Sample records for eyeglasses

  1. Face detection and eyeglasses detection for thermal face recognition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Yufeng

    2012-01-01

    Thermal face recognition becomes an active research direction in human identification because it does not rely on illumination condition. Face detection and eyeglasses detection are necessary steps prior to face recognition using thermal images. Infrared light cannot go through glasses and thus glasses will appear as dark areas in a thermal image. One possible solution is to detect eyeglasses and to exclude the eyeglasses areas before face matching. In thermal face detection, a projection profile analysis algorithm is proposed, where region growing and morphology operations are used to segment the body of a subject; then the derivatives of two projections (horizontal and vertical) are calculated and analyzed to locate a minimal rectangle of containing the face area. Of course, the searching region of a pair of eyeglasses is within the detected face area. The eyeglasses detection algorithm should produce either a binary mask if eyeglasses present, or an empty set if no eyeglasses at all. In the proposed eyeglasses detection algorithm, block processing, region growing, and priori knowledge (i.e., low mean and variance within glasses areas, the shapes and locations of eyeglasses) are employed. The results of face detection and eyeglasses detection are quantitatively measured and analyzed using the manually defined ground truths (for both face and eyeglasses). Our experimental results shown that the proposed face detection and eyeglasses detection algorithms performed very well in contrast with the predefined ground truths.

  2. Power maps and wavefront for progressive addition lenses in eyeglass frames.

    PubMed

    Mejía, Yobani; Mora, David A; Díaz, Daniel E

    2014-10-01

    To evaluate a method for measuring the cylinder, sphere, and wavefront of progressive addition lenses (PALs) in eyeglass frames. We examine the contour maps of cylinder, sphere, and wavefront of a PAL assembled in an eyeglass frame using an optical system based on a Hartmann test. To reduce the data noise, particularly in the border of the eyeglass frame, we implement a method based on the Fourier analysis to extrapolate spots outside the eyeglass frame. The spots are extrapolated up to a circular pupil that circumscribes the eyeglass frame and compared with data obtained from a circular uncut PAL. By using the Fourier analysis to extrapolate spots outside the eyeglass frame, we can remove the edge artifacts of the PAL within its frame and implement the modal method to fit wavefront data with Zernike polynomials within a circular aperture that circumscribes the frame. The extrapolated modal maps from framed PALs accurately reflect maps obtained from uncut PALs and provide smoothed maps for the cylinder and sphere inside the eyeglass frame. The proposed method for extrapolating spots outside the eyeglass frame removes edge artifacts of the contour maps (wavefront, cylinder, and sphere), which may be useful to facilitate measurements such as the length and width of the progressive corridor for a PAL in its frame. The method can be applied to any shape of eyeglass frame.

  3. Use of eyeglasses among children in elementary school: perceptions, behaviors, and interventions discussed by parents, school nurses, and teachers during focus groups.

    PubMed

    Kodjebacheva, Gergana Damianova; Maliski, Sally; Coleman, Anne L

    2015-01-01

    To investigate the perceptions, behaviors, and recommendations that parents, school nurses, and teachers have regarding children's use of eyeglasses. Focus groups with parents, school nurses, and teachers were conducted. The study took place in one Southern California school district. There were 39 participants, including 24 parents, seven school nurses, and eight teachers. An experienced moderator guided the focus group discussions. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Participants perceive visual impairment as a serious problem in the development of children. The lack of eyeglasses may lead to problems such as tiredness, headaches, inability to focus on school work, and decreased reading speed. Participants experienced disappointment, unhappiness, worry, and concern when they realized they needed eyeglasses at a young age. Negative societal perceptions toward eyeglasses, lack of eye doctors in minority communities, parental perceptions that children do not need eyeglasses, and peer bullying of children wearing eyeglasses are key obstacles to children's use of eyeglasses. Participants suggest school and national campaigns featuring respected public figures who wear eyeglasses to promote positive attitudes toward eyeglasses. Parents and teachers who closely follow the academic development of children have observed that visual impairment has negative consequences for the scholastic achievement of children. They recommend interventions to promote the attractiveness of eyeglasses in society. The participants discuss the need for a national preventative message for eye care similar to the message for dental care. The public health message should emphasize the importance of embracing and respecting differences among individuals.

  4. Effect of audiovisual eyeglasses during local anesthesia injections in 5- to 8-year-old children.

    PubMed

    Asvanund, Yuwadee; Mitrakul, Kemthong; Juhong, Ratana-on; Arunakul, Malee

    2015-06-01

    To evaluate the effectiveness of audiovisual (AV) eyeglasses on pain reduction during local anesthetic injection in children who are 5 to 8 years old. Forty-nine healthy, cooperative children with bilateral carious molars requiring treatment under local anesthesia were recruited in this crossover study. Treatments were done in two visits, 1 to 4 weeks apart. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups according to the sequence of AV eyeglasses used. Group I received the injection without wearing AV eyeglasses in the first visit and then wearing AV eyeglasses in a second visit. Group II was vice versa. Self-reporting pain using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), face, legs, activity, crying, and consolability scale (FLACC), and heart rate (HR), were measured to assess the injection pain. No significant differences in sex (P = .132) and treatment arch (P = .779) were observed between the two groups using a chi-square test at P < .05. There were no significant differences in age (P = .341, t test at P ≤ .05) and previous dental experience (P = .19, Fisher's exact test at P ≤ .05) between the two groups. Pain scores were lower when the patients had their injection while wearing AV eyeglasses in both groups. No subject reported a maximum score on the pain rating scale when wearing AV eyeglasses, while 14% of the subjects reported so when not wearing the eyeglasses. AV eyeglasses significantly reduced FLACC scores (P = .03) and HR (P = .005) when compared with not wearing the eyeglasses (Mann-Whitney U test at P ≤ .05). AV eyeglasses successfully reduced pain, physical distress, and HR during local anesthesia injection.

  5. [Effectiveness of eyeglasses for protection against ultraviolet rays].

    PubMed

    Sakamoto, Y; Kojima, M; Sasaki, K

    1999-05-01

    The relationship between eyeglass size and protection of the eye surface from the effects of solar ultraviolet (UV) rays was investigated. Solar UV rays irradiating the eye surface were measured on a mannequin which modeled the standard facial bone structure of a Japanese female. UV sensor chips (photo-sensitivity: 260-400 nm) were attached to the ocular surface of the lid fissure. UV measurement was done from 12:00 to 15:00 on a sunny day in March. UV intensity was measured under the following conditions: 1) with or without eyeglasses, 2) wearing sunglasses with side protectors, and 3) wearing a cap with a 7 cm brim. Eyeglasses of four frame sizes (width: 48-57 mm) were put on the mannequin. All lenses were made of plastic and coated so as to be impervious to rays shorter than 400 nm. The refractive power was 0 diopters. At the same time, UV irradiation intensity from all directions (excluding from the earth direction) was measured using a polyhedron type UV sensor with 25 sensor chips. Except for eyeglasses with the smallest frame size, eyeglasses effectively reduced UV exposure to sunlight from the upper front direction. However, protection against rays from the upper temporal direction was extremely poor. Sunlight from the upper back was reflected by the posterior surface of the eyeglasses and reached the eye surface. The efficacy of eyeglasses against UV depends on their size. The shape of the eyeglasses and reflection from the posterior lens surface are also of great importance. Small eyeglasses do not offer ideal UV protection for the Japanese face shape.

  6. 16 CFR 456.1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... the use of objective or subjective tests. (c) Ophthalmic goods are eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses, and contact lenses. (d) Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of... Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TRADE REGULATION RULES OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES (EYEGLASS RULE) § 456.1...

  7. 16 CFR 456.1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... the use of objective or subjective tests. (c) Ophthalmic goods are eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses, and contact lenses. (d) Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of... Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TRADE REGULATION RULES OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES (EYEGLASS RULE) § 456.1...

  8. 16 CFR 456.1 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... the use of objective or subjective tests. (c) Ophthalmic goods are eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses, and contact lenses. (d) Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of... Practices FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TRADE REGULATION RULES OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES (EYEGLASS RULE) § 456.1...

  9. Audiovisual video eyeglass distraction during dental treatment in children.

    PubMed

    Ram, Diana; Shapira, Joseph; Holan, Gideon; Magora, Florella; Cohen, Sarale; Davidovich, Esti

    2010-09-01

    To investigate the effect of audiovisual distraction (AVD) with video eyeglasses on the behavior of children undergoing dental restorative treatment and the satisfaction with this treatment as reported by children, parents, dental students, and experienced pediatric dentists. During restorative dental treatment, 61 children wore wireless audiovisual eyeglasses with earphones, and 59 received dental treatment under nitrous oxide sedation. A Frankl behavior rating score was assigned to each child. After each treatment, a Houpt behavior rating score was recorded by an independent observer. A visual analogue scale (VAS) score was obtained from children who wore AVD eyeglasses, their parents, and the clinician. General behavior during the AVD sessions, as rated by the Houpt scales, was excellent (rating 6) for 70% of the children, very good (rating 5) for 19%, good (rating 4) for 6%, and fair, poor, or aborted for only 5%. VAS scores showed 85% of the children, including those with poor Frankl ratings, to be satisfied with the AVD eyeglasses. Satisfaction of parents and clinicians was also high. Audiovisual eyeglasses offer an effective distraction tool for the alleviation of the unpleasantness and distress that arises during dental restorative procedures.

  10. [Comparative analysis of visual function and the quality of life index with eyeglasses or a progressive contact lens].

    PubMed

    Sant'Anna, Neusa Vidal; Schor, Paulo; Lipener, César; Uras, Ricardo

    2006-01-01

    To compare the visual function and the answers to a questionnaire of quality of life of patients wearing a progressive contact lens or eyeglasses. The Focus Progressive contact lens had been fitted in 35 patients with far visual acuity with progressive-addition eyeglasses equal to zero (log MAR) and near J1 (Jaeger). The far and near visual acuities and the measurement of contrast sensitivity were compared when the patients were wearing the eyeglasses or the contact lens and the patients' results of the scores of the quality of life questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) were analyzed statistically considering the type of ametropy and the age. The far and near visual acuities and the contrast sensitivity measurement were worse with the contact lens than with eyeglasses. The answers to the questionnaire did not differ when were comparing the same patients wearing eyeglasses or contact lens, no matter the type of ametropy. The myopic and the hyperopic subgroups had worse answers to the quality of life questionnaire when corrected with the contact lens than with eyeglasses, both with age equal to or less than their median. The visual function was worse with the contact lens. The type of ametropy did not influence the answers to the quality of life questionnaire considering the optical correction, but age did.

  11. Effect of a Local Vision Care Center on Eyeglasses Use and School Performance in Rural China: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

    PubMed

    Ma, Yue; Congdon, Nathan; Shi, Yaojiang; Hogg, Ruth; Medina, Alexis; Boswell, Matthew; Rozelle, Scott; Iyer, Mony

    2018-05-10

    Visual impairment is common among children in rural China, but fewer than one-third of children with poor vision own and wear eyeglasses. To study the effect of hospital-based vision centers on academic performance, ownership of eyeglasses, and eyeglasses-wearing behavior in rural Chinese children. Cluster randomized, investigator-masked, clinical trial from September 2014 through June 2015. A vision center capable of providing refractive services was established in the Hospital of Yongshou County, a nationally designated poor county in rural Shaanxi Province, western China. All 31 rural primary schools in Yongshou County participated; participants were all children in grades 4 through 6 (aged approximately 10-12 years) with uncorrected visual acuity of Snellen 6/12 or worse in either eye (2613 children). Data analysis was conducted March through May 2016, and data were analyzed by the intention-to-treat principle. After teacher-led vision screening early in the school year (September-October 2014), schools were randomly assigned to either early referral (December 2014-February 2015) to the vision center for refraction and free eyeglasses if needed or late referral (March-June 2015) for the identical intervention. The primary outcome was score on a study-administered mathematics test (June 2015) adjusted for baseline score. Secondary outcomes were self-reported eyeglasses ownership and wear at final examination (June 2015). All 2613 children evaluated were of Han Chinese race/ethnicity, and 1209 (46.3%) were female. Twelve hundred children (45.9%) met the vision criteria. Among these, 543 (45.3%) were randomized to early screening and 657 (54.7%) to late screening; 433 (79.7%) of the early screening group and 516 (78.5%) of the late screening group completed the study. Of eligible children, 120 (27.7%) owned eyeglasses at baseline. The adjusted effect on test scores comparing early and late groups was 0.25 SD (95% CI, 0.01-0.48; 1-sided P = .04), with the point estimate equivalent to half a semester of additional learning. At the end of the study, 347 of the 433 participants in the early group (80%) reported owning eyeglasses and 326 (75%) reported wearing eyeglasses; among the 516 participants in the late group, 371 (61%) reported owning and 286 (55%) reported wearing eyeglasses. In this study, early provision of free eyeglasses was seen to improve children's academic performance and wearing of spectacles. These findings suggest that a county hospital-based vision center may be an effective way to improve children's educational opportunities in rural China. isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN03252665.

  12. Effect of Interviewer's Eyeglasses on Compliance with a Face-to-Face Survey Request and Perception of the Interviewer

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Guéguen, Nicolas; Martin, Angélique

    2017-01-01

    Several studies have shown that people photographed wearing eyeglasses were perceived more positively as to intelligence and honesty. However, the effect of wearing glasses on behavior and in real face-to-face relationships has never been examined. In two studies, interviewers wearing or not wearing eyeglasses were instructed to ask people in the…

  13. Prescribing Eyeglasses for Myopia and Hyperopia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ruiz, Michael J.

    2005-02-01

    Most eyeglass prescriptions are given for patients with one of two common visual problems: myopia and hyperopia. Myopia is the condition where the eye cannot clearly focus on far objects; e.g., one can't easily see the blackboard from the back of the room. Hyperopia refers to problems seeing close up, e.g., difficulty reading the newspaper. Physics enables us to estimate the prescription of eyeglasses quickly from data anyone can gather. The beauty of the method derives from the fact that you do not need to know anything about the detailed structure of the eye's compound lens system and biological media. This is due to the fact that eyeglasses are corrective.

  14. 16 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic goods are contact lenses, eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses. Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to an eye...

  15. 16 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic goods are contact lenses, eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses. Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to an eye...

  16. 16 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic goods are contact lenses, eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses. Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to an eye...

  17. 16 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic goods are contact lenses, eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses. Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to an eye...

  18. 16 CFR 315.2 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... contact lens fitting. Ophthalmic goods are contact lenses, eyeglasses, or any component of eyeglasses. Ophthalmic services are the measuring, fitting, and adjusting of ophthalmic goods subsequent to an eye...

  19. Occupational Radiation Protection in Interventional Radiology: A Joint Guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-01

    should be provided with properly fitted aprons, both to reduce ergo- nomic hazards and to provide optimal radiation protection [45]. Aprons should be...advised to use eye protection at all times [2, 15]. Leaded eyeglasses are an alternative to ceiling-suspended shields for this purpose. Leaded eye...glasses with large lenses and protective side shields pro- vide more protection than eyeglasses without these features. They help to minimize scatter

  20. Reliability of Iris Recognition as a Means of Identity Verification and Future Impact on Transportation Worker Identification Credential

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-03-01

    80 5. Time Frame of the Experiment...81 6. Eyeglasses ............................................................................................81 D. OBSERVED RESULTS...97 2. Eyeglasses are a Factor

  1. Monitoring Chewing and Eating in Free-Living Using Smart Eyeglasses.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Rui; Amft, Oliver

    2018-01-01

    We propose to 3-D-print personal fitted regular-look smart eyeglasses frames equipped with bilateral electromyography recording to monitor temporalis muscles' activity for automatic dietary monitoring. Personal fitting supported electrode-skin contacts are at temple ear bend and temple end positions. We evaluated the smart monitoring eyeglasses during in-lab and free-living studies of food chewing and eating event detection with ten participants. The in-lab study was designed to explore three natural food hardness levels and determine parameters of an energy-based chewing cycle detection. Our free-living study investigated whether chewing monitoring and eating event detection using smart eyeglasses is feasible in free-living. An eating event detection algorithm was developed to determine intake activities based on the estimated chewing rate. Results showed an average food hardness classification accuracy of 94% and chewing cycle detection precision and recall above 90% for the in-lab study and above 77% for the free-living study covering 122 hours of recordings. Eating detection revealed the 44 eating events with an average accuracy above 95%. We conclude that smart eyeglasses are suitable for monitoring chewing and eating events in free-living and even could provide further insights into the wearer's natural chewing patterns.

  2. Quantitative electroencephalograms and neuro-optometry: a case study that explores changes in electrophysiology while wearing therapeutic eyeglasses

    PubMed Central

    Zelinsky, Deborah; Feinberg, Corey

    2017-01-01

    Abstract. The brain is equipped with a complex system for processing sensory information, including retinal circuitry comprising part of the central nervous system. Retinal stimulation can influence brain function via customized eyeglasses at both subcortical and cortical levels. We investigated cortical effects from wearing therapeutic eyeglasses, hypothesizing that they can create measureable changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) tracings. A Z-BellSM test was performed on a participant to select optimal lenses. An EEG measurement was recorded before and after the participant wore the eyeglasses. Equivalent quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) analyses (statistical analysis on raw EEG recordings) were performed and compared with baseline findings. With glasses on, the participant’s readings were found to be closer to the normed database. The original objective of our investigation was met, and additional findings were revealed. The Z-bellSM test identified lenses to influence neurotypical brain activity, supporting the paradigm that eyeglasses can be utilized as a therapeutic intervention. Also, EEG analysis demonstrated that encephalographic techniques can be used to identify channels through which neuro-optomertric treatments work. This case study’s preliminary exploration illustrates the potential role of QEEG analysis and EEG-derived brain imaging in neuro-optometric research endeavors to affect brain function. PMID:28386574

  3. Eyeglasses Lens Contour Extraction from Facial Images Using an Efficient Shape Description

    PubMed Central

    Borza, Diana; Darabant, Adrian Sergiu; Danescu, Radu

    2013-01-01

    This paper presents a system that automatically extracts the position of the eyeglasses and the accurate shape and size of the frame lenses in facial images. The novelty brought by this paper consists in three key contributions. The first one is an original model for representing the shape of the eyeglasses lens, using Fourier descriptors. The second one is a method for generating the search space starting from a finite, relatively small number of representative lens shapes based on Fourier morphing. Finally, we propose an accurate lens contour extraction algorithm using a multi-stage Monte Carlo sampling technique. Multiple experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. PMID:24152926

  4. Optics Demonstration with Student Eyeglasses Using the Inquiry Method

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    James, Mark C.

    2011-01-01

    A favorite qualitative optics demonstration I perform in introductory physics classes makes use of students' eyeglasses to introduce converging and diverging lenses. Taking on the persona of a magician, I walk to the back of the classroom and approach a student wearing glasses. The top part of Fig. 1 shows a glasses-wearing student who is…

  5. Social Embodiment of Technical Devices: Eyeglasses over the Centuries and According to Their Uses

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Veyrat, Nicolas; Blanco, Eric; Trompette, Pascale

    2008-01-01

    This article is an attempt to prepare the ground for the analysis and theorization of the connection between the body and technical devices emerging from miniaturized wearable technologies. The research object is a secular and common "body object," namely, eyeglasses. The article reviews the social history of this artifact and analyzes its…

  6. 21 CFR 801.410 - Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... potential eye injury, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except in those... shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (3) Each... resistance and shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section...

  7. 21 CFR 801.410 - Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... potential eye injury, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except in those... shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (3) Each... resistance and shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section...

  8. 21 CFR 801.410 - Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... potential eye injury, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except in those... shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (3) Each... resistance and shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section...

  9. 21 CFR 801.410 - Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... potential eye injury, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except in those... shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (3) Each... resistance and shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section...

  10. 21 CFR 801.410 - Use of impact-resistant lenses in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... potential eye injury, eyeglasses and sunglasses must be fitted with impact-resistant lenses, except in those... shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section. (3) Each... resistance and shall be capable of withstanding the impact test described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section...

  11. New protocol for construction of eyeglasses-supported provisional nasal prosthesis using CAD/CAM techniques.

    PubMed

    Ciocca, Leonardo; Fantini, Massimiliano; De Crescenzio, Francesca; Persiani, Franco; Scotti, Roberto

    2010-01-01

    A new protocol for making an immediate provisional eyeglasses-supported nasal prosthesis is presented that uses laser scanning, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing procedures, and rapid prototyping techniques, reducing time and costs while increasing the quality of the final product. With this protocol, the eyeglasses were digitized, and the relative position of the nasal prosthesis was planned and evaluated in a virtual environment without any try-in appointment. This innovative method saves time, reduces costs, and restores the patient's aesthetic appearance after a disfiguration caused by ablation of the nasal pyramid better than conventional restoration methods. Moreover, the digital model of the designed nasal epithesis can be used to develop a definitive prosthesis anchored to osseointegrated craniofacial implants.

  12. Multifunctional microcontrollable interface module

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Spitzer, Mark B.; Zavracky, Paul M.; Rensing, Noa M.; Crawford, J.; Hockman, Angela H.; Aquilino, P. D.; Girolamo, Henry J.

    2001-08-01

    This paper reports the development of a complete eyeglass- mounted computer interface system including display, camera and audio subsystems. The display system provides an SVGA image with a 20 degree horizontal field of view. The camera system has been optimized for face recognition and provides a 19 degree horizontal field of view. A microphone and built-in pre-amp optimized for voice recognition and a speaker on an articulated arm are included for audio. An important feature of the system is a high degree of adjustability and reconfigurability. The system has been developed for testing by the Military Police, in a complete system comprising the eyeglass-mounted interface, a wearable computer, and an RF link. Details of the design, construction, and performance of the eyeglass-based system are discussed.

  13. Optics Demonstration with Student Eyeglasses Using the Inquiry Method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    James, Mark C.

    2011-09-01

    A favorite qualitative optics demonstration I perform in introductory physics classes makes use of students' eyeglasses to introduce converging and diverging lenses. Taking on the persona of a magician, I walk to the back of the classroom and approach a student wearing glasses. The top part of Fig. 1 shows a glasses-wearing student who is farsighted in her left eye and has a slight astigmatism in her right eye.

  14. Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) Extended Wear Comfort Evaluation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-10-01

    JSAM eyeglass frames containing his optical prescription. Comfort Questionnaire (CQ). The CQ was completed ten times as scheduled by the USAF...and comfort of the JSAM while wearing eyeglass frames was very acceptable. Their ability to see was reported as acceptable. No fogging of the...Performance Wing acceleration and altitude test subject panels. The subjects were male, ranged in age from 28-39 years, physically fit , and considered

  15. Evaluation of Eye Metrics as a Detector of Fatigue

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-03-01

    eyeglass frames . The cameras are angled upward toward the eyes and extract real-time pupil diameter, eye-lid movement, and eye-ball movement. The...because the cameras were mounted on eyeglass -like frames , the system was able to continuously monitor the eye throughout all sessions. Overall, the...of “ fitness for duty” testing and “real-time monitoring” of operator performance has been slow (Institute of Medicine, 2004). Oculometric-based

  16. LED Light Characteristics for Surgical Shadowless Lamps and Surgical Loupes

    PubMed Central

    Kinugawa, Yoshitaka; Nobae, Yuichi; Suzuki, Toshihiro; Tanaka, Yoshiyuki; Toda, Ikuko; Tsubota, Kazuo

    2015-01-01

    Background: Blue light has more energy than longer wavelength light and can penetrate the eye to reach the retina. When surgeons use magnifying loupes under intensive surgical shadowless lamps for better view of the surgical field, the total luminance is about 200 times brighter than that of typical office lighting. In this study, the effects of 2 types of shadowless lamps were compared. Moreover, the effect of various eyeglasses, which support magnifying loupes, on both the light energy and color rendering was considered. Methods: The light intensity and color rendering were measured on 3 variables: light transmittance, light intensity, and color rendering. Results: Under shadowless lamps, the light energy increased with low-magnification loupes and decreased with high-magnification loupes. Filtering eyeglasses reduced the energy, especially in conditions where the low-magnification loupe was used. The best color-rendering index values were obtained with computer eyeglasses under conventional light-emitting diode shadowless lamps and with no glass and with lightly yellow-tinted lenses under less-blue light-emitting diode. Conclusions: Microsurgeons are exposed to strong lighting throughout their career, and proper color rendering must be considered for easier recognition. Light toxicity and loss of color rendering can be reduced with an appropriate combination of shadowless lamps and colored eyeglasses. PMID:26893987

  17. Effects of audiovisual distraction in children with special healthcare needs during dental restorations: a randomized crossover clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Bagattoni, Simone; D'Alessandro, Giovanni; Sadotti, Agnese; Alkhamis, Nadia; Piana, Gabriela

    2018-01-01

    Audiovisual distraction using video eyeglasses is useful in managing distress and reducing fear and anxiety in healthy children during dental treatments. To evaluate the effect of audiovisual distraction on behavior and self-reported pain of children with special healthcare needs (SHCN) without intellectual disability during dental restorations and its influence on the operator stress and the time of the appointment. This randomized controlled crossover trial comprised 48 children with SHCN requiring at least two dental restorations. One restoration was done wearing the video eyeglasses and one wearing conventional behavior management techniques. Subjective and objective pain was evaluated using the Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R) and the revised Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, and Consolability scale (r-FLACC). The operator stress using a VAS, the time of the appointment, and the child satisfaction were recorded. The use of video eyeglasses significantly reduced the operator stress. The bivariate analysis showed that the mean FPS-R score and the mean r-FLACC score were significantly lower using the video eyeglasses only during the second clinical session. Audiovisual distraction could be useful in managing distress in SHCN children without intellectual disability but cannot replace the conventional behavior management techniques. © 2017 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Binocular Rivalry in Helmet-Mounted Display Applications

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-06-01

    research apparatus. 31 ., simple magnifying ophthalmic lenses were used, mounted in eyeglass frames. These were 2. 5 diopter lenses for both eyes to...wear eyeglasses with 2. 5 diopter lenses. The focal length of these lenses was 15. 5 inches and the eye waa accommodated at infinity when objects were...HMD luminance is positively related to I-I•D visibility, while ambient scene luminance bears an inverse relation- ship to HMD visibility. Scene

  19. Tunable-focus lens for adaptive eyeglasses

    PubMed Central

    Hasan, Nazmul; Banerjee, Aishwaryadev; Kim, Hanseup; Mastrangelo, Carlos H.

    2017-01-01

    We demonstrate the implementation of a compact tunable-focus liquid lens suitable for adaptive eyeglass application. The lens has an aperture diameter of 32 mm, optical power range of 5.6 diopter, and electrical power consumption less than 20 mW. The lens inclusive of its piezoelectric actuation mechanism is 8.4 mm thick and weighs 14.4 gm. The measured lens RMS wavefront aberration error was between 0.73 µm and 0.956 µm. PMID:28158006

  20. Army Logistician. Volume 39, Issue 4, July-August 2007

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-08-01

    because they fit underneath by CaPtain joy a. sChMaLzLe Battlefield Vision: Eyeglasses for the Soldier ARMy LOGISTICIAN PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN...a lens to fit into the frame . To create sunglasses, lenses are placed into a tint bath until they reach the desired darkness. The OptiCast system...Staff Sergeant Michael P. Winkler, USAR 28 Battlefield Vision: Eyeglasses for the Soldier—Captain Joy A. Schmalzle 31 Tiedown for Safety and

  1. The Impact of Virtual Reality Distraction on Pain and Anxiety during Dental Treatment in 4-6 Year-Old Children: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

    PubMed

    Asl Aminabadi, Naser; Erfanparast, Leila; Sohrabi, Azin; Ghertasi Oskouei, Sina; Naghili, Armaghan

    2012-01-01

    Dental practitioners have numerous methods to control anxiety and pain in children, and distracting the child appears to be the most common technique used for behavior management during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of using virtual reality eyeglasses on severity of pain and anxiety during dental procedures in pediatric patients. This study included 120 healthy children aged 4-6 years. Children with no previous anxiety disorder were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 60 children. The study consisted of 3 consecutive treatment sessions. During the first visit fluoride therapy was carried out in both groups. In the next sessions, the groups received restorative treatment with and without virtual reality eyeglasses in a randomized single-blind-controlled crossover fashion. Then at the end of each session the subjects' pain severity was assessed using Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and state anxiety was measured by Faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale [MCDAS (f)]. There was a significant decrease in pain perception (P < 0.001) and state anxiety scores (P < 0.001) with the use of virtual reality eyeglasses during dental treatment. Results of this study showed that virtual reality eyeglasses can successfully decrease pain perception and state anxiety during dental treatment. 201103126036N1.

  2. On-line dimensional measurement of small components on the eyeglasses assembly line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rosati, G.; Boschetti, G.; Biondi, A.; Rossi, A.

    2009-03-01

    Dimensional measurement of the subassemblies at the beginning of the assembly line is a very crucial process for the eyeglasses industry, since even small manufacturing errors of the components can lead to very visible defects on the final product. For this reason, all subcomponents of the eyeglass are verified before beginning the assembly process either with a 100% inspection or on a statistical basis. Inspection is usually performed by human operators, with high costs and a degree of repeatability which is not always satisfactory. This paper presents a novel on-line measuring system for dimensional verification of small metallic subassemblies for the eyeglasses industry. The machine vision system proposed, which was designed to be used at the beginning of the assembly line, could also be employed in the Statistical Process Control (SPC) by the manufacturer of the subassemblies. The automated system proposed is based on artificial vision, and exploits two CCD cameras and an anthropomorphic robot to inspect and manipulate the subcomponents of the eyeglass. Each component is recognized by the first camera in a quite large workspace, picked up by the robot and placed in the small vision field of the second camera which performs the measurement process. Finally, the part is palletized by the robot. The system can be easily taught by the operator by simply placing the template object in the vision field of the measurement camera (for dimensional data acquisition) and hence by instructing the robot via the Teaching Control Pendant within the vision field of the first camera (for pick-up transformation acquisition). The major problem we dealt with is that the shape and dimensions of the subassemblies can vary in a quite wide range, but different positioning of the same component can look very similar one to another. For this reason, a specific shape recognition procedure was developed. In the paper, the whole system is presented together with first experimental lab results.

  3. LCD-based digital eyeglass for modulating spatial-angular information.

    PubMed

    Bian, Zichao; Liao, Jun; Guo, Kaikai; Heng, Xin; Zheng, Guoan

    2015-05-04

    Using programmable aperture to modulate spatial-angular information of light field is well-known in computational photography and microscopy. Inspired by this concept, we report a digital eyeglass design that adaptively modulates light field entering human eyes. The main hardware includes a transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) and a mini-camera. The device analyzes the spatial-angular information of the camera image in real time and subsequently sends a command to form a certain pattern on the LCD. We show that, the eyeglass prototype can adaptively reduce light transmission from bright sources by ~80% and retain transparency to other dim objects meanwhile. One application of the reported device is to reduce discomforting glare caused by vehicle headlamps. To this end, we report the preliminary result of using the reported device in a road test. The reported device may also find applications in military operations (sniper scope), laser counter measure, STEM education, and enhancing visual contrast for visually impaired patients and elderly people with low vision.

  4. Fully automated measuring setup for tactile coordinate measuring machine for three dimensional measurement of freeform eyeglass frames

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rückwardt, M.; Göpfert, A.; Correns, M.; Schellhorn, M.; Linß, G.

    2010-07-01

    Coordinate measuring machines are high precession all-rounder in three dimensional measuring. Therefore the versatility of parameters and expandability of additionally hardware is very comprehensive. Consequently you need much expert knowledge of the user and mostly a lot of advanced information about the measuring object. In this paper a coordinate measuring machine and a specialized measuring machine are compared at the example of the measuring of eyeglass frames. For this case of three dimensional measuring challenges the main focus is divided into metrological and economical aspects. At first there is shown a fully automated method for tactile measuring of this abstract form. At second there is shown a comparison of the metrological characteristics of a coordinate measuring machine and a tracer for eyeglass frames. The result is in favour to the coordinate measuring machine. It was not surprising in these aspects. At last there is shown a comparison of the machine in front of the economical aspects.

  5. TU-D-209-07: Monte Carlo Assessment of Dose to the Lens of the Eye of Radiologist Using Realistic Phantoms and Eyeglass Models

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

    Xu, X; Lin, H; Gao, Y

    Purpose: To study how eyeglass design features and postures of the interventional radiologist affect the radiation dose to the lens of the eye. Methods: A mesh-based deformable phantom, consisting of an ultra-fine eye model, was used to simulate postures of a radiologist in fluoroscopically guided interventional procedure (facing the patient, 45 degree to the left, and 45 degree to the right). Various eyewear design features were studied, including the shape, lead-equivalent thickness, and separation from the face. The MCNPX Monte Carlo code was used to simulate the X-ray source used for the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization procedure (The X-ray tube ismore » located 35 cm from the ground, emitting X-rays toward to the ceiling; Field size is 40cm X 40cm; X-ray tube voltage is 90 kVp). Experiments were also performed using dosimeter placed on a physical phantom behind eyeglasses. Results: Without protective eyewear, the radiologist’s eye lens can receive an annual dose equivalent of about 80 mSv. When wearing a pair of lead eyeglasses with lead-equivalent of 0.5-mm Pb, the annual dose equivalent of the eye lens is reduced to 31.47 mSv, but both exceed the new ICRP limit of 20 mSv. A face shield with a lead-equivalent of 0.125-mm Pb in the shape of a semi-cylinder (13cm in radius and 20-cm in height) would further reduce the exposure to the lens of the eye. Examination of postures and eyeglass features reveal surprising information, including that the glass-to-eye separation also plays an important role in the dose to the eye lens from scattered X-ray from underneath and the side. Results are in general agreement with measurements. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to further understand the relationship between the radiation environment and the radiologist’s eyewear and posture in order to provide necessary protection to the interventional radiologists under newly reduced dose limits.« less

  6. Head Pose Estimation on Eyeglasses Using Line Detection and Classification Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Setthawong, Pisal; Vannija, Vajirasak

    This paper proposes a unique approach for head pose estimation of subjects with eyeglasses by using a combination of line detection and classification approaches. Head pose estimation is considered as an important non-verbal form of communication and could also be used in the area of Human-Computer Interface. A major improvement of the proposed approach is that it allows estimation of head poses at a high yaw/pitch angle when compared with existing geometric approaches, does not require expensive data preparation and training, and is generally fast when compared with other approaches.

  7. iLid: Low-power Sensing of Fatigue and Drowsiness Measures on a Computational Eyeglass

    PubMed Central

    ROSTAMINIA, SOHA; MAYBERRY, ADDISON; GANESAN, DEEPAK; MARLIN, BENJAMIN; GUMMESON, JEREMY

    2018-01-01

    The ability to monitor eye closures and blink patterns has long been known to enable accurate assessment of fatigue and drowsiness in individuals. Many measures of the eye are known to be correlated with fatigue including coarse-grained measures like the rate of blinks as well as fine-grained measures like the duration of blinks and the extent of eye closures. Despite a plethora of research validating these measures, we lack wearable devices that can continually and reliably monitor them in the natural environment. In this work, we present a low-power system, iLid, that can continually sense fine-grained measures such as blink duration and Percentage of Eye Closures (PERCLOS) at high frame rates of 100fps. We present a complete solution including design of the sensing, signal processing, and machine learning pipeline; implementation on a prototype computational eyeglass platform; and extensive evaluation under many conditions including illumination changes, eyeglass shifts, and mobility. Our results are very encouraging, showing that we can detect blinks, blink duration, eyelid location, and fatigue-related metrics such as PERCLOS with less than a few percent error. PMID:29417956

  8. Speech understanding in noise with an eyeglass hearing aid: asymmetric fitting and the head shadow benefit of anterior microphones.

    PubMed

    Mens, Lucas H M

    2011-01-01

    To test speech understanding in noise using array microphones integrated in an eyeglass device and to test if microphones placed anteriorly at the temple provide better directivity than above the pinna. Sentences were presented from the front and uncorrelated noise from 45, 135, 225 and 315°. Fifteen hearing impaired participants with a significant speech discrimination loss were included, as well as 5 normal hearing listeners. The device (Varibel) improved speech understanding in noise compared to most conventional directional devices with a directional benefit of 5.3 dB in the asymmetric fit mode, which was not significantly different from the bilateral fully directional mode (6.3 dB). Anterior microphones outperformed microphones at a conventional position above the pinna by 2.6 dB. By integrating microphones in an eyeglass frame, a long array can be used resulting in a higher directionality index and improved speech understanding in noise. An asymmetric fit did not significantly reduce performance and can be considered to increase acceptance and environmental awareness. Directional microphones at the temple seemed to profit more from the head shadow than above the pinna, better suppressing noise from behind the listener.

  9. From unseen to seen: tackling the global burden of uncorrected refractive errors.

    PubMed

    Durr, Nicholas J; Dave, Shivang R; Lage, Eduardo; Marcos, Susana; Thorn, Frank; Lim, Daryl

    2014-07-11

    Worldwide, more than one billion people suffer from poor vision because they do not have the eyeglasses they need. Their uncorrected refractive errors are a major cause of global disability and drastically reduce productivity, educational opportunities, and overall quality of life. The problem persists most prevalently in low-resource settings, even though prescription eyeglasses serve as a simple, effective, and largely affordable solution. In this review, we discuss barriers to obtaining, and approaches for providing, refractive eye care. We also highlight emerging technologies that are being developed to increase the accessibility of eye care. Finally, we describe opportunities that exist for engineers to develop new solutions to positively impact the diagnosis and treatment of correctable refractive errors in low-resource settings.

  10. Eye Wear

    MedlinePlus

    ... are Sunglasses Safety goggles Glasses (also called eyeglasses) Contact lenses If you need corrective lenses, you may be able to choose between contacts or glasses. Either usually requires a prescription. Almost ...

  11. Representations of eyeglasses on Gothic winged altars in Austria.

    PubMed

    Daxecker, F

    1997-01-01

    The oldest representation of eyeglasses in the German-speaking area is found on the altar of Tyrol Castle in the Museum Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck, Tyrol, on an altarpiece depicting the death of the Virgin Mary (1370-1372). Other representations of eyeglasses are found in Klosterneuburg, Lower Austria, Albrechtsaltar, collegiate collection, death of the Virgin (1439); St. Lorenzen ob Murau, daughter church St. Lorenzen, Styria, Katharinenaltar, Disputation (1455-1460); Pettau (Ptuj), Pokrajinjski Muzej, Slovenia (then belonging to the archbishopric of Salzburg), Conrad Laib, St. Bernardine of Siena with a spectacle case (1460-1465); on two altars by Michael Pacher: Pharisee, Gries near Bolzano (1471-1475), apostle mourning over the death of the Virgin Mary, and St. Luke, St. Wolfgang in Salzkammergut (1481); St. Florian, Upper Austria, collegiate collection, altar of the provost Leonhard Riesenschmid of St. Florian, death of the Virgin (1487); museum of Wilten monastery, Innsbruck, Ludwig Konraiter, St. Ottilie with reading stones and death of the Virgin Mary with reading apostle (1485-1490); Austrian Gallery Belvedere, Vienna, Master of Grossgmain, St. Augustine (1498); Austrian Gallery Belvedere, Vienna, Master of Mondsee, St. Augustine (1490-1500); Diocesan museum Graz, Styria, altar of Hirschegg, death of the Virgin (1503); Krenstetten, Lower Austria, Stefan-Altar, Disputation (1500-1520); Museum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck, Matheis Stöberl, Jesus and the scribes with a spectacle case (early 16th century).

  12. The Impact of Providing Vision Screening and Free Eyeglasses on Academic Outcomes: Evidence from a Randomized Trial in Title I Elementary Schools in Florida

    PubMed Central

    West, Kristine L.; Lee, Jongwook

    2018-01-01

    More than 20 percent of all school-aged children in the United States have vision problems, and low-income and minority children are disproportionately likely to have unmet vision care needs. Vision screening is common in U.S. schools, but it remains an open question whether screening alone is sufficient to improve student outcomes. We implemented a multi-armed randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of vision screening, and of vision screening accompanied by eye exams and eyeglasses, provided by a non-profit organization to Title I elementary schools in three large central Florida school districts. We find that providing additional/enhanced screening alone is generally insufficient to improve student achievement in math and reading. In contrast, providing screening along with free eye exams and free eyeglasses to students with vision problems improved student achievement as measured by standardized test scores. We find, averaging over all students (including those without vision problems), that this more comprehensive intervention increased the probability of passing the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Tests (FCAT) in reading and math by approximately 2.0 percentage points. We also present evidence that indicates that this impact fades out over time, indicating that follow-up actions after the intervention may be necessary to sustain these estimated achievement gains. PMID:29693366

  13. Eyeglass: A Very Large Aperture Diffractive Space Telescope

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

    Hyde, R; Dixit, S; Weisberg, A

    2002-07-29

    Eyeglass is a very large aperture (25-100 meter) space telescope consisting of two distinct spacecraft, separated in space by several kilometers. A diffractive lens provides the telescope's large aperture, and a separate, much smaller, space telescope serves as its mobile eyepiece. Use of a transmissive diffractive lens solves two basic problems associated with very large aperture space telescopes; it is inherently fieldable (lightweight and flat, hence packagable and deployable) and virtually eliminates the traditional, very tight, surface shape tolerances faced by reflecting apertures. The potential drawback to use of a diffractive primary (very narrow spectral bandwidth) is eliminated by correctivemore » optics in the telescope's eyepiece. The Eyeglass can provide diffraction-limited imaging with either single-band, multiband, or continuous spectral coverage. Broadband diffractive telescopes have been built at LLNL and have demonstrated diffraction-limited performance over a 40% spectral bandwidth (0.48-0.72 {micro}m). As one approach to package a large aperture for launch, a foldable lens has been built and demonstrated. A 75 cm aperture diffractive lens was constructed from 6 panels of 1 m thick silica; it achieved diffraction-limited performance both before and after folding. This multiple panel, folding lens, approach is currently being scaled-up at LLNL. We are building a 5 meter aperture foldable lens, involving 72 panels of 700 {micro}m thick glass sheets, diffractively patterned to operate as coherent f/50 lens.« less

  14. Eyeglasses based wireless electrolyte and metabolite sensor platform.

    PubMed

    Sempionatto, Juliane R; Nakagawa, Tatsuo; Pavinatto, Adriana; Mensah, Samantha T; Imani, Somayeh; Mercier, Patrick; Wang, Joseph

    2017-05-16

    The demand for wearable sensors has grown rapidly in recent years, with increasing attention being given to epidermal chemical sensing. Here, we present the first example of a fully integrated eyeglasses wireless multiplexed chemical sensing platform capable of real-time monitoring of sweat electrolytes and metabolites. The new concept has been realized by integrating an amperometric lactate biosensor and a potentiometric potassium ion-selective electrode into the two nose-bridge pads of the glasses and interfacing them with a wireless electronic backbone placed on the glasses' arms. Simultaneous real-time monitoring of sweat lactate and potassium levels with no apparent cross-talk is demonstrated along with wireless signal transduction. The electrochemical sensors were screen-printed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) stickers and placed on each side of the glasses' nose pads in order to monitor sweat metabolites and electrolytes. The electronic backbone on the arms of the glasses' frame offers control of the amperometric and potentiometric transducers and enables Bluetooth wireless data transmission to the host device. The new eyeglasses system offers an interchangeable-sensor feature in connection with a variety of different nose-bridge amperometric and potentiometric sensor stickers. For example, the lactate bridge-pad sensor was replaced with a glucose one to offer convenient monitoring of sweat glucose. Such a fully integrated wireless "Lab-on-a-Glass" multiplexed biosensor platform can be readily expanded for the simultaneous monitoring of additional sweat electrolytes and metabolites.

  15. AN INVESTIGATION OF VISION PROBLEMS AND THE VISION CARE SYSTEM IN RURAL CHINA.

    PubMed

    Bai, Yunli; Yi, Hongmei; Zhang, Linxiu; Shi, Yaojiang; Ma, Xiaochen; Congdon, Nathan; Zhou, Zhongqiang; Boswell, Matthew; Rozelle, Scott

    2014-11-01

    This paper examines the prevalence of vision problems and the accessibility to and quality of vision care in rural China. We obtained data from 4 sources: 1) the National Rural Vision Care Survey; 2) the Private Optometrists Survey; 3) the County Hospital Eye Care Survey; and 4) the Rural School Vision Care Survey. The data from each of the surveys were collected by the authors during 2012. Thirty-three percent of the rural population surveyed self-reported vision problems. Twenty-two percent of subjects surveyed had ever had a vision exam. Among those who self-reported having vision problems, 34% did not wear eyeglasses. Fifty-four percent of those with vision problems who had eyeglasses did not have a vision exam prior to receiving glasses. However, having a vision exam did not always guarantee access to quality vision care. Four channels of vision care service were assessed. The school vision examination program did not increase the usage rate of eyeglasses. Each county-hospital was staffed with three eye-doctors having one year of education beyond high school, serving more than 400,000 residents. Private optometrists often had low levels of education and professional certification. In conclusion, our findings shows that the vision care system in rural China is inadequate and ineffective in meeting the needs of the rural population sampled.

  16. Retinal detachment

    MedlinePlus

    ... eye, including the retina ( ophthalmoscopy ) Checking eyeglass prescription ( refraction test ) Checking color vision Checking the smallest letters ... of the first symptoms of new flashes of light and floaters. Prevention Use protective eye wear to ...

  17. [Use of liquid crystal eyeglasses for examination and recovery of binocular vision].

    PubMed

    Grigorian, A Iu; Avetisov, E S; Kashchenko, T P; Iachmeneva, E I

    1999-01-01

    A new method for diploptic treatment of strabismus is proposed, based on phase division of visual fields using liquid crystal eyeglasses --computer complex. The method is based on stereovision training (allowing stereothreshold measurements up to 150 ang. sec.). The method was tried in examinations of two groups of children: 10 controls and 74 patients with strabismus. Examinations of normal controls gave new criteria for measuring fusion reserves and stereovisual acuity by the proposed method. The therapeutic method was tried in 2 groups of patients. Time course of visual function improvement was followed up by several criteria: changes in binocular status by the color test and improvement of in-depth and stereoscopic visual acuity. The method is recommended for practice. The authors discuss the problem of small angle strabismus.

  18. 75 FR 39502 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-09

    ..., eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices, diet/special nourishment plans, blood donor records, charges... years; patient accountability (admission/discharge) 5 years; blood donor 5 years or when no longer...

  19. Using oxygen at home

    MedlinePlus

    ... One item is called a nasal cannula. This plastic tubing wraps over your ears, like eyeglasses, with 2 prongs that fit into your nostrils. Wash the plastic tubing once or twice a week with soap ...

  20. Eyeglasses for Vision Correction

    MedlinePlus

    ... Plastic Surgery Center Laser Surgery Education Center Redmond Ethics Center Global Ophthalmology Guide Academy Publications EyeNet Ophthalmology ... Plastic Surgery Center Laser Surgery Education Center Redmond Ethics Center Global Ophthalmology Guide Find an Ophthalmologist Advanced ...

  1. 38 CFR 4.76 - Visual acuity.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... lenses than by eyeglass lenses, as corrected by contact lenses. (3) In any case where the examiner... these cases, evaluate based on corrected distance vision adjusted to one step poorer than measured. (4...

  2. 38 CFR 4.76 - Visual acuity.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... lenses than by eyeglass lenses, as corrected by contact lenses. (3) In any case where the examiner... these cases, evaluate based on corrected distance vision adjusted to one step poorer than measured. (4...

  3. 38 CFR 4.76 - Visual acuity.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... lenses than by eyeglass lenses, as corrected by contact lenses. (3) In any case where the examiner... these cases, evaluate based on corrected distance vision adjusted to one step poorer than measured. (4...

  4. Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

    MedlinePlus

    ... metallic items, which can distort MRI images removable dental work pens, pocket knives and eyeglasses body piercings In most cases, an MRI exam is safe for patients with metal implants, except for a few types. ...

  5. 42 CFR 410.36 - Medical supplies, appliances, and devices: Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... eyeglasses or conventional contact lenses furnished after each cataract surgery during which an intraocular lens is inserted. (3) Leg, arm, back, and neck braces and artificial legs, arms, and eyes, including...

  6. 42 CFR 410.36 - Medical supplies, appliances, and devices: Scope.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... eyeglasses or conventional contact lenses furnished after each cataract surgery during which an intraocular lens is inserted. (3) Leg, arm, back, and neck braces and artificial legs, arms, and eyes, including...

  7. [Eyeglasses].

    PubMed

    Reiner, J

    1990-01-01

    Spectacles belong to the most ancient inventions in cultural history. Their development, however, cannot be regarded as final. New impetus has resulted in the creation of non-spherical lenses and, through the development of refractive lenses, in a more progressive optic effort.

  8. Breathing zone air sampler

    DOEpatents

    Tobin, John

    1989-01-01

    A sampling apparatus is provided which comprises a sampler for sampling air in the breathing zone of a wearer of the apparatus and a support for the sampler preferably in the form of a pair of eyeglasses. The sampler comprises a sampling assembly supported on the frame of the eyeglasses and including a pair of sample transport tubes which are suspended, in use, centrally of the frame so as to be disposed on opposite sides of the nose of the wearer and which each include an inlet therein that, in use, is disposed adjacent to a respective nostril of the nose of the wearer. A filter holder connected to sample transport tubes supports a removable filter for filtering out particulate material in the air sampled by the apparatus. The sample apparatus is connected to a pump for drawing air into the apparatus through the tube inlets so that the air passes through the filter.

  9. Estimation of human emotions using thermal facial information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, Hung; Kotani, Kazunori; Chen, Fan; Le, Bac

    2014-01-01

    In recent years, research on human emotion estimation using thermal infrared (IR) imagery has appealed to many researchers due to its invariance to visible illumination changes. Although infrared imagery is superior to visible imagery in its invariance to illumination changes and appearance differences, it has difficulties in handling transparent glasses in the thermal infrared spectrum. As a result, when using infrared imagery for the analysis of human facial information, the regions of eyeglasses are dark and eyes' thermal information is not given. We propose a temperature space method to correct eyeglasses' effect using the thermal facial information in the neighboring facial regions, and then use Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Eigen-space Method based on class-features (EMC), and PCA-EMC method to classify human emotions from the corrected thermal images. We collected the Kotani Thermal Facial Emotion (KTFE) database and performed the experiments, which show the improved accuracy rate in estimating human emotions.

  10. Displacement of the underserved: medical needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in West Virginia.

    PubMed

    Ridenour, Marilyn L; Cummings, Kristin J; Sinclair, Julie R; Bixler, Danae

    2007-05-01

    On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. During the aftermath of the storm, hurricane victims were evacuated to over 1,000 evacuation centers in 27 states. Three-hundred and twenty-three evacuees from 220 households were provided housing, food, and medical care at an evacuation center in West Virginia. A needs assessment followed to identify current needs of the evacuees. One-hundred and sixty-four evacuees were interviewed. Twenty-five percent reported an acute illness, while 46% reported having at least one chronic medical condition. The greatest need reported was for dental care (57%), followed by eyeglasses (34%), dentures (28%), and medical services (25%). Two weeks after the hurricane, the basic needs of food, shelter, and hygiene were met. The assessment identified and led to a successful response regarding the ongoing need for durable medical equipment (dentures and eyeglasses), as well as dental care.

  11. Things Forgotten: Simple Lapse or Serious Problem?

    MedlinePlus

    ... part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Search form Search ... went there. And misplaced your keys or eyeglasses at least a few times. Many people worry about these memory lapses. They fear they’re heading toward a ...

  12. Medicare: Comparison of Catastrophic Health Insurance Proposals.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-06-01

    GAO General Accounting Office ICF intermediate care facility SNF skilled nursing facility VA Veterans Administration -4 MEDICARE: COMPARISON OF...community-based services; services in an intermediate care facility (ICF); and prescribed drugs, dentures, and eyeglasses. In recent years, the number of

  13. Memory Metals (Marchon Eyewear)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1991-01-01

    Another commercial application of memory metal technology is found in a "smart" eyeglass frame that remembers its shape and its wearer's fit. A patented "memory encoding process" makes this possible. Heat is not required to return the glasses to shape. A large commercial market is anticipated.

  14. Glasses and Contact Lenses

    MedlinePlus

    ... vision problems; this includes prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses, but also doing eye surgery for other eye-related problems. An optometrist ... them clean. The most important thing about contact lenses is good hygiene to prevent infections in your eye. But the really fun part of new glasses ...

  15. 29 CFR 37.7 - What specific discriminatory actions based on disability are prohibited by this part?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... disability, or any group of individuals with disabilities, to cover the costs of measures, such as the..., such as prescription eyeglasses or hearing aids; (3) Readers for personal use or study; or (4) Services...

  16. 29 CFR 37.7 - What specific discriminatory actions based on disability are prohibited by this part?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... disability, or any group of individuals with disabilities, to cover the costs of measures, such as the..., such as prescription eyeglasses or hearing aids; (3) Readers for personal use or study; or (4) Services...

  17. 29 CFR 37.7 - What specific discriminatory actions based on disability are prohibited by this part?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... disability, or any group of individuals with disabilities, to cover the costs of measures, such as the..., such as prescription eyeglasses or hearing aids; (3) Readers for personal use or study; or (4) Services...

  18. 29 CFR 37.7 - What specific discriminatory actions based on disability are prohibited by this part?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... disability, or any group of individuals with disabilities, to cover the costs of measures, such as the..., such as prescription eyeglasses or hearing aids; (3) Readers for personal use or study; or (4) Services...

  19. Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated in Rochester, New York

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Between 1961 and 1997, operations included production of plastic and metal eyeglass frames involving the use of solvents and plating metals. Hazardous wastes from these operations were stored in containers at this facility, with a total capacity of 82,500

  20. Granuloma fissuratum masquerading as a skin tumor.

    PubMed

    Rist, T E; Marks, J G

    1980-06-01

    Granuloma fissuratum is a reactive process of the skin usually caused by chronic trauma from ill-fitting eyeglass frames. Its clinical resemblance to malignant tumors makes it important to recognize this benign condition. This case report discuses the diagnosis and management of granuloma fissuratum.

  1. Effects of Prism Eyeglasses on Objective and Subjective Fixation Disparity

    PubMed Central

    Schroth, Volkhard; Joos, Roland; Jaschinski, Wolfgang

    2015-01-01

    In optometry of binocular vision, the question may arise whether prisms should be included in eyeglasses to compensate an oculomotor and/or sensory imbalance between the two eyes. The corresponding measures of objective and subjective fixation disparity may be reduced by the prisms, or the adaptability of the binocular vergence system may diminish effects of the prisms over time. This study investigates effects of wearing prisms constantly for about 5 weeks in daily life. Two groups of 12 participants received eyeglasses with prisms having either a base-in direction or a base-out direction with an amount up to 8 prism diopters. Prisms were prescribed based on clinical fixation disparity test plates at 6 m. Two dependent variables were used: (1) subjective fixation disparity was indicated by a perceived offset of dichoptic nonius lines that were superimposed on the fusion stimuli and (2) objective fixation disparity was measured with a video based eye tracker relative to monocular calibration. Stimuli were presented at 6 m and included either central or more peripheral fusion stimuli. Repeated measurements were made without the prisms and with the prisms after about 5 weeks of wearing these prisms. Objective and subjective fixation disparity were correlated, but the type of fusion stimulus and the direction of the required prism may play a role. The prisms did not reduce the fixation disparity to zero, but induced significant changes in fixation disparity with large effect sizes. Participants receiving base-out prisms showed hypothesized effects, which were concurrent in both types of fixation disparity. In participants receiving base-in prisms, the individual effects of subjective and objective effects were negatively correlated: the larger the subjective (sensory) effect, the smaller the objective (motor) effect. This response pattern was related to the vergence adaptability, i.e. the individual fusional vergence reserves. PMID:26431525

  2. 7 CFR 1980.348 - Adjusted annual income.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... by insurance (e.g., dental expenses, prescription medicines, medical insurance premiums, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, home nursing care, monthly payments on accumulated major medical bills, and full-time nursing or institutional care which cannot be provided in the home for a member of the...

  3. 7 CFR 1980.348 - Adjusted annual income.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... by insurance (e.g., dental expenses, prescription medicines, medical insurance premiums, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, home nursing care, monthly payments on accumulated major medical bills, and full-time nursing or institutional care which cannot be provided in the home for a member of the...

  4. 7 CFR 1980.348 - Adjusted annual income.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... by insurance (e.g., dental expenses, prescription medicines, medical insurance premiums, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, home nursing care, monthly payments on accumulated major medical bills, and full-time nursing or institutional care which cannot be provided in the home for a member of the...

  5. 7 CFR 1980.348 - Adjusted annual income.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... by insurance (e.g., dental expenses, prescription medicines, medical insurance premiums, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, home nursing care, monthly payments on accumulated major medical bills, and full-time nursing or institutional care which cannot be provided in the home for a member of the...

  6. 7 CFR 1980.348 - Adjusted annual income.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... by insurance (e.g., dental expenses, prescription medicines, medical insurance premiums, eyeglasses, hearing aids and batteries, home nursing care, monthly payments on accumulated major medical bills, and full-time nursing or institutional care which cannot be provided in the home for a member of the...

  7. An Initial Investigation of Factors Affecting Multi-Task Performance

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-02-01

    locked cabinet. Complete confidentiality cannot be promised, particularly if you are a military service member, because information bearing on your...Male ___ Female 3. Do you wear glasses? ___ Yes ___ No 4. Is your vision corrected to 20/20 with eyeglasses or contacts? ___Yes ___ No

  8. Mineral resource of the month: titanium

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Gambogi, Joseph

    2011-01-01

    Titanium is hip - at least when it comes to airplanes and jewelry. Known for its high strength-to weight ratio and its resistance to corrosion, titanium and its alloys can also be found in everything from knee replacements to eyeglass frames to baseball bats to fighter planes.

  9. Trace DNA Sampling Success from Evidence Items Commonly Encountered in Forensic Casework.

    PubMed

    Dziak, Renata; Peneder, Amy; Buetter, Alicia; Hageman, Cecilia

    2018-05-01

    Trace DNA analysis is a significant part of a forensic laboratory's workload. Knowing optimal sampling strategies and item success rates for particular item types can assist in evidence selection and examination processes and shorten turnaround times. In this study, forensic short tandem repeat (STR) casework results were reviewed to determine how often STR profiles suitable for comparison were obtained from "handler" and "wearer" areas of 764 items commonly submitted for examination. One hundred and fifty-five (155) items obtained from volunteers were also sampled. Items were analyzed for best sampling location and strategy. For casework items, headwear and gloves provided the highest success rates. Experimentally, eyeglasses and earphones, T-shirts, fabric gloves and watches provided the highest success rates. Eyeglasses and latex gloves provided optimal results if the entire surfaces were swabbed. In general, at least 10%, and up to 88% of all trace DNA analyses resulted in suitable STR profiles for comparison. © 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

  10. The use of virtual reality and audiovisual eyeglass systems as adjunct analgesic techniques: a review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Wismeijer, Andreas A J; Vingerhoets, Ad J J M

    2005-12-01

    This review focuses on the application of technologically advanced methods of audiovisual distraction as adjunct analgesic techniques; more specifically, (a) virtual reality (VR) and (b) audiovisual (A/V) eyeglass systems (A/V distraction). It is assumed that distraction taxes the patient's limited attention capacity, resulting in the withdrawal of attention from the noxious stimulus with a subsequent reduction in pain. Twenty studies evaluating the analgesic potential of both methods in different patient groups and in healthy volunteers were identified in the scientific literature. Although the majority of these studies are hampered by serious methodological drawbacks, particularly a small number of participants, the results nevertheless strongly suggest that both VR and A/V distraction can be a very promising analgesic technique that may be used safely and effectively for the reduction of pain and discomfort during medical procedures. An additional important aspect is that few negative side effects have been reported. Directions for future research are presented.

  11. 42 CFR 440.120 - Prescribed drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... Federal and State law; (2) Dispensed by licensed pharmacists and licensed authorized practitioners in accordance with the State Medical Practice Act; and (3) Dispensed by the licensed pharmacist or practitioner on a written prescription that is recorded and maintained in the pharmacist's or practitioner's...

  12. 42 CFR 440.120 - Prescribed drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... Federal and State law; (2) Dispensed by licensed pharmacists and licensed authorized practitioners in accordance with the State Medical Practice Act; and (3) Dispensed by the licensed pharmacist or practitioner on a written prescription that is recorded and maintained in the pharmacist's or practitioner's...

  13. 42 CFR 440.120 - Prescribed drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... Federal and State law; (2) Dispensed by licensed pharmacists and licensed authorized practitioners in accordance with the State Medical Practice Act; and (3) Dispensed by the licensed pharmacist or practitioner on a written prescription that is recorded and maintained in the pharmacist's or practitioner's...

  14. 42 CFR 440.120 - Prescribed drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... Federal and State law; (2) Dispensed by licensed pharmacists and licensed authorized practitioners in accordance with the State Medical Practice Act; and (3) Dispensed by the licensed pharmacist or practitioner on a written prescription that is recorded and maintained in the pharmacist's or practitioner's...

  15. 42 CFR 440.120 - Prescribed drugs, dentures, prosthetic devices, and eyeglasses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... Federal and State law; (2) Dispensed by licensed pharmacists and licensed authorized practitioners in accordance with the State Medical Practice Act; and (3) Dispensed by the licensed pharmacist or practitioner on a written prescription that is recorded and maintained in the pharmacist's or practitioner's...

  16. 34 CFR 369.4 - What definitions apply to these programs?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... training in the use of prosthetic and orthotic devices; (3) Recreational therapy; (4) Physical and..., communication, self-care, self-direction, interpersonal skills, work tolerance, or work skills) in terms of an... to obtaining or retaining employment; (9) Eyeglasses and visual services, including visual training...

  17. Eyeglasses in the Classroom

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Huang, Ding-wei; Huang, Wei-neng; Tseng, Hsiang-chi

    2010-01-01

    Optical phenomena can be divided into two categories: ray optics and wave optics. The former is also known as "geometrical optics", and examples are reflection and refraction, while the latter is also known as "physical optics" and includes interference and diffraction. In most textbooks, these two topics are presented in…

  18. Effectiveness of Assistive Technologies for Low Vision Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jutai, Jeffrey W.; Strong, J. Graham; Russell-Minda, Elizabeth

    2009-01-01

    "Low vision" describes any condition of diminished vision that is uncorrectable by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery that disrupts a person's ability to perform common age-appropriate visual tasks. Examples of assistive technologies for vision rehabilitation include handheld magnifiers; electronic vision-enhancement…

  19. Direction discriminating hearing aid system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jhabvala, M.; Lin, H. C.; Ward, G.

    1991-01-01

    A visual display was developed for people with substantial hearing loss in either one or both ears. The system consists of three discreet units; an eyeglass assembly for the visual display of the origin or direction of sounds; a stationary general purpose noise alarm; and a noise seeker wand.

  20. 20 CFR 641.545 - What supportive services may grantees/subgrantees provide to participants?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM Services... transportation; health care and medical services; special job-related or personal counseling; incidentals such as work shoes, badges, uniforms, eyeglasses, and tools; child and adult care; temporary shelter; and...

  1. The Latest in Handheld Microscopes

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wighting, Mervyn J.; Lucking, Robert A.; Christmann, Edwin P.

    2004-01-01

    Around 1590, Zacharias Jansenn of Holland invented the microscope. Jansenn, an eyeglass maker by trade, experimented with lenses and discovered that things appeared closer with combinations of lenses. Over the past 400 years, several refinements to microscopes have occurred, making it possible to magnify objects between 200 and 1,500 times their…

  2. 38 CFR 17.149 - Sensori-neural aids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Sensori-neural aids. 17... Prosthetic, Sensory, and Rehabilitative Aids § 17.149 Sensori-neural aids. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, VA will furnish needed sensori-neural aids (i.e., eyeglasses, contact lenses...

  3. 38 CFR 17.149 - Sensori-neural aids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Sensori-neural aids. 17... Prosthetic, Sensory, and Rehabilitative Aids § 17.149 Sensori-neural aids. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, VA will furnish needed sensori-neural aids (i.e., eyeglasses, contact lenses...

  4. 38 CFR 17.149 - Sensori-neural aids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Sensori-neural aids. 17... Prosthetic, Sensory, and Rehabilitative Aids § 17.149 Sensori-neural aids. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, VA will furnish needed sensori-neural aids (i.e., eyeglasses, contact lenses...

  5. 38 CFR 17.149 - Sensori-neural aids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 38 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Sensori-neural aids. 17... Prosthetic, Sensory, and Rehabilitative Aids § 17.149 Sensori-neural aids. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, VA will furnish needed sensori-neural aids (i.e., eyeglasses, contact lenses...

  6. Myopia Glasses and Optical Power Estimation: An Easy Experiment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ribeiro, Jair Lúcio Prados

    2015-01-01

    Human eye optics is a common high school physics topic and students usually show a great interest during our presentation of this theme. In this article, we present an easy way to estimate a diverging lens' optical power from a simple experiment involving myopia eyeglasses and a smartphone flashlight.

  7. Myopia Glasses and Optical Power Estimation: An Easy Experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ribeiro, Jair Lúcio Prados

    2015-02-01

    Human eye optics is a common high school physics topic and students usually show a great interest during our presentation of this theme. In this article, we present an easy way to estimate a diverging lens' optical power from a simple experiment involving myopia eyeglasses and a smartphone flashlight.

  8. A Study of the Integration of Military Personnel into the Fort Gordon Occupational Health Program.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-05-01

    manpower data should be readily available to determine resource requirements. The other limiting factors which could bear on the problem include both...physical examinations and appropriate eyeglasses are provided based on both visual and safety requirements. Hazard inven- tories in areas jointly worked by

  9. Using Morphological Filters for Pupil Detection in Infrared Videos

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-05

    detect the subjects’ pupils, with manual parameterization of the filter coefficients. False detections due to background clutter from eyeglasses and...5 c) Fitting the detected objects with ellipses...boundaries overlaid on the original infrared image..................... 7 Figure 8 – Fitting the elongated pupils with circles often failed

  10. Union Members Are Community Members

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gray, David

    2013-01-01

    Unions serve their members' interests. But union members are also community members, and their interests go well beyond increasing pay and benefits. A local union president has found that his members are best served by participating in a community-wide coalition. Providing eyeglasses to needy students, promoting healthy eating, and increasing…

  11. 78 FR 30269 - Foreign-Trade Zone 129-Bellingham, Washington; Authorization of Production Activity; T.C. Trading...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-05-22

    ... proposed production activity to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board on behalf of T.C. Trading Company, Inc... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B-8-2013] Foreign-Trade Zone 129--Bellingham, Washington; Authorization of Production Activity; T.C. Trading Company, Inc. (Eyeglass Assembly and Kitting...

  12. Grassroots Philanthropy on the Prairie

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Marshall, Joanne M.

    2012-01-01

    The Boone Hope Foundation has given away over $130,000 in gift cards, rent checks, and eyeglasses--all targeted to help students with emergency needs related to food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare in its rural Iowa community. This is the story of teachers from a typical Midwestern school--relatively small and certainly not affluent--who have…

  13. Working memory predicts the rejection of false memories.

    PubMed

    Leding, Juliana K

    2012-01-01

    The relationship between working memory capacity (WMC) and false memories in the memory conjunction paradigm was explored. Previous research using other paradigms has shown that individuals high in WMC are not as likely to experience false memories as low-WMC individuals, the explanation being that high-WMC individuals are better able to engage in source monitoring. In the memory conjunction paradigm participants are presented at study with parent words (e.g., eyeglasses, whiplash). At test, in addition to being presented with targets and foils, participants are presented with lures that are composed of previously studied features (e.g., eyelash). It was found that high-WMC individuals had lower levels of false recognition than low-WMC individuals. Furthermore, recall-to-reject responses were analysed (e.g., "I know I didn't see eyelash because I remember seeing eyeglasses") and it was found that high-WMC individuals were more likely to utilise this memory editing strategy, providing direct evidence that one reason that high-WMC individuals are not as prone to false memories is because they are better able to engage in source monitoring.

  14. 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.

  15. New developments in ophthalmic coatings on plastic lenses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eigenmann, H. P.; Lobsiger, W.; Suter, R.

    1998-02-01

    The origin of vision aids such as eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, telescopes and so forth lies in the distant past and cannot be dated with precision. However, such aids certainly came into use at different times in different cultures. Early portraits and other pictures prove to a certainty, however, that remarkable well-made spectacles were in use by the end of the Middle Ages. Glass was employed for optical lenses from the very beginning, and quality improved continuously with advances in glassmaking and polishing techniques. Starting around 1970, this continuing development received new impetus from the introduction of plastics as a new material for ophthalmic lenses. Rapid progress in plastics chemistry had epoch-making effects on lens technology, and today a wide variety of materials such as CR39, PMMA and polycarbonates, with refractive indices ranging from 1.52 to 1.65, are used for this purpose. Eyeglasses have long been important on other grounds than vision correction; people wear them as adornment, because they are fashionable, to express their personality, and for other reasons. This dramatic history shows no signs of coming to an end, and more innovations are definitely ahead.

  16. A novel thermal face recognition approach using face pattern words

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Yufeng

    2010-04-01

    A reliable thermal face recognition system can enhance the national security applications such as prevention against terrorism, surveillance, monitoring and tracking, especially at nighttime. The system can be applied at airports, customs or high-alert facilities (e.g., nuclear power plant) for 24 hours a day. In this paper, we propose a novel face recognition approach utilizing thermal (long wave infrared) face images that can automatically identify a subject at both daytime and nighttime. With a properly acquired thermal image (as a query image) in monitoring zone, the following processes will be employed: normalization and denoising, face detection, face alignment, face masking, Gabor wavelet transform, face pattern words (FPWs) creation, face identification by similarity measure (Hamming distance). If eyeglasses are present on a subject's face, an eyeglasses mask will be automatically extracted from the querying face image, and then masked with all comparing FPWs (no more transforms). A high identification rate (97.44% with Top-1 match) has been achieved upon our preliminary face dataset (of 39 subjects) from the proposed approach regardless operating time and glasses-wearing condition.e

  17. A clip-free eyeglasses-based wearable monitoring device for measuring photoplethysmograhic signals.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Yali; Leung, Billy; Sy, Stanley; Zhang, Yuanting; Poon, Carmen C Y

    2012-01-01

    An eyeglasses-based device has been developed in this work to acquire photoplethysmogram (PPG) from the nose bridge. This device is aimed to provide wearable physiological monitoring without uncomfortable clips frequently used in PPG measurement from finger and ear. Switching control is applied on the LED and photo detector for power saving. An experiment involving postural change and treadmill jogging among 10 healthy young subjects was carried out to evaluate the performance of the device. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and PPG from finger, ear and nose were simultaneously recorded, from which heart rate (HR) and pulse transit time (PTT) were calculated. The results show that PPG measured from nose and ear are more resistant to motion than signal from finger during exercise. In addition, the difference between PTT measured from ear and nose indicates that local vasomotor activities may exist on ear and/or nose channel, and suggests that PPG from different sites should be used for cuff-less PTT-based BP estimation. We conclude that this wearable device has great potential to be used in the healthcare management in the future.

  18. 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.

  19. Do We Really Need to Wear Proper Eye Protection When Using Holmium:YAG Laser During Endourologic Procedures? Results from an Ex Vivo Animal Model on Pig Eyes.

    PubMed

    Villa, Luca; Cloutier, Jonathan; Compérat, Eva; Kronemberg, Peter; Charlotte, Frederic; Berthe, Laurent; Rouchausse, Yann; Salonia, Andrea; Montorsi, Francesco; Traxer, Olivier

    2016-03-01

    We sought to evaluate the effect of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser exposure on ex vivo pig eyes and to test the protective action of different glasses in preventing eye lesions in case of accident. We pointed the tip of a Ho:YAG laser fiber from different distances (0, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 20 cm, respectively) toward the center of the pupil of the pig eye. The Ho:YAG laser was activated for 1 or 5 seconds at three different settings (0.5 J-20 Hz, 1 J-10 Hz, and 2 J-10 Hz, respectively). The experiment was repeated using laser safety glasses and eyeglasses. A total of 78 pig eyes were used. The effects of the Ho:YAG laser on pig eyes were assessed by histopathology. Comparable laser emission experiments were performed on thermal paper at different distances using different pulse energies. Ho:YAG laser-induced corneal lesions were observed in unprotected eyes, ranging from superficial burning lesions to full-thickness necrotic areas, and were directly related to pulse energy and time of exposure and inversely related to the distance from the eye. When the laser was placed 5 cm or more, no corneal damage was observed regardless of the laser setting and the time of exposure. Similar distance/energy level relationships were observed on thermal paper. No damage was observed to the lens or the retina in any of the Ho-YAG laser-treated eyes or in any of the eyes protected by laser safety and eyeglasses. Ho:YAG lasers can cause damage when set to high energy, but only to the cornea, from close distances (0-5 cm) and in the absence of eye protection. Eyeglasses are equally effective in preventing laser damage as laser safety glasses.

  20. Rasch Analysis of the Student Refractive Error and Eyeglass Questionnaire

    PubMed Central

    Crescioni, Mabel; Messer, Dawn H.; Warholak, Terri L.; Miller, Joseph M.; Twelker, J. Daniel; Harvey, Erin M.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate and refine a newly developed instrument, the Student Refractive Error and Eyeglasses Questionnaire (SREEQ), designed to measure the impact of uncorrected and corrected refractive error on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in school-aged children. Methods. A 38 statement instrument consisting of two parts was developed: Part A relates to perceptions regarding uncorrected vision and Part B relates to perceptions regarding corrected vision and includes other statements regarding VRQoL with spectacle correction. The SREEQ was administered to 200 Native American 6th through 12th grade students known to have previously worn and who currently require eyeglasses. Rasch analysis was conducted to evaluate the functioning of the SREEQ. Statements on Part A and Part B were analyzed to examine the dimensionality and constructs of the questionnaire, how well the items functioned, and the appropriateness of the response scale used. Results Rasch analysis suggested two items be eliminated and the measurement scale for matching items be reduced from a 4-point response scale to a 3-point response scale. With these modifications, categorical data were converted to interval level data, to conduct an item and person analysis. A shortened version of the SREEQ was constructed with these modifications, the SREEQ-R, which included the statements that were able to capture changes in VRQoL associated with spectacle wear for those with significant refractive error in our study population. Conclusions While the SREEQ Part B appears to be a have less than optimal reliability to assess the impact of spectacle correction on VRQoL in our student population, it is also able to detect statistically significant differences from pretest to posttest on both the group and individual levels to show that the instrument can assess the impact that glasses have on VRQoL. Further modifications to the questionnaire, such as those included in the SREEQ-R, could enhance its functionality. PMID:24811844

  1. Decreasing Uncorrected Refractive Error in the Classroom through a Multifactorial Pilot Intervention

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kodjebacheva, Gergana; Maliski, Sally; Yu, Fei; Oelrich, Faye; Coleman, Anne L.

    2014-01-01

    The study assessed the effectiveness of a pilot intervention to promote the use of eyeglasses in one school in California. The intervention used a one-group pretest, posttest design. Between January and June 2011, during the intervention, all first- and second-grade children received eye evaluations and the children with refractive error received…

  2. 78 FR 7395 - Foreign-Trade Zone 129-Bellingham, WA; Notification of Proposed Production Activity; T.C. Trading...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-02-01

    ... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B-8-2013] Foreign-Trade Zone 129--Bellingham, WA; Notification of Proposed Production Activity; T.C. Trading Company, Inc. (Eyeglass Assembly and Kitting... activity on behalf of T.C. Trading Company, Inc. (T.C. Trading), located in Blaine, Washington. The...

  3. A Closed Circuit TV System for the Visually Handicapped and Prospects for Future Research.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Genensky, S. M.; And Others

    Some visually handicapped persons have difficulty reading or writing even with the aid of eyeglasses, but could be helped by visual aids which increase image magnification, light intensity or brightness, or some combination of these factors. The system described here uses closed circuit television (CCTV) to provide variable magnification from 1.4x…

  4. 19 CFR 134.22 - General rules for marking of containers or holders.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... which the article ordinarily reaches the ultimate purchaser shall be marked to indicate the country of... reach its ultimate purchaser. Containers which are not included in the price of the goods with which... shaped or fitted to contain a specific good or set of goods such as a camera case or an eyeglass case, or...

  5. The Effects of Pilot Age, Lighting, and Head-Down Time on Visual Accommodation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1979-02-06

    technique for determining the extent of ametropia (nearsighted- ness, farsightedness, astigmatism) and as an aid in the fitting (8.1)of eyeglasses. Knoll... Ametropia with a Gas LASER", "Amerinan 1onu~nl nf Onpw’rp"r-_ Vol. 43, No. 7: 415-418, 1966. 4. Oliver, G. M. "Sparkling Spots and Random Diffractions

  6. To See Anew: New Technologies Are Moving Rapidly Toward Restoring or Enabling Vision in the Blind.

    PubMed

    Grifantini, Kristina

    2017-01-01

    Humans have been using technology to improve their vision for many decades. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and, more recently, laser-based surgeries are commonly employed to remedy vision problems, both minor and major. But options are far fewer for those who have not seen since birth or who have reached stages of blindness in later life.

  7. Steps Toward Effective Production of Speech (STEPS): No. 7--How to Take Care of Glasses.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sheeley, Eugene C.; McQuiddy, Doris

    This guide, one of a series of booklets developed by Project STEPS (Steps Toward Effective Production of Speech), presents guidelines for parents of deaf-blind children regarding the care of eyeglasses. Basic concerns with glasses and contact lenses are noted and parents are advised to perform the following daily tasks: checking the frames,…

  8. Innovations in 3D printing: a 3D overview from optics to organs.

    PubMed

    Schubert, Carl; van Langeveld, Mark C; Donoso, Larry A

    2014-02-01

    3D printing is a method of manufacturing in which materials, such as plastic or metal, are deposited onto one another in layers to produce a three dimensional object, such as a pair of eye glasses or other 3D objects. This process contrasts with traditional ink-based printers which produce a two dimensional object (ink on paper). To date, 3D printing has primarily been used in engineering to create engineering prototypes. However, recent advances in printing materials have now enabled 3D printers to make objects that are comparable with traditionally manufactured items. In contrast with conventional printers, 3D printing has the potential to enable mass customisation of goods on a large scale and has relevance in medicine including ophthalmology. 3D printing has already been proved viable in several medical applications including the manufacture of eyeglasses, custom prosthetic devices and dental implants. In this review, we discuss the potential for 3D printing to revolutionise manufacturing in the same way as the printing press revolutionised conventional printing. The applications and limitations of 3D printing are discussed; the production process is demonstrated by producing a set of eyeglass frames from 3D blueprints.

  9. Understanding the surface chemical and mechanical properties of hydrogel materials for contact lens applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Fu-Chung

    Vision problems such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, as well as others, are due to optical aberrations in the human eye. These conditions are prevalent, and the population is growing rapidly. Correcting optical aberrations is traditionally done optically using eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgeries; these are sometime not convenient or not always available to everyone. Furthermore, higher order aberrations are not correctable with eyeglasses. In this work, we introduce a new computation based aberration-correcting light field display: by incorporating the persons own optical aberration into the computation, we alter the content shown on the display, such that he or she will be able to see it in sharp focus without wearing eyewear. We analyze the image formation models; through the retinal light field projection, we find it is possible to compensate for the optical blurring on the target image by prefiltering with the inverse blur. Using off-the-shelf components, we built a light field display prototype that supports our desired inverse light field prefiltering. The results show a significant contrast improvement and resolution enhancement over prior approaches. Finally, we also demonstrate the capability to correct for higher order aberrations.

  10. Intelligent Control for Future Autonomous Distributed Sensor Systems

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-03-26

    recognized, the use of a pre-computed reconfiguration solution that fits the recognized scenario could allow reconfiguration to take place without...This data was loaded into the program developed to visualize the seabed and then the simulation was performed using frames to denote the target...to generate separate images for each eye. Users wear lightweight, inexpensive polarized eyeglasses and see a stereoscopic image. 35 Fig. 10

  11. 16 CFR Appendix to Part 23 - Exemptions Recognized in the Assay for Quality of Gold Alloy, Gold Filled, Gold Overlay, Rolled...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... in any assay for quality of a karat gold industry product include springs, posts, and separable backs... screw assemblies; dowels; springs for spring shoe straps; metal parts permanently encased in a non-metallic covering; and for oxfords, 2 coil and joint springs. 2 Oxfords are a form of eyeglasses where a...

  12. 16 CFR Appendix to Part 23 - Exemptions Recognized in the Assay for Quality of Gold Alloy, Gold Filled, Gold Overlay, Rolled...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... in any assay for quality of a karat gold industry product include springs, posts, and separable backs... screw assemblies; dowels; springs for spring shoe straps; metal parts permanently encased in a non-metallic covering; and for oxfords, 2 coil and joint springs. 2 Oxfords are a form of eyeglasses where a...

  13. 16 CFR Appendix to Part 23 - Exemptions Recognized in the Assay for Quality of Gold Alloy, Gold Filled, Gold Overlay, Rolled...

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... in any assay for quality of a karat gold industry product include springs, posts, and separable backs... screw assemblies; dowels; springs for spring shoe straps; metal parts permanently encased in a non-metallic covering; and for oxfords, 2 coil and joint springs. 2 Oxfords are a form of eyeglasses where a...

  14. Eyeglass Benefits: Consideration of Frame of Choice for Retired Service Members

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-04-20

    20100329217 t. ABSTRACT ’he Department of Defense (DoD) provides basic eyewear to our nation’s military members. .Ithough not specifically entitled under...Title X, military retirees historically also receive tandard issue eyewear . The military’s Frame of Choice (FOC) program currently benefits the...current fiscal environment. . SUBJECT TERMS ^eglasses, Frame of Choice, Retiree, Service Members, Entitlements, Eyewear , snefit, Optometry, Optical

  15. Directional Hearing Aid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jhabvala, M.; Lin, H. C.

    1989-01-01

    Hearing-aid device indicates visually whether sound is coming from left, right, back, or front. Device intended to assist individuals who are deaf in at least one ear and unable to discern naturally directions to sources of sound. Device promotes safety in street traffic, on loading docks, and in presence of sirens, alarms, and other warning sounds. Quadraphonic version of device built into pair of eyeglasses and binaural version built into visor.

  16. The Effect of Informal and Formal Interaction between Scientists and Children at a Science Camp on Their Images of Scientists

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Leblebicioglu, Gulsen; Metin, Duygu; Yardimci, Esra; Cetin, Pinar Seda

    2011-01-01

    A number of studies have already investigated children's stereotypical images of scientists as being male, old, bald, wearing eyeglasses, working in laboratories, and so forth. There have also been some interventions to impose more realistic images of scientists. In this study, a science camp was conducted in Turkey with a team of scientists…

  17. Do motor vehicle airbags increase risk of ocular injuries in adults?

    PubMed

    Lehto, Kirsti S; Sulander, Pekka O; Tervo, Timo M T

    2003-06-01

    This study was undertaken to evaluate the risk of eye injury in motor vehicle accidents in which airbags deploy. An attempt was made to assess the possible associations between eye injuries and eyewear in these accidents. Retrospective observational case series and literature review with analysis. We conducted a literature review of 62 case reports and articles describing 110 adult cases of eye injury after deployment of an airbag and examined two Finnish accident cohorts. The fatal accident series (FAS; fatal injuries with one or more cars involved) included 121 individuals sitting behind an airbag that deployed (65 survivors), and the Airbag study (AB; nonfatal, relatively serious accidents) included 210 individuals (survivors). The type of eye injury, eyewear, and crash dynamics were studied in each of the reviewed case reports. The fatal accident series and AB studies were analyzed to disclose the eye injuries and use of eyewear and to estimate their possible relation to deployment of airbags. Analysis of the published reports revealed that airbag-induced eye injuries were not more frequently reported among wearers of eyeglasses than among nonwearers. However, open-eye injuries were reported three times more often among eyeglass wearers (P = 0.04), whereas all injuries from airbag chemicals occurred among nonwearers. With the exception of one orbital fracture with hyphema, all eye traumas (n = 7) in the FAS and AB cohorts were mild (eyebrow laceration, lid contusion, bruising). The risk of airbag-related eye injury was 2.5% for any eye injury and 0.4% for severe eye injury. In single accidents when seat belts were used, the risks were 2.0% and 0.5%, respectively. In the accidents from the FAS data no difference was observed in the risk for eye injury between survivors in incidents involving airbag deployment and incidents not involving airbags. This risk was not found to be greater among eyeglass wearers. Despite reported cases in the literature, we found that the risk of severe eye injury from airbags was very low (0.4%) in fatal or relatively serious accidents. Eyewear did not seem to increase this risk but might interfere with the injury pattern.

  18. Evaluating factors that affect the shade-matching ability of dentists, dental staff members and laypeople.

    PubMed

    Capa, Nuray; Malkondu, Ozlem; Kazazoglu, Ender; Calikkocaoglu, Senih

    2010-01-01

    The authors conducted a study to evaluate the influence of dentists' and nondentists' experience, age, sex, eye color and use of eyeglasses or contact lenses on tooth shade-matching ability. The authors included 120 participants in this study conducted in Istanbul (periodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, prosthodontists, restorative dentists, general dentists in private practice, dental technicians, dental assistants, dental assistant students and laypeople). The authors assigned participants to one of three groups: group 1 was composed of prosthodontists, restorative dentists and dental technicians; group 2 consisted of other dental specialists and general dentists; and group 3 included dental assistants, dental assistant students and laypeople. The authors asked participants to match the shades of three artificial maxillary right central incisors (Vitapan acrylic teeth [shades 2L1.5, 1M2, 2R1.5], Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) by using a shade guide system (Vita Toothguide 3D-Master, Vita Zahnfabrik). They calculated shade matching for the three color components (value, hue, chroma) and analyzed the results by using a chi(2) test. The rate of success in matching the shade for IM2 was 53.3 percent for participants in group 1, 30 percent for participants in group 2 and 20 percent for participants in group 3 (P = .017). However, there were no significant differences between the three groups for shades 2L1.5 and 2R1.5. Professional experience (P = .003) and age (P = .027) were associated with shade-matching success for tooth shade 2L1.5 only. The results showed no statistically significant differences with respect to sex, eye color or use of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Dental care professionals who routinely performed restorative procedures matched the shades better than did participants in other groups. Professional experience was associated positively with the outcome, while sex, eye color and use of eyeglasses or contact lenses did not have any effect on shade-matching results. To improve shade-matching skills, clinicians should participate in hands-on courses, continuing education classes and other training programs.

  19. Diagnostic Methods for Predicting Performance Impairment Associated with Combat Stress

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-08-01

    vision. Participants who wore glasses were excluded, as the frame of eyeglasses interfered with the ability to acquire a signal with the apparatus...TCD in monitoring fitness to perform concurrently with performance, and to explore strategies for using TCD as a predictor of future performance...most effective technique for evaluating whether soldiers are fit for missions requiring sustained attention. The aim of this study was to test

  20. Learning From Iraq: Counterinsurgency in American Strategy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-01-01

    an approach has a low chance of ultimate success and is only adopted by the most desperate insurgents. Iraq fit this description. Although it is...opportunity to gather a few essential belongings, such as clothing, hygiene items, medicine or eyeglasses . Those who surrendered with a suitcase often had...undertaking” there.113 This forced the military to adjust its thinking. With the new strategic time frame and growing instability, administration

  1. Augmented Reality for Maintenance and Repair (ARMAR)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-08-01

    800×600 resolution monocular display, whose small size and lack of an opaque “ frame ”, provides the closest experience to an eyeglass form factor, and...Alternatively, fiducials could be mounted on lightweight rigid frames that are attached to predetermined points on the maintained system. Figure...stereo at 800×600 resolution, thirty frames per second, creating a compelling experience of an augmented workspace. Based on our preliminary

  2. Use of video eyeglasses to decrease anxiety among children undergoing genital examinations.

    PubMed

    Berenson, A B; Wiemann, C M; Rickert, V I

    1998-06-01

    Our purpose was to compare three techniques in their ability to decrease anxiety induced by the pelvic examination among children of different races. Eighty-nine subjects between 3 and 8 years old of white, African-American, and Hispanic race or ethnicity were randomly assigned to one of three distraction techniques that was used during the genital examination: passive play (being read to), active play (singing, blowing bubbles), or viewing a movie through video eyeglasses. Levels of vocalized distress, as well as distress expressed by physical behavior and emotional support requested, were directly observed and recorded. Children also reported their level of satisfaction at the end of the examination. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the independent effects of each technique and race while we controlled for confounding variables. Levels of physical distress were lowest among children who used video glasses and highest among those randomly assigned to passive play (p = 0.02). Children randomized to video glasses also expressed higher levels of satisfaction than those randomized to active (p = 0.001) or passive (p = 0.05) play. No differences associated with race or ethnicity were detected. This study demonstrates that video glasses are more effective than active or passive play in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction levels among children undergoing a genital examination.

  3. Implantation of refractive multifocal intraocular lens with a surface-embedded near section for cataract eyes complicated with a coexisting ocular pathology

    PubMed Central

    Ouchi, M; Kinoshita, S

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate the postoperative outcomes of cataract eyes complicated with coexisting ocular pathologies that underwent implantation of a refractive multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) with a surface-embedded near section. Methods LENTIS MPlus (Oculentis GmbH) refractive MIOLs were implanted in 15 eyes with ocular pathologies other than cataract (ie, six high-myopia eyes with an axial length longer than 28 mm, two fundus albipunctatus eyes, two branch retinal-vein occlusion eyes, four glaucoma eyes (one with high myopia), and two keratoconus eyes). Uncorrected or corrected distance and near visual acuity (VA) (UDVA, UNVA, CDVA, and CNVA), contrast sensitivity, and defocus curve were measured at 1 day and 6 months postoperatively, and each patient completed a 6-month postoperative questionnaire regarding vision quality and eyeglass use. Results Thirteen eyes (87%) registered 0 or better in CDVA and 12 eyes (73%) registered better than 0 in CNVA. Contrast sensitivity in the eyes of all patients was comparable to that of normal healthy subjects. No patient required eyeglasses for distance vision, but three patients (20%) required them for near vision. No patient reported poor or very poor vision quality. Conclusion With careful case selection, sectorial refractive MIOL implantation is effective for treating cataract eyes complicated with ocular pathologies. PMID:25744442

  4. Implantation of refractive multifocal intraocular lens with a surface-embedded near section for cataract eyes complicated with a coexisting ocular pathology.

    PubMed

    Ouchi, M; Kinoshita, S

    2015-05-01

    To evaluate the postoperative outcomes of cataract eyes complicated with coexisting ocular pathologies that underwent implantation of a refractive multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) with a surface-embedded near section. LENTIS MPlus (Oculentis GmbH) refractive MIOLs were implanted in 15 eyes with ocular pathologies other than cataract (ie, six high-myopia eyes with an axial length longer than 28 mm, two fundus albipunctatus eyes, two branch retinal-vein occlusion eyes, four glaucoma eyes (one with high myopia), and two keratoconus eyes). Uncorrected or corrected distance and near visual acuity (VA) (UDVA, UNVA, CDVA, and CNVA), contrast sensitivity, and defocus curve were measured at 1 day and 6 months postoperatively, and each patient completed a 6-month postoperative questionnaire regarding vision quality and eyeglass use. Thirteen eyes (87%) registered 0 or better in CDVA and 12 eyes (73%) registered better than 0 in CNVA. Contrast sensitivity in the eyes of all patients was comparable to that of normal healthy subjects. No patient required eyeglasses for distance vision, but three patients (20%) required them for near vision. No patient reported poor or very poor vision quality. With careful case selection, sectorial refractive MIOL implantation is effective for treating cataract eyes complicated with ocular pathologies.

  5. Effects of eye-glasses, hair, headgear, and clothing on measured head-related transfer functions Part Ib

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Riederer, Klaus A. J.

    2003-10-01

    Extensive head-related transfer function (HRTF) measurements show high HRTF repeatability, consequences of different measurement methods, and conditions covering the whole three-dimensional space [Riederer, J. Audio Eng. Soc. (Abstracts) 46, 1036 (1998), preprint 4846]. This study concentrates on specific effects on HRTFs carefully re-measured on the same Cortex dummy head applying Sennheiser KE4-211-2 microphones at its silicone putty blocked ear-canal entrances, employing 252 sound incidents including seven elevations. The effects of five different wigs (synthetic, natural, thick, thin, long and short hair) with varied hairstyles, four hats (cap, bicycle helmet, mens and womens trilby), clothes (alpaca pullover, bicycling drymax-jacket) and spectacles were investigated under 28 combinations. The influences are highly dependent on direction, frequency, and case. Clothes and eye-glasses affect minimally HRTF; hair has a stronger effect, depending on the actual hairdo (typically above 7 kHz). Hats alter intensively HRTFs (typically above 5 kHz), depending on the model. The measurements give deeper insight to the development of idiosyncratic features in binaural localization cues. The second part of the study addresses their perceptual effects [Riederer, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., this issue]. [Work supported by Graduate School of Electronics, Telecommunication and Automation; thanks to Finnish Broadcasting Company, Mr. Hellstrom; Mrs. Chen.

  6. Eyeglass Filters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1987-01-01

    Biomedical Optical Company of America's suntiger lenses eliminate more than 99% of harmful light wavelengths. NASA derived lenses make scenes more vivid in color and also increase the wearer's visual acuity. Distant objects, even on hazy days, appear crisp and clear; mountains seem closer, glare is greatly reduced, clouds stand out. Daytime use protects the retina from bleaching in bright light, thus improving night vision. Filtering helps prevent a variety of eye disorders, in particular cataracts and age related macular degeneration.

  7. Control of Hazards to Health From Laser Radiation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-01-01

    compared to the calculated AEL. (2) Optically aided viewing. Viewing a laser beam with optical aids (other than ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses ...resonant optical cavity. TB MED 524 8 b. Lenses , mirrors, cooling systems, shutters, and other accessories may be added to the system to obtain...procedures for laser optical systems (for example, mirrors, prisms, and lenses ) that employ Class 2 and Class 3a lasers, it is always good laser safety

  8. Welfare and Taxes: Extending Benefits and Taxes to Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-09-01

    including pre- scribed drugs, intermediate care facility services, eyeglasses, dental ser- vi-s, and inpatient psychiatric care for individuals under...does not seek federal Medicaid reim- bursement for required skilled nursing or optional intermediate care facility services. Also, we do not know... care facility services-high-cost Medicaid benefits. 5’. We do not believe assuming such persons would be in institutions in the area is reasonable

  9. The Impact of Providing Vision Screening and Free Eyeglasses on Academic Outcomes: Evidence from a Randomized Trial in Title I Elementary Schools in Florida

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Glewwe, Paul; West, Kristine L.; Lee, Jongwook

    2018-01-01

    More than 20 percent of all school-aged children in the United States have vision problems, and low-income and minority children are disproportionately likely to have unmet vision care needs. Vision screening is common in U.S. schools, but it remains an open question whether screening alone is sufficient to improve student outcomes. We implemented…

  10. Recognition of In-Vehicle Group Activities (iVGA): Phase-I, Feasibility Study

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-08-27

    the driver is either adjusting his/her eyeglasses , adjusting his/her makeup, or possibly attempt to hiding his/her face from getting recognized. In...closest of two patterns measured based on hamming distance determine the best class representing a test pattern. Figure 61 presents the Hamming neural...symbols are different. In another way, it measures the minimum number of substitutions required to change one string into the other, or the minimum

  11. Mobile Interactive Training: Tablets, Readers, and Phones - Oh, My!

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-01

    the interactive PDF, it was not possible to devise a one-size- fits -all solution. Instead, each type of interaction had to be addressed...determined they could automate this process by using Flash to export the individual frames of the slideshow and to produce a text file with the appropriate...now to create Web-enabled HUDs that can be integrated into eyeglasses and contact lenses. Only one thing remains constant with every new Web

  12. Myopia, contact lens use and self-esteem

    PubMed Central

    Dias, Lynette; Manny, Ruth E; Weissberg, Erik; Fern, Karen D

    2013-01-01

    Purpose To evaluate whether contact lens (CL) use was associated with self-esteem in myopic children originally enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET), that after five years continued as an observational study of myopia progression with CL use permitted. Methods Usable data at the six-year visit, one year after CL use was allowed (n = 423/469, age 12-17 years), included questions on CL use, refractive error measurements and self-reported self-esteem in several areas (scholastic/athletic competence, physical appearance, social acceptance, behavioural conduct and global self-worth). Self-esteem, scored from 1 (low) to 4 (high), was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children in participants under 14 years or the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, in those 14 years and older. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between self-esteem and relevant factors identified by univariate analyses (e.g., CL use, gender, ethnicity), while adjusting for baseline self-esteem prior to CL use. Results Mean (±SD) self-esteem scores at the six-year visit (mean age=15.3±1.3 years; mean refractive error= −4.6 ±1.5D) ranged from 2.74 (± 0.76) on athletic competence to 3.33 (± 0.53) on global self-worth. CL wearers (n=224) compared to eyeglass wearers (n=199) were more likely to be female (p<0.0001). Those who chose to wear CLs had higher social acceptance, athletic competence and behavioural conduct scores (p < 0.05) at baseline compared to eyeglass users. CL users continued to report higher social acceptance scores at the six-year visit (p=0.03), after adjusting for baseline scores and other covariates. Ethnicity was also independently associated with social acceptance in the multivariable analyses (p=0.011); African-Americans had higher scores than Asians, Whites and Hispanics. Age and refractive error were not associated with self-esteem or CL use. Conclusions COMET participants who chose to wear CLs after five years of eyeglass use had higher self-esteem compared to those who remained in glasses both preceding and following CL use. This suggests that self-esteem may influence the decision to wear CLs and that CLs in turn are associated with higher self-esteem in individuals most likely to wear them. PMID:23763482

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

    Seals, Kevin F., E-mail: KSeals@mednet.ucla.edu; Lee, Edward W., E-mail: EdwardLee@mednet.ucla.edu; Cagnon, Christopher H., E-mail: CCagnon@mednet.ucla.edu

    Extensive research supports an association between radiation exposure and cataractogenesis. New data suggests that radiation-induced cataracts may form stochastically, without a threshold and at low radiation doses. We first review data linking cataractogenesis with interventional work. We then analyze the lens dose typical of various procedures, factors modulating dose, and predicted annual dosages. We conclude by critically evaluating the literature describing techniques for lens protection, finding that leaded eyeglasses may offer inadequate protection and exploring the available data on alternative strategies for cataract prevention.

  14. Attenuation of midinfrared free electron laser energy with eyewear

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Joos, Karen M.; Gabella, William

    2005-04-01

    Purpose: To determine the attenuation of free electron laser (FEL) energy at several wavelengths through microscope objective and eyeglass lenses. Materials and Methods: The FEL at wavelengths of 2.3 um, 2.5 um, 3.0 um, 3.5 um, 4.0 um, 4.5 um, 5.0 um, 6.45 um, 7.0 um, 7.5 um, and 8.0 um was telescoped using a 500 mm nominal focal length lens and a 200 mm focal length lens. The beam had a final spot of about 3 mm and was passed through a 3 mm aperture and onto the 8 mm active area of a J9LP Molectron detector. The eyeglass sample was placed 3 cm in front of the detector. Energy readings were averaged over multiple pulses. Results: Attenuation varied greatly with wavelength and sample from a low attenuation of 0.46 dB, 90% transmission, for short wavelengths through common glass to greater than 60 dB attenuation (transmission at the detector noise level) for IR safe glass by Aura, Inc. Conclusion: Only the designated laser safety goggles effectively attenuate free electron laser energy at 2.3 um and 2.5 um. A microscope objective lens, polycarbonate, and silica glass eyewear is capable of effectively attenuating FEL energy at wavelengths greater than 4.5 um, but the polycarbonate lenses demonstrated material damage.

  15. UV Induced Degradation of Polycarbonate-Based Lens Materials and Implications for the Heath Care Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harkay, J. R.; Henry, Jerry

    2006-10-01

    Experimental research is being carried out at Keene State at the undergraduate level that utilizes facilities in both physics and chemistry to study the effects of mono- and polychromatic UV radiation from various sources, including a Deuterium lamp, a solarization unit (at Polyonics, a local industry), and the Sun, to study the photodegradation of polycarbonate-based lens materials used to produce eyewear. Literature in the field of optometry and ophthalmology indicates a correlation between exposure to the UVB band of natural sunlight and the onset of cataract formation, as well as other eye disorders. The public is usually advised that plastic eyeglass lenses will provide protection from this damaging radiation. It is well known that polycarbonate plastic ``yellows'' when exposed to intense sunlight and, particularly, UV light^1,2, either via photo-Fries rearrangement or by a photooxidative process, forming polyconjugated systems and is an industrial concern primarily for cosmetic reasons. We have preliminary data, however, that indicates that the yellowing'' is an indication of a more sinister problem in the case of eyeglasses in that it is accompanied by an increase in transmissivity in the UVB band where the wearer expects and needs protection. Our group includes a local optometrist who will share results with peers in his field. [1] A. Andrady, J. Polymer Sci., 42, 1991 [2] E. P. Gorelov, Inst. Khim. Fiz., Russian Federation

  16. Factors influencing the prevalence of amblyopia in children with anisometropia.

    PubMed

    Lee, Chong Eun; Lee, Young Chun; Lee, Se-Youp

    2010-08-01

    To evaluate factors that can influence the prevalence of amblyopia in children with anisometropia. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 63 children 2 to 13 years of age who had anisometropic amblyopia with a difference in the refractive errors between the eyes of at least two diopters (D). The type of anisometropia (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism), degree of anisometropia (<2-3 D, <3-4 D, or >4 D), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the amblyopic eye at the time of initial examination, BCVA differences between sound and amblyopic eyes, whether or not occlusion therapy was performed, compliance with occlusion therapy, and the patient's age when eyeglasses were first worn were investigated. There was an increase in the risk of amblyopia with increased magnitude of anisometropia (p=0.021). The prevalence of amblyopia was higher in the BCVA <20/40 group and in patients with BCVA differences >4 lines between sound and amblyopic eyes (p=0.008 and p=0.045, respectively). There was no statistical relationship between the prevalence of amblyopia and the type of anisometropia or the age when eyeglasses were first worn. Poor compliance with occlusion therapy was less likely to achieve successful outcome (p=0.015). Eyes with poor initial visual acuities of <20/40, a high magnitude of anisometropia, and a >4 line difference in the BCVA between sound and amblyopic eyes at the initial visit may require active treatment.

  17. The Effects of Commercial Video Game Playing: A Comparison of Skills and Abilities for the Predator UAV

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-03-01

    wearing eyeglasses or contacts to achieve 20/20 vision would not constitute an automatic rejection to operate a UAV. Therefore, the reduced medical...Current selection methods may in fact not provide the fit for Predator needs because they do not really test what the Predator pilot really requires to do...but more importantly, how the information fits into what we already know-- our knowledge which has been previously obtained based on our experiences

  18. Cornea Optical Topographical Scan System (COTSS)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1986-01-01

    The Cornea Optical Topographical Scan System (COTSS) is an instrument designed for use by opthalmologist to aid in performing surgical procedures such as radial keratotomy and to provide quick accurate data to aid in prescribing contact lenses and eyeglasses. A breadboard of the system was built and demonstrated in June of 1984. Additional refinements to the breadboard are needed to meet systems requirements prior to proceeding with prototype development. The present status of the COTSS instrument is given and the areas in which system refinements are required, are defined.

  19. Occupational Health Hazards in the Interventional Laboratory: Progress Report of the Multispecialty Occupational Health Group

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-01

    this end, we are publicizing the list in box 1 so the members of all of MSOHG’s constituent societies have a common frame of refer- ence. In addition...inconvenient. c. The need for protective eyeglasses should be eliminated. d. The need for protective thyroid collar should be eliminated. e. Minimize the...Radiation Protection and Measurements Report 1608 reinforce this belief, as 95% of all monitored healthcare workers have minimal occupational dose. Many

  20. Research of Face Recognition with Fisher Linear Discriminant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahim, R.; Afriliansyah, T.; Winata, H.; Nofriansyah, D.; Ratnadewi; Aryza, S.

    2018-01-01

    Face identification systems are developing rapidly, and these developments drive the advancement of biometric-based identification systems that have high accuracy. However, to develop a good face recognition system and to have high accuracy is something that’s hard to find. Human faces have diverse expressions and attribute changes such as eyeglasses, mustache, beard and others. Fisher Linear Discriminant (FLD) is a class-specific method that distinguishes facial image images into classes and also creates distance between classes and intra classes so as to produce better classification.

  1. What do kids think about kids in eyeglasses?

    PubMed

    Walline, Jeffrey J; Sinnott, Loraine; Johnson, Erica D; Ticak, Anita; Jones, Sylvia L; Jones, Lisa A

    2008-05-01

    Previous studies have examined how people feel about others who wear glasses, but no studies of children have been published on the subject. We conducted the Children's Attitudes about Kids in Eyeglasses (CAKE) study to determine how children feel about other children who wear glasses. Subjects compared a series of 24 picture pairs and answered six questions regarding which child ...he or she would rather play with, looks better at playing sports, appears smarter (more intelligent), appears nicer, looks more shy and looks more honest. The children in each pair of pictures differed by gender, ethnicity and spectacle wear. Logistic regression was performed to determine the probability and confidence interval that a subject would pick a particular child. Eighty subjects between the ages of 6 and 10 years participated. The average (+/-SD) age of the subjects was 8.3 +/- 1.3 years, 42 (53%) were females, 51 (64%) were whites, 21 (26%) were blacks, and 30 (38%) wore glasses. The spectacle wearer appeared smarter (0.66, CI = 0.60-0.71) and more honest (0.57, CI = 0.50-0.64), and children who wore glasses looked smarter regardless of whether the child picking wore glasses. Both boys (0.66, CI = 0.68-0.79) and girls (0.77, CI = 0.71-0.82) thought that boys looked better at playing sports. The old adage 'Boys never make passes at lasses who wear glasses' may be outmoded, but glasses may tend to make children look smarter and slightly more honest to their peers.

  2. Optical testing of progressive ophthalmic glasses based on galvo mirrors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stuerwald, S.; Schmitt, R.

    2014-03-01

    In production of ophthalmic freeform optics like progressive eyeglasses, the specimens are tested according to a standardized method which is based on the measurement of the vertex power on usually less than 10 points. For a better quality management and thus to ensure more reliable and valid tests, a more comprehensive measurement approach is required. For Shack Hartmann Sensors (SHS) the dynamic range is defined by the number of micro-lenses and the resolution of the imaging sensor. Here, we present an approach for measuring wavefronts with increased dynamic range and lateral resolution by the use of a scanning procedure. Therefore, the proposed innovative setup is based on galvo mirrors that are capable of measuring the vertex power with a lateral resolution below one millimeter since this is sufficient for a functional test of progressive eyeglasses. Expressed in a more abstract way, the concept is based on a selection and thereby encoding of single sub-apertures of the wave front under test. This allows measuring the wave fronts slope consecutively in a scanning procedure. The use of high precision galvo systems allows a lateral resolution below one millimeter as well as a significant fast scanning ability. The measurement concept and performance of this method will be demonstrated for different spherical and freeformed specimens like progressive eye glasses. Furthermore, approaches for calibration of the measurement system will be characterized and the optical design of the detector will be discussed.

  3. Context-specific adaptation of the gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in humans.

    PubMed

    Shelhamer, M; Robinson, D A; Tan, H S

    1992-01-01

    Previous experiments show that altered visual feedback can change VOR gain. Such changes also presumably occur when eyeglasses are donned and doffed, or when bifocals are worn. In these cases, a nonvisual cue accompanies the required gain adjustment (frames on/off for eyeglasses, looking up/down for bifocals). We set out to show that a subject can establish two VOR gains, and to determine if one of the associated nonvisual cues alone is sufficient to subsequently determine which gain to employ. Each of three subjects sat in a rotating chair inside an OKN drum during 2 hours of sinusoidal rotation at 0.2 Hz, 30 degrees/s peak. For 10 minutes the chair and drum counterrotated , driving VOR gain toward 1.7, while subjects looked up 20 degrees. Chair and drum were then coupled for 10 minutes, driving gain toward zero, during which subjects looked down 20 degrees. This sequence was repeated for 2 hours. Immediately thereafter, VOR gains were measured while subjects looked alternately up and down, using 20 degrees to 40 degrees step rotations. A fixation target, presented before and after each step, provided accurate gain determination by measuring the size of the re-fixation saccade. Results show a consistent reduced VOR gain looking downward (average 6%) and increased gain looking upward (average 6%) and increased gain looking upward (average 8%). We conclude that humans can adjust their VOR gain dependent on a situational context; we speculate that this context can take many forms.

  4. Myopia, contact lens use and self-esteem.

    PubMed

    Dias, Lynette; Manny, Ruth E; Weissberg, Erik; Fern, Karen D

    2013-09-01

    To evaluate whether contact lens (CL) use was associated with self-esteem in myopic children originally enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET), that after 5 years continued as an observational study of myopia progression with CL use permitted. Usable data at the 6-year visit, one year after CL use was allowed (n = 423/469, age 12-17 years), included questions on CL use, refractive error measurements and self-reported self-esteem in several areas (scholastic/athletic competence, physical appearance, social acceptance, behavioural conduct and global self-worth). Self-esteem, scored from 1 (low) to 4 (high), was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children in participants under 14 years or the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, in those 14 years and older. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate associations between self-esteem and relevant factors identified by univariate analyses (e.g., CL use, gender, ethnicity), while adjusting for baseline self-esteem prior to CL use. Mean (±S.D.) self-esteem scores at the 6-year visit (mean age = 15.3 ± 1.3 years; mean refractive error = -4.6 ± 1.5 D) ranged from 2.74 (± 0.76) on athletic competence to 3.33 (± 0.53) on global self-worth. CL wearers (n = 224) compared to eyeglass wearers (n = 199) were more likely to be female (p < 0.0001). Those who chose to wear CLs had higher social acceptance, athletic competence and behavioural conduct scores (p < 0.05) at baseline compared to eyeglass users. CL users continued to report higher social acceptance scores at the 6-year visit (p = 0.03), after adjusting for baseline scores and other covariates. Ethnicity was also independently associated with social acceptance in the multivariable analyses (p = 0.011); African-Americans had higher scores than Asians, Whites and Hispanics. Age and refractive error were not associated with self-esteem or CL use. COMET participants who chose to wear CLs after 5 years of eyeglass use had higher self-esteem compared to those who remained in glasses both preceding and following CL use. This suggests that self-esteem may influence the decision to wear CLs and that CLs in turn are associated with higher self-esteem in individuals most likely to wear them. © 2013 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2013 The College of Optometrists.

  5. Final Quality Assurance Project Plan, Installation Restoration Program Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, Kotzebue Long Range Radar Station, Alaska. Volume 2

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-10-01

    right side door. To minimize retinal exposure to UV, use UV protective eyeglasses and use the offset dental mirror to read the micrometer 6.7.4.3 To...States Air Force) Volatiles Analysis by GC/MS Method 8260 - (United States Air Force) Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs by GC/ECD Method 8081...decreasing throughout the three or four exposures . The RSD will sometimes be higher than normal in these cases. Samples that are affected by possible carry

  6. Portable low-cost devices for videotaping, editing, and displaying field-sequential stereoscopic motion pictures and video

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Starks, Michael R.

    1990-09-01

    A variety of low cost devices for capturing, editing and displaying field sequential 60 cycle stereoscopic video have recently been marketed by 3D TV Corp. and others. When properly used, they give very high quality images with most consumer and professional equipment. Our stereoscopic multiplexers for creating and editing field sequential video in NTSC or component(SVHS, Betacain, RGB) and Home 3D Theater system employing LCD eyeglasses have made 3D movies and television available to a large audience.

  7. [Technical aspects of measurement for optically sophisticated eyeglasses].

    PubMed

    Guilino, G

    1988-07-01

    This paper deals with the question of how aspherical ophthalmic lenses can be measured outside the reference point given by the manufacturer in order to make a lens comparison or to test the shape faithfulness of the lens surface. Three procedures are presented with measuring examples - vertex power measurement with swiveled lens mount, probe scan in a three-coordinate measurement, and interferometer measurement using a non-ideal reference lens. The basic problem inherent in an application-related interpretation of the measuring data sets gained by these methods is shown.

  8. Vision health disparities in the United States by race/ethnicity, education, and economic status: findings from two nationally representative surveys.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xinzhi; Cotch, Mary Frances; Ryskulova, Asel; Primo, Susan A; Nair, Parvathy; Chou, Chiu-Fang; Geiss, Linda S; Barker, Lawrence E; Elliott, Amanda F; Crews, John E; Saaddine, Jinan B

    2012-12-01

    To assess vision health disparities in the United States by race/ethnicity, education, and economic status. Cross-sectional, nationally representative samples. We used national survey data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Main outcome measures included, from NHANES, age-related eye diseases (ie, age-related macular degeneration [AMD], cataract, diabetic retinopathy [DR], glaucoma) and from NHIS, eye care use (ie, eye doctor visits and cannot afford eyeglasses when needed) among those with self-reported visual impairment. The estimates were age- and sex-standardized to the 2000 US Census population. Linear trends in the estimates were assessed by weighted least squares regression. Non-Hispanic whites had a higher prevalence of AMD and cataract surgery than non-Hispanic blacks, but a lower prevalence of DR and glaucoma (all P < .001 in NHANES 2005-2008). From 1999 to 2008, individuals with less education (ie, high school) and lower income (poverty income ratio [PIR] <1.00 vs ≥ 4.00) were consistently less likely to have had an eye care visit in the past 12 months compared with their counterparts (all P < .05). During this period, inability to afford needed eyeglasses increased among non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics (trend P = .004 and P = .007; respectively), those with high school education (trend P = .036), and those with PIR 1.00-1.99 (trend P < .001). Observed vision health disparities suggest a need for educational and innovative interventions among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  9. Parents' reported preference scores for childhood atopic dermatitis disease states

    PubMed Central

    Friedman, Joëlle Y; Reed, Shelby D; Weinfurt, Kevin P; Kahler, Kristijan H; Walter, Emmanuel B; Schulman, Kevin A

    2004-01-01

    Background We sought to elicit preference weights from parents for health states corresponding to children with various levels of severity of atopic dermatitis. We also evaluated the hypothesis that parents with children who had been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis would assign different preferences to the health state scenarios compared with parents who did not have a child with atopic dermatitis. Methods Subjects were parents of children aged 3 months to 18 years. The sample was derived from the General Panel, Mommies Sub-Panel, and Chronic Illness Sub-Panel of Harris Interactive. Participants rated health scenarios for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and eyeglasses on a visual analog scale, imagining a child was experiencing the described state. Results A total of 3539 parents completed the survey. Twenty-nine percent had a child with a history of atopic dermatitis. Mean preference scores for atopic dermatitis were as follows: mild, 91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.7 to 91.5); mild/moderate, 84 (95%CI, 83.5 to 84.4); moderate, 73 (95%CI, 72.5 to 73.6); moderate/severe, 61 (95%CI, 60.6 to 61.8); severe, 49 (95% CI, 48.7 to 50.1); asthma, 58 (95%CI, 57.4 to 58.8); and eyeglasses, 87(95%CI, 86.3 to 87.4). Conclusions Parents perceive that atopic dermatitis has a negative effect on quality of life that increases with disease severity. Estimates of parents' preferences can provide physicians with insight into the value that parents place on their children's treatment and can be used to evaluate new medical therapies for atopic dermatitis. PMID:15491500

  10. Rubens Peale's spectacles: an optical illusion?

    PubMed

    Follensbee, B J

    1997-01-01

    The painting Rubens Peale with a Geranium (1801), by Rembrandt Peale, has earned a reputation as a masterpiece of early American portraiture. In recent years the painting has also been the source of controversy, because Rubens was depicted with two pairs of eyeglasses at a time when most people would not have been portrayed with spectacles at all. Scholars of American art history and ophthalmology have studied the painting and have promoted various theories for this peculiarity. A combined study of the painting, historical documentation, and optical effects in the painting, however, sheds new light on the answer to this mystery.

  11. Reproducibility of the vertical dimension of occlusion with an improved measuring gauge.

    PubMed

    Morikawa, M; Kozono, Y; Noguchi, B S; Toyoda, S

    1988-07-01

    An improved gauge using an eyeglass frame, the TOM gauge, was devised. The reproducibility of the record of vertical dimension with this gauge was evaluated through repeated measurements on subjects having a definite centric stop with the natural dentition. Because of the stabilization provided by the frame and the reference point on the apex nasi, the TOM gauge showed excellent reproducibility of the record compared with the conventional gauges. The TOM gauge can be expected to significantly reduce the risk of errors in measuring the vertical dimension of occlusion especially in complete denture fabrication.

  12. Report on the WPI Conference: General Chemistry and Materials Science: The Interrelationships

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beall, Herbert

    1996-08-01

    Of the recent accomplishments of chemistry, some of the most spectacular have been in the area of materials. New miracle materials have revolutionized our lives in almost every aspect from semiconductors to metallic eyeglass frames that return to a "memorized" shape when bent. However, materials receive surprisingly little attention as examples of chemical phenomena in fundamental chemistry classes, which are still built largely on the behavior of gases and liquids. These issues were the basis for the Ninth Annual Worcester Polytechnic Institute Conference on Chemical Education. This article addresses the conference and the issues.

  13. Comparing sports vision among three groups of soft tennis adolescent athletes: Normal vision, refractive errors with and without correction.

    PubMed

    Chang, Shih-Tsun; Liu, Yen-Hsiu; Lee, Jiahn-Shing; See, Lai-Chu

    2015-09-01

    The effect of correcting static vision on sports vision is still not clear. To examine whether sports vision (depth perception [DP], dynamic visual acuity [DVA], eye movement [EM], peripheral vision [PV], and momentary vision [MV],) were different among soft tennis adolescent athletes with normal vision (Group A), with refractive error and corrected with (Group B) and without eyeglasses (Group C). A cross-section study was conducted. Soft tennis athletes aged 10-13 who played softball tennis for 2-5 years, and who were without any ocular diseases and without visual training for the past 3 months were recruited. DPs were measured in an absolute deviation (mm) between a moving rod and fixing rod (approaching at 25 mm/s, receding at 25 mm/s, approaching at 50 mm/s, receding at 50 mm/s) using electric DP tester. A smaller deviation represented better DP. DVA, EM, PV, and MV were measured on a scale from 1 (worse) to 10 (best) using ATHLEVISION software. Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the data among the three study groups. A total of 73 athletes (37 in Group A, 8 in Group B, 28 in Group C) were enrolled in this study. All four items of DP showed significant difference among the three study groups (P = 0.0051, 0.0004, 0.0095, 0.0021). PV displayed significant difference among the three study groups (P = 0.0044). There was no significant difference in DVA, EM, and MV among the three study groups. Significant better DP and PV were seen among soft tennis adolescent athletes with normal vision than those with refractive error regardless whether they had eyeglasses corrected. On the other hand, DVA, EM, and MV were similar among the three study groups.

  14. Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Refractive Errors in Children of South Sinai, Egypt.

    PubMed

    Yamamah, Gamal Abdel Naser; Talaat Abdel Alim, Ahmed Ahmed; Mostafa, Yehia Salah El Din; Ahmed, Rania Ahmed Abdel Salam; Mohammed, Asmaa Mahmoud; Mahmoud, Asmaa Mohammed

    2015-01-01

    To assess the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in children of South Sinai, and to evaluate outcomes of rehabilitation programs. Population-based, cross-sectional analysis of 2070 healthy school children screened for visual impairment from 2009 through 2010 in cities of South Sinai and their surrounding Bedouin settlements. Visual acuity (VA) was tested using Snellen charts followed by cycloplegic autorefractometry for cases with presenting VA ≤ 6/9. Appropriate eyeglasses were prescribed and VA re-evaluated. This study included 1047 boys and 1023 girls, mean age 10.7 ± 3.1 years. Visual impairment (uncorrected VA ≤ 6/9) was detected in 29.4% of children, while 2.0% had moderate-severe visual impairment (uncorrected VA ≤ 6/24). There were statistically significant differences in prevalence of visual impairment between the studied cities (p < 0.05), with the highest prevalence in Abu Redis. Prevalence of visual impairment was significantly higher among girls (p < 0.05) and those with positive consanguinity (p < 0.05). Bedouin children showed significantly lower prevalences of visual impairment. Only age was a reliable predictor of visual impairment (odds ratio 0.94, p < 0.0001). Ophthalmic examination revealed other disorders, e.g. dry eye (4.74%), squint (2.37%), exophthalmos (1.58%) and ptosis (0.79%). VA significantly improved in children who received spectacles (p < 0.001). A total of 29.4% of South Sinai children had some form of visual impairment, 90.32% of which comprised refractive errors (mainly astigmatism) which were significantly corrected with eyeglasses. VA screening and correction of refractive errors are of the utmost importance for ensuring better visual outcomes and improved school performance.

  15. Vision Health Disparities in the United States by Race/Ethnicity, Education, and Economic Status: Findings from Two Nationally Representative Surveys

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xinzhi; Cotch, Mary Frances; Ryskulova, Asel; Primo, Susan A.; Nair, Parvathy; Chou, Chiu-Fang; Geiss, Linda S.; Barker, Lawrence; Elliott, Amanda F.; Crews, John E.; Saaddine, Jinan B.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose To assess vision health disparities in the United States by race/ethnicity, education, and economic status. Design Cross-sectional, nationally representative samples Methods We used national survey data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Main outcome measures included, from NHANES, age-related eye diseases (i.e., age-related macular degeneration [AMD], cataract, diabetic retinopathy [DR], glaucoma) and from NHIS, eye care use (i.e., eye doctor visits and cannot afford eyeglasses when needed) among those with self-reported visual impairment. The estimates were age- and sex-standardized to the 2000 US census population. Linear trends in the estimates were assessed by weighted least squares regression. Results Non-Hispanic whites had a higher prevalence of AMD and cataract surgery than non-Hispanic blacks, but a lower prevalence of DR and glaucoma (all P < 0.001 in NHANES 2005–2008). From 1999 to 2008, individuals with less education (i.e., < high school vs. > high school) and lower income (poverty income ratio [PIR] < 1.00 vs. ≥4.00) were consistently less likely to have had an eye care visit in the past 12 months compared with their counterparts (all P < 0.05). During this period, inability to afford needed eyeglasses increased among non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics (trend P = 0.004 and P = 0.007; respectively), those with high school education (trend P = 0.036), and those with PIR 1.00–1.99 (trend P < 0.001). Conclusions Observed vision health disparities suggest a need for educational and innovative interventions among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. PMID:23158224

  16. Effects of audiovisual distraction on children’s behaviour during dental treatment: a randomized controlled clinical trial

    PubMed Central

    Al-Khotani, Amal; Bello, Lanre A'aziz; Christidis, Nikolaos

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Aim: Dental anxiety leads to undesirable distresses such as avoidance of dental treatment and increase stress among caregivers that consequently affect the treatment quality. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effectiveness of viewing videotaped cartoons using an eyeglass system (i-theatre™) as an audiovisual (AV) distraction technique on behaviour and anxiety in children receiving dental restorative treatment. Methods: Fifty-six consecutive children patients who presented for treatment and met inclusion criteria were included and randomly divided into two groups; a control group without distraction (CTR-group) and a distraction-group (AV-group). Three dental treatment visits were provided for each patient. Anxiety and cooperative behaviour were assessed with the Facial Image Scale (FIS) and the Modified Venham’s clinical ratings of anxiety and cooperative behaviour scale (MVARS). The vital signs, blood pressure and pulse were also taken. Results: The AV-group showed significantly lower MVARS scores than the CTR-group (p = 0.029), and the scores decreased significantly during treatment in the AV-group (p = 0.04). Further, the pulse rate was significantly increased in the CTR-group during injection with local anaesthesia (p = 0.02), but not in the AV-group. Conclusion: AV distraction seems to be an effective method in reducing fear and anxiety in children during dental treatment. Further, children who used eyeglass goggle display as a distraction tool during dental treatment reported not only less anxiety than control groups but also showed more positive responses after injection with local anaesthesia. Hence, AV-distraction seems to be a useful tool to decrease the distress and dental anxiety during dental treatment. PMID:27409593

  17. [Hyperopic Laser-in-situ-Keratomileusis after trifocal intraocular lens implantation : Aberration-free femto-Laser-in-situ-Keratomileusis treatment after implantation of a diffractive, multifocal, toric intraocular lens-case analysis].

    PubMed

    Hemkeppler, E; Böhm, M; Kohnen, T

    2018-05-29

    A 52-year-old highly myopic female patient was implanted with a multifocal, diffractive, toric intraocular lens because of the wish to be independent of eyeglasses. Despite high-quality, extensive preoperative examinations, a hyperopic refractive error remained postoperatively, which led to the patient's dissatisfaction. This error was treated with Laser-in-situ-Keratomileusis (LASIK). After corneal LASIK treatment and implantation of a diffractive toric multifocal intraocular lens the patient showed a good postoperative visual result without optical phenomena.

  18. [When is the prescription of prismatic eyeglasses reasonable?].

    PubMed

    Kommerell, G

    2014-03-01

    Prismatic glasses are used to deflect rays of light. In ophthalmology, prisms are mainly used to correct double vision caused by strabismus which is acquired after early childhood. In congenital or infantile strabismus, the image of the deviated eye is usually suppressed so that double vision does not occur and prismatic glasses are not indicated. Latent strabismus is very common and only rarely leads to double vision or asthenopic symptoms so that correction with prismatic glasses is only indicated in exceptional cases. The "Measuring and Correcting Methodology after H.-J. Haase" is based on flawed assumptions, and therefore can not be recommended for the prescription of prisms.

  19. Deflectometry using portable devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Butel, Guillaume P.; Smith, Greg A.; Burge, James H.

    2015-02-01

    Deflectometry is a powerful metrology technique that uses off-the-shelf equipment to achieve nanometer-level accuracy surface measurements. However, there is no portable device to quickly measure eyeglasses, lenses, or mirrors. We present an entirely portable new deflectometry technique that runs on any Android™ smartphone with a front-facing camera. Our technique overcomes some specific issues of portable devices like screen nonlinearity and automatic gain control. We demonstrate our application by measuring an amateur telescope mirror and simulating a measurement of the faulty Hubble Space Telescope primary mirror. Our technique can, in less than 1 min, measure surface errors with accuracy up to 50 nm RMS, simply using a smartphone.

  20. Senile cataracts and myopia

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

    Belkin, M.; Jacobs, D.R.; Jackson, S.M.

    1982-01-01

    A retrospective survey of 32 persons with myopia and 38 persons with emmetropia who had been operated on at two US Army hospitals on the California coast showed that the persons with myopia who had worn eyeglasses for at least 20 years underwent cataract extraction at a significantly (P less than .00005) older age than the persons with emmetropia (median age at the time of the operation was 70 years, compared with 64 years). These results support the theory that some protection against solar ultraviolet radiation is offered the eyes by eye wear worn continuously and that solar ultraviolet radiationmore » may be a contributing factor in the formation of human senile cataracts.« less

  1. Changes in Visual Function Following Optical Treatment of Astigmatism-Related Amblyopia

    PubMed Central

    Harvey, Erin M.; Dobson, Velma; Miller, Joseph M.; Donaldson, Candice E.

    2009-01-01

    Effects of optical correction on best-corrected grating acuity (vertical (V), horizontal (H), oblique (O)), vernier acuity (V, H, O), contrast sensitivity (1.5, 6.0, and 18.0 cy/deg spatial frequency, V and H), and stereoacuity were evaluated prospectively in 4- to 13-year-old astigmats and a non-astigmatic age-matched control group. Measurements made at baseline (eyeglasses dispensed for astigmats), 6 weeks, and 1 year showed greater improvement in astigmatic than non-astigmatic children for all measures. Treatment effects occurred by 6 weeks, and did not differ by cohort (< 8 vs. 8 years), but astigmatic children did not attain normal levels of visual function. PMID:18261760

  2. Three-Dimensional Large Screen Display Using Polymer-Dispersed Liquid-Crystal Light Valves and a Schlieren Optical System: Proposal and Basic Experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takizawa, Kuniharu

    A novel three-dimensional (3-D) projection display used with polarized eyeglasses is proposed. It consists of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal-light valves that modulate the illuminated light based on light scattering, a polarization beam splitter, and a Schlieren projection system. The features of the proposed display include a 3-D image display with a single projector, half size and half power consumption compared with a conventional 3-D projector with polarized glasses. Measured electro-optic characteristics of a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal cell inserted between crossed polarizers suggests that the proposed display achieves small cross talk and high-extinction ratio.

  3. Etched tracks and serendipitous dosimetry.

    PubMed

    Fleischer, Robert L; Chang, Sekyung; Farrell, Jeremy; Herrmann, Rachel C; MacDonald, Jonathan; Zalesky, Marek; Doremus, Robert H

    2006-01-01

    Nuclear tracks in detectors that just happened to be there can be found in unexpected places. Eyeglasses, household glass, minerals, objects that were exposed to nuclear explosions, and space equipment on the moon are examples. Such materials allow us to measure doses of past radon exposures, cosmic-ray fluences, fission rates and neutrons. Incidental results include measuring mountain-building rates and deciding where finding oil is likely (or unlikely); in another case erosion rates of surface materials in space are found. New results that assess the effects of hydration layers on the leaching out from glass surfaces of imbedded alpha-recoil nuclei imply that long-term, retrospective radon measurements can be made more reliable by selecting only glass with compact hydration layers.

  4. Comparing sports vision among three groups of soft tennis adolescent athletes: Normal vision, refractive errors with and without correction

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Shih-Tsun; Liu, Yen-Hsiu; Lee, Jiahn-Shing; See, Lai-Chu

    2015-01-01

    Background: The effect of correcting static vision on sports vision is still not clear. Aim: To examine whether sports vision (depth perception [DP], dynamic visual acuity [DVA], eye movement [EM], peripheral vision [PV], and momentary vision [MV],) were different among soft tennis adolescent athletes with normal vision (Group A), with refractive error and corrected with (Group B) and without eyeglasses (Group C). Setting and Design: A cross-section study was conducted. Soft tennis athletes aged 10–13 who played softball tennis for 2–5 years, and who were without any ocular diseases and without visual training for the past 3 months were recruited. Materials and Methods: DPs were measured in an absolute deviation (mm) between a moving rod and fixing rod (approaching at 25 mm/s, receding at 25 mm/s, approaching at 50 mm/s, receding at 50 mm/s) using electric DP tester. A smaller deviation represented better DP. DVA, EM, PV, and MV were measured on a scale from 1 (worse) to 10 (best) using ATHLEVISION software. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test and Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the data among the three study groups. Results: A total of 73 athletes (37 in Group A, 8 in Group B, 28 in Group C) were enrolled in this study. All four items of DP showed significant difference among the three study groups (P = 0.0051, 0.0004, 0.0095, 0.0021). PV displayed significant difference among the three study groups (P = 0.0044). There was no significant difference in DVA, EM, and MV among the three study groups. Conclusions: Significant better DP and PV were seen among soft tennis adolescent athletes with normal vision than those with refractive error regardless whether they had eyeglasses corrected. On the other hand, DVA, EM, and MV were similar among the three study groups. PMID:26632127

  5. Detainee optometry at Camp Cropper, Iraq, 2009-2010.

    PubMed

    White, Thomas M; Elledge, James B

    2012-06-01

    This article details the first in-depth analysis of an Optometry Service working with a large Middle Eastern detainee population composed entirely of Iraqi males. The mission of the Camp Cropper Optometry Service was to provide eye care services to the detainee population consistent with the standards of optometric care that would be provided to any U.S. military member in the same geographic area. This included providing detainees with eyeglasses, therapeutic treatment of eye disease, and referral for treatment of medical conditions and surgical care, if it was needed and available at the U.S. military facilities in the Iraq Theater. Diagnoses, services provided, and medications given to the detainees are listed in detail and demonstrate the complexity of pathology encountered in this population.

  6. Tunable-focus liquid lens controlled using a servo motor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ren, Hongwen; Fox, David; Anderson, P. Andrew; Wu, Benjamin; Wu, Shin-Tson

    2006-09-01

    We demonstrated a liquid lens whose focal length can be controlled by an actuator. The lens cell is composed of elastic membrane, planar glass plate, a periphery sealing ring, and a liquid with a fixed volume in the lens chamber. Part of the periphery sealing ring is excavated to form a hollow chamber which functions as a reservoir. This hollowed periphery is surrounded by an exterior rubber membrane. The shaft of an actuator is used to deform the elastic rubber. Squeezing the liquid contained in the reservoir into the lens chamber. Excess liquid in the lens chamber will push the lens membrane to outward, resulting in a lens shape change. Due to the compact structure and easy operation, this liquid lens has potential applications in zoom lenses, auto beam steering, and eyeglasses.

  7. Galileo's wondrous telescope

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cartlidge, Edwin

    2008-06-01

    If you need reminding of just how wrong the great and the good can be, take a trip to the Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy. The museum is staging an exhibition entitled "Galileo's telescope - the instrument that changed the world" to mark the 400th anniversary this year of Galileo Galilei's revolutionary astronomical discoveries, which were made possible by the invention of the telescope. At the start of the 17th century, astronomers assumed that all the planets and the stars in the heavens had been identified and that there was nothing new for them to discover, as the exhibition's curator, Giorgio Strano, points out. "No-one could have imagined what wondrous new things were about to be revealed by an instrument created by inserting two eyeglass lenses into the ends of a tube," he adds.

  8. Self-Assembled Double-Quarter Antireflective Coatings using Silica and Titania Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lal, Anitesh; Castedo Velasco, Raisa; Mazilu, Dan

    2011-03-01

    Antireflective coatings have a wide range of applications, from eyeglass and camera lenses, to solar panels and optoelectronic devices, to name just a few. Our study examines several factors that affect the quality of antireflective coatings created by the self-assembly of alternating layers of SiO2 and/or TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) polycation on glass substrates. We use a factorial design to investigate the effects of the molarity of the nanoparticle solution, the size of the nanoparticles, the pH of the nanoparticle and polycation solutions, and the number of nanoparticle-polycation bilayers on the optical properties of the films. The first order effects of these factors, as well as their interactions, on the reflectance, transmittance, and uniformity of the coatings are reported.

  9. A Heads-Up Display for Diabetic Limb Salvage Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Rankin, Timothy M.; Giovinco, Nicholas A.; Mills, Joseph L.; Matsuoka, Yoky

    2014-01-01

    Although the use of augmented reality has been well described over the past several years, available devices suffer from high cost, an uncomfortable form factor, suboptimal battery life, and lack an app-based developer ecosystem. This article describes the potential use of a novel, consumer-based, wearable device to assist surgeons in real time during limb preservation surgery and clinical consultation. Using routine intraoperative, clinical, and educational case examples, we describe the use of a wearable augmented reality device (Google Glass; Google, Mountain View, CA). The device facilitated hands-free, rapid communication, documentation, and consultation. An eyeglass-mounted screen form factor has the potential to improve communication, safety, and efficiency of intraoperative and clinical care. We believe this represents a natural progression toward union of medical devices with consumer technology. PMID:24876445

  10. MS Detectors

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

    Koppenaal, David W.; Barinaga, Charles J.; Denton, M Bonner B.

    2005-11-01

    Good eyesight is often taken for granted, a situation that everyone appreciates once vision begins to fade with age. New eyeglasses or contact lenses are traditional ways to improve vision, but recent new technology, i.e. LASIK laser eye surgery, provides a new and exciting means for marked vision restoration and improvement. In mass spectrometry, detectors are the 'eyes' of the MS instrument. These 'eyes' have also been taken for granted. New detectors and new technologies are likewise needed to correct, improve, and extend ion detection and hence, our 'chemical vision'. The purpose of this report is to review and assessmore » current MS detector technology and to provide a glimpse towards future detector technologies. It is hoped that the report will also serve to motivate interest, prompt ideas, and inspire new visions for ion detection research.« less

  11. Early Experience with Technology-Based Eye Care Services (TECS): A Novel Ophthalmologic Telemedicine Initiative.

    PubMed

    Maa, April Y; Wojciechowski, Barbara; Hunt, Kelly J; Dismuke, Clara; Shyu, Jason; Janjua, Rabeea; Lu, Xiaoqin; Medert, Charles M; Lynch, Mary G

    2017-04-01

    The aging population is at risk of common eye diseases, and routine eye examinations are recommended to prevent visual impairment. Unfortunately, patients are less likely to seek care as they age, which may be the result of significant travel and time burdens associated with going to an eye clinic in person. A new method of eye-care delivery that mitigates distance barriers and improves access was developed to improve screening for potentially blinding conditions. We present the quality data from the early experience (first 13 months) of Technology-Based Eye Care Services (TECS), a novel ophthalmologic telemedicine program. With TECS, a trained ophthalmology technician is stationed in a primary care clinic away from the main hospital. The ophthalmology technician follows a detailed protocol that collects information about the patient's eyes. The information then is interpreted remotely. Patients with possible abnormal findings are scheduled for a face-to-face examination in the eye clinic. Any patient with no known ocular disease who desires a routine eye screening examination is eligible. Technology-Based Eye Care Services was established in 5 primary care clinics in Georgia surrounding the Atlanta Veterans Affairs hospital. Four program operation metrics (patient satisfaction, eyeglass remakes, disease detection, and visit length) and 2 access-to-care metrics (appointment wait time and no-show rate) were tracked. Care was rendered to 2690 patients over the first 13 months of TECS. The program has been met with high patient satisfaction (4.95 of 5). Eyeglass remake rate was 0.59%. Abnormal findings were noted in 36.8% of patients and there was >90% agreement between the TECS reading and the face-to-face findings of the physician. TECS saved both patient (25% less) and physician time (50% less), and access to care substantially improved with 99% of patients seen within 14 days of contacting the eye clinic, with a TECS no-show rate of 5.2%. The early experience with TECS has been promising. Tele-ophthalmology has the potential to improve operational efficiency, reduce cost, and significantly improve access to care. Although further study is necessary, TECS shows potential to help prevent avoidable vision loss. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. [Computer eyeglasses--aspects of a confusing topic].

    PubMed

    Huber-Spitzy, V; Janeba, E

    1997-01-01

    With the coming into force of the new Austrian Employee Protection Act the issue of the so called "computer glasses" will also gain added importance in our country. Such glasses have been defined as vision aids to be exclusively used for the work on computer monitors and include single-vision glasses solely intended for reading computer screen, glasses with bifocal lenses for reading computer screen and hard-copy documents as well as those with varifocal lenses featuring a thickened central section. There is still a considerable controversy among those concerned as to who will bear the costs for such glasses--most likely it will be the employer. Prescription of such vision aids will be exclusively restricted to ophthalmologists, based on a thorough ophthalmological examination under adequate consideration of the specific working environment and the workplace requirements of the individual employee concerned.

  13. Anesthetic management for carbon dioxide laser surgery of the larynx.

    PubMed

    Shaker, M H; Konchigeri, H N; Andrews, A H; Holinger, P H

    1976-06-01

    Fifty-one patients underwent 71 carbon dioxide laser procedures under general anesthesia for various intralaryngeal pathology. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium, followed by succinylcholine to facilitate endotracheal intubation. For maintenance of anesthesia, 70% nitrous oxide was supplemented with halothane, enflurane or small doses of fentanyl. Succinylcholine, d-tubocurare or pancuronium were used to maintain muscular relaxation of jaw, pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles for a smooth lasing procedure. Small diameter (16-22 Fr.), red rubber, cuffed endotracheal tubes provided maximum working space, facilitated the controlled ventilation and reduced the explosion hazard of the anesthetic gases. Safely eyeglasses were used by all the personnel in the operating room against accidental injury to the cornea by the laser beam. Anesthetic management provided excellent operative conditions with maximum safety to the patient and the personnel in the operating room.

  14. Methods and apparatus for transparent display using scattering nanoparticles

    DOEpatents

    Hsu, Chia Wei; Qiu, Wenjun; Zhen, Bo; Shapira, Ofer; Soljacic, Marin

    2017-06-14

    Transparent displays enable many useful applications, including heads-up displays for cars and aircraft as well as displays on eyeglasses and glass windows. Unfortunately, transparent displays made of organic light-emitting diodes are typically expensive and opaque. Heads-up displays often require fixed light sources and have limited viewing angles. And transparent displays that use frequency conversion are typically energy inefficient. Conversely, the present transparent displays operate by scattering visible light from resonant nanoparticles with narrowband scattering cross sections and small absorption cross sections. More specifically, projecting an image onto a transparent screen doped with nanoparticles that selectively scatter light at the image wavelength(s) yields an image on the screen visible to an observer. Because the nanoparticles scatter light at only certain wavelengths, the screen is practically transparent under ambient light. Exemplary transparent scattering displays can be simple, inexpensive, scalable to large sizes, viewable over wide angular ranges, energy efficient, and transparent simultaneously.

  15. [Power in the periphery of several aspheric eyeglasses for aphakic patients].

    PubMed

    Simonet, P

    1984-01-01

    A special device adapted to a Nikon projection vertexometer permits the power to be measured in the periphery of recent aspheric aphakic lenses. The peripheral power is measured with respect to the vertex sphere. A blended lenticular aspheric lens and three types of zonal aspheric full field lenses are studied, with various base curves on three samples. Four meridians of each lens are evaluated with ocular rotations varying by 5 degrees step up to 35 degrees at least. The results show a variable oblique astigmatism and a high under-correction of the mean oblique power for the Welsh 4 drop. The other zonal aspheric lenses give only a slight improvement of the peripheral powers compared with some conventional aspheric lenses. The Omega lens shows a reasonable correction of off-axis power errors up to 30 degrees. Beyond, the powers variation follows the general characteristics of blended lenticular aspheric lenses.

  16. [Radiation protection in interventional radiology].

    PubMed

    Adamus, R; Loose, R; Wucherer, M; Uder, M; Galster, M

    2016-03-01

    The application of ionizing radiation in medicine seems to be a safe procedure for patients as well as for occupational exposition to personnel. The developments in interventional radiology with fluoroscopy and dose-intensive interventions require intensified radiation protection. It is recommended that all available tools should be used for this purpose. Besides the options for instruments, x‑ray protection at the intervention table must be intensively practiced with lead aprons and mounted lead glass. A special focus on eye protection to prevent cataracts is also recommended. The development of cataracts might no longer be deterministic, as confirmed by new data; therefore, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has lowered the threshold dose value for eyes from 150 mSv/year to 20 mSv/year. Measurements show that the new values can be achieved by applying all X‑ray protection measures plus lead-containing eyeglasses.

  17. Ophthalmic optical coatings: The real world can be more aggressive than you think

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mildebrath, Mark; Klemm, Karl

    2007-01-01

    Ophthalmic antireflection coatings are not normally considered to be in the same category as other traditional optical coatings with respect to environmental damage. However, as a group, eyeglass lens wearers tend to subject their optical-coated eyewear to a broader and more aggressive range of environmental aggressions than at first imagined. This paper presents the environmental aggressions and, in some detail, the resultant coating defects observed in coated ophthalmic optics. Further, development of test methods for defect replication, to enable product improvements will be discussed. Real-life environments combine thermal, chemical, and mechanical "aggressions" which spectacle lenses are subjected to. These aggressions generate optical coating defects and failure modes involving abrasion, corrosion, and loss of adhesion. In addition, market forces driven by retail customer perceptions lead to product liabilities not normally considered to be of any consequence in traditional optical coating applications.

  18. Corrective lens use and refractive error among United States Air Force aircrew.

    PubMed

    Wright, Steve T; Ivan, Douglas J; Clark, Patrick J; Gooch, John M; Thompson, William

    2010-03-01

    Corrective lens use by military aviators is an important consideration in the design of head-mounted equipment. The United States Air Force (USAF) has periodically monitored lens use by aviators; however, it has been over a decade since the last study. We provide an update on the prevalence of corrective lenses and refractive error among USAF aircrew based on eyeglass orders processed through the Spectacle Request Transmission System (SRTS). Currently, 41% of active duty USAF pilots and 54% of other aircrew require corrective lenses to perform flight duties. Refractive errors are characterized by low to moderate levels of myopia with a mean spherical equivalent power of -1.01 diopters (D) for pilots and -1.68 D for others. Contact lenses, and more recently refractive surgery, reduce the number of aircrew that must rely on spectacles when flying; however, spectacle compatibility remains an important consideration in the cockpit.

  19. Methods and apparatus for transparent display using scattering nanoparticles

    DOEpatents

    Hsu, Chia Wei; Qiu, Wenjun; Zhen, Bo; Shapira, Ofer; Soljacic, Marin

    2016-05-10

    Transparent displays enable many useful applications, including heads-up displays for cars and aircraft as well as displays on eyeglasses and glass windows. Unfortunately, transparent displays made of organic light-emitting diodes are typically expensive and opaque. Heads-up displays often require fixed light sources and have limited viewing angles. And transparent displays that use frequency conversion are typically energy inefficient. Conversely, the present transparent displays operate by scattering visible light from resonant nanoparticles with narrowband scattering cross sections and small absorption cross sections. More specifically, projecting an image onto a transparent screen doped with nanoparticles that selectively scatter light at the image wavelength(s) yields an image on the screen visible to an observer. Because the nanoparticles scatter light at only certain wavelengths, the screen is practically transparent under ambient light. Exemplary transparent scattering displays can be simple, inexpensive, scalable to large sizes, viewable over wide angular ranges, energy efficient, and transparent simultaneously.

  20. Multi-procedure management in an eyeglasses-related open globe injury

    PubMed Central

    Skopiński, Piotr; Langwińska-Wośko, Ewa; Korwin, Magdalena; Kołodziejczyk, Wojciech; Ambroziak, Anna Maria

    2014-01-01

    We present a case of successful multi-procedure management of a patient with an open globe injury. A 47-year-old man sustained an injury to his left eye caused by glass fragments of his own spectacles shattered while he was protecting an unknown woman from physical assault at a bus stop. Over a span of 65 months the patient underwent multiple procedures including primary wound repair, penetrating keratoplasty combined with extracapsular cataract extraction, neodymium: YAG laser capsulotomy, and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), and had a successfully treated episode of corneal graft rejection. This sequence of treatment substantially improved his left eye vision from hand movements at the time of admission to 0.9–0.5 × 90 at the last follow-up nearly 10 years after the trauma. Proper initial surgical management of an open globe injury can create the possibility for virtually complete vision restoration. PMID:24729818

  1. Three-dimensional display technologies

    PubMed Central

    Geng, Jason

    2014-01-01

    The physical world around us is three-dimensional (3D), yet traditional display devices can show only two-dimensional (2D) flat images that lack depth (i.e., the third dimension) information. This fundamental restriction greatly limits our ability to perceive and to understand the complexity of real-world objects. Nearly 50% of the capability of the human brain is devoted to processing visual information [Human Anatomy & Physiology (Pearson, 2012)]. Flat images and 2D displays do not harness the brain’s power effectively. With rapid advances in the electronics, optics, laser, and photonics fields, true 3D display technologies are making their way into the marketplace. 3D movies, 3D TV, 3D mobile devices, and 3D games have increasingly demanded true 3D display with no eyeglasses (autostereoscopic). Therefore, it would be very beneficial to readers of this journal to have a systematic review of state-of-the-art 3D display technologies. PMID:25530827

  2. See-through ophthalmoscope for retinal imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carpentras, Dino; Moser, Christophe

    2017-05-01

    With the miniaturization of scanning mirrors and the emergence of wearable health monitoring, an intriguing step is to investigate the potential of a laser scanning ophthalmoscope (LSO) for retinal imaging with wearable glasses. In addition to providing morphological information of the retina, such as vasculature, LSO images could also be used to provide information on general health conditions. A compact eyeglass with LSO capability would give access, on demand, to retinal parameters without disturbing the subject's activity. One of the main challenges in this field is the creation of a device that does not interrupt the user's field of view. We report, to our knowledge, the first see-through ophthalmoscope. The system is analyzed with three-dimensional simulations and tested in a proof-of-concept setup with the same key parameters of a wearable device. Finally, image quality is analyzed by acquiring images of an ex-vivo human eye sample.

  3. Contact Lenses for Color Blindness.

    PubMed

    Badawy, Abdel-Rahman; Hassan, Muhammad Umair; Elsherif, Mohamed; Ahmed, Zubair; Yetisen, Ali K; Butt, Haider

    2018-06-01

    Color vision deficiency (color blindness) is an inherited genetic ocular disorder. While no cure for this disorder currently exists, several methods can be used to increase the color perception of those affected. One such method is the use of color filtering glasses which are based on Bragg filters. While these glasses are effective, they are high cost, bulky, and incompatible with other vision correction eyeglasses. In this work, a rhodamine derivative is incorporated in commercial contact lenses to filter out the specific wavelength bands (≈545-575 nm) to correct color vision blindness. The biocompatibility assessment of the dyed contact lenses in human corneal fibroblasts and human corneal epithelial cells shows no toxicity and cell viability remains at 99% after 72 h. This study demonstrates the potential of the dyed contact lenses in wavelength filtering and color vision deficiency management. © 2018 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  4. [Observation of oral actions using digital image processing system].

    PubMed

    Ichikawa, T; Komoda, J; Horiuchi, M; Ichiba, H; Hada, M; Matsumoto, N

    1990-04-01

    A new digital image processing system to observe oral actions is proposed. The system provides analyses of motion pictures along with other physiological signals. The major components are a video tape recorder, a digital image processor, a percept scope, a CCD camera, an A/D converter and a personal computer. Five reference points were marked on the lip and eyeglasses of 9 adult subjects. Lip movements were recorded and analyzed using the system when uttering five vowels and [ka, sa, ta, ha, ra, ma, pa, ba[. 1. Positions of the lip when uttering five vowels were clearly classified. 2. Active articulatory movements of the lip were not recognized when uttering consonants [k, s, t, h, r[. It seemed lip movements were dependent on tongue and mandibular movements. Downward and rearward movements of the upper lip, and upward and forward movements of the lower lip were observed when uttering consonants [m, p, b[.

  5. Stroboscopic Goggles for Reduction of Motion Sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Reschke, M. F.; Somers, Jeffrey T.

    2005-01-01

    A device built around a pair of electronic shutters has been demonstrated to be effective as a prototype of stroboscopic goggles or eyeglasses for preventing or reducing motion sickness. The momentary opening of the shutters helps to suppress a phenomenon that is known in the art as retinal slip and is described more fully below. While a number of different environmental factors can induce motion sickness, a common factor associated with every known motion environment is sensory confusion or sensory mismatch. Motion sickness is a product of misinformation arriving at a central point in the nervous system from the senses from which one determines one s spatial orientation. When information from the eyes, ears, joints, and pressure receptors are all in agreement as to one s orientation, there is no motion sickness. When one or more sensory input(s) to the brain is not expected, or conflicts with what is anticipated, the end product is motion sickness. Normally, an observer s eye moves, compensating for the anticipated effect of motion, in such a manner that the image of an object moving relatively to an observer is held stationary on the retina. In almost every known environment that induces motion sickness, a change in the gain (in the signal-processing sense of gain ) of the vestibular system causes the motion of the eye to fail to hold images stationary on the retina, and the resulting motion of the images is termed retinal slip. The present concept of stroboscopic goggles or eyeglasses (see figure) is based on the proposition that prevention of retinal slip, and hence, the prevention of sensory mismatch, can be expected to reduce the tendency toward motion sickness. A device according to this concept helps to prevent retinal slip by providing snapshots of the visual environment through electronic shutters that are brief enough that each snapshot freezes the image on each retina. The exposure time for each snapshot is less than 5 ms. In the event that a higher rate of strobing is necessary for adequate viewing of the changing scene during rapid head movements, the rate of strobing (but not the exposure time) can be controlled in response to the readings of rate-of-rotation sensors attached to the device.

  6. Relationship between health-related quality of life, perceived family support and unmet health needs in adult patients with multimorbidity attending primary care in Portugal: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    Prazeres, Filipe; Santiago, Luiz

    2016-11-11

    Multimorbidity has a high prevalence in the primary care context and it is frequently associated with worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Few studies evaluated the variables that could have a potential effect on HRQoL of primary care patients with multimorbidity. The purpose of this study, the first of its kind ever undertaken in Portugal, is to analyse the relationship between multimorbidity, health-related quality of life, perceived family support and unmet health needs in adult patients attending primary care. Multicentre, cross-sectional survey conducted among primary care patients with multimorbidity. It included 521 participants (64.1 % females) who met the inclusion criteria. HRQoL was evaluated using the Portuguese Short Form-12 Health Status Questionnaire. The Portuguese Family APGAR was used to measure the perceived family support. A patients' unmet health needs questionnaire was used. The unmet needs for medical, surgical and dental care; prescription medications; mental healthcare or counselling; and eyeglasses or other technical aid was assessed. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. The sample had an overall average of 4.5 chronic health problems. Increased multimorbidity levels were linked to worse health-related quality of life, particularly the physical health. Some variables were confirmed as playing a role on health-related quality of life. Male patients with high monthly incomes and highly functional families had better physical and mental health. High levels of education and the presence of asthma were also associated with better physical health. Contrariwise, elderly patients with high levels of multimorbidity and with osteoarthritis had lower physical health. The majority of the patients did not have unmet health needs. When health needs were stated they were mostly for generalist medical care, dental care, and eyeglasses/other technical aid. Financial insufficiency was the primary reason for not fulfilling their health needs. To improve the quality of life of multimorbid patients, within primary care practices and health delivery systems, one should take into special account the sex of the patient, the perceived family support and the self-perceived economic status because of their relationship with both physical and mental health. Limitations and recommendations are discussed.

  7. Simplified technique for orbital prosthesis fabrication: a clinical report.

    PubMed

    Veerareddy, Chandrika; Nair, K Chandrasekharan; Reddy, G Ramaswamy

    2012-10-01

    Loss of orbital content can cause functional impairment, disfigurement of the face, and psychological distress. Rehabilitation of an orbital defect is a complex task, and if reconstruction by plastic surgery is not possible or not desired by the patient, the defect can be rehabilitated by an orbital prosthesis. The prosthetic rehabilitation in such cases depends on the precisely retained, user-friendly removable maxillofacial prosthesis. Many times, making an impression of the orbital area with an accurate record of surface details can be a difficult procedure. The critical areas are making a facial moulage, mold preparation, and attaching the retention device, particularly when eyeglass frames are used. This case focuses on these hindrance factors. A simple basket was used for the impression tray to obtain the facial moulage. A putty mold was used, and attachment of the prosthesis to a retention device was accomplished with positional distance. This method proves to be an economical and simple way of making an orbital prosthesis. © 2012 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

  8. Optical correction and quality of vision of the French soldiers stationed in the Republic of Djibouti in 2009.

    PubMed

    Vignal, Rodolphe; Ollivier, Lénaïck

    2011-03-01

    To ensure vision readiness on the battlefield, the French military has been providing its soldiers with eyewear since World War I. A military refractive surgery program was initiated in 2008. A prospective questionnaire-based investigation on optical correction and quality of vision among active duty members with visual deficiencies stationed in Djibouti, Africa, was conducted in 2009. It revealed that 59.3% of the soldiers were wearing spectacles, 21.2% were wearing contact lenses--despite official recommendations--and 8.5% had undergone refractive surgery. Satisfaction rates were high with refractive surgery and contact lenses; 33.6% of eyeglass wearers were planning to have surgery. Eye dryness and night vision disturbances were the most reported symptoms following surgery. Military optical devices were under-prescribed before deployment. This suggests that additional and more effective studies on the use of military optical devices should be performed and policy supporting refractive surgery in military populations should be strengthened.

  9. Tackling the challenges of fully immersive head-mounted AR devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Singer, Wolfgang; Hillenbrand, Matthias; Münz, Holger

    2017-11-01

    The optical requirements of fully immersive head mounted AR devices are inherently determined by the human visual system. The etendue of the visual system is large. As a consequence, the requirements for fully immersive head-mounted AR devices exceeds almost any high end optical system. Two promising solutions to achieve the large etendue and their challenges are discussed. Head-mounted augmented reality devices have been developed for decades - mostly for application within aircrafts and in combination with a heavy and bulky helmet. The established head-up displays for applications within automotive vehicles typically utilize similar techniques. Recently, there is the vision of eyeglasses with included augmentation, offering a large field of view, and being unobtrusively all-day wearable. There seems to be no simple solution to reach the functional performance requirements. Known technical solutions paths seem to be a dead-end, and some seem to offer promising perspectives, however with severe limitations. As an alternative, unobtrusively all-day wearable devices with a significantly smaller field of view are already possible.

  10. Personal identification based on prescription eyewear.

    PubMed

    Berg, Gregory E; Collins, Randall S

    2007-03-01

    This study presents a web-based tool that can be used to assist in identification of unknown individuals using spectacle prescriptions. Currently, when lens prescriptions are used in forensic identifications, investigators are constrained to a simple "match" or "no-match" judgment with an antemortem prescription. It is not possible to evaluate the strength of the conclusion, or rather, the potential or real error rates associated with the conclusion. Three databases totaling over 385,000 individual prescriptions are utilized in this study to allow forensic analysts to easily determine the strength of individuation of a spectacle match to antemortem records by calculating the frequency at which the observed prescription occurs in various U.S. populations. Optical refractive errors are explained, potential states and combinations of refractive errors are described, measuring lens corrections is discussed, and a detailed description of the databases is presented. The practical application of this system is demonstrated using two recent forensic identifications. This research provides a valuable personal identification tool that can be used in cases where eyeglass portions are recovered in forensic contexts.

  11. Femtosecond photography lessons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fanchenko, S. D.

    1999-06-01

    Antic scientists, sailors, warriors, physician, etc. were perceiving the space by means of their eye vision system. Nowadays the same people use eyeglasses, telescopes, microscopes, image converters. All these devices fit the necessary magnification, intensification gain and image spectrum to the eyes. The human brain is processing the image data offered to him in a format pertaining to eyes. Hence, the cognition of images can be regarded as a direct measurement. As to the time scale converters, they turned out to be harder done as compared with the spatial scale converters. Hence, the development of the high-speed photography (HSP) continues for more than a hundred and fifty years. The recent pico- femtosecond HSP branch sprang up in 1949 at the Kurchatov Institute -- its cradle. All about the HSP had been advertised. Instead of reprinting what is already well known, it makes sense to emphasize some instructive lessons drawn from past experience. Also it is tempting to look a bit into the high-speed photography future.

  12. Minimum visual requirements in different occupations in Finland.

    PubMed

    Aine, E

    1984-01-01

    In Finland the employers can individually fix the minimum visual requirements for their personnel in almost every occupation. In transportation, in police and national defence proper eyesight is regarded so important that strict visual requirements for these have been fixed by the Government. The regulations are often more close when accepting the person to the occupation than later on when working. The minimum requirements are mostly stated for visual acuity, colour perception and visual fields. In some occupations the regulations concern also the refractive error of the eyes and possible eye diseases. In aviation the regulations have been stated by the International Civil Aviation Organization ( ICAO ). The minimum visual requirements for a driving license in highway traffic are classed according to the types of motor vehicles. In railways , maritime commerce and national defence the task of the worker determines the specified regulations. The policeman must have a distant visual acuity of 0.5 without eyeglasses in both eyes and nearly normal colour perception when starting the training course.

  13. Eyeglass Large Aperture, Lightweight Space Optics FY2000 - FY2002 LDRD Strategic Initiative

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

    Hyde, R

    2003-02-10

    A series of studies by the Air Force, the National Reconnaissance Office and NASA have identified the critical role played by large optics in fulfilling many of the space related missions of these agencies. Whether it is the Next Generation Space Telescope for NASA, high resolution imaging systems for NRO, or beam weaponry for the Air Force, the diameter of the primary optic is central to achieving high resolution (imaging) or a small spot size on target (lethality). While the detailed requirements differ for each application (high resolution imaging over the visible and near-infrared for earth observation, high damage thresholdmore » but single-wavelength operation for directed energy), the challenges of a large, lightweight primary optic which is space compatible and operates with high efficiency are the same. The advantage of such large optics to national surveillance applications is that it permits these observations to be carried-out with much greater effectiveness than with smaller optics. For laser weapons, the advantage is that it permits more tightly focused beams which can be leveraged into either greater effective range, reduced laser power, and/or smaller on-target spot-sizes; weapon systems can be made either much more effective or much less expensive. This application requires only single-wavelength capability, but places an emphasis upon robust, rapidly targetable optics. The advantages of large aperture optics to astronomy are that it increases the sensitivity and resolution with which we can view the universe. This can be utilized either for general purpose astronomy, allowing us to examine greater numbers of objects in more detail and at greater range, or it can enable the direct detection and detailed examination of extra-solar planets. This application requires large apertures (for both light-gathering and resolution reasons), with broad-band spectral capability, but does not emphasize either large fields-of-view or pointing agility. Despite differences in their requirements and implementations, the fundamental difficulty in utilizing large aperture optics is the same for all of these applications: It is extremely difficult to design large aperture space optics which are both optically precise and can meet the practical requirements for launch and deployment in space. At LLNL we have developed a new concept (Eyeglass) which uses large diffractive optics to solve both of these difficulties; greatly reducing both the mass and the tolerance requirements for large aperture optics. During previous LDRD-supported research, we developed this concept, built and tested broadband diffractive telescopes, and built 50 cm aperture diffraction-limited diffractive lenses (the largest in the world). This work is fully described in UCRL-ID-136262, Eyeglass: A Large Aperture Space Telescope. However, there is a large gap between optical proof-of-principle with sub-meter apertures, and actual 50 meter space telescopes. This gap is far too large (both in financial resources and in spacecraft expertise) to be filled internally at LLNL; implementation of large aperture diffractive space telescopes must be done externally using non-LLNL resources and expertise. While LLNL will never become the primary contractor and integrator for large space optical systems, our natural role is to enable these devices by developing the capability of producing very large diffractive optics. Accordingly, the purpose of the Large Aperture, Lightweight Space Optics Strategic Initiative was to develop the technology to fabricate large, lightweight diffractive lenses. The additional purpose of this Strategic Initiative was, of course, to demonstrate this lens-fabrication capability in a fashion compellingly enough to attract the external support necessary to continue along the path to full-scale space-based telescopes. During this 3 year effort (FY2000-FY2002) we have developed the capability of optically smoothing and diffractively-patterning thin meter-sized sheets of glass into lens panels. We have also developed alignment and seaming techniques which allow individual lens panels to be assembled together, forming a much larger, segmented, diffractive lens. The capabilities provided by this LDRD-supported developmental effort were then demonstrated by the fabrication and testing of a lightweight, 5 meter aperture, diffractive lens.« less

  14. Design and development of multilayer wideband antireflection coating and its annealing study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jena, S.; Tokas, R. B.; Udupa, D. V.; Thakur, S.; Sahoo, N. K.

    2018-04-01

    Reflection loss occurs at the glass-air interface, limits performance of many optical devices such as eyeglass, camera lenses, and photovoltaic solar cells. Antireflection (AR) coating on the glass reduces the reflection loss and improves efficiency of such devices. In this paper, wideband AR coating in the visible region has been designed and developed using ZrO2-MgO/SiO2 multilayer. The thicknesses of individual thin layers are numerically optimized to get maximum transmission of the visible light. The optimized four thin layers have been deposited on BK7 glass substrate using electron beam evaporation technique. The measured transmission spectrum of the 4-layer AR coating is compared with that of simulated spectrum. The transmission of the single side AR coating increases by more than 3% as compared to that of bare glass substrate in the wavelength region of 470 nm - 810 nm. The wideband AR coating has been annealed at 200°C for 4 hours in ambient condition. The transmission of the AR coating decreases after the annealing, resulting degradation in its wideband AR characteristics.

  15. Violet Light Exposure Can Be a Preventive Strategy Against Myopia Progression.

    PubMed

    Torii, Hidemasa; Kurihara, Toshihide; Seko, Yuko; Negishi, Kazuno; Ohnuma, Kazuhiko; Inaba, Takaaki; Kawashima, Motoko; Jiang, Xiaoyan; Kondo, Shinichiro; Miyauchi, Maki; Miwa, Yukihiro; Katada, Yusaku; Mori, Kiwako; Kato, Keiichi; Tsubota, Kinya; Goto, Hiroshi; Oda, Mayumi; Hatori, Megumi; Tsubota, Kazuo

    2017-02-01

    Prevalence of myopia is increasing worldwide. Outdoor activity is one of the most important environmental factors for myopia control. Here we show that violet light (VL, 360-400nm wavelength) suppresses myopia progression. First, we confirmed that VL suppressed the axial length (AL) elongation in the chick myopia model. Expression microarray analyses revealed that myopia suppressive gene EGR1 was upregulated by VL exposure. VL exposure induced significantly higher upregulation of EGR1 in chick chorioretinal tissues than blue light under the same conditions. Next, we conducted clinical research retrospectively to compare the AL elongation among myopic children who wore eyeglasses (VL blocked) and two types of contact lenses (partially VL blocked and VL transmitting). The data showed the VL transmitting contact lenses suppressed myopia progression most. These results suggest that VL is one of the important outdoor environmental factors for myopia control. Since VL is apt to be excluded from our modern society due to the excessive UV protection, VL exposure can be a preventive strategy against myopia progression. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Techniques calm fear of imaging machine

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

    Van Pelt, D.

    1990-04-02

    Magnetic resonance imaging has become a valuable tool in diagnosing diseases, and the imaging devices are now used as often as 2 million times a year in the United States. But as many as 10 percent of patients advised to undergo the procedure cannot because they become overwhelmed with claustrophobialike fear triggered by having to lie motionless in the machine's tunnel-like cylinder for about 45 minutes. To counteract this fear, several hospitals now practice various techniques to help reduce the feelings of confinement. One popular method is to give a patient special eyeglasses that allow him to look beyond hismore » feet and see the tunnel opening. Other glasses use mirrors to direct the patient's vision out the back of the unit to large wilderness photographs or murals that simulate a sense of spaciousness. Even a basic item like a set of headphones that plays music can often distract a patient, and technicians frequently hold a patient's hand or foot during the procedure. Another trick is to invite family members and friends to remain with the patient during the scan to provide company and reassurance.« less

  17. Health Related Aspects of Artificial Light

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hansler, Richard; Kubulins, Vilnis; Carome, Edward

    2011-04-01

    It was long thought that the "sleep hormone," melatonin, is produced by the pineal gland only when the eyes are in darkness. Thus, in developed countries, due to the use of electric lighting after dark, melatonin production usually occurs only when one is asleep. For most people, this is substantially less than the 9 to 10 hour production time capability of the pineal gland. However, in 2001 it was discovered that not all light, but mainly a band of wavelengths in the blue portion of the spectrum, below 530nm, suppresses melatonin production. On learning this, and that melatonin is a very active cancer fighting antioxidant and has many other health promoting properties, it was decided to make available lighting products that can enhance melatonin production. Included are lamps that do not emit the offending blue wavelengths and eyeglasses that filter out the blue portion of the spectrum. These and other related products are meant to be used for several hours in the evening, before retiring, thus maximizing the pineal gland's production time. The effects of their use on sleep and several other health related conditions are discussed.

  18. Deflectometry challenges interferometry: the competition gets tougher!

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faber, Christian; Olesch, Evelyn; Krobot, Roman; Häusler, Gerd

    2012-09-01

    Deflectometric methods that are capable of providing full-field topography data for specular freeform surfaces have been around for more than a decade. They have proven successful in various fields of application, such as the measurement of progressive power eyeglasses, painted car body panels, or windshields. However, up to now deflectometry has not been considered as a viable competitor to interferometry, especially for the qualification of optical components. The reason is that, despite the unparalleled local sensitivity provided by deflectometric methods, the global height accuracy attainable with this measurement technique used to be limited to several microns over a field of 100 mm. Moreover, spurious reflections at the rear surface of transparent objects could easily mess up the measured signal completely. Due to new calibration and evaluation procedures, this situation has changed lately. We will give a comparative assessment of the strengths and - now partly revised - weaknesses of both measurement principles from the current perspective. By presenting recent developments and measurement examples from different applications, we will show that deflectometry is now heading to become a serious competitor to interferometry.

  19. Eyeglasses for Children - a Survey of Daily Practice.

    PubMed

    Hagander, C E; Traber, G; Landau, K; Jaggi, G P

    2016-04-01

    Glasses for children are recommended and prescribed by different groups of professionals. We set out to compare the prescription practices of ophthalmologists, orthoptists and optometrists/opticians in Switzerland. Online questionnaire on the prescription and recommendation of glasses in fictitious cases of children of different ages, refractive values and symptoms. The questionnaire was sent out to members of the Swiss Ophthalmological Society, Swiss Orthoptics and Schweizerischer Berufsverband für Augenoptik und Optometrie. 307 questionnaires were analysed. Optometrists/opticians recommended glasses with a significantly smaller cycloplegic refraction value (p < 0.005) than did orthoptists and ophthalmologists. In the example of a 14-year-old asymptomatic child, ophthalmologists recommended glasses at + 2.64 [Dpt], orthoptists at + 2.44 [Dpt] and optometrists/opticians at + 1.32 [Dpt]. Optometrists/opticians tended to recommend slightly higher correction values in glasses than did ophthalmologists and orthoptists. In Switzerland, optometrists/opticians recommend glasses with significantly smaller cycloplegic refraction values than do orthoptists and ophthalmologists, regardless of age or symptoms described in these fictitious cases. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  20. Overview of refractive surgery.

    PubMed

    Bower, K S; Weichel, E D; Kim, T J

    2001-10-01

    Patients with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can now reduce or eliminate their dependence on contact lenses and eyeglasses through refractive surgery that includes radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) and intrastromal corneal rings (ICR). Since the approval of the excimer laser in 1995, the popularity of RK has declined because of the superior outcomes from PRK and LASIK. In patients with low-to-moderate myopia, PRK produces stable and predictable results with an excellent safety profile. LASIK is also efficacious, predictable and safe, with the additional advantages of rapid vision recovery and minimal pain. LASIK has rapidly become the most widely performed refractive surgery, with high patient and surgeon satisfaction. Noncontact Holium: YAG LTK provides satisfactory correction in patients with low hyperopia. ICR offers patients with low myopia the potential advantage of removal if the vision outcome is unsatisfactory. Despite the current widespread advertising and media attention about laser refractive surgery, not all patients are good candidates for this surgery. Family physicians should be familiar with the different refractive surgeries and their potential complications.

  1. New ultraportable display technology and applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alvelda, Phillip; Lewis, Nancy D.

    1998-08-01

    MicroDisplay devices are based on a combination of technologies rooted in the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS active-matrix liquid crystal display substrates. Customized diffraction grating and optical distortion correction technology for lens-system compensation allow the elimination of many lenses and systems-level components. The MicroDisplay Corporation's miniature integrated information display technology is rapidly leading to many new defense and commercial applications. There are no moving parts in MicroDisplay substrates, and the fabrication of the color generating gratings, already part of the CMOS circuit fabrication process, is effectively cost and manufacturing process-free. The entire suite of the MicroDisplay Corporation's technologies was devised to create a line of application- specific integrated circuit single-chip display systems with integrated computing, memory, and communication circuitry. Next-generation portable communication, computer, and consumer electronic devices such as truly portable monitor and TV projectors, eyeglass and head mounted displays, pagers and Personal Communication Services hand-sets, and wristwatch-mounted video phones are among the may target commercial markets for MicroDisplay technology. Defense applications range from Maintenance and Repair support, to night-vision systems, to portable projectors for mobile command and control centers.

  2. Invisible ink mark detection in the visible spectrum using absorption difference.

    PubMed

    Lee, Joong; Kong, Seong G; Kang, Tae-Yi; Kim, Byounghyun; Jeon, Oc-Yeub

    2014-03-01

    One of popular techniques in gambling fraud involves the use of invisible ink marks printed on the back surface of playing cards. Such covert patterns are transparent in the visible spectrum and therefore invisible to unaided human eyes. Invisible patterns can be made visible with ultraviolet (UV) illumination or a CCD camera installed with an infrared (IR) filter depending on the type of ink materials used. Cheating gamers often wear contact lenses or eyeglasses made of IR or UV filters to recognize the secret marks on the playing cards. This paper presents an image processing technique to reveal invisible ink patterns in the visible spectrum without the aid of special equipment such as UV lighting or IR filters. A printed invisible ink pattern leaves a thin coating on the surface with different refractive index for different wavelengths of light, which results in color dispersion or absorption difference. The proposed method finds the differences of color components caused by absorption difference to detect invisible ink patterns on the surface. Experiment results show that the proposed scheme is effective for both UV-active and IR-active invisible ink materials. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. A novel device for head gesture measurement system in combination with eye-controlled human machine interface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lin, Chern-Sheng; Ho, Chien-Wa; Chang, Kai-Chieh; Hung, San-Shan; Shei, Hung-Jung; Yeh, Mau-Shiun

    2006-06-01

    This study describes the design and combination of an eye-controlled and a head-controlled human-machine interface system. This system is a highly effective human-machine interface, detecting head movement by changing positions and numbers of light sources on the head. When the users utilize the head-mounted display to browse a computer screen, the system will catch the images of the user's eyes with CCD cameras, which can also measure the angle and position of the light sources. In the eye-tracking system, the program in the computer will locate each center point of the pupils in the images, and record the information on moving traces and pupil diameters. In the head gesture measurement system, the user wears a double-source eyeglass frame, so the system catches images of the user's head by using a CCD camera in front of the user. The computer program will locate the center point of the head, transferring it to the screen coordinates, and then the user can control the cursor by head motions. We combine the eye-controlled and head-controlled human-machine interface system for the virtual reality applications.

  4. An embedded system for face classification in infrared video using sparse representation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saavedra M., Antonio; Pezoa, Jorge E.; Zarkesh-Ha, Payman; Figueroa, Miguel

    2017-09-01

    We propose a platform for robust face recognition in Infrared (IR) images using Compressive Sensing (CS). In line with CS theory, the classification problem is solved using a sparse representation framework, where test images are modeled by means of a linear combination of the training set. Because the training set constitutes an over-complete dictionary, we identify new images by finding their sparsest representation based on the training set, using standard l1-minimization algorithms. Unlike conventional face-recognition algorithms, we feature extraction is performed using random projections with a precomputed binary matrix, as proposed in the CS literature. This random sampling reduces the effects of noise and occlusions such as facial hair, eyeglasses, and disguises, which are notoriously challenging in IR images. Thus, the performance of our framework is robust to these noise and occlusion factors, achieving an average accuracy of approximately 90% when the UCHThermalFace database is used for training and testing purposes. We implemented our framework on a high-performance embedded digital system, where the computation of the sparse representation of IR images was performed by a dedicated hardware using a deeply pipelined architecture on an Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

  5. Switchable electro-optic diffractive lens with high efficiency for ophthalmic applications

    PubMed Central

    Li, Guoqiang; Mathine, David L.; Valley, Pouria; Äyräs, Pekka; Haddock, Joshua N.; Giridhar, M. S.; Williby, Gregory; Schwiegerling, Jim; Meredith, Gerald R.; Kippelen, Bernard; Honkanen, Seppo; Peyghambarian, Nasser

    2006-01-01

    Presbyopia is an age-related loss of accommodation of the human eye that manifests itself as inability to shift focus from distant to near objects. Assuming no refractive error, presbyopes have clear vision of distant objects; they require reading glasses for viewing near objects. Area-divided bifocal lenses are one example of a treatment for this problem. However, the field of view is limited in such eyeglasses, requiring the user to gaze down to accomplish near-vision tasks and in some cases causing dizziness and discomfort. Here, we report on previously undescribed switchable, flat, liquid-crystal diffractive lenses that can adaptively change their focusing power. The operation of these spectacle lenses is based on electrical control of the refractive index of a 5-μm-thick layer of nematic liquid crystal using a circular array of photolithographically defined transparent electrodes. It operates with high transmission, low voltage (<2 Vrms), fast response (<1 sec), diffraction efficiency > 90%, small aberrations, and a power-failure-safe configuration. These results represent significant advance in state-of-the-art liquid-crystal diffractive lenses for vision care and other applications. They have the potential of revolutionizing the field of presbyopia correction when combined with automatic adjustable focusing power. PMID:16597675

  6. A learning assessment procedure to re-evaluate three persons with a diagnosis of post-coma vegetative state and pervasive motor impairment.

    PubMed

    Lancioni, Giulio E; Singh, Nirbhay N; O'Reilly, Mark F; Sigafoos, Jeff; de Tommaso, Marina; Megna, Gianfranco; Bosco, Andrea; Buonocunto, Francesca; Sacco, Valentina; Chiapparino, Claudia

    2009-02-01

    Detecting signs of learning in persons with a diagnosis of post-coma vegetative state and profound motor disabilities could modify their diagnostic label and provide new hopes. In this study, three adults with such a diagnosis were exposed to learning assessment to search for those signs. PROCEDURE AND DESIGN: The assessment procedure relied on participants' eye-blinking responses and microswitch-based technology. The technology consisted of an electronically regulated optic microswitch mounted on an eyeglasses' frame that the participants wore during the study and an electronic control system connected to stimulus sources. Each participant followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. The level of responding during the B phases was significantly higher than the levels observed during the A phases as well as the C phase for all participants (i.e. indicating clear signs of learning by them). These findings may have important implications for (a) changing the participants' diagnostic label and offering them new programme opportunities and (b) including learning assessment within the evaluation package used for persons with post-coma profound multiple disabilities.

  7. UV Induced Degradation of Polycarbonate-Based Lens Materials and Implications for the Heath Care Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Harkay, J. Russell; Henry, Jerry

    2007-04-01

    Experimental undergraduate research at Keene State College has utilized facilities in physics and chemistry and at Polyonics, a local firm to study the effects of mono- and polychromatic UV radiation from various sources, including a Deuterium lamp, a solarization unit, a monochromator, and natural sunlight to study the photodegradation of polycarbonate-based lens materials used to produce eyewear using spectrophotometry and FTIR analysis. Ophthalmologic literature indicates a correlation between exposure to the UVB band of sunlight and the onset of cataract formation and macular degeneration. It is well known that polycarbonate plastic ``yellows'' when exposed to intense sunlight and, particularly, UV light either via photo-Fries rearrangement or by a photo oxidative process, forming polyconjugated systems and is a concern primarily for cosmetic reasons. Our data indicates that the ``yellowing'' is an indication of a more sinister problem in the case of eyeglasses in that spectrophotometric comparison shows it is accompanied by an increase in transmissivity in the UVB band where the wearer expects and needs protection. FTIR results indicate a degradation of molecular stabilizers and the appearance of free radicals that indicate a breakdown of the resin's chemical structure. To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.NES07.B1.4

  8. The Effectiveness and Clinical Usability of a Handheld Information Appliance

    PubMed Central

    Abbott, Patricia A.

    2012-01-01

    Clinical environments are complex, stressful, and safety critical—heightening the demand for technological solutions that will help clinicians manage health information efficiently and safely. The industry has responded by creating numerous, increasingly compact and powerful health IT devices that fit in a pocket, hook to a belt, attach to eyeglasses, or wheel around on a cart. Untethering a provider from a physical “place” with compact, mobile technology while delivering the right information at the right time and at the right location are generally welcomed in clinical environments. These developments however, must be looked at ecumenically. The cognitive load of clinicians who are occupied with managing or operating several different devices during the process of a patient encounter is increased, and we know from decades of research that cognitive overload frequently leads to error. “Technology crowding,” enhanced by the plethora of mobile health IT, can actually become an additional millstone for busy clinicians. This study was designed to gain a deeper understanding of clinicians' interactions with a mobile clinical computing appliance (Motion Computing C5) designed to consolidate numerous technological functions into an all-in-one device. Features of usability and comparisons to current methods of documentation and task performance were undertaken and results are described. PMID:22548159

  9. Refractive errors.

    PubMed

    Schiefer, Ulrich; Kraus, Christina; Baumbach, Peter; Ungewiß, Judith; Michels, Ralf

    2016-10-14

    All over the world, refractive errors are among the most frequently occuring treatable distur - bances of visual function. Ametropias have a prevalence of nearly 70% among adults in Germany and are thus of great epidemiologic and socio-economic relevance. In the light of their own clinical experience, the authors review pertinent articles retrieved by a selective literature search employing the terms "ametropia, "anisometropia," "refraction," "visual acuity," and epidemiology." In 2011, only 31% of persons over age 16 in Germany did not use any kind of visual aid; 63.4% wore eyeglasses and 5.3% wore contact lenses. Refractive errors were the most common reason for consulting an ophthalmologist, accounting for 21.1% of all outpatient visits. A pinhole aperture (stenopeic slit) is a suitable instrument for the basic diagnostic evaluation of impaired visual function due to optical factors. Spherical refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia), cylindrical refractive errors (astigmatism), unequal refractive errors in the two eyes (anisometropia), and the typical optical disturbance of old age (presbyopia) cause specific functional limitations and can be detected by a physician who does not need to be an ophthalmologist. Simple functional tests can be used in everyday clinical practice to determine quickly, easily, and safely whether the patient is suffering from a benign and easily correctable type of visual impairment, or whether there are other, more serious underlying causes.

  10. Processing of Acoustic Cues in Lexical-Tone Identification by Pediatric Cochlear-Implant Recipients

    PubMed Central

    Peng, Shu-Chen; Lu, Hui-Ping; Lu, Nelson; Lin, Yung-Song; Deroche, Mickael L. D.

    2017-01-01

    Purpose The objective was to investigate acoustic cue processing in lexical-tone recognition by pediatric cochlear-implant (CI) recipients who are native Mandarin speakers. Method Lexical-tone recognition was assessed in pediatric CI recipients and listeners with normal hearing (NH) in 2 tasks. In Task 1, participants identified naturally uttered words that were contrastive in lexical tones. For Task 2, a disyllabic word (yanjing) was manipulated orthogonally, varying in fundamental-frequency (F0) contours and duration patterns. Participants identified each token with the second syllable jing pronounced with Tone 1 (a high level tone) as eyes or with Tone 4 (a high falling tone) as eyeglasses. Results CI participants' recognition accuracy was significantly lower than NH listeners' in Task 1. In Task 2, CI participants' reliance on F0 contours was significantly less than that of NH listeners; their reliance on duration patterns, however, was significantly higher than that of NH listeners. Both CI and NH listeners' performance in Task 1 was significantly correlated with their reliance on F0 contours in Task 2. Conclusion For pediatric CI recipients, lexical-tone recognition using naturally uttered words is primarily related to their reliance on F0 contours, although duration patterns may be used as an additional cue. PMID:28388709

  11. Characterization of photoluminescence spectra from poly allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) upon excitation with the ultraviolet radiation of various wavelengths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    El Ghazaly, M.; Al-Thomali, Talal A.

    2013-04-01

    The induced photoluminescence (PL) from the π-conjugated polymer poly allyl diglycol carbonate (PADC) (CR-39) upon excitation with the ultraviolet radiation of different wavelengths was investigated. The absorption and attenuation coefficients of PADC (CR-39) were recorded using a UV-visible spectrometer. It was found that the absorption and attenuation coefficients of the PADC (CR-39) exhibit a strong dependence on the wavelength of ultraviolet radiation. The PL spectra were measured with a Flormax-4 spectrofluorometer (Horiba). PADC (CR-39) samples were excited by ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths in the range from 260 to 420 nm and the corresponding PL emission bands were recorded. The obtained results show a strong correlation between the PL and the excitation wavelength of ultraviolet radiation. The position of the fluorescence emission band peak was red shifted starting from 300 nm, which was increased with the increase in the excitation wavelength. The PL yield and its band peak height were increased with the increase in the excitation wavelength till 290 nm, thereafter they decreased exponentially with the increase in the ultraviolet radiation wavelength. These new findings should be considered carefully during the use of the PADC (CR-39) in the scientific applications and in using PADC (CR-39) in eyeglasses.

  12. The Unmet Health Care Needs of Homeless Adults: A National Study

    PubMed Central

    O'Connell, James J.; Singer, Daniel E.; Rigotti, Nancy A.

    2010-01-01

    Objectives. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of past-year unmet needs for 5 types of health care services in a national sample of homeless adults. Methods. We analyzed data from 966 adult respondents to the 2003 Health Care for the Homeless User Survey, a sample representing more than 436 000 individuals nationally. Using multivariable logistic regression, we determined the independent predictors of each type of unmet need. Results. Seventy-three percent of the respondents reported at least one unmet health need, including an inability to obtain needed medical or surgical care (32%), prescription medications (36%), mental health care (21%), eyeglasses (41%), and dental care (41%). In multivariable analyses, significant predictors of unmet needs included food insufficiency, out-of-home placement as a minor, vision impairment, and lack of health insurance. Individuals who had been employed in the past year were more likely than those who had not to be uninsured and to have unmet needs for medical care and prescription medications. Conclusions. This national sample of homeless adults reported substantial unmet needs for multiple types of health care. Expansion of health insurance may improve health care access for homeless adults, but addressing the unique challenges inherent to homelessness will also be required. PMID:20466953

  13. A new apparatus of infrared videopupillography for monitoring pupil size

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ko, M.-L.; Huang, T.-W.; Chen, Y.-Y.; Sone, B.-S.; Huang, Y.-C.; Jeng, W.-D.; Chen, Y.-T.; Hsieh, Y.-F.; Tao, K.-H.; Li, S.-T.; Ou-Yang, M.; Chiou, J.-C.

    2013-09-01

    Glaucoma was diagnosed or tracked by the intraocular pressure (IOP) generally because it is one of the physiology parameters that are associated with glaucoma. But measurement of IOP is not easy and consistence under different measure conditions. An infrared videopupillography is apparatus to monitor the pupil size in an attempt to bypass the direct IOP measurement. This paper propose an infrared videopupillography to monitoring the pupil size of different light stimulus in dark room. The portable infrared videopupillography contains a camera, a beam splitter, the visible-light LEDs for stimulating the eyes, and the infrared LEDs for lighting the eyes. It is lighter and smaller than the present product. It can modulate for different locations of different eyes, and can be mounted on any eyeglass frame. An analysis program of pupil size can evaluate the pupil diameter by image correlation. In our experiments, the eye diameter curves were not smooth and jagged. It caused by the light spots, lone eyelashes, and blink. In the future, we will improve the analysis program of pupil size and seek the approach to solve the LED light spots. And we hope this infrared videopupillography proposed in this paper can be a measuring platform to explore the relations between the different diseases and pupil response.

  14. An automatic iris occlusion estimation method based on high-dimensional density estimation.

    PubMed

    Li, Yung-Hui; Savvides, Marios

    2013-04-01

    Iris masks play an important role in iris recognition. They indicate which part of the iris texture map is useful and which part is occluded or contaminated by noisy image artifacts such as eyelashes, eyelids, eyeglasses frames, and specular reflections. The accuracy of the iris mask is extremely important. The performance of the iris recognition system will decrease dramatically when the iris mask is inaccurate, even when the best recognition algorithm is used. Traditionally, people used the rule-based algorithms to estimate iris masks from iris images. However, the accuracy of the iris masks generated this way is questionable. In this work, we propose to use Figueiredo and Jain's Gaussian Mixture Models (FJ-GMMs) to model the underlying probabilistic distributions of both valid and invalid regions on iris images. We also explored possible features and found that Gabor Filter Bank (GFB) provides the most discriminative information for our goal. Finally, we applied Simulated Annealing (SA) technique to optimize the parameters of GFB in order to achieve the best recognition rate. Experimental results show that the masks generated by the proposed algorithm increase the iris recognition rate on both ICE2 and UBIRIS dataset, verifying the effectiveness and importance of our proposed method for iris occlusion estimation.

  15. A technology-assisted learning setup as assessment supplement for three persons with a diagnosis of post-coma vegetative state and pervasive motor impairment.

    PubMed

    Lancioni, Giulio E; Singh, Nirbhay N; O'Reilly, Mark F; Sigafoos, Jeff; Buonocunto, Francesca; Sacco, Valentina; Colonna, Fabio; Navarro, Jorge; Lanzilotti, Crocifissa; Bosco, Andrea; Megna, Gianfranco; De Tommaso, Marina

    2009-01-01

    Post-coma persons in an apparent condition of vegetative state and pervasive motor impairment pose serious problems in terms of assessment and intervention options. A technology-based learning assessment procedure might serve for them as a diagnostic supplement with possible implications for rehