into two paths by a polarisation beam splitter; one focuses the light on the cornea and the other focuses the light on the retina. This method has a high efficiency of detection for reflections from both surfaces. The reference arm contains a custom high speed linear motor with 25 mm stroke and equipped with a precision displacement encoder. Light reflected from the cornea and the retina is combined with the reference beam to generate low coherence interferograms. Two galvo scanners are employed to steer the light to different angles so that the eye length over a field of view of 20° × 20° can be measured. The system has an axial resolution of 6.8 μm (in air) and the motor provides accurate movement, allowing for precise and repeatable measurement of coherence peak positions. Example scans from a tree shrew are presented.

  20. Cortical metabolic activity matches the pattern of visual suppression in strabismus.

    PubMed

    Adams, Daniel L; Economides, John R; Sincich, Lawrence C; Horton, Jonathan C

    2013-02-27

    When an eye becomes deviated in early childhood, a person does not experience double vision, although the globes are aimed at different targets. The extra image is prevented from reaching perception in subjects with alternating exotropia by suppression of each eye's peripheral temporal retina. To test the impact of visual suppression on neuronal activity in primary (striate) visual cortex, the pattern of cytochrome oxidase (CO) staining was examined in four macaques raised with exotropia by disinserting the medial rectus muscles shortly following birth. No ocular dominance columns were visible in opercular cortex, where the central visual field is represented, indicating that signals coming from the central retina in each eye were perceived. However, the border strips at the edges of ocular dominance columns appeared pale, reflecting a loss of activity in binocular cells from disruption of fusion. In calcarine cortex, where the peripheral visual field is represented, there were alternating pale and dark bands resembling ocular dominance columns. To interpret the CO staining pattern, [(3)H]proline was injected into the right eye in two monkeys. In the right calcarine cortex, the pale CO columns matched the labeled proline columns of the right eye. In the left calcarine cortex, the pale CO columns overlapped the unlabeled columns of the left eye in the autoradiograph. Therefore, metabolic activity was reduced in the ipsilateral eye's ocular dominance columns which serve peripheral temporal retina, in a fashion consistent with the topographic organization of suppression scotomas in humans with exotropia.

  1. Modified visual field trend analysis.

    PubMed

    De Moraes, Carlos Gustavo V; Ritch, Robert; Tello, Celso; Liebmann, Jeffrey M

    2011-01-01

    Visual field trend analysis can be influenced by outlying values that may disproportionately affect estimation of the rate of change. We tested a modified approach to visual field trend analysis to minimize this problem. Automated pointwise linear regression (PLR) was used in glaucoma patients with ≥13 SITA-Standard 24-2 VF tests in either eye. In the control group (Group A), conventional PLR using the entire set of VF tests was carried out. In the other 3 groups (study groups), a truncated analysis was done using only the first and last 3 (Group B), first and last 4 (Group C), or first and last 5 (Group D) VF tests. We compared the global slopes (dB/y), number of eyes experiencing significant progression, and significant improvement between groups. Ninety eyes of 90 patients were evaluated. The mean number±SD of VF tests was 15.7±2.6, spanning 7.8±1.7 years. The study groups showed similar global rates of VF change as the control group (Group A=-0.48±0.5, Group B=-0.48±0.6, Group C=-0.48±0.6, Group D=-0.48±0.5 dB/y, P>0.05), and a similar number of eyes reaching a progression endpoint (Group A=53, Group B=52, Group C=49, Group D=53, P>0.05). However, Group B showed fewer eyes presenting VF improvement (false-positives). The modified VF trend-analysis showed greater specificity than conventional PLR in a population with glaucoma.

  2. Normal versus High Tension Glaucoma: A Comparison of Functional and Structural Defects

    PubMed Central

    Thonginnetra, Oraorn; Greenstein, Vivienne C.; Chu, David; Liebmann, Jeffrey M.; Ritch, Robert; Hood, Donald C.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose To compare visual field defects obtained with both multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) and Humphrey visual field (HVF) techniques to topographic optic disc measurements in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and high tension glaucoma (HTG). Methods We studied 32 patients with NTG and 32 with HTG. All patients had reliable 24-2 HVFs with a mean deviation (MD) of −10 dB or better, a glaucomatous optic disc and an abnormal HVF in at least one eye. Multifocal VEPs were obtained from each eye and probability plots created. The mfVEP and HVF probability plots were divided into a central 10-degree (radius) and an outer arcuate subfield in both superior and inferior hemifields. Cluster analyses and counts of abnormal points were performed in each subfield. Optic disc images were obtained with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III (HRT III). Eleven stereometric parameters were calculated. Moorfields regression analysis (MRA) and the glaucoma probability score (GPS) were performed. Results There were no significant differences in MD and PSD values between NTG and HTG eyes. However, NTG eyes had a higher percentage of abnormal test points and clusters of abnormal points in the central subfields on both mfVEP and HVF than HTG eyes. For HRT III, there were no significant differences in the 11 stereometric parameters or in the MRA and GPS analyses of the optic disc images. Conclusions The visual field data suggest more localized and central defects for NTG than HTG. PMID:19223786

  3. Hemianopic and Quadrantanopic Field Loss, Eye and Head Movements, and Driving

    PubMed Central

    McGwin, Gerald; Elgin, Jennifer; Vaphiades, Michael S.; Braswell, Ronald A.; DeCarlo, Dawn K.; Kline, Lanning B.; Owsley, Cynthia

    2011-01-01

    Purpose. To compare eye and head movements, lane keeping, and vehicle control of drivers with hemianopic and quadrantanopic field defects with controls, and to identify differences in these parameters between hemianopic and quadrantanopic drivers rated safe to drive by a clinical driving rehabilitation specialist compared with those rated as unsafe. Methods. Eye and head movements and lane keeping were rated in 22 persons with homonymous hemianopic defects and 8 with quadrantanopic defects (mean age, 53 years) who were ≥6 months post-injury and 30 persons with normal fields (mean age, 53 years). All were licensed to drive and were current drivers or aimed to resume driving. Participants drove a 6.3-mile route along non-interstate city roads under in-traffic conditions. Vehicle control was assessed objectively by vehicle instrumentation for speed, braking, acceleration, and cornering. Results. As a group, drivers with hemianopic or quadrantanopic defects drove slower, exhibited less excessive cornering or acceleration, and executed more shoulder movements than the controls. Those drivers with hemianopic or quadrantanopic defects rated as safe also made more head movements into their blind field, received superior ratings regarding eye movement extent and lane position stability, and exhibited less sudden braking and drove faster than those rated unsafe. Conclusions. Persons with hemianopic and quadrantanopic defects rated as safe to drive compensated by making more head movements into their blind field, combined with more stable lane keeping and less sudden braking. Future research should evaluate whether these characteristics could be trained in rehabilitation programs aimed at improving driving safety in this population. PMID:21367969

  4. Greek mythology: the eye, ophthalmology, eye disease, and blindness.

    PubMed

    Trompoukis, Constantinos; Kourkoutas, Dimitrios

    2007-06-01

    In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek myths reveals concealed medical knowledge, in many cases relating to the eye. An analysis was made of the ancient Greek texts for mythological references relating to an understanding of vision, visual abilities, the eye, its congenital and acquired abnormalities, blindness, and eye injuries and their treatment. The Homeric epics contain anatomical descriptions of the eyes and the orbits, and an elementary knowledge of physiology is also apparent. The concept of the visual field can be seen in the myth of Argos Panoptes. Many myths describe external eye disease ("knyzosis"), visual disorders (amaurosis), and cases of blinding that, depending on the story, are ascribed to various causes. In addition, ocular motility abnormalities, congenital anomalies (cyclopia), injuries, and special treatments, such as the "licking" method, are mentioned. The study of mythological references to the eye reveals reliable medical observations of the ancient Greeks, which are concealed within the myths.

  5. Eye Injuries in High School and Collegiate Athletes.

    PubMed

    Boden, Barry P; Pierpoint, Lauren A; Boden, Rebecca G; Comstock, R Dawn; Kerr, Zachary Y

    Although eye injuries constitute a small percentage of high school and college sports injuries, they have the potential to be permanently debilitating. Eye injury rates will vary by sport, sex, and between the high school and college age groups. Descriptive epidemiology study. Level 3. Data from eye injury reports in high school and college athletes were obtained from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System, High School Reporting Information Online (HS RIO) database over a 10-year span (2005-2006 through 2014-2015 school years) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) over an 11-year span (2004-2005 through 2014-2015 school years). Injury rates per 100,000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (RRs), and 95% CIs were calculated. Distributions of eye injuries by diagnosis, mechanism, time loss, and surgery needs were also examined. A total of 237 and 273 eye injuries were reported in the HS RIO and the NCAA ISP databases, respectively. The sports with the highest eye injury rates (per 100,000 AEs) for combined high school and college athletes were women's basketball (2.36), women's field hockey (2.35), men's basketball (2.31), and men's wrestling (2.07). Overall eye injury rates at the high school and college levels were 0.68 and 1.84 per 100,000 AEs, respectively. Eye injury rates were higher in competition than practice in high school (RR, 3.47; 95% CI, 2.69-4.48) and college (RR, 3.13; 95% CI, 2.45-3.99). Most injuries were contusions (high school, 35.9%; college, 33.3%) and due to contact (high school, 89.9%; college, 86.4%). Only a small percentage of injuries resulted in time loss over 21 days (high school, 4.2%; college, 3.0%). Eye injury rates and patterns vary by sport, sex, and between the high school and college age groups. Although severe injuries do occur, most eye injuries sustained by high school and college athletes are minor, with limited time loss and full recovery. Additional focus needs to be placed on preventing eye injuries at the collegiate level in women's and men's basketball, women's field hockey, and men's wrestling.

  6. Reliability of kinetic visual field testing in children with mutation-proven retinal dystrophies: Implications for therapeutic clinical trials.

    PubMed

    Dedania, Vaidehi S; Liu, Jerry Y; Schlegel, Dana; Andrews, Chris A; Branham, Kari; Khan, Naheed W; Musch, David C; Heckenlively, John R; Jayasundera, K Thiran

    2018-01-01

    Kinetic visual field testing is used to monitor disease course in retinal dystrophy clinical care and treatment response in treatment trials, which are increasingly recruiting children. This study investigates Goldmann visual field (GVF) changes in young children with mutation-proven retinal dystrophies as they age and with progression of the retinal degeneration. Retrospective review of children ≤ 17 years old with a mutation-proven retinal dystrophy. Objective clinical disease activity was assessed by a retinal degeneration specialist masked to GVF results. Digital quantification of GVF area was performed. Twenty-nine children (58 eyes), ages 5-16, were identified. GVF area increased with age despite progression in 20 children and clinical stability in nine children. Mean ± standard error increase in GVF area/year was 333 ± 130 mm 2 (I4e, p = 0.012), 720 ± 155 mm 2 (III4e, p < 0.001), and 759 ± 167 mm 2 (IV4e, p < 0.001), with greater increases at earlier ages. Repeatability coefficients were 7381 mm 2 (I4e), 9379 mm 2 (III4e), and 10346 mm 2 (IV4e), indicating a large variability. At 2.5 years after the baseline GVF the area increased ≥ 20%, the criterion for positive treatment outcome defined in recent published therapeutic trials, in 38% (I4e), 34% (III4e), and 33% (IV4e) of eyes. In a substantial proportion of children with mutation-proven retinal dystrophies, there is a significant increase in GVF area with age, particularly those < 12 years, despite progression or stability of disease. These findings suggest that change in GVF area in children with retinal dystrophies can be an unreliable measure of response to treatment and on which to base appropriate counseling about visual impairment.

  7. Rethinking dry eye disease: a perspective on clinical implications.

    PubMed

    Bron, Anthony J; Tomlinson, Alan; Foulks, Gary N; Pepose, Jay S; Baudouin, Christophe; Geerling, Gerd; Nichols, Kelly K; Lemp, Michael A

    2014-04-01

    Publication of the DEWS report in 2007 established the state of the science of dry eye disease (DED). Since that time, new evidence suggests that a rethinking of traditional concepts of dry eye disease is in order. Specifically, new evidence on the epidemiology of the disease, as well as strategies for diagnosis, have changed the understanding of DED, which is a heterogeneous disease associated with considerable variability in presentation. These advances, along with implications for clinical care, are summarized herein. The most widely used signs of DED are poorly correlated with each other and with symptoms. While symptoms are thought to be characteristic of DED, recent studies have shown that less than 60% of subjects with other objective evidence of DED are symptomatic. Thus the use of symptoms alone in diagnosis will likely result in missing a significant percentage of DED patients, particularly with early/mild disease. This could have considerable impact in patients undergoing cataract or refractive surgery as patients with DED have less than optimal visual results. The most widely used objective signs for diagnosing DED all show greater variability between eyes and in the same eye over time compared with normal subjects. This variability is thought to be a manifestation of tear film instability which results in rapid breakup of the tearfilm between blinks and is an identifier of patients with DED. This feature emphasizes the bilateral nature of the disease in most subjects not suffering from unilateral lid or other unilateral destabilizing surface disorders. Instability of the composition of the tears also occurs in dry eye disease and shows the same variance between eyes. Finally, elevated tear osmolarity has been reported to be a global marker (present in both subtypes of the disease- aqueous-deficient dry eye and evaporative dry eye). Clinically, osmolarity has been shown to be the best single metric for diagnosis of DED and is directly related to increasing severity of disease. Clinical examination and other assessments differentiate which subtype of disease is present. With effective treatment, the tear osmolarity returns to normal, and its variability between eyes and with time disappears. Other promising markers include objective measures of visual deficits, proinflammatory molecular markers and other molecular markers, specific to each disease subtype, and panels of tear proteins. As yet, however, no single protein or panel of markers has been shown to discriminate between the major forms of DED. With the advent of new tests and technology, improved endpoints for clinical trials may be established, which in turn may allow new therapeutic agents to emerge in the foreseeable future. Accurate recognition of disease is now possible and successful management of DED appears to be within our grasp, for a majority of our patients. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. ULTRA-WIDE-FIELD FUNDUS AUTOFLUORESCENCE FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ZONAL OCCULT OUTER RETINOPATHY.

    PubMed

    Shifera, Amde Selassie; Pennesi, Mark E; Yang, Paul; Lin, Phoebe

    2017-06-01

    To determine whether ultra-wide-field fundus autofluorescence (UWFFAF) findings in acute zonal occult outer retinopathy correlated well with perimetry, optical coherence tomography, and electroretinography findings. Retrospective observational study on 16 eyes of 10 subjects with AZOOR seen at a single referral center from October 2012 to March 2015 who had UWFFAF performed. Chi-square analysis was performed to compare categorical variables, and Mann-Whitney U test used for comparisons of nonparametric continuous variables. All eyes examined within 3 months of symptom onset (five of the five eyes) had diffusely hyperautofluorescent areas on UWFFAF. The remaining eyes contained hypoautofluorescent lesions with hyperautofluorescent borders. In 11/16 (68.8%) eyes, UWFFAF showed the full extent of lesions that would not have been possible with standard fundus autofluorescence centered on the fovea. There were 3 patterns of spread: centrifugal spread (7/16, 43.8%), centripetal spread (5/16, 31.3%), and centrifugal + centripetal spread (4/16, 25.0%). The UWFFAF lesions corresponded well with perimetric, optical coherence tomography, and electroretinography abnormalities. The UWFFAF along with optical coherence tomography can be useful in the evaluation and monitoring of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy patients.

  9. ULTRA-WIDE-FIELD FUNDUS AUTOFLUORESCENCE FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ZONAL OCCULT OUTER RETINOPATHY

    PubMed Central

    Shifera, Amde Selassie; Pennesi, Mark E.; Yang, Paul; Lin, Phoebe

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To determine if ultra-wide-field fundus autofluorescence (UWFFAF) findings in acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) correlated well with perimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electroretinography (ERG) findings. Methods Retrospective observational study on 16 eyes of 10 subjects with AZOOR seen at a single referral center from October 2012 to March 2015 who had UWFFAF performed. Chi-square analysis was performed to compare categorical variables and Mann-Whitney U-test used for comparisons of non-parametric continuous variables. Results All eyes examined within 3 months of symptom onset (5 of 5 eyes) had diffusely hyperautofluorescent areas on UWFFAF. The remaining eyes contained hypoautofluorescent lesions with hyperautofluorescent borders. In 11/16 (68.8%) eyes, UWFFAF showed the full extent of lesions that would not have been possible with standard FAF centered on the fovea. There were 3 patterns of spread: centrifugal spread (7/16, 43.8%), centripetal spread (5/16, 31.3%), and centrifugal + centripetal spread (4/16, 25.0%). UWFFAF lesions corresponded well with perimetric, OCT, and ERG abnormalities. Conclusions UWFFAF along with OCT can be useful in the evaluation and monitoring of AZOOR patients. PMID:27755372

  10. Optimal Eye-Gaze Fixation Position for Face-Related Neural Responses

    PubMed Central

    Zerouali, Younes; Lina, Jean-Marc; Jemel, Boutheina

    2013-01-01

    It is generally agreed that some features of a face, namely the eyes, are more salient than others as indexed by behavioral diagnosticity, gaze-fixation patterns and evoked-neural responses. However, because previous studies used unnatural stimuli, there is no evidence so far that the early encoding of a whole face in the human brain is based on the eyes or other facial features. To address this issue, scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye gaze-fixations were recorded simultaneously in a gaze-contingent paradigm while observers viewed faces. We found that the N170 indexing the earliest face-sensitive response in the human brain was the largest when the fixation position is located around the nasion. Interestingly, for inverted faces, this optimal fixation position was more variable, but mainly clustered in the upper part of the visual field (around the mouth). These observations extend the findings of recent behavioral studies, suggesting that the early encoding of a face, as indexed by the N170, is not driven by the eyes per se, but rather arises from a general perceptual setting (upper-visual field advantage) coupled with the alignment of a face stimulus to a stored face template. PMID:23762224

  11. Optimal eye-gaze fixation position for face-related neural responses.

    PubMed

    Zerouali, Younes; Lina, Jean-Marc; Jemel, Boutheina

    2013-01-01

    It is generally agreed that some features of a face, namely the eyes, are more salient than others as indexed by behavioral diagnosticity, gaze-fixation patterns and evoked-neural responses. However, because previous studies used unnatural stimuli, there is no evidence so far that the early encoding of a whole face in the human brain is based on the eyes or other facial features. To address this issue, scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) and eye gaze-fixations were recorded simultaneously in a gaze-contingent paradigm while observers viewed faces. We found that the N170 indexing the earliest face-sensitive response in the human brain was the largest when the fixation position is located around the nasion. Interestingly, for inverted faces, this optimal fixation position was more variable, but mainly clustered in the upper part of the visual field (around the mouth). These observations extend the findings of recent behavioral studies, suggesting that the early encoding of a face, as indexed by the N170, is not driven by the eyes per se, but rather arises from a general perceptual setting (upper-visual field advantage) coupled with the alignment of a face stimulus to a stored face template.

  12. Branch retinal arterial occlusion.

    PubMed

    Subedi, S; Shrestha, C

    2010-01-01

    Retinal arterial occlusion is an ocular emergency in which visual prognosis is poor mostly due to late presentation of the patient and macular involvement. The casee described, in this report is ane incidence of Branch Retinal Arterial Occlusion in a 22 year old female with grade II Mitral Regurgitation. The patiente presented witha complaint of painless, diminution of vision in the right eyn. She also presented with perception of black shadow in the superior visual fiel n of the same eye5 for five days. There was no significant systemic ord personal history. Her visual acuity at presentation was 6/60 and 6/6 in the right and left eyes,y which did not improve with glasses or pin-hole. Anterior segment including papillary reaction was normal in both eyes while Fundus examination of the right eye revealed retinal whitening inside the inferotemporal vascular arcade that was encroaching foveolar avascular zone. Visual field defect was detected at superonasally inside arhade but Fundus Fluorescence Angiography was normal. An echoycardiograph revealed grade II Mitral Regurgitation. The patient was kept on observation and after two2 days of follow-up, vision in the right eye was improved to 6/6 unaided but visual field defect was remained same.

  13. Useful field of view in simulated driving: Reaction times and eye movements of drivers

    PubMed Central

    Seya, Yasuhiro; Nakayasu, Hidetoshi; Yagi, Tadasu

    2013-01-01

    To examine the spatial distribution of a useful field of view (UFOV) in driving, reaction times (RTs) and eye movements were measured in simulated driving. In the experiment, a normal or mirror-reversed letter “E” was presented on driving images with different eccentricities and directions from the current gaze position. The results showed significantly slower RTs in the upper and upper left directions than in the other directions. The RTs were significantly slower in the left directions than in the right directions. These results suggest that the UFOV in driving may be asymmetrical among the meridians in the visual field. PMID:24349688

  14. An Ilomastat-CD Eye Drop Formulation to Treat Ocular Scarring.

    PubMed

    Mohamed-Ahmed, Abeer H A; Lockwood, Alastair; Li, He; Bailly, Maryse; Khaw, Peng T; Brocchini, Steve

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to develop a topical matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor preparation for antiscarring therapy. The broad spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor ilomastat was formulated using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution. In vitro activity of ilomastat-cyclodextrin (ilomastat-CD) was examined using fibroblasts seeded in collagen. Permeation of ilomastat-CD eye drop through pig eye conjunctiva was confirmed using Franz diffusion cells. Ilomastat-CD eye drop was applied to rabbit eyes in vivo, and the distribution of ilomastat in ocular tissues and fluids was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The aqueous solubility of ilomastat-CD was ∼1000 μg/mL in water and 1400 μg/mL in PBS (pH 7.4), which is greater than ilomastat alone (140 and 160 μg/mL in water and PBS, respectively). The in vitro activity of ilomastat-CD to inhibit collagen contraction in the presence of human Tenon fibroblast cells was unchanged compared to uncomplexed ilomastat. Topically administered ilomastat-CD in vivo to rabbit eyes resulted in a therapeutic concentration of ilomastat being present in the sclera and conjunctiva and within the aqueous humor. Ilomastat-CD has the potential to be formulated as an eye drop for use as an antifibrotic, which may have implications for the prevention of scarring in many settings, for example glaucoma filtration surgery.

  15. Arsenite Accumulation in the Mouse Eye

    PubMed Central

    Kleiman, Norman J.; Quinn, Adrienne M.; Fields, Kara G.; Slavkovich, Vesna; Graziano, Joseph H.

    2016-01-01

    Elevated arsenic (As) concentrations in drinking water are a major worldwide public health concern. Exposure to As is associated with carcinogenesis, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, cognitive deficits and other disorders. However little is known regarding chronic As-mediated effects on the eye. Oxidative stress is believed to be an important factor in As-related pathology and is also implicated in certain eye diseases such as cataract. Thus, elevated exposure to arsenic could potentially be a contributing factor for ocular pathology. A pilot study was therefore initiated to determine if As could be detected in eye tissue of mice exposed to sodium arsenite in drinking water. Total As concentrations were determined by ICP/Mass Spectroscopy in whole eyes, lens, liver, heart, lung, kidneys, spleen, brain and hair from mice given 0, 10, 50 or 250 ppm sodium arsenite in their drinking water for 4 weeks or 0, 10 or 50 ppm for 6 months. Dose dependent increases in As concentration were observed in all organs and tissues. Surprisingly, As concentrations in the eye and lens were significantly higher than those in liver, lung, heart, spleen and brain and similar to that found in kidneys. The relatively high concentration in the eye and the lens in particular suggests As exposure may be a contributing factor in cataract formation in parts of the world where As in drinking water is endemic. PMID:27267701

  16. Seeing you through London 2012: eye care at the Paralympics.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Clare M; Thomson, W David; D'Ath, Penny J

    2013-09-01

    The provision of eye care services for competitors and support teams is integral to the modern Olympic Games. The eye clinic for the London 2012 Paralympic Games employed a multidisciplinary team of eye care professionals using state-of-the-art instrumentation to provide the highest level of eye care. The detailed organisation of the eye care clinic at London 2012 is described in a companion paper which summarises the eye care clinic during the London 2012 Olympic Games. These two reports will aid in planning eye care clinics at future Games. This paper summarises the organisation of the eye clinic and provides outline audit data relating to eye conditions encountered during the Paralympic Games. A total of 870 patients representing 102 countries attended the eye clinic. 274 (31.5%) were competitors; the remainder were trainers and support staff. No serious ocular injuries resulted from competitor injury in the field of play during the Paralympic Games, although seven patients were referred urgently to hospital eye services for conditions including orbital cellulitis, retinal detachment, exudative macular degeneration, corneal ulcer, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and macular oedema. A total of 749 spectacles, 14 pairs of contact lenses and 7 low vision aids were dispensed. By combining excellent facilities and equipment with a multidisciplinary team of eye care professionals, we feel we provided the highest level of eye care, providing a legacy for future Games.

  17. [Solar retinopathy].

    PubMed

    Kawa, P; Mańkowska, A; Mackiewicz, J; Zagórski, Z

    1998-01-01

    The purpose of this study is the present clinical evaluation of 21 patients (number of affected eyes--33), who watched eclipse of the sun on 12 October 1996. All patients had general ophthalmic examination with emphasis on visual acuity, visual field, Amsler test, fluorescein angiography and fundus appearance. Eleven out of 21 patients had at least one follow up examination (number of affected eyes--17). None of the patient received any treatment. All patients revealed tiny, central scotomata--positive Amsler test and decreased visual acuity on the first visit; reading Snellen chart could be improved in all patients by adequate head tilt or eye movement (improvement up to 3 Snellen chart lines). No signs of retinopathy were observed in two eyes with uncorrected refractive error and one amblyopic eye. After 7-8 weeks the visual acuity was decreased to 5/30 in two eyes and to 5/10 in ten eyes. In all those eyes persisted a tiny, central scotoma. Looking at the eclipse of the sun in spite of using primitive eye protection may cause irreversible retinal damage. Return of visual acuity to 5/5 does not always imply complete recovery because of persistent central scotoma.

  18. Rates of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in glaucoma suspect eyes

    PubMed Central

    Miki, Atsuya; Medeiros, Felipe A.; Weinreb, Robert N.; Jain, Sonia; He, Feng; Sharpsten, Lucie; Khachatryan, Naira; Hammel, Na’ama; Liebmann, Jeffrey M.; Girkin, Christopher A.; Sample, Pamela A.; Zangwill, Linda M.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To compare the rates of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in patients suspect of having glaucoma who developed visual field damage (VFD) to those who did not develop VFD, and to determine whether the rate of RNFL loss can be used to predict who will develop VFD.. Design Prospective observational cohort study Participants Glaucoma suspects, defined as having glaucomatous optic neuropathy or ocular hypertension (Intraocular pressure (IOP)>21 mmHg) without repeatable VFD at baseline from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study, and the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study. Methods Global and quadrant RNFL thickness (RNFLT) were measured with the Spectralis spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). VFD was defined as having 3 consecutive abnormal visual fields. The rate of RNFL loss in eyes developing VFD was compared with eyes not developing VFD using multivariable linear mixed-effects models. A joint longitudinal survival model utilized the estimated RNFLT slope to predict the risk of developing VFD, while adjusting for potential confounding variables. Main Outcome Measures The rate of RNFL thinning and the probability of developing VFD. Results Four hundred and fifty-four eyes of 294 glaucoma suspects were included. The average number of SD-OCT examinations was 4.6 (range, 2–9) with median follow-up time of 2.2 (0.4–4.1) years. Forty eyes (8.8%) developed VFD. The estimated mean rate of global RNFL loss was significantly faster in eyes developing VFD compared with eyes that did not (−2.02μm/year vs. −0.82μm/year, P<0.001). The joint longitudinal survival model showed that each 1μm/year faster rate of global RNFL loss corresponded to a 2.05 times higher risk of developing VFD (Hazards Ratio (HR)=2.05, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.14–3.71; p=0.017). Conclusions The rate of global RNFL loss was more than twice as fast in eyes developing VFD compared with eyes that did not develop them. Joint longitudinal survival model showed that a 1μm/year faster rate of RNFLT loss corresponded to a 2.05 times higher risk of developing VFD. These results suggest that measuring the rate of SD-OCT RNFL loss may be a useful tool to help identify patients who are at a high risk of developing visual field loss. PMID:24629619

  19. The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS): 4. Comparison of treatment outcomes within race. Seven-year results.

    PubMed

    1998-07-01

    The purpose of this report is to present separately for black and white patients with advanced glaucoma 7-year results of two alternative surgical intervention sequences. A randomized controlled trial. A total of 332 black patients (451 eyes), 249 white patients (325 eyes), and 10 patients of other races (13 eyes) participated. Potential follow-up ranged from 4 to 7 years. Eyes were randomly assigned to either an argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT)-trabeculectomy-trabeculectomy (ATT) sequence or a trabeculectomy-ALT-trabeculectomy (TAT) sequence. The second and third interventions were offered after failure of the first and second interventions, respectively. Average percent of eyes with decrease of visual field (APDVF), average percent of eyes with decrease of visual acuity (APDVA), and average percent of eyes with decrease of vision (APDV) are the outcome measures. Decrease of visual field (DVF) is an increase from baseline of at least 4 points on a glaucoma visual field defect scale ranging from 0 to 20, decrease of visual acuity (DVA) is a decrease from baseline of at least 15 letters (3 lines), and decrease of vision (DV) is the occurrence of either DVF or DVA. The averages are of percent decreases observed at 6-month intervals from the first 6-month visit to the end of the specified observation period. In both black and white patients throughout 7-year follow-up, the mean decrease in intraocular pressure was greater in eyes assigned to TAT, and the cumulative probability of failure of the first intervention was greater in eyes assigned to ATT. In black patients, APDVF, APDVA, and APDV are less for the ATT sequence than for the TAT sequence throughout the 7 years. In white patients, APDVF also favors the ATT sequence but only for the first year, after which it favors the TAT sequence through the seventh year; APDVA also favors the ATT sequence, but the ATT-TAT difference progressively diminishes over 7 years; and APDV favors ATT over TAT initially, but after 4 years, the advantage switches to and remains with TAT. These data support use of the ATT sequence for all black patients. For white patients without life-threatening health problems, the data support use of the TAT sequence.

  20. Patterns of Progressive Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer Thinning in Glaucoma Detected by OCT.

    PubMed

    Shin, Joong Won; Sung, Kyung Rim; Park, Sun-Won

    2018-04-25

    To investigate the spatial characteristics and patterns of progressive macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thinning in glaucomatous eyes assessed by OCT Guided Progression Analysis (GPA). Longitudinal, retrospective, observational study. Two hundred ninety-two eyes of 192 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with a mean follow-up of 6.0 years (range, 3.2-8.1 years) were included. Macular GCIPL imaging and visual field (VF) examination were performed at 6-month intervals for 3 years or more. Progressive GCIPL thinning was evaluated by a Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) GPA device. Spatial characteristics of progressive GCIPL thinning were assessed by the GCIPL thickness change map. The pattern of progressive GCIPL thinning was evaluated by comparing the baseline GCIPL thickness deviation map and the final GCIPL thickness change map. Visual field progression was determined by Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial criteria and linear regression of the VF index. Spatial characteristics and patterns of progressive GCIPL thinning. Seventy-two eyes of 62 participants (24.7% [72/292]) showed progressive GCIPL thinning in the GCIPL thickness change map. Progressive GCIPL thinning was detected most frequently (25.0%) at 2.08 mm from the fovea, and it extended in an arcuate shape in the inferotemporal region (250°-339°). Compared with the baseline GCIPL defects, the progressive GCIPL thinning extended toward the fovea and optic disc. The most common pattern of progressive GCIPL thinning was widening of GCIPL defects (42 eyes [58.3%]), followed by deepening of GCIPL defects (19 eyes [26.4%]) and newly developed GCIPL defects (15 eyes [20.8%]). Visual field progression was accompanied by progressive GCIPL thinning in 41 of 72 eyes (56.9%). Progressive GCIPL thinning preceded (61.0% [25/41]) or occurred concomitantly with (21.9% [9/41]) VF progression. The use of OCT GPA maps offers an effective approach to evaluate the topographic patterns of progressive GCIPL thinning in glaucomatous eyes. Progression of GCIPL thinning occurred before apparent progression on standard automated perimetry in most glaucomatous eyes. Understanding specific patterns and sequences of macular damage may provide important insights in the monitoring of glaucomatous progression. Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Effect of poverty on eye health and implications for nursing practice.

    PubMed

    Williamson, Swapna; Seewoodhary, Ramesh; Dampies, Lavona

    2016-08-10

    Poverty is a global issue that affects the health and quality of life of millions of people. It predisposes people to many health conditions, including sight loss or blindness as a result of the immune system becoming compromised. Blindness is common in areas of the world where there is extreme poverty. In the UK, poverty has become a major social issue, contributing to many health problems, including eye conditions. These eye conditions can result in sight loss if they are not managed effectively. Psychosocial care is an essential aspect of patient care, because poverty and sight loss are interrelated. Healthcare practitioners have a significant role in the management and prevention of blindness. Blindness caused by poverty is largely preventable, and health promotion is an important strategy in care management.

  2. Modeling the focusing efficiency of lobster-eye optics for image shifting depending on the soft x-ray wavelength.

    PubMed

    Su, Luning; Li, Wei; Wu, Mingxuan; Su, Yun; Guo, Chongling; Ruan, Ningjuan; Yang, Bingxin; Yan, Feng

    2017-08-01

    Lobster-eye optics is widely applied to space x-ray detection missions and x-ray security checks for its wide field of view and low weight. This paper presents a theoretical model to obtain spatial distribution of focusing efficiency based on lobster-eye optics in a soft x-ray wavelength. The calculations reveal the competition mechanism of contributions to the focusing efficiency between the geometrical parameters of lobster-eye optics and the reflectivity of the iridium film. In addition, the focusing efficiency image depending on x-ray wavelengths further explains the influence of different geometrical parameters of lobster-eye optics and different soft x-ray wavelengths on focusing efficiency. These results could be beneficial to optimize parameters of lobster-eye optics in order to realize maximum focusing efficiency.

  3. Stage of visual field loss and age at diagnosis in 1988 patients with different glaucomas: implications for glaucoma screening and driving ability.

    PubMed

    Gramer, Gwendolyn; Gramer, Eugen

    2018-04-01

    To compare stage of visual field loss (VFL) and age at diagnosis between patients with different types of glaucoma with regard to glaucoma screening and driving ability. In a cross-sectional study of 1988 consecutive patients with different types of glaucoma VFL at diagnosis and age at diagnosis were assessed. Patients with binocular advanced or severe VFL were classified unable, patients with no VFL in one eye and VFL I-V (Aulhorn classification) in the other eye able, all other constellations questionably able to drive. There were significant differences in age at diagnosis between different glaucomas and between patients with different stages of VFL at diagnosis. Age-related assessment of VFL at diagnosis in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) showed that NTG is not a disease of the elderly but a disease with late diagnosis at severe VFL. In POAG a solely age-related glaucoma screening, e.g. from the age of 50 years, does not sufficiently lead to diagnosis at an early stage of the disease. In POAG solely based on binocular VFL 11.5% of patients were judged unable, 29.2% questionably able to drive, in NTG 19.6%/43.1%, pigmentary glaucoma 16%/22%, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma 9.1%/16.7%, and in primary angle-closure glaucoma 14.6%/30%. Depending on type of glaucoma more than 50% of patients require counselling regarding safe driving as part of clinical care. A disease-specific, age-related perimetric examination considering additional risk factors like family history of glaucoma is essential for early detection of glaucoma and road safety.

  4. Dynamic Light Scattering of Diabetic Vitreopathy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sebag, J.; Ansari, Rafat R.; Dunker, Stephan; Suh, Kwang I.

    1999-01-01

    Diabetes induces pathology throughout the body via nonenzymatic glycation of proteins. Vitreous, which is replete with type 11 collagen, undergoes significant changes in diabetes. The resultant diabetic vitreopathy plays an important role in diabetic retinopathy. Detecting these molecular changes could provide insight into diabetic eye disease as well as molecular effects elsewhere in the body. Human eyes were obtained at autopsy and studied in the fresh, unfixed state. Sclera, choroid, and retina were dissected off the vitreous for dark-field slit microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). For the former, the entire vitreous was exposed. For the latter, only a window at the equator was dissected in some specimens, and the anterior segment was removed leaving the posterior lens capsule intact in others. DLS was performed to determine particle sizes at multiple sites 0.5 mm apart, spanning the globe at the equator (window dissections) and along the antero-posterior axis. Dark-field slit microscopy in diabetic subjects detected findings typical of age-related vitreous degeneration, but at much younger ages than nondiabetic controls. Noninvasive DLS measurements found a greater heterogeneity and larger particle sizes in vitreous of subjects with diabetes as compared to age-matched controls. DLS can detect and quantify the early molecular effects that cause vitreous collagen fibrils to cross-link and aggregate. This could provide valuable insight into ocular and systemic effects of hyperglycemia, because the molecular changes in diabetic vitreopathy could serve as an index of such effects throughout the body. In addition to the diagnostic implications, this methodology could provide a rapid, reproducible way to monitor the response to therapy with novel agents intended to prevent the complications of diabetes on a molecular level.

  5. Adding polarimetric imaging to depth map using improved light field camera 2.0 structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Xuanzhe; Yang, Yi; Du, Shaojun; Cao, Yu

    2017-06-01

    Polarization imaging plays an important role in various fields, especially for skylight navigation and target identification, whose imaging system is always required to be designed with high resolution, broad band, and single-lens structure. This paper describe such a imaging system based on light field 2.0 camera structure, which can calculate the polarization state and depth distance from reference plane for every objet point within a single shot. This structure, including a modified main lens, a multi-quadrants Polaroid, a honeycomb-liked micro lens array, and a high resolution CCD, is equal to an "eyes array", with 3 or more polarization imaging "glasses" in front of each "eye". Therefore, depth can be calculated by matching the relative offset of corresponding patch on neighboring "eyes", while polarization state by its relative intensity difference, and their resolution will be approximately equal to each other. An application on navigation under clear sky shows that this method has a high accuracy and strong robustness.

  6. Developing a Novel Eye Tracking Paradigm to Assess Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Feasibility Study of the Bethesda Eye and Attention Measure (BEAM)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-10-01

    system, which includes the retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, striate cortex, superior colliculus, parietal cortex, frontal eye fields... body penetrating the brain, forces generated from events such as a blast or explosion, or other forces yet to be defined. Consistent with the...and loss of productivity (47-57%; Tanielian & Jaycox, 2008). With advances in modern medicine and neuroimaging, more Service Members and civilians

  7. Relationship between Structural and Functional Assessment of the Visual System in Mildly Disabled Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

    PubMed Central

    Huseyinoglu, Nergiz; Ekinci, Metin; Ozben, Serkan; Buyukuysal, Cagatay

    2014-01-01

    Abstract Studies that explored the anterior visual pathway in the patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have demonstrated contradictory results about the correlation between structural and functional status of optic nerve and retina. We aimed to investigate the functional and structural findings in our cohort of mildly disabled relapsing-remitting MS patients. A total of 134 eyes (80 eyes of the patients with MS and 54 eyes of the control group) were investigated. Eyes of MS patients were divided into two groups—as eyes with history of optic neuritis (ON group) and without history of optic neuritis (NON group). Ophthalmological investigation including visual evoked potentials, standard automated perimetry, and optical coherence tomography were performed for all participants. Retinal and macular thicknesses were significantly decreased in ON and NON groups compared with controls. Also, visual evoked potential latencies and visual field loss were worse in the both MS groups compared with control group. We did not find any correlation between visual evoked potentials and retinal or macular thickness values but visual field parameters were correlated between retinal and macular layer loss in the NON group. According to our results and some previous studies, although both functional and structural changes were detected in patients with MS, functional status markers do not always show parallelism (or synchrony) with structural changes, especially in eyes with history of optic neuritis. PMID:27928266

  8. Extraocular muscle proprioception and eye position.

    PubMed

    Pettorossi, V E; Ferraresi, A; Draicchio, F; Errico, P; Santarelli, R; Manni, E

    1995-03-01

    In the lamb, acute unilateral section of the ophthalmic branch induced in the ipsilateral eye occasional oscillations of the resting position and misalignment of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (HVOR) with respect to the stimulus. Additional electrolytic lesion of the cells innervating the proprioceptors of the medial rectus muscle, or of the lateral rectus muscle in the contralateral semilunar ganglion, provoked a 4 degrees-7 degrees consensual eye deviation towards and away from the lesioned side, respectively. The optokinetic beating field was similarly deviated. Under these experimental conditions, HVOR showed enhanced gain and marked misalignment in both eyes. Therefore, the selective suppression of muscular proprioceptive input deviated both eyes towards the direction opposite to the muscle whose gangliar proprioceptive representation has been destroyed.

  9. Investigation of retinal damage during refractive eye surgery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schumacher, S.; Sander, M.; Dopke, C.; Grone, A.; Ertmer, W.; Lubatschowski, H.

    2005-04-01

    Ultrashort laser pulses are increasingly used in refractive eye surgery to cut inside transparent corneal tissue. This is exploited by the fs-LASIK procedure which affords the opportunity to correct ametropia without any mechanical effects. The cutting process is caused by the optical breakdown occurring in the laser focus. During this process only a certain amount of the pulse energy is deposited into the tissue. The remaining pulse energy propagates further through the eye and interacts with the retina and the strong absorbing tissue layers behind. Therefore this investigation shall clarify if the intensity of the remaining laser pulse and the resulting temperature field can damage the retina and the surrounding tissue. Threshold values of the retinal tissue and theoretical calculations of the temperature field will be presented.

  10. Macular Atrophy Development and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treated Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

    PubMed

    Zarubina, Anna V; Gal-Or, Orly; Huisingh, Carrie E; Owsley, Cynthia; Freund, K Bailey

    2017-12-01

    To explore the association between presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) at baseline in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with the development of macular atrophy (MA) during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. There were 74 eyes without pre-existing MA receiving anti-VEGF therapy for nAMD for 2 years or longer analyzed. At least two image modalities that included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, near-infrared reflectance, fluorescein angiography, and color fundus photos were used to assess for SDD presence, phenotype (dot and ribbon), and location, neovascularization type, and MA. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations assessed the association between SDD and the development of MA adjusting for age, neovascularization type, and choroidal thickness. SDD were present in 46 eyes (63%) at baseline. MA developed in 38 eyes (51%) during the mean of 4.7 ± 1.2 years of follow-up. Compared with eyes without SDD, those with SDD at baseline were 3.0 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-8.5, P = 0.0343) more likely to develop MA. Eyes with SDD present in the inferior macula and inferior extramacular fields at baseline were 3.0 times and 6.5 times more likely to develop MA at follow-up than eyes without SDD in these locations (95% CI 1.0-8.9, P = 0.0461 and 95% CI 1.3-32.4, P = 0.0218, respectively). MA development was not associated with a specific SDD phenotype. MA frequently developed in eyes during anti-VEGF treatment. SDD were independently associated with MA development. The extension of SDD into the inferior fundus, particularly in the inferior extramacular field, conferred higher odds of subsequent MA development.

  11. Macular Atrophy Development and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treated Age-Related Macular Degeneration

    PubMed Central

    Zarubina, Anna V.; Gal-Or, Orly; Huisingh, Carrie E.; Owsley, Cynthia

    2017-01-01

    Purpose To explore the association between presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) at baseline in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with the development of macular atrophy (MA) during anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Methods There were 74 eyes without pre-existing MA receiving anti-VEGF therapy for nAMD for 2 years or longer analyzed. At least two image modalities that included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, near-infrared reflectance, fluorescein angiography, and color fundus photos were used to assess for SDD presence, phenotype (dot and ribbon), and location, neovascularization type, and MA. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations assessed the association between SDD and the development of MA adjusting for age, neovascularization type, and choroidal thickness. Results SDD were present in 46 eyes (63%) at baseline. MA developed in 38 eyes (51%) during the mean of 4.7 ± 1.2 years of follow-up. Compared with eyes without SDD, those with SDD at baseline were 3.0 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–8.5, P = 0.0343) more likely to develop MA. Eyes with SDD present in the inferior macula and inferior extramacular fields at baseline were 3.0 times and 6.5 times more likely to develop MA at follow-up than eyes without SDD in these locations (95% CI 1.0–8.9, P = 0.0461 and 95% CI 1.3–32.4, P = 0.0218, respectively). MA development was not associated with a specific SDD phenotype. Conclusions MA frequently developed in eyes during anti-VEGF treatment. SDD were independently associated with MA development. The extension of SDD into the inferior fundus, particularly in the inferior extramacular field, conferred higher odds of subsequent MA development. PMID:29196768

  12. Computing retinal contour from optical biometry.

    PubMed

    Faria-Ribeiro, Miguel; López-Gil, Norberto; Navarro, Rafael; Lopes-Ferreira, Daniela; Jorge, Jorge; González-Méijome, Jose Manuel

    2014-04-01

    To describe a new methodology that derives horizontal posterior retinal contours from partial coherence interferometry (PCI) and ray tracing using the corneal topography. Corneal topography and PCI for seven horizontal visual field eccentricities correspondent to the central 60 degrees of the posterior pole were obtained in 55 myopic eyes. A semicustomized eye model based on the subject's corneal topography and the Navarro eye model was generated using Zemax-EE software. The model was used to compute the optical path length in the seven directions where PCI measurements were obtained. Vitreous chamber depth was computed using the PCI values obtained at each of those directions. Matlab software was developed to fit the best conic curve to the set of points previously obtained. We tested the limit in the accuracy of the methodology when the actual cornea of the subject is not used and for two different lens geometries. A standard eye model can induce an error in the retina sagitta estimation of the order of hundreds of micrometers in comparison with the semicustomized eye model. However, the use of a different lens model leads to an error of the order of tens of micrometers. The apical radius and conic constant of the average fit were -11.91 mm and -0.15, respectively. In general, a nasal-temporal asymmetry in the retina contour was found, showing mean larger values of vitreous chamber depth in the nasal side of the eye. The use of a semicustomized eye model, together with optical path length measured by PCI for different angles, can be used to predict the retinal contour within tenths of micrometers. This methodology can be useful in studies trying to understand the effect of peripheral retinal location on myopia progression as well as modeling the optics of the human eye for a wide field.

  13. Effect of mydriasis and different field strategies on digital image screening of diabetic eye disease

    PubMed Central

    Murgatroyd, H; Ellingford, A; Cox, A; Binnie, M; Ellis, J D; MacEwen, C J; Leese, G P

    2004-01-01

    Aims: To assess the effects of (1) mydriasis and (2) single versus three field photography on screening for diabetic eye disease using digital photography Method: Slit lamp examination findings were compared to digital fundal photographs for the detection of any retinopathy and for referable retinopathy in 398 patients (794 eyes). A Topcon TRC-NW6S digital non-mydriatic fundus camera was used. Three photographic strategies were used: undilated single field, dilated single field, and dilated multiple fields. The photographs were presented in random order to one of two retinal screeners. For the single field photographs the screeners were masked to the use of mydriatics. In 13% of fundal photographs, grading was performed by both, rather than just one grader. Results: Mydriasis reduced the proportion of ungradable photographs from 26% to 5% (p<0.001). Neither mydriasis nor three field photography improved the sensitivity or specificity for the detection of any retinopathy or of referable retinopathy when compared with undilated single field photography. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting referable retinopathy using undilated single field photography was 77% (95% CI 71 to 84) and 95 % (95% CI 93 to 97) respectively. Using dilated single field photography the figures were 81% (95% CI 76 to 87) and 92% (95% CI 90 to 94) respectively. Using dilated three field photography the figures were 83% (95% CI 78 to 88) and 93% (95% CI 91 to 96) respectively. Intergrader reliability for the detection of referable retinopathy in gradable photographs was excellent (Kappa values 0.86–1.00). Conclusions: Mydriasis reduces the technical failure rate. Mydriasis and the three field photography as used in this study do not increase the sensitivity or specificity of detecting diabetic retinopathy. PMID:15205238

  14. Directional asymmetries in human smooth pursuit eye movements.

    PubMed

    Ke, Sally R; Lam, Jessica; Pai, Dinesh K; Spering, Miriam

    2013-06-27

    Humans make smooth pursuit eye movements to bring the image of a moving object onto the fovea. Although pursuit accuracy is critical to prevent motion blur, the eye often falls behind the target. Previous studies suggest that pursuit accuracy differs between motion directions. Here, we systematically assess asymmetries in smooth pursuit. In experiment 1, binocular eye movements were recorded while observers (n = 20) tracked a small spot of light moving along one of four cardinal or diagonal axes across a featureless background. We analyzed pursuit latency, acceleration, peak velocity, gain, and catch-up saccade latency, number, and amplitude. In experiment 2 (n = 22), we examined the effects of spatial location and constrained stimulus motion within the upper or lower visual field. Pursuit was significantly faster (higher acceleration, peak velocity, and gain) and smoother (fewer and later catch-up saccades) in response to downward versus upward motion in both the upper and the lower visual fields. Pursuit was also more accurate and smoother in response to horizontal versus vertical motion. CONCLUSIONS. Our study is the first to report a consistent up-down asymmetry in human adults, regardless of visual field. Our findings suggest that pursuit asymmetries are adaptive responses to the requirements of the visual context: preferred motion directions (horizontal and downward) are more critical to our survival than nonpreferred ones.

  15. Smooth pursuit eye movements and schizophrenia: literature review.

    PubMed

    Franco, J G; de Pablo, J; Gaviria, A M; Sepúlveda, E; Vilella, E

    2014-09-01

    To review the scientific literature about the relationship between impairment on smooth pursuit eye movements and schizophrenia. Narrative review that includes historical articles, reports about basic and clinical investigation, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis on the topic. Up to 80% of schizophrenic patients have impairment of smooth pursuit eye movements. Despite the diversity of test protocols, 65% of patients and controls are correctly classified by their overall performance during this pursuit. The smooth pursuit eye movements depend on the ability to anticipate the target's velocity and the visual feedback, as well as on learning and attention. The neuroanatomy implicated in smooth pursuit overlaps to some extent with certain frontal cortex zones associated with some clinical and neuropsychological characteristics of the schizophrenia, therefore some specific components of smooth pursuit anomalies could serve as biomarkers of the disease. Due to their sedative effect, antipsychotics have a deleterious effect on smooth pursuit eye movements, thus these movements cannot be used to evaluate the efficacy of the currently available treatments. Standardized evaluation of smooth pursuit eye movements on schizophrenia will allow to use specific aspects of that pursuit as biomarkers for the study of its genetics, psychopathology, or neuropsychology. Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  16. A Novel Eye-Tracking Method to Assess Attention Allocation in Individuals with and without Aphasia Using a Dual-Task Paradigm

    PubMed Central

    Heuer, Sabine; Hallowell, Brooke

    2015-01-01

    Numerous authors report that people with aphasia have greater difficulty allocating attention than people without neurological disorders. Studying how attention deficits contribute to language deficits is important. However, existing methods for indexing attention allocation in people with aphasia pose serious methodological challenges. Eye-tracking methods have great potential to address such challenges. We developed and assessed the validity of a new dual-task method incorporating eye tracking to assess attention allocation. Twenty-six adults with aphasia and 33 control participants completed auditory sentence comprehension and visual search tasks. To test whether the new method validly indexes well-documented patterns in attention allocation, demands were manipulated by varying task complexity in single- and dual-task conditions. Differences in attention allocation were indexed via eye-tracking measures. For all participants significant increases in attention allocation demands were observed from single- to dual-task conditions and from simple to complex stimuli. Individuals with aphasia had greater difficulty allocating attention with greater task demands. Relationships between eye-tracking indices of comprehension during single and dual tasks and standardized testing were examined. Results support the validity of the novel eye-tracking method for assessing attention allocation in people with and without aphasia. Clinical and research implications are discussed. PMID:25913549

  17. Narrative comprehension and production in children with SLI: An eye movement study

    PubMed Central

    ANDREU, LLORENÇ; SANZ-TORRENT, MONICA; OLMOS, JOAN GUÀRDIA; MACWHINNEY, BRIAN

    2014-01-01

    This study investigates narrative comprehension and production in children with specific language impairment (SLI). Twelve children with SLI (mean age 5; 8 years) and 12 typically developing children (mean age 5; 6 years) participated in an eye-tracking experiment designed to investigate online narrative comprehension and production in Catalan- and Spanish-speaking children with SLI. The comprehension task involved the recording of eye movements during the visual exploration of successive scenes in a story, while listening to the associated narrative. With regard to production, the children were asked to retell the story, while once again looking at the scenes, as their eye movements were monitored. During narrative production, children with SLI look at the most semantically relevant areas of the scenes fewer times than their age-matched controls, but no differences were found in narrative comprehension. Moreover, the analyses of speech productions revealed that children with SLI retained less information and made more semantic and syntactic errors during retelling. Implications for theories that characterize SLI are discussed. PMID:21453036

  18. A correlation study of eye lens dose and personal dose equivalent for interventional cardiologists.

    PubMed

    Farah, J; Struelens, L; Dabin, J; Koukorava, C; Donadille, L; Jacob, S; Schnelzer, M; Auvinen, A; Vanhavere, F; Clairand, I

    2013-12-01

    This paper presents the dosimetry part of the European ELDO project, funded by the DoReMi Network of Excellence, in which a method was developed to estimate cumulative eye lens doses for past practices based on personal dose equivalent values, H(p)(10), measured above the lead apron at several positions at the collar, chest and waist levels. Measurement campaigns on anthropomorphic phantoms were carried out in typical interventional settings considering different tube projections and configurations, beam energies and filtration, operator positions and access routes and using both mono-tube and biplane X-ray systems. Measurements showed that eye lens dose correlates best with H(p)(10) measured on the left side of the phantom at the level of the collar, although this correlation implicates high spreads (41 %). Nonetheless, for retrospective dose assessment, H(p)(10) records are often the only option for eye dose estimates and the typically used chest left whole-body dose measurement remains useful.

  19. An eye movement corpus study of the age-of-acquisition effect.

    PubMed

    Dirix, Nicolas; Duyck, Wouter

    2017-12-01

    In the present study, we investigated the effects of word-level age of acquisition (AoA) on natural reading. Previous studies, using multiple language modalities, showed that earlier-learned words are recognized, read, spoken, and responded to faster than words learned later in life. Until now, in visual word recognition the experimental materials were limited to single-word or sentence studies. We analyzed the data of the Ghent Eye-tracking Corpus (GECO; Cop, Dirix, Drieghe, & Duyck, in press), an eyetracking corpus of participants reading an entire novel, resulting in the first eye movement megastudy of AoA effects in natural reading. We found that the ages at which specific words were learned indeed influenced reading times, above other important (correlated) lexical variables, such as word frequency and length. Shorter fixations for earlier-learned words were consistently found throughout the reading process, in both early (single-fixation durations, first-fixation durations, gaze durations) and late (total reading times) measures. Implications for theoretical accounts of AoA effects and eye movements are discussed.

  20. A fetus with an X;1 balanced reciprocal translocation and eye disease.

    PubMed Central

    Seller, M J; Pal, K; Horsley, S; Davies, A F; Berry, A C; Meredith, R; McCartney, A C

    1995-01-01

    A 19 week female fetus is described with a de novo X;1 reciprocal balanced translocation, with the breakpoint on the X chromosome at Xp11.4, and eye pathology consistent with the early stages of Norrie disease. The fetus seems to be an example of a female manifesting an X linked recessive disease, and it was shown that the normal X chromosome was completely inactivated in all cells examined. Norrie disease has been mapped to Xp11.3, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation studies showed that the Norrie disease gene had not obviously been disrupted. Mutation screening by SSCP analysis showed no aberrant fragments of the coding region of the gene. Several eye disease genes map to the same region of the X chromosome, but are excluded on grounds of pathology. One possibility is that this fetus has a Norrie-like eye disease caused by the mutation of another gene located at Xp11.4. If this is so, there are implications for prenatal diagnosis. Images PMID:7562972

  1. Three requirements for justifying an educational neuroscience.

    PubMed

    Hruby, George G

    2012-03-01

    Over the past quarter century, efforts to bridge between research in the neurosciences and research, theory, and practice in education have grown from a mere hope to noteworthy scholarly sophistication. Many dedicated educational researchers have developed the secondary expertise in the necessary neurosciences and related fields to generate both empirical research and theoretical syntheses of noteworthy promise. Nonetheless, thoughtful and critical scholars in education have expressed concern about both the intellectual coherence and ethical dangers of this new area. It is still an open question whether educational neuroscience is for some time yet to remain only a formative study area for adventurous scholars or is already a fully fledged field of educational scholarship. In this paper, I suggest that to be a worthy field of educational research, educational neuroscience will need to address three issues: intellectual coherence, mutually informing and respected scholarly expertise, and an ethical commitment to the moral implications and obligations shared within educational research generally. I shall set forth some examples of lapses in this regard, focusing primarily on work on reading development, as that is my area of expertise, and make recommendations for due diligence. Arguments. First, intellectual coherence requires both precision in definition of technical terms (so that diverse scholars and professionals may communicate findings and insights consistently across fields), and precision in the logical warrants by which educational implications are drawn from empirical data from the neurosciences. Both needs are facilitated by careful attention to categorical boundary and avoidance of category error. Second, educational neuroscientists require focused and broad expertise in both the neurosciences and educational scholarship on teaching and learning in classrooms (and/or ancillary fields). If history is our guide, neuroscience implications for practice will prove unlikely in practice without expertise on practice. Additionally, respect for the expertise of others in this hybrid and necessarily collaborative enterprise is required. Third, educational neuroscience must take seriously the heightened moral and ethical concerns and commitments of educational professionals generally and educational researchers particularly. This means keeping a vigilant eye towards preserving the integrity of empirical and theoretical findings against rhetorical misuse by educational marketers, policy makers, and polemicists targeting the general public. I conclude that educational neuroscience is more than a hybrid patchwork of individual interests constituting a study area, and is perhaps ready to stand as a legitimate field of educational inquiry. It will not be accepted as such, however, nor should it be, unless the need to demonstrate a capacity for consistent intellectual coherence, scholarly expertise, and ethical commitment is met. ©2012 The British Psychological Society.

  2. The neural basis of parallel saccade programming: an fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Hu, Yanbo; Walker, Robin

    2011-11-01

    The neural basis of parallel saccade programming was examined in an event-related fMRI study using a variation of the double-step saccade paradigm. Two double-step conditions were used: one enabled the second saccade to be partially programmed in parallel with the first saccade while in a second condition both saccades had to be prepared serially. The intersaccadic interval, observed in the parallel programming (PP) condition, was significantly reduced compared with latency in the serial programming (SP) condition and also to the latency of single saccades in control conditions. The fMRI analysis revealed greater activity (BOLD response) in the frontal and parietal eye fields for the PP condition compared with the SP double-step condition and when compared with the single-saccade control conditions. By contrast, activity in the supplementary eye fields was greater for the double-step condition than the single-step condition but did not distinguish between the PP and SP requirements. The role of the frontal eye fields in PP may be related to the advanced temporal preparation and increased salience of the second saccade goal that may mediate activity in other downstream structures, such as the superior colliculus. The parietal lobes may be involved in the preparation for spatial remapping, which is required in double-step conditions. The supplementary eye fields appear to have a more general role in planning saccade sequences that may be related to error monitoring and the control over the execution of the correct sequence of responses.

  3. The Magnetohydrodynamic Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability: A Three-dimensional Study of Nonlinear Evolution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ryu, Dongsu; Jones, T. W.; Frank, Adam

    2000-12-01

    We investigate through high-resolution three-dimensional simulations the nonlinear evolution of compressible magnetohydrodynamic flows subject to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. As in our earlier work, we have considered periodic sections of flows that contain a thin, transonic shear layer but are otherwise uniform. The initially uniform magnetic field is parallel to the shear plane but oblique to the flow itself. We confirm in three-dimensional flows the conclusion from our two-dimensional work that even apparently weak magnetic fields embedded in Kelvin-Helmholtz unstable plasma flows can be fundamentally important to nonlinear evolution of the instability. In fact, that statement is strengthened in three dimensions by this work because it shows how field-line bundles can be stretched and twisted in three dimensions as the quasi-two-dimensional Cat's Eye vortex forms out of the hydrodynamical motions. In our simulations twisting of the field may increase the maximum field strength by more than a factor of 2 over the two-dimensional effect. If, by these developments, the Alfvén Mach number of flows around the Cat's Eye drops to unity or less, our simulations suggest that magnetic stresses will eventually destroy the Cat's Eye and cause the plasma flow to self-organize into a relatively smooth and apparently stable flow that retains memory of the original shear. For our flow configurations, the regime in three dimensions for such reorganization is 4<~MAx<~50, expressed in terms of the Alfvén Mach number of the original velocity transition and the initial Alfvén speed projected to the flow plan. When the initial field is stronger than this, the flow either is linearly stable (if MAx<~2) or becomes stabilized by enhanced magnetic tension as a result of the corrugated field along the shear layer before the Cat's Eye forms (if MAx>~2). For weaker fields the instability remains essentially hydrodynamic in early stages, and the Cat's Eye is destroyed by the hydrodynamic secondary instabilities of a three-dimensional nature. Then, the flows evolve into chaotic structures that approach decaying isotropic turbulence. In this stage, there is considerable enhancement to the magnetic energy due to stretching, twisting, and turbulent amplification, which is retained long afterward. The magnetic energy eventually catches up to the kinetic energy, and the nature of flows becomes magnetohydrodynamic. Decay of the magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is enhanced by dissipation accompanying magnetic reconnection. Hence, in three dimensions as in two dimensions, very weak fields do not modify substantially the character of the flow evolution but do increase global dissipation rates.

  4. Visual field progression in glaucoma: total versus pattern deviation analyses.

    PubMed

    Artes, Paul H; Nicolela, Marcelo T; LeBlanc, Raymond P; Chauhan, Balwantray C

    2005-12-01

    To compare visual field progression with total and pattern deviation analyses in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with glaucoma and healthy control subjects. A group of 101 patients with glaucoma (168 eyes) with early to moderately advanced visual field loss at baseline (average mean deviation [MD], -3.9 dB) and no clinical evidence of media opacity were selected from a prospective longitudinal study on visual field progression in glaucoma. Patients were examined with static automated perimetry at 6-month intervals for a median follow-up of 9 years. At each test location, change was established with event and trend analyses of total and pattern deviation. The event analyses compared each follow-up test to a baseline obtained from averaging the first two tests, and visual field progression was defined as deterioration beyond the 5th percentile of test-retest variability at three test locations, observed on three consecutive tests. The trend analyses were based on point-wise linear regression, and visual field progression was defined as statistically significant deterioration (P < 5%) worse than -1 dB/year at three locations, confirmed by independently omitting the last and the penultimate observation. The incidence and the time-to-progression were compared between total and pattern deviation analyses. To estimate the specificity of the progression analyses, identical criteria were applied to visual fields obtained in 102 healthy control subjects, and the rate of visual field improvement was established in the patients with glaucoma and the healthy control subjects. With both event and trend methods, pattern deviation analyses classified approximately 15% fewer eyes as having progressed than did the total deviation analyses. In eyes classified as progressing by both the total and pattern deviation methods, total deviation analyses tended to detect progression earlier than the pattern deviation analyses. A comparison of the changes observed in MD and the visual fields' general height (estimated by the 85th percentile of the total deviation values) confirmed that change in the glaucomatous eyes almost always comprised a diffuse component. Pattern deviation analyses of progression may therefore underestimate the true amount of glaucomatous visual field progression. Pattern deviation analyses of visual field progression may underestimate visual field progression in glaucoma, particularly when there is no clinical evidence of increasing media opacity. Clinicians should have access to both total and pattern deviation analyses to make informed decisions on visual field progression in glaucoma.

  5. Alternative methods of ophthalmic treatment in Russia.

    PubMed

    Vader, L

    1994-04-01

    Russian ophthalmic nurses and physicians are using alternative methods of treatment to supplement traditional eye care. As acupuncture and iridology become more popular in the United States, ophthalmic nurses need to be more knowledgeable about these treatments and the implications for patients.

  6. Structure-function relationships using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: comparison with scanning laser polarimetry.

    PubMed

    Aptel, Florent; Sayous, Romain; Fortoul, Vincent; Beccat, Sylvain; Denis, Philippe

    2010-12-01

    To evaluate and compare the regional relationships between visual field sensitivity and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry. Prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred and twenty eyes of 120 patients (40 with healthy eyes, 40 with suspected glaucoma, and 40 with glaucoma) were tested on Cirrus-OCT, GDx VCC, and standard automated perimetry. Raw data on RNFL thickness were extracted for 256 peripapillary sectors of 1.40625 degrees each for the OCT measurement ellipse and 64 peripapillary sectors of 5.625 degrees each for the GDx VCC measurement ellipse. Correlations between peripapillary RNFL thickness in 6 sectors and visual field sensitivity in the 6 corresponding areas were evaluated using linear and logarithmic regression analysis. Receiver operating curve areas were calculated for each instrument. With spectral-domain OCT, the correlations (r(2)) between RNFL thickness and visual field sensitivity ranged from 0.082 (nasal RNFL and corresponding visual field area, linear regression) to 0.726 (supratemporal RNFL and corresponding visual field area, logarithmic regression). By comparison, with GDx-VCC, the correlations ranged from 0.062 (temporal RNFL and corresponding visual field area, linear regression) to 0.362 (supratemporal RNFL and corresponding visual field area, logarithmic regression). In pairwise comparisons, these structure-function correlations were generally stronger with spectral-domain OCT than with GDx VCC and with logarithmic regression than with linear regression. The largest areas under the receiver operating curve were seen for OCT superior thickness (0.963 ± 0.022; P < .001) in eyes with glaucoma and for OCT average thickness (0.888 ± 0.072; P < .001) in eyes with suspected glaucoma. The structure-function relationship was significantly stronger with spectral-domain OCT than with scanning laser polarimetry, and was better expressed logarithmically than linearly. Measurements with these 2 instruments should not be considered to be interchangeable. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Effects of local myopic defocus on refractive development in monkeys.

    PubMed

    Smith, Earl L; Hung, Li-Fang; Huang, Juan; Arumugam, Baskar

    2013-11-01

    Visual signals that produce myopia are mediated by local, regionally selective mechanisms. However, little is known about spatial integration for signals that slow eye growth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effects of myopic defocus are integrated in a local manner in primates. Beginning at 24 ± 2 days of age, seven rhesus monkeys were reared with monocular spectacles that produced 3 diopters (D) of relative myopic defocus in the nasal visual field of the treated eye but allowed unrestricted vision in the temporal field (NF monkeys). Seven monkeys were reared with monocular +3 D lenses that produced relative myopic defocus across the entire field of view (FF monkeys). Comparison data from previous studies were available for 11 control monkeys, 8 monkeys that experienced 3 D of hyperopic defocus in the nasal field, and 6 monkeys exposed to 3 D of hyperopic defocus across the entire field. Refractive development, corneal power, and axial dimensions were assessed at 2- to 4-week intervals using retinoscopy, keratometry, and ultrasonography, respectively. Eye shape was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. In response to full-field myopic defocus, the FF monkeys developed compensating hyperopic anisometropia, the degree of which was relatively constant across the horizontal meridian. In contrast, the NF monkeys exhibited compensating hyperopic changes in refractive error that were greatest in the nasal visual field. The changes in the pattern of peripheral refractions in the NF monkeys reflected interocular differences in vitreous chamber shape. As with form deprivation and hyperopic defocus, the effects of myopic defocus are mediated by mechanisms that integrate visual signals in a local, regionally selective manner in primates. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that peripheral vision can influence eye shape and potentially central refractive error in a manner that is independent of central visual experience.

  8. Rotational symmetric HMD with eye-tracking capability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Fangfang; Cheng, Dewen; Wang, Qiwei; Wang, Yongtian

    2016-10-01

    As an important auxiliary function of head-mounted displays (HMDs), eye tracking has an important role in the field of intelligent human-machine interaction. In this paper, an eye-tracking HMD system (ET-HMD) is designed based on the rotational symmetric system. The tracking principle in this paper is based on pupil-corneal reflection. The ET-HMD system comprises three optical paths for virtual display, infrared illumination, and eye tracking. The display optics is shared by three optical paths and consists of four spherical lenses. For the eye-tracking path, an extra imaging lens is added to match the image sensor and achieve eye tracking. The display optics provides users a 40° diagonal FOV with a ״ 0.61 OLED, the 19 mm eye clearance, and 10 mm exit pupil diameter. The eye-tracking path can capture 15 mm × 15 mm of the users' eyes. The average MTF is above 0.1 at 26 lp/mm for the display path, and exceeds 0.2 at 46 lp/mm for the eye-tracking path. Eye illumination is simulated using LightTools with an eye model and an 850 nm near-infrared LED (NIR-LED). The results of the simulation show that the illumination of the NIR-LED can cover the area of the eye model with the display optics that is sufficient for eye tracking. The integrated optical system HMDs with eye-tracking feature can help improve the HMD experience of users.

  9. Eye Choice for Acquisition of Targets in Alternating Strabismus

    PubMed Central

    Economides, John R.; Adams, Daniel L.

    2014-01-01

    In strabismus, potentially either eye can inform the brain about the location of a target so that an accurate saccade can be made. Sixteen human subjects with alternating exotropia were tested dichoptically while viewing stimuli on a tangent screen. Each trial began with a fixation cross visible to only one eye. After the subject fixated the cross, a peripheral target visible to only one eye flashed briefly. The subject's task was to look at it. As a rule, the eye to which the target was presented was the eye that acquired the target. However, when stimuli were presented in the far nasal visual field, subjects occasionally performed a “crossover” saccade by placing the other eye on the target. This strategy avoided the need to make a large adducting saccade. In such cases, information about target location was obtained by one eye and used to program a saccade for the other eye, with a corresponding latency increase. In 10/16 subjects, targets were presented on some trials to both eyes. Binocular sensory maps were also compiled to delineate the portions of the visual scene perceived with each eye. These maps were compared with subjects' pattern of eye choice for target acquisition. There was a correspondence between suppression scotoma maps and the eye used to acquire peripheral targets. In other words, targets were fixated by the eye used to perceive them. These studies reveal how patients with alternating strabismus, despite eye misalignment, manage to localize and capture visual targets in their environment. PMID:25355212

  10. Dioptric defocus maps across the visual field for different indoor environments

    PubMed Central

    García, Miguel García; Ohlendorf, Arne; Schaeffel, Frank; Wahl, Siegfried

    2017-01-01

    One of the factors proposed to regulate the eye growth is the error signal derived from the defocus in the retina and actually, this might arise from defocus not only in the fovea but the whole visual field. Therefore, myopia could be better predicted by spatio-temporally mapping the ‘environmental defocus’ over the visual field. At present, no devices are available that could provide this information. A ‘Kinect sensor v1’ camera (Microsoft Corp.) and a portable eye tracker were used for developing a system for quantifying ‘indoor defocus error signals’ across the central 58° of the visual field. Dioptric differences relative to the fovea (assumed to be in focus) were recorded over the visual field and ‘defocus maps’ were generated for various scenes and tasks. PMID:29359108

  11. Terahertz-wave near-field imaging with subwavelength resolution using surface-wave-assisted bow-tie aperture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishihara, Kunihiko; Ohashi, Keishi; Ikari, Tomofumi; Minamide, Hiroaki; Yokoyama, Hiroyuki; Shikata, Jun-ichi; Ito, Hiromasa

    2006-11-01

    We demonstrate the terahertz-wave near-field imaging with subwavelength resolution using a bow-tie shaped aperture surrounded by concentric periodic structures in a metal film. A subwavelength aperture with concentric periodic grooves, which are known as a bull's eye structure, shows extremely large enhanced transmission beyond the diffraction limit caused by the resonant excitation of surface waves. Additionally, a bow-tie aperture exhibits extraordinary field enhancement at the sharp tips of the metal, which enhances the transmission and the subwavelength spatial resolution. We introduced a bow-tie aperture to the bull's eye structure and achieved high spatial resolution (˜λ/17) in the near-field region. The terahertz-wave near-field image of the subwavelength metal pattern (pattern width=20μm) was obtained for the wavelength of 207μm.

  12. What Drives Bird Vision? Bill Control and Predator Detection Overshadow Flight.

    PubMed

    Martin, Graham R

    2017-01-01

    Although flight is regarded as a key behavior of birds this review argues that the perceptual demands for its control are met within constraints set by the perceptual demands of two other key tasks: the control of bill (or feet) position, and the detection of food items/predators. Control of bill position, or of the feet when used in foraging, and timing of their arrival at a target, are based upon information derived from the optic flow-field in the binocular region that encompasses the bill. Flow-fields use information extracted from close to the bird using vision of relatively low spatial resolution. The detection of food items and predators is based upon information detected at a greater distance and depends upon regions in the retina with relatively high spatial resolution. The tasks of detecting predators and of placing the bill (or feet) accurately, make contradictory demands upon vision and these have resulted in trade-offs in the form of visual fields and in the topography of retinal regions in which spatial resolution is enhanced, indicated by foveas, areas, and high ganglion cell densities. The informational function of binocular vision in birds does not lie in binocularity per se (i.e., two eyes receiving slightly different information simultaneously about the same objects) but in the contralateral projection of the visual field of each eye. This ensures that each eye receives information from a symmetrically expanding optic flow-field centered close to the direction of the bill, and from this the crucial information of direction of travel and time-to-contact can be extracted, almost instantaneously. Interspecific comparisons of visual fields between closely related species have shown that small differences in foraging techniques can give rise to different perceptual challenges and these have resulted in differences in visual fields even within the same genus. This suggests that vision is subject to continuing and relatively rapid natural selection based upon individual differences in the structure of the optical system, retinal topography, and eye position in the skull. From a sensory ecology perspective a bird is best characterized as "a bill guided by an eye" and that control of flight is achieved within constraints on visual capacity dictated primarily by the demands of foraging and bill control.

  13. 76 FR 51002 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-08-17

    ... with visual dysfunction related to traumatic brain injury, with an eye injury and a visual acuity in... of visual field in the injured eye. Categories of records in the system: Individual's full name... interventions or other operative procedures, follow up services and treatment, visual outcomes, and records with...

  14. Empowerment for Sustainability in Higher Education through the EYE Learning Tool

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tassone, Valentina C.; Dik, Giel; van Lingen, Thekla Anna

    2017-01-01

    Purpose: While empowerment for sustainability is considered a major objective within sustainability-oriented educational programs and policies, little is known about the actual process of empowering students for sustainability through higher education. This study aims to explore this field, by introducing the EYE (Educating Yourself in…

  15. 50 CFR 32.59 - Rhode Island.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or.... We prohibit hunters field dressing deer within 100 feet (30 m) of a road or trail. 22. We prohibit... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or...

  16. 50 CFR 32.59 - Rhode Island.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or.... We prohibit hunters field dressing deer within 100 feet (30 m) of a road or trail. 22. We prohibit... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or...

  17. 50 CFR 32.59 - Rhode Island.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or.... We prohibit hunters field dressing deer within 100 feet (30 m) of a road or trail. 22. We prohibit... to, the use of flagging, bright eyes, tacks, and paint), cutting, and/or removal of trees or...

  18. Spatial updating in area LIP is independent of saccade direction.

    PubMed

    Heiser, Laura M; Colby, Carol L

    2006-05-01

    We explore the world around us by making rapid eye movements to objects of interest. Remarkably, these eye movements go unnoticed, and we perceive the world as stable. Spatial updating is one of the neural mechanisms that contributes to this perception of spatial constancy. Previous studies in macaque lateral intraparietal cortex (area LIP) have shown that individual neurons update, or "remap," the locations of salient visual stimuli at the time of an eye movement. The existence of remapping implies that neurons have access to visual information from regions far beyond the classically defined receptive field. We hypothesized that neurons have access to information located anywhere in the visual field. We tested this by recording the activity of LIP neurons while systematically varying the direction in which a stimulus location must be updated. Our primary finding is that individual neurons remap stimulus traces in multiple directions, indicating that LIP neurons have access to information throughout the visual field. At the population level, stimulus traces are updated in conjunction with all saccade directions, even when we consider direction as a function of receptive field location. These results show that spatial updating in LIP is effectively independent of saccade direction. Our findings support the hypothesis that the activity of LIP neurons contributes to the maintenance of spatial constancy throughout the visual field.

  19. Visual field impairment captures disease burden in multiple sclerosis.

    PubMed

    Ortiz-Perez, Santiago; Andorra, Magí; Sanchez-Dalmau, Bernardo; Torres-Torres, Rubén; Calbet, David; Lampert, Erika J; Alba-Arbalat, Salut; Guerrero-Zamora, Ana M; Zubizarreta, Irati; Sola-Valls, Nuria; Llufriu, Sara; Sepúlveda, María; Saiz, Albert; Villoslada, Pablo; Martinez-Lapiscina, Elena H

    2016-04-01

    Monitoring disease burden is an unmeet need in multiple sclerosis (MS). Identifying patients at high risk of disability progression will be useful for improving clinical-therapeutic decisions in clinical routine. To evaluate the role of visual field testing in non-optic neuritis eyes (non-ON eyes) as a biomarker of disability progression in MS. In 109 patients of the MS-VisualPath cohort, we evaluated the association between visual field abnormalities and global and cognitive disability markers and brain and retinal imaging markers of neuroaxonal injury using linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, disease duration and use of disease-modifying therapies. We evaluated the risk of disability progression associated to have baseline impaired visual field after 3 years of follow-up. Sixty-two percent of patients showed visual field defects in non-ON eyes. Visual field mean deviation was statistically associated with global disability; brain (normalized brain parenchymal, gray matter volume and lesion load) and retinal (peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and macular ganglion cell complex thickness) markers of neuroaxonal damage. Patients with impaired visual field had statistically significative greater disability, lower normalized brain parenchymal volume and higher lesion volume than patients with normal visual field testing. MS patients with baseline impaired VF tripled the risk of disability progression during follow-up [OR = 3.35; 95 % CI (1.10-10.19); p = 0.033]. The association of visual field impairment with greater disability and neuroaxonal injury and higher risk of disability progression suggest that VF could be used to monitor MS disease burden.

  20. Sex differences in objective measures of sleep in post-traumatic stress disorder and healthy control subjects.

    PubMed

    Richards, Anne; Metzler, Thomas J; Ruoff, Leslie M; Inslicht, Sabra S; Rao, Madhu; Talbot, Lisa S; Neylan, Thomas C

    2013-12-01

    A growing literature shows prominent sex effects for risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and associated medical comorbid burden. Previous research indicates that post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with reduced slow wave sleep, which may have implications for overall health, and abnormalities in rapid eye movement sleep, which have been implicated in specific post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, but most research has been conducted in male subjects. We therefore sought to compare objective measures of sleep in male and female post-traumatic stress disorder subjects with age- and sex-matched control subjects. We used a cross-sectional, 2 × 2 design (post-traumatic stress disorder/control × female/male) involving83 medically healthy, non-medicated adults aged 19-39 years in the inpatient sleep laboratory. Visual electroencephalographic analysis demonstrated that post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with lower slow wave sleep duration (F(3,82)  = 7.63, P = 0.007) and slow wave sleep percentage (F(3,82)  = 6.11, P = 0.016). There was also a group × sex interaction effect for rapid eye movement sleep duration (F(3,82)  = 4.08, P = 0.047) and rapid eye movement sleep percentage (F(3,82)  = 4.30, P = 0.041), explained by greater rapid eye movement sleep in post-traumatic stress disorder females compared to control females, a difference not seen in male subjects. Quantitative electroencephalography analysis demonstrated that post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with lower energy in the delta spectrum (F(3,82)  = 6.79, P = 0.011) in non-rapid eye movement sleep. Slow wave sleep and delta findings were more pronounced in males. Removal of post-traumatic stress disorder subjects with comorbid major depressive disorder, who had greater post-traumatic stress disorder severity, strengthened delta effects but reduced rapid eye movement effects to non-significance. These findings support previous evidence that post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with impairment in the homeostatic function of sleep, especially in men with the disorder. These findings suggest that group × sex interaction effects on rapid eye movement may occur with more severe post-traumatic stress disorder or with post-traumatic stress disorder comorbid with major depressive disorder. © 2013 European Sleep Research Society.

  1. Identification of Atg2 and ArfGAP1 as Candidate Genetic Modifiers of the Eye Pigmentation Phenotype of Adaptor Protein-3 (AP-3) Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster.

    PubMed

    Rodriguez-Fernandez, Imilce A; Dell'Angelica, Esteban C

    2015-01-01

    The Adaptor Protein (AP)-3 complex is an evolutionary conserved, molecular sorting device that mediates the intracellular trafficking of proteins to lysosomes and related organelles. Genetic defects in AP-3 subunits lead to impaired biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LROs) such as mammalian melanosomes and insect eye pigment granules. In this work, we have performed a forward screening for genetic modifiers of AP-3 function in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, we have tested collections of large multi-gene deletions--which together covered most of the autosomal chromosomes-to identify chromosomal regions that, when deleted in single copy, enhanced or ameliorated the eye pigmentation phenotype of two independent AP-3 subunit mutants. Fine-mapping led us to define two non-overlapping, relatively small critical regions within fly chromosome 3. The first critical region included the Atg2 gene, which encodes a conserved protein involved in autophagy. Loss of one functional copy of Atg2 ameliorated the pigmentation defects of mutants in AP-3 subunits as well as in two other genes previously implicated in LRO biogenesis, namely Blos1 and lightoid, and even increased the eye pigment content of wild-type flies. The second critical region included the ArfGAP1 gene, which encodes a conserved GTPase-activating protein with specificity towards GTPases of the Arf family. Loss of a single functional copy of the ArfGAP1 gene ameliorated the pigmentation phenotype of AP-3 mutants but did not to modify the eye pigmentation of wild-type flies or mutants in Blos1 or lightoid. Strikingly, loss of the second functional copy of the gene did not modify the phenotype of AP-3 mutants any further but elicited early lethality in males and abnormal eye morphology when combined with mutations in Blos1 and lightoid, respectively. These results provide genetic evidence for new functional links connecting the machinery for biogenesis of LROs with molecules implicated in autophagy and small GTPase regulation.

  2. A method to reduce patient's eye lens dose in neuro-interventional radiology procedures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Safari, M. J.; Wong, J. H. D.; Kadir, K. A. A.; Sani, F. M.; Ng, K. H.

    2016-08-01

    Complex and prolonged neuro-interventional radiology procedures using the biplane angiography system increase the patient's risk of radiation-induced cataract. Physical collimation is the most effective way of reducing the radiation dose to the patient's eye lens, but in instances where collimation is not possible, an attenuator may be useful in protecting the eyes. In this study, an eye lens protector was designed and fabricated to reduce the radiation dose to the patients' eye lens during neuro-interventional procedures. The eye protector was characterised before being tested on its effectiveness in a simulated aneurysm procedure on an anthropomorphic phantom. Effects on the automatic dose rate control (ADRC) and image quality are also evaluated. The eye protector reduced the radiation dose by up to 62.1% at the eye lens. The eye protector is faintly visible in the fluoroscopy images and increased the tube current by a maximum of 3.7%. It is completely invisible in the acquisition mode and does not interfere with the clinical procedure. The eye protector placed within the radiation field of view was able to reduce the radiation dose to the eye lens by direct radiation beam of the lateral x-ray tube with minimal effect on the ADRC system.

  3. Peripheral Refraction, Peripheral Eye Length, and Retinal Shape in Myopia.

    PubMed

    Verkicharla, Pavan K; Suheimat, Marwan; Schmid, Katrina L; Atchison, David A

    2016-09-01

    To investigate how peripheral refraction and peripheral eye length are related to retinal shape. Relative peripheral refraction (RPR) and relative peripheral eye length (RPEL) were determined in 36 young adults (M +0.75D to -5.25D) along horizontal and vertical visual field meridians out to ±35° and ±30°, respectively. Retinal shape was determined in terms of vertex radius of curvature Rv, asphericity Q, and equivalent radius of curvature REq using a partial coherence interferometry method involving peripheral eye lengths and model eye raytracing. Second-order polynomial fits were applied to RPR and RPEL as functions of visual field position. Linear regressions were determined for the fits' second order coefficients and for retinal shape estimates as functions of central spherical refraction. Linear regressions investigated relationships of RPR and RPEL with retinal shape estimates. Peripheral refraction, peripheral eye lengths, and retinal shapes were significantly affected by meridian and refraction. More positive (hyperopic) relative peripheral refraction, more negative RPELs, and steeper retinas were found along the horizontal than along the vertical meridian and in myopes than in emmetropes. RPR and RPEL, as represented by their second-order fit coefficients, correlated significantly with retinal shape represented by REq. Effects of meridian and refraction on RPR and RPEL patterns are consistent with effects on retinal shape. Patterns derived from one of these predict the others: more positive (hyperopic) RPR predicts more negative RPEL and steeper retinas, more negative RPEL predicts more positive relative peripheral refraction and steeper retinas, and steeper retinas derived from peripheral eye lengths predict more positive RPR.

  4. Eye Movement Training and Suggested Gaze Strategies in Tunnel Vision - A Randomized and Controlled Pilot Study.

    PubMed

    Ivanov, Iliya V; Mackeben, Manfred; Vollmer, Annika; Martus, Peter; Nguyen, Nhung X; Trauzettel-Klosinski, Susanne

    2016-01-01

    Degenerative retinal diseases, especially retinitis pigmentosa (RP), lead to severe peripheral visual field loss (tunnel vision), which impairs mobility. The lack of peripheral information leads to fewer horizontal eye movements and, thus, diminished scanning in RP patients in a natural environment walking task. This randomized controlled study aimed to improve mobility and the dynamic visual field by applying a compensatory Exploratory Saccadic Training (EST). Oculomotor responses during walking and avoiding obstacles in a controlled environment were studied before and after saccade or reading training in 25 RP patients. Eye movements were recorded using a mobile infrared eye tracker (Tobii glasses) that measured a range of spatial and temporal variables. Patients were randomly assigned to two training conditions: Saccade (experimental) and reading (control) training. All subjects who first performed reading training underwent experimental training later (waiting list control group). To assess the effect of training on subjects, we measured performance in the training task and the following outcome variables related to daily life: Response Time (RT) during exploratory saccade training, Percent Preferred Walking Speed (PPWS), the number of collisions with obstacles, eye position variability, fixation duration, and the total number of fixations including the ones in the subjects' blind area of the visual field. In the saccade training group, RTs on average decreased, while the PPWS significantly increased. The improvement persisted, as tested 6 weeks after the end of the training. On average, the eye movement range of RP patients before and after training was similar to that of healthy observers. In both, the experimental and reading training groups, we found many fixations outside the subjects' seeing visual field before and after training. The average fixation duration was significantly shorter after the training, but only in the experimental training condition. We conclude that the exploratory saccade training was beneficial for RP patients and resulted in shorter fixation durations after the training. We also found a significant improvement in relative walking speed during navigation in a real-world like controlled environment.

  5. Eye Movement Training and Suggested Gaze Strategies in Tunnel Vision - A Randomized and Controlled Pilot Study

    PubMed Central

    Ivanov, Iliya V.; Mackeben, Manfred; Vollmer, Annika; Martus, Peter; Nguyen, Nhung X.; Trauzettel-Klosinski, Susanne

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Degenerative retinal diseases, especially retinitis pigmentosa (RP), lead to severe peripheral visual field loss (tunnel vision), which impairs mobility. The lack of peripheral information leads to fewer horizontal eye movements and, thus, diminished scanning in RP patients in a natural environment walking task. This randomized controlled study aimed to improve mobility and the dynamic visual field by applying a compensatory Exploratory Saccadic Training (EST). Methods Oculomotor responses during walking and avoiding obstacles in a controlled environment were studied before and after saccade or reading training in 25 RP patients. Eye movements were recorded using a mobile infrared eye tracker (Tobii glasses) that measured a range of spatial and temporal variables. Patients were randomly assigned to two training conditions: Saccade (experimental) and reading (control) training. All subjects who first performed reading training underwent experimental training later (waiting list control group). To assess the effect of training on subjects, we measured performance in the training task and the following outcome variables related to daily life: Response Time (RT) during exploratory saccade training, Percent Preferred Walking Speed (PPWS), the number of collisions with obstacles, eye position variability, fixation duration, and the total number of fixations including the ones in the subjects' blind area of the visual field. Results In the saccade training group, RTs on average decreased, while the PPWS significantly increased. The improvement persisted, as tested 6 weeks after the end of the training. On average, the eye movement range of RP patients before and after training was similar to that of healthy observers. In both, the experimental and reading training groups, we found many fixations outside the subjects' seeing visual field before and after training. The average fixation duration was significantly shorter after the training, but only in the experimental training condition. Conclusions We conclude that the exploratory saccade training was beneficial for RP patients and resulted in shorter fixation durations after the training. We also found a significant improvement in relative walking speed during navigation in a real-world like controlled environment. PMID:27351629

  6. Spatial transformations between superior colliculus visual and motor response fields during head-unrestrained gaze shifts.

    PubMed

    Sadeh, Morteza; Sajad, Amirsaman; Wang, Hongying; Yan, Xiaogang; Crawford, John Douglas

    2015-12-01

    We previously reported that visuomotor activity in the superior colliculus (SC)--a key midbrain structure for the generation of rapid eye movements--preferentially encodes target position relative to the eye (Te) during low-latency head-unrestrained gaze shifts (DeSouza et al., 2011). Here, we trained two monkeys to perform head-unrestrained gaze shifts after a variable post-stimulus delay (400-700 ms), to test whether temporally separated SC visual and motor responses show different spatial codes. Target positions, final gaze positions and various frames of reference (eye, head, and space) were dissociated through natural (untrained) trial-to-trial variations in behaviour. 3D eye and head orientations were recorded, and 2D response field data were fitted against multiple models by use of a statistical method reported previously (Keith et al., 2009). Of 60 neurons, 17 showed a visual response, 12 showed a motor response, and 31 showed both visual and motor responses. The combined visual response field population (n = 48) showed a significant preference for Te, which was also preferred in each visual subpopulation. In contrast, the motor response field population (n = 43) showed a preference for final (relative to initial) gaze position models, and the Te model was statistically eliminated in the motor-only population. There was also a significant shift of coding from the visual to motor response within visuomotor neurons. These data confirm that SC response fields are gaze-centred, and show a target-to-gaze transformation between visual and motor responses. Thus, visuomotor transformations can occur between, and even within, neurons within a single frame of reference and brain structure. © 2015 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  7. Correlation between aqueous flare and residual visual field area in retinitis pigmentosa.

    PubMed

    Nishiguchi, Koji M; Yokoyama, Yu; Kunikata, Hiroshi; Abe, Toshiaki; Nakazawa, Toru

    2018-06-01

    To investigate the relationship between aqueous flare, visual function and macular structures in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Clinical data from 123 patients with RP (227 eyes), 35 patients with macular dystrophy (68 eyes) and 148 controls (148 eyes) were analysed. The differences in aqueous flare between clinical entities and the correlation between aqueous flare (measured with a laser flare cell meter) versus visual acuity, visual field area (Goldmann perimetry) and macular thickness (optical coherence tomography) in patients with RP were determined. Influence of selected clinical data on flare was assessed using linear mixed-effects model. Aqueous flare was higher in patients with RP than patients with macular dystrophy or controls (p=7.49×E-13). Aqueous flare was correlated with visual field area (R=-0.379, p=3.72×E-9), but not with visual acuity (R=0.083, p=0.215). Macular thickness (R=0.234, p=3.74×E-4), but not foveal thickness (R=0.122, p=0.067), was positively correlated with flare. Flare was not affected by the presence of macular complications. All these associations were maintained when the right and the left eyes were assessed separately. Analysis by linear mixed-effects model revealed that age (p=8.58×E-5), visual field area (p=8.01×E-7) and average macular thickness (p=0.037) were correlated with flare. Aqueous flare and visual field area were correlated in patients with RP. Aqueous flare may reflect the degree of overall retinal degeneration more closely than the local foveal impairment. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  8. Is the Cortical Deficit in Amblyopia Due to Reduced Cortical Magnification, Loss of Neural Resolution, or Neural Disorganization?

    PubMed

    Clavagnier, Simon; Dumoulin, Serge O; Hess, Robert F

    2015-11-04

    The neural basis of amblyopia is a matter of debate. The following possibilities have been suggested: loss of foveal cells, reduced cortical magnification, loss of spatial resolution of foveal cells, and topographical disarray in the cellular map. To resolve this we undertook a population receptive field (pRF) functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis in the central field in humans with moderate-to-severe amblyopia. We measured the relationship between averaged pRF size and retinal eccentricity in retinotopic visual areas. Results showed that cortical magnification is normal in the foveal field of strabismic amblyopes. However, the pRF sizes are enlarged for the amblyopic eye. We speculate that the pRF enlargement reflects loss of cellular resolution or an increased cellular positional disarray within the representation of the amblyopic eye. The neural basis of amblyopia, a visual deficit affecting 3% of the human population, remains a matter of debate. We undertook the first population receptive field functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis in participants with amblyopia and compared the projections from the amblyopic and fellow normal eye in the visual cortex. The projection from the amblyopic eye was found to have a normal cortical magnification factor, enlarged population receptive field sizes, and topographic disorganization in all early visual areas. This is consistent with an explanation of amblyopia as an immature system with a normal complement of cells whose spatial resolution is reduced and whose topographical map is disordered. This bears upon a number of competing theories for the psychophysical defect and affects future treatment therapies. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/3514740-16$15.00/0.

  9. The influence of artificial scotomas on eye movements during visual search.

    PubMed

    Cornelissen, Frans W; Bruin, Klaas J; Kooijman, Aart C

    2005-01-01

    Fixation durations are normally adapted to the difficulty of the foveal analysis task. We examine to what extent artificial central and peripheral visual field defects interfere with this adaptation process. Subjects performed a visual search task while their eye movements were registered. The latter were used to drive a real-time gaze-dependent display that was used to create artificial central and peripheral visual field defects. Recorded eye movements were used to determine saccadic amplitude, number of fixations, fixation durations, return saccades, and changes in saccade direction. For central defects, although fixation duration increased with the size of the absolute central scotoma, this increase was too small to keep recognition performance optimal, evident from an associated increase in the rate of return saccades. Providing a relatively small amount of visual information in the central scotoma did substantially reduce subjects' search times but not their fixation durations. Surprisingly, reducing the size of the tunnel also prolonged fixation duration for peripheral defects. This manipulation also decreased the rate of return saccades, suggesting that the fixations were prolonged beyond the duration required by the foveal task. Although we find that adaptation of fixation duration to task difficulty clearly occurs in the presence of artificial scotomas, we also find that such field defects may render the adaptation suboptimal for the task at hand. Thus, visual field defects may not only hinder vision by limiting what the subject sees of the environment but also by limiting the visual system's ability to program efficient eye movements. We speculate this is because of how visual field defects bias the balance between saccade generation and fixation stabilization.

  10. A Study of Deep CNN-Based Classification of Open and Closed Eyes Using a Visible Light Camera Sensor.

    PubMed

    Kim, Ki Wan; Hong, Hyung Gil; Nam, Gi Pyo; Park, Kang Ryoung

    2017-06-30

    The necessity for the classification of open and closed eyes is increasing in various fields, including analysis of eye fatigue in 3D TVs, analysis of the psychological states of test subjects, and eye status tracking-based driver drowsiness detection. Previous studies have used various methods to distinguish between open and closed eyes, such as classifiers based on the features obtained from image binarization, edge operators, or texture analysis. However, when it comes to eye images with different lighting conditions and resolutions, it can be difficult to find an optimal threshold for image binarization or optimal filters for edge and texture extraction. In order to address this issue, we propose a method to classify open and closed eye images with different conditions, acquired by a visible light camera, using a deep residual convolutional neural network. After conducting performance analysis on both self-collected and open databases, we have determined that the classification accuracy of the proposed method is superior to that of existing methods.

  11. Eye-bank Preparation of Endothelial Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Boynton, Grace E.; Woodward, Maria A.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose of review Eyebank preparation of endothelial tissue for keratoplasty continues to evolve. While eye bank personnel have become comfortable and competent at Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) tissue preparation and tissue transport, optimization of preparation methods continues. Surgeons and eye bank personnel should be up to date on the research in the field. As surgeons transition to Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), eye banks have risen to the challenge of preparing tissue. Eye banks are refining their DMEK preparation and transport techniques Recent findings This article covers refinements to DSAEK tissue preparation, innovations to prepare DMEK tissue, and nuances to improve donor cornea tissue quality. Summary As eye bank supplied corneal tissue is the main source of tissue for many corneal surgeons, it is critical to stay informed about tissue handling and preparation. Ultimately the surgeon is responsible for the transplantation, so involvement of clinicians in eye banking practices and advocacy for pursuing meaningful research in this area will benefit clinical patient outcomes. PMID:24837574

  12. A Multidisciplinary Approach for Rehabilitation of Enucleated Sockets: Ocular Implants with Custom Ocular Prosthesis.

    PubMed

    Choudhury, Minati; Banu, Fathima; Natarajan, Shanmuganathan; Kumar, Anand; Tv, Padmanabhan

    2018-02-16

    Interdisciplinary prosthodontics goes beyond our imagination into fields that have a direct effect on our total body health and quality of life. Removal of an eye has a detrimental effect on the psychology of the patient. Enucleation involves removal of the eyeball proper and leads to an enophthalmic socket with a shrunken eye, which has a crippling effect on patient's emotional and social life. Custom-made eye prosthesis simulates the characteristics of the companion eye and helps in restoring the normal facial appearance. Restoration of saccadic eye movements occurring during speech is desirable because this greatly contributes to a normal facial expression. This can be achieved by an orbital implant, which helps in orbital volume replacement and restoration of prosthesis movement and comfort. This article describes prosthodontic rehabilitation of enucleated eye sockets with orbital implants for two patients.

  13. Controlled five-year follow-up study of laser trabeculoplasty as primary therapy for open-angle glaucoma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tuulonen, A.; Niva, A.K.; Alanko, H.I.

    1987-10-15

    We followed up 32 eyes of 32 patients with early glaucoma (22 with capsular glaucoma and ten with simple glaucoma) who received laser trabeculoplasty as a primary therapy. These eyes were compared with a matched control group of 32 eyes treated with medication initially. The success rate (intraocular pressure below 22 mm Hg with laser alone or medication alone) at five years was 50% (16 of 32 eyes) in the laser-treated group and 22% (seven of 32 eyes) in the control group (P less than .02). The control group required more modifications of their therapy to control intraocular pressure. Themore » neuroretinal rim area in the control eyes decreased 2.5 times as much as in the laser group (P = .017). Changes in the Friedmann visual fields did not differ significantly between the two groups.« less

  14. High-resolution eye tracking using V1 neuron activity

    PubMed Central

    McFarland, James M.; Bondy, Adrian G.; Cumming, Bruce G.; Butts, Daniel A.

    2014-01-01

    Studies of high-acuity visual cortical processing have been limited by the inability to track eye position with sufficient accuracy to precisely reconstruct the visual stimulus on the retina. As a result, studies on primary visual cortex (V1) have been performed almost entirely on neurons outside the high-resolution central portion of the visual field (the fovea). Here we describe a procedure for inferring eye position using multi-electrode array recordings from V1 coupled with nonlinear stimulus processing models. We show that this method can be used to infer eye position with one arc-minute accuracy – significantly better than conventional techniques. This allows for analysis of foveal stimulus processing, and provides a means to correct for eye-movement induced biases present even outside the fovea. This method could thus reveal critical insights into the role of eye movements in cortical coding, as well as their contribution to measures of cortical variability. PMID:25197783

  15. Theory of Maxwell's fish eye with mutually interacting sources and drains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leonhardt, Ulf; Sahebdivan, Sahar

    2015-11-01

    Maxwell's fish eye is predicted to image with a resolution not limited by the wavelength of light. However, interactions between sources and drains may ruin the subwavelength imaging capabilities of this and similar absolute optical instruments. Nevertheless, as we show in this paper, at resonance frequencies of the device, an array of drains may resolve a single source, or alternatively, a single drain may scan an array of sources, no matter how narrowly spaced they are. It seems that near-field information can be obtained from far-field distances.

  16. Spatial orientation perception and reflexive eye movements--a perspective, an overview, and some clinical implications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Guedry, F. E.; Paloski, W. F. (Principal Investigator)

    1996-01-01

    When head motion includes a linear velocity component, eye velocity required to track an earth-fixed target depends upon: a) angular and linear head velocity, b) target distance, and c) direction of gaze relative to the motion trajectory. Recent research indicates that eye movements (LVOR), presumably otolith-mediated, partially compensate for linear velocity in small head excursions on small devices. Canal-mediated eye velocity (AVOR), otolith-mediated eye velocity (LVOR), and Ocular Torsion (OT) can be measured, one by one, on small devices. However, response dynamics that depend upon the ratio of linear to angular velocity in the motion trajectory and on subject orientation relative to the trajectory are present in a centrifuge paradigm. With this paradigm, two 3-min runs yields measures of: LVOR differentially modulated by different subject orientations in the two runs; OT dynamics in four conditions; two directions of "steady-state" OT, and two directions of AVOR. Efficient assessment of the dynamics (and of the underlying central integrative processes) may require a centrifuge radius of 1.0 meters or more. Clinical assessment of the spatial orientation system should include evaluation of central integrative processes that determine the dynamics of these responses.

  17. Oxytocin attenuates neural reactivity to masked threat cues from the eyes.

    PubMed

    Kanat, Manuela; Heinrichs, Markus; Schwarzwald, Ralf; Domes, Gregor

    2015-01-01

    The neuropeptide oxytocin has recently been shown to modulate covert attention shifts to emotional face cues and to improve discrimination of masked facial emotions. These results suggest that oxytocin modulates facial emotion processing at early perceptual stages prior to full evaluation of the emotional expression. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether oxytocin alters neural responses to backwardly masked angry and happy faces while controlling for attention to the eye vs the mouth region. Intranasal oxytocin administration reduced amygdala reactivity to masked emotions when attending to salient facial features, ie, the eyes of angry faces and the mouth of happy faces. In addition, oxytocin decreased neural responses within the fusiform gyrus and brain stem areas, as well as functional coupling between the amygdala and the fusiform gyrus specifically for threat cues from the eyes. Effects of oxytocin on brain activity were not attributable to differences in behavioral performance, as oxytocin had no impact on mere emotion detection. Our results suggest that oxytocin attenuates neural correlates of early arousal by threat signals from the eye region. As reduced threat sensitivity may increase the likelihood of engaging in social interactions, our findings may have important implications for clinical states of social anxiety.

  18. Field programmable gate array processing of eye-safe all-fiber coherent wind Doppler lidar return signals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdelazim, S.; Santoro, D.; Arend, M.; Moshary, F.; Ahmed, S.

    2011-11-01

    A field deployable all-fiber eye-safe Coherent Doppler LIDAR is being developed at the Optical Remote Sensing Lab at the City College of New York (CCNY) and is designed to monitor wind fields autonomously and continuously in urban settings. Data acquisition is accomplished by sampling lidar return signals at 400 MHz and performing onboard processing using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The FPGA is programmed to accumulate signal information that is used to calculate the power spectrum of the atmospherically back scattered signal. The advantage of using FPGA is that signal processing will be performed at the hardware level, reducing the load on the host computer and allowing for 100% return signal processing. An experimental setup measured wind speeds at ranges of up to 3 km.

  19. [A correct understanding of preservatives in eye drops].

    PubMed

    Liu, Zuguo; Huang, Caihong

    2015-09-01

    Eye drops are the most commonly used preparations in ophthalmology. Preservatives are usually added in order to protect eye drops against pathogenic organisms and increase the solubility of the drugs in multi-dose containers. Ophthalmologists have paid a lot of attention to the preservatives in eye drops because they remain one of the main reasons for ocular surface damage, and even may lead to serious visual impairment in patients with inappropriate use of eye drops. However, it should be noted that the dangers of preservatives become overstated nowadays. It is necessary to completely evaluate the effects of preservatives in ophthalmic preparations, so that ophthalmologists can guide patients to correctly select eye drops containing preservatives and avoid dangerous side effects, according to their eye disease situation, state of tear function and ocular surface changes, cultural background and financial income, cost and benefit and convenience of the use of drugs, and other factors. The direction of the future development in this field is to establish the clinical guideline for use of eye drops containing preservatives, carry out continuing education courses on preservatives and develop ideal preservatives.

  20. RNA-binding proteins in eye development and disease: implication of conserved RNA granule components.

    PubMed

    Dash, Soma; Siddam, Archana D; Barnum, Carrie E; Janga, Sarath Chandra; Lachke, Salil A

    2016-07-01

    The molecular biology of metazoan eye development is an area of intense investigation. These efforts have led to the surprising recognition that although insect and vertebrate eyes have dramatically different structures, the orthologs or family members of several conserved transcription and signaling regulators such as Pax6, Six3, Prox1, and Bmp4 are commonly required for their development. In contrast, our understanding of posttranscriptional regulation in eye development and disease, particularly regarding the function of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), is limited. We examine the present knowledge of RBPs in eye development in the insect model Drosophila as well as several vertebrate models such as fish, frog, chicken, and mouse. Interestingly, of the 42 RBPs that have been investigated for their expression or function in vertebrate eye development, 24 (~60%) are recognized in eukaryotic cells as components of RNA granules such as processing bodies, stress granules, or other specialized ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. We discuss the distinct developmental and cellular events that may necessitate potential RBP/RNA granule-associated RNA regulon models to facilitate posttranscriptional control of gene expression in eye morphogenesis. In support of these hypotheses, three RBPs and RNP/RNA granule components Tdrd7, Caprin2, and Stau2 are linked to ocular developmental defects such as congenital cataract, Peters anomaly, and microphthalmia in human patients or animal models. We conclude by discussing the utility of interdisciplinary approaches such as the bioinformatics tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) to prioritize RBPs for deriving posttranscriptional regulatory networks in eye development and disease. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:527-557. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1355 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. RNA Binding Proteins in Eye Development and Disease: Implication of Conserved RNA Granule Components

    PubMed Central

    Dash, Soma; Siddam, Archana D.; Barnum, Carrie E.; Janga, Sarath Chandra

    2016-01-01

    The molecular biology of metazoan eye development is an area of intense investigation. These efforts have led to the surprising recognition that although insect and vertebrate eyes have dramatically different structures, the orthologs or family members of several conserved transcription and signaling regulators such as Pax6, Six3, Prox1 and Bmp4 are commonly required for their development. In contrast, our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation in eye development and disease, particularly regarding the function of RNA binding proteins (RBPs), is limited. We examine the present knowledge of RBPs in eye development in the insect model Drosophila, as well as several vertebrate models such as fish, frog, chicken and mouse. Interestingly, of the 42 RBPs that have been investigated with for their expression or function in vertebrate eye development, 24 (~60%) are recognized in eukaryotic cells as components of RNA granules such as Processing bodies (P-bodies), Stress granules, or other specialized ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. We discuss the distinct developmental and cellular events that may necessitate potential RBP/RNA granule-associated RNA regulon models to facilitate post-transcriptional control of gene expression in eye morphogenesis. In support of these hypotheses, three RBPs and RNP/RNA granule components Tdrd7, Caprin2 and Stau2 are linked to ocular developmental defects such as congenital cataract, Peters anomaly and microphthalmia in human patients or animal models. We conclude by discussing the utility of interdisciplinary approaches such as the bioinformatics tool iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) to prioritize RBPs for deriving post-transcriptional regulatory networks in eye development and disease. PMID:27133484

  2. Near-infrared light-guided miniaturized indirect ophthalmoscopy for nonmydriatic wide-field fundus photography.

    PubMed

    Toslak, Devrim; Liu, Changgeng; Alam, Minhaj Nur; Yao, Xincheng

    2018-06-01

    A portable fundus imager is essential for emerging telemedicine screening and point-of-care examination of eye diseases. However, existing portable fundus cameras have limited field of view (FOV) and frequently require pupillary dilation. We report here a miniaturized indirect ophthalmoscopy-based nonmydriatic fundus camera with a snapshot FOV up to 67° external angle, which corresponds to a 101° eye angle. The wide-field fundus camera consists of a near-infrared light source (LS) for retinal guidance and a white LS for color retinal imaging. By incorporating digital image registration and glare elimination methods, a dual-image acquisition approach was used to achieve reflection artifact-free fundus photography.

  3. Reactive Oxygen Species and the Aging Eye: Specific Role of Metabolically Active Mitochondria in Maintaining Lens Function and in the Initiation of the Oxidation-Induced Maturity Onset Cataract--A Novel Platform of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants With Broad Therapeutic Potential for Redox Regulation and Detoxification of Oxidants in Eye Diseases.

    PubMed

    Babizhayev, Mark A; Yegorov, Yegor E

    2016-01-01

    The aging eye appears to be at considerable risk from oxidative stress. A great deal of research indicates that dysfunctional mitochondria are the primary site of reactive oxygen species (ROS). More than 95% of O2 produced during normal metabolism is generated by the electron transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria are also the major target of ROS. Cataract formation, the opacification of the eye lens, is one of the leading causes of human blindness worldwide, accounting for 47.8% of all causes of blindness. Cataracts result from the deposition of aggregated proteins in the eye lens and lens fiber cell plasma membrane damage, which causes clouding of the lens, light scattering, and obstruction of vision. ROS-induced damage in the lens cell may consist of oxidation of proteins, DNA damage, and/or lipid peroxidation, all of which have been implicated in cataractogenesis. This article is an attempt to integrate how mitochondrial ROS are altered in the aging eye along with those protective and repair therapeutic systems believed to regulate ROS levels in ocular tissues and how damage to these systems contributes to age-onset eye disease and cataract formation. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants might be used to effectively prevent ROS-induced oxidation of lipids and proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane in vivo. As a result of the combination of weak metal chelating, OH and lipid peroxyl radicals scavenging, reducing activities to liberated fatty acid, and phospholipid hydroperoxides, carnosine and carcinine appear to be physiological antioxidants able to efficiently protect the lipid phase of biologic membranes and aqueous environments and act as the antiapoptotic natural drug compounds The authors developed and patented the new ophthalmic compositions, including N-acetylcarnosine, acting as a prodrug of naturally targeted to mitochondria L-carnosine endowed with pluripotent antioxidant activities combined with mitochondria-targeted rechargeable antioxidant (either MitoVit E, Mito Q, or SkQs) as a potent medicine to treat ocular diseases. Such specificity is explained by the fact that developed compositions might be used to effectively prevent ROS-induced oxidation of lipids and proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane in vivo and outside mitochondria in the cellular and tissue structures of the lens and eye compartments. Mitochondrial targeting of compounds with universal types of antioxidant activity represents a promising approach for treating a number of ROS-related ocular diseases of the aging eye and can be implicated in the management of cataracts.

  4. Eye Injury Prevention for the Pediatric Population.

    PubMed

    Hoskin, Annette K; Philip, Swetha S; Yardley, Anne-Marie E; Mackey, David A

    2016-05-01

    Each year an estimated 3.3 to 5.7 million pediatric eye injuries occur worldwide. It is widely reported that 90% of ocular injuries are preventable. Our aim was to identify legislation and policies, education, and mandatory eye protection strategies that have successfully contributed to reducing rates of children's eye injuries. A literature search was conducted using the terms "pediatric" or "children" or "adolescent" and "ocular" or "eye" and "protection" or "injury prevention." Articles were retrieved based on titles and abstracts and assessed in the context of our research question. Strategies identified aimed at reducing ocular trauma fell into 3 broad categories: legislation and policies, education, and personal eye protection. Policies including restrictions on the sale and supply of certain consumer products, mandatory vehicle seatbelts, and laminated windscreens in vehicles have assisted in reducing children's eye injuries. Educational tools aimed at children and their caregivers have been effective in changing attitudes to eye health and safety. Effective pediatric eye injury prevention systems require a multifactorial approach combining legislation, policies, standards, education, and personal eye protection to limit exposure to ocular hazards. A paucity of standardized measurement and lack of funding have limited advances in the field of children's eye injury prevention. Improved eye injury surveillance and research funding along with collaboration with health care providers are important components for strategies to prevent pediatric ocular trauma.

  5. Effects of anger and sadness on attentional patterns in decision making: an eye-tracking study.

    PubMed

    Xing, Cai

    2014-02-01

    Past research examining the effect of anger and sadness on decision making has associated anger with a relatively more heuristic decision-making approach. However, it is unclear whether angry and sad individuals differ while attending to decision-relevant information. An eye-tracking experiment (N=87) was conducted to examine the role of attention in links between emotion and decision making. Angry individuals looked more and earlier toward heuristic cues while making decisions, whereas sad individuals did not show such bias. Implications for designing persuasive messages and studying motivated visual processing were discussed.

  6. Sexual Violence: Psychiatric Healing With Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization

    PubMed Central

    POSMONTIER, BOBBIE; DOVYDAITIS, TIFFANY; LIPMAN, KENNETH

    2011-01-01

    Sexual violence, which affects one in three women worldwide, can result in significant psychiatric morbidity and suicide. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) offers health care providers the option of a brief psychiatric intervention that can result in psychiatric healing in as few as four sessions. Because health care providers often hear stories of sexual violence from their patients, they are in an ideal position to make recommendations for treatment. The purpose of this article is to introduce health care providers to the technique of EMDR, review safety and appropriateness, and discuss clinical and research implications. PMID:20623397

  7. Preservation of Biological Activity of Plasma and Platelet-Derived Eye Drops After Their Different Time and Temperature Conditions of Storage.

    PubMed

    Anitua, Eduardo; de la Fuente, María; Riestra, Ana; Merayo-Lloves, Jesús; Muruzábal, Francisco; Orive, Gorka

    2015-09-01

    To analyze whether plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) eye drops preserve their biological characteristics and activity after storage for 3 and 6 months at -20°C, at 4°C, and at room temperature for 72 hours, compared with fresh samples (t0). Blood from 6 healthy donors was harvested and centrifuged to obtain PRGF free of leukocytes. Resulting PRGF eye drops were stored for 3 and 6 months at -20°C. At each time, 2 aliquots were maintained at room temperature or at 4°C for 72 hours. Platelet-derived growth factor-AB, transforming growth factor-β1, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, angiopoietin-1, and thrombospondin-1 were quantified at each time and temperature of storage. Also, the effect of PRGF eye drops on proliferation of primary human keratocytes was evaluated. All the analyzed growth factor levels remained constant at each time and storage condition. No differences were observed in the proliferative activity of keratocytes after treatment with PRGF eye drops at any studied time or temperature. Finally, there was no microbial contamination in any of the PRGF eye drops. The preservation of the PRGF eye drops at -20°C for up to 3 and 6 months does not mean reduction of the main growth factors and proteins implicated in ocular surface wound healing. Eye drop characteristics and in vitro biological activity were not affected by their usage and conservation for 72 hours at 4°C or at room temperature.

  8. Implications of Lateral Cerebellum in Proactive Control of Saccades.

    PubMed

    Kunimatsu, Jun; Suzuki, Tomoki W; Tanaka, Masaki

    2016-06-29

    Although several lines of evidence establish the involvement of the medial and vestibular parts of the cerebellum in the adaptive control of eye movements, the role of the lateral hemisphere of the cerebellum in eye movements remains unclear. Ascending projections from the lateral cerebellum to the frontal and parietal association cortices via the thalamus are consistent with a role of these pathways in higher-order oculomotor control. In support of this, previous functional imaging studies and recent analyses in subjects with cerebellar lesions have indicated a role for the lateral cerebellum in volitional eye movements such as anti-saccades. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we recorded from single neurons in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum in monkeys performing anti-saccade/pro-saccade tasks. We found that neurons in the posterior part of the dentate nucleus showed higher firing rates during the preparation of anti-saccades compared with pro-saccades. When the animals made erroneous saccades to the visual stimuli in the anti-saccade trials, the firing rate during the preparatory period decreased. Furthermore, local inactivation of the recording sites with muscimol moderately increased the proportion of error trials, while successful anti-saccades were more variable and often had shorter latency during inactivation. Thus, our results show that neuronal activity in the cerebellar dentate nucleus causally regulates anti-saccade performance. Neuronal signals from the lateral cerebellum to the frontal cortex might modulate the proactive control signals in the corticobasal ganglia circuitry that inhibit early reactive responses and possibly optimize the speed and accuracy of anti-saccades. Although the lateral cerebellum is interconnected with the cortical eye fields via the thalamus and the pons, its role in eye movements remains unclear. We found that neurons in the caudal part of the lateral (dentate) nucleus of the cerebellum showed the increased firing rate during the preparation of anti-saccades. Inactivation of the recording sites modestly elevated the rate of erroneous saccades to the visual stimuli in the anti-saccade trials, while successful anti-saccades during inactivation tended to have a shorter latency. Our data indicate that neuronal signals in the lateral cerebellum may proactively regulate anti-saccade generation through the pathways to the frontal cortex, and may inhibit early reactive responses and regulate the accuracy of anti-saccades. Copyright © 2016 the authors 0270-6474/16/367066-09$15.00/0.

  9. Influence of cognitive style on information processing and selection of yogurt labels: Insights from an eye-tracking study.

    PubMed

    Mawad, Franco; Trías, Marcela; Giménez, Ana; Maiche, Alejandro; Ares, Gastón

    2015-08-01

    Cognitive styles are characteristic and stable ways in which people acquire, organize and use information for solving problems and making decisions. Field dependence/independence is one of the most studied cognitive styles. Field independent subjects are characterized by having less difficulty in separating information from its contextual surroundings and being less likely to be influenced by external cues than field dependent individuals. The present work aimed at studying the influence of field dependence/independence cognitive style on consumers' visual processing and choice of yogurt labels. One hundred and thirty three consumers completed a choice conjoint task. They were asked to select their preferred yogurt label from each of 16 pairs of labels. While they completed the task their eye movements were recorded using an eye-tracker. Then, consumers were asked to complete the Group Embedded Figure Test to determine their cognitive style. Consumers were divided into two groups with different cognitive styles: 58% of the sample was characterized as field dependent and 42% as field independent. When making their choices, field dependent consumers tended to engage in less thoughtful information processing than field independent consumers and they made fewer fixations on traditional nutritional information. Besides, cognitive style significantly affected the relative importance of fat and sugar content on consumer choices and modulated the influence of the traffic light system. Field dependent consumers gave less importance to the nutritional composition of the yogurts than field independent consumers for selecting their preferred label. Results from this work suggest that studying the psychological underpinnings of consumers' decision making process when selecting food products has a great potential to contribute to a better understanding of how eating patterns and consumer preferences are shaped. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Profiling extractable and leachable inorganic impurities in ophthalmic drug containers by ICP-MS.

    PubMed

    Solomon, Paige; Nelson, Jenny

    2018-03-01

    In this study, we investigated the elemental impurities present in the plastic material of ophthalmic eye drop bottles using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Metallic contaminations, especially localized within the small cavity of the eye, can significantly perturb the ocular metallome. The concern is two-fold: first certain elements, for example heavy metals, can be toxic to humans at even trace levels, and second, these contaminations can have adverse reactions with other medicines or enzymatic processes in the eye. The implication of redox-active metals in cataract formation is one such biological consequence. The analysis demonstrated the effect of aggressive storage and transportation conditions on elemental extractable and leachable contamination, and posits that release of these elemental impurities can disrupt metallome equilibrium in the ocular compartment, leading to toxicity and disease.

  11. Can gaze-contingent mirror-feedback from unfamiliar faces alter self-recognition?

    PubMed

    Estudillo, Alejandro J; Bindemann, Markus

    2017-05-01

    This study focuses on learning of the self, by examining how human observers update internal representations of their own face. For this purpose, we present a novel gaze-contingent paradigm, in which an onscreen face mimics observers' own eye-gaze behaviour (in the congruent condition), moves its eyes in different directions to that of the observers (incongruent condition), or remains static and unresponsive (neutral condition). Across three experiments, the mimicry of the onscreen face did not affect observers' perceptual self-representations. However, this paradigm influenced observers' reports of their own face. This effect was such that observers felt the onscreen face to be their own and that, if the onscreen gaze had moved on its own accord, observers expected their own eyes to move too. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

  12. Light-Field Correction for Spatial Calibration of Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Displays.

    PubMed

    Itoh, Yuta; Klinker, Gudrun

    2015-04-01

    A critical requirement for AR applications with Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Displays (OST-HMD) is to project 3D information correctly into the current viewpoint of the user - more particularly, according to the user's eye position. Recently-proposed interaction-free calibration methods [16], [17] automatically estimate this projection by tracking the user's eye position, thereby freeing users from tedious manual calibrations. However, the method is still prone to contain systematic calibration errors. Such errors stem from eye-/HMD-related factors and are not represented in the conventional eye-HMD model used for HMD calibration. This paper investigates one of these factors - the fact that optical elements of OST-HMDs distort incoming world-light rays before they reach the eye, just as corrective glasses do. Any OST-HMD requires an optical element to display a virtual screen. Each such optical element has different distortions. Since users see a distorted world through the element, ignoring this distortion degenerates the projection quality. We propose a light-field correction method, based on a machine learning technique, which compensates the world-scene distortion caused by OST-HMD optics. We demonstrate that our method reduces the systematic error and significantly increases the calibration accuracy of the interaction-free calibration.

  13. Contrast summation across eyes and space is revealed along the entire dipper function by a "Swiss cheese" stimulus.

    PubMed

    Meese, Tim S; Baker, Daniel H

    2011-01-27

    Previous contrast discrimination experiments have shown that luminance contrast is summed across ocular (T. S. Meese, M. A. Georgeson, & D. H. Baker, 2006) and spatial (T. S. Meese & R. J. Summers, 2007) dimensions at threshold and above. However, is this process sufficiently general to operate across the conjunction of eyes and space? Here we used a "Swiss cheese" stimulus where the blurred "holes" in sine-wave carriers were of equal area to the blurred target ("cheese") regions. The locations of the target regions in the monocular image pairs were interdigitated across eyes such that their binocular sum was a uniform grating. When pedestal contrasts were above threshold, the monocular neural images contained strong evidence that the high-contrast regions in the two eyes did not overlap. Nevertheless, sensitivity to dual contrast increments (i.e., to contrast increments in different locations in the two eyes) was a factor of ∼1.7 greater than to single increments (i.e., increments in a single eye), comparable with conventional binocular summation. This provides evidence for a contiguous area summation process that operates at all contrasts and is influenced little, if at all, by eye of origin. A three-stage model of contrast gain control fitted the results and possessed the properties of ocularity invariance and area invariance owing to its cascade of normalization stages. The implications for a population code for pattern size are discussed.

  14. Ocular allergy and dry eye syndrome.

    PubMed

    Bielory, Leonard

    2004-10-01

    Ocular allergy is a common clinical disorder that includes dry eye syndrome in its differential diagnosis. While ocular allergy treatments have continued to evolve since the early 1990s when the new prescription topical agents became available, there have been no major advances in the treatment of dry eye syndrome other than changes in the chemical structures of various artificial tear formulations. This review is timely and relevant due to the recent FDA approval of several new agents for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. The literature reviewed brings the practicing allergist/clinical immunologist up to date on the recent understanding that T-cell activation plays a key role in dry eye syndrome immunopathophysiology. In addition, the parallel novel treatment developments are discussed, including new formulations for tear substitutes, topical cyclosporine A and purinergic receptor (P2Y2) agonists. The recent developments bode well for patients who are referred for ocular allergy, including dry eye syndrome. A new formulation for a tear substitute that generates a 'soft gel' covering the ocular surface (in situ) is ideal for early forms of dry syndrome, while topical cyclosporine is the first new real prescription treatment for patients with moderate to severe forms of dry eye. Another potential agent to revolutionize the treatment of various disorders is based on the discovery of the purinergic receptor agonists. This is not only relevant for the production of mucin and the change in tear fluid content, but it may also have implications for other sinopulmonary disorders such as cystic fibrosis and chronic sinusitis.

  15. Visual area of the lateral suprasylvian gyrus (Clare—Bishop area) of the cat

    PubMed Central

    Hubel, David H.; Wiesel, Torsten N.

    1969-01-01

    On anatomical and physiological grounds a zone of cat cortex deep in the medial bank of the suprasylvian sulcus (the Clare—Bishop area) is known to receive strong visual projections both from the lateral geniculate body and area 17. We have mapped receptive fields of single cells in this area in eight cats. Active responses to visual stimuli were found over most of the medial bank of the suprasylvian sulcus extending to the depths and over to the lowest part of the lateral bank. The area is clearly topographically arranged. The first responsive cells, recorded over the lateral convexity and 2-3 mm down the medial bank, had receptive fields in the far periphery of the contralateral visual fields. The receptive fields tended to be large, but showed considerable variation in size and scatter in their positions. As the electrode advanced down the bank, fields of successively recorded cells gradually tended to move inwards, so that in the depths of the sulcus the inner borders of many of the fields reached the vertical mid line. Here the fields were smaller, though they still varied very much in size. Receptive fields were larger than in 17, 18, or 19, but otherwise were not obviously different from the complex and lower-order hypercomplex fields in those areas. No simple fields, or concentric fields of the retino-geniculate type, were seen. Cells with common receptive-field orientation were grouped together, but whether or not the grouping occurs in columns was not established. Most cells were driven independently by the two eyes. Fields in the two eyes seemed to be identical in organization. Cells dominated by the contralateral eye were much more common than ipsilaterally dominated ones, but when cells with parafoveal and peripheral fields were considered separately, the asymmetry was seen to apply mainly to cells with peripheral fields. PMID:5770897

  16. An Anatomically Constrained, Stochastic Model of Eye Movement Control in Reading

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McDonald, Scott A.; Carpenter, R. H. S.; Shillcock, Richard C.

    2005-01-01

    This article presents SERIF, a new model of eye movement control in reading that integrates an established stochastic model of saccade latencies (LATER; R. H. S. Carpenter, 1981) with a fundamental anatomical constraint on reading: the vertically split fovea and the initial projection of information in either visual field to the contralateral…

  17. Self-Monitoring of Gaze in High Functioning Autism

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Grynszpan, Ouriel; Nadel, Jacqueline; Martin, Jean-Claude; Simonin, Jerome; Bailleul, Pauline; Wang, Yun; Gepner, Daniel; Le Barillier, Florence; Constant, Jacques

    2012-01-01

    Atypical visual behaviour has been recently proposed to account for much of social misunderstanding in autism. Using an eye-tracking system and a gaze-contingent lens display, the present study explores self-monitoring of eye motion in two conditions: free visual exploration and guided exploration via blurring the visual field except for the focal…

  18. Eye Movements Reveal How Task Difficulty Moulds Visual Search

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Young, Angela H.; Hulleman, Johan

    2013-01-01

    In two experiments we investigated the relationship between eye movements and performance in visual search tasks of varying difficulty. Experiment 1 provided evidence that a single process is used for search among static and moving items. Moreover, we estimated the functional visual field (FVF) from the gaze coordinates and found that its size…

  19. Improving College Students English Learning with Dr. Eye Android Mid

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yang, Ju Yin; Che, Pei-Chun

    2015-01-01

    This paper investigates college students' English language learning through use of Dr. Eye Android handheld mobile Internet device (MID). Compared to related studies, students' English learning using MIDs has not been evaluated and fully understood in the field of higher education. Quantitatively, the researchers used TOEIC pretest and posttest to…

  20. VARIABILITY OF VISUAL FIELD MEASUREMENTS IS CORRELATED WITH THE GRADIENT OF VISUAL SENSITIVITY

    PubMed Central

    Wyatt, Harry J.; Dul, Mitchell W.; Swanson, William H.

    2007-01-01

    Conventional static automated perimetry provides important clinical information, but its utility is limited by considerable test-retest variability. Fixational eye movements during testing could contribute to variability. To assess this possibility, it is important to know how much sensitivity change would be caused by a given eye movement. To investigate this, we have evaluated the gradient, the rate at which sensitivity changes with location. We tested one eye each, twice within 3 weeks, of 29 patients with glaucoma, 17 young normal subjects and 13 older normal subjects. The 10-2 test pattern with the SITA Standard algorithm was used to assess sensitivity at locations with 2° spacing. Variability and gradient were calculated at individual test locations. Matrix correlations were determined between variability and gradient, and were substantial for the patients with glaucoma. The results were consistent with a substantial contribution to test-retest variability from small fixational eye movements interacting with visual field gradient. Successful characterization of the gradient of sensitivity appears to require sampling at relatively close spacing, as in the 10-2 test pattern. PMID:17320924

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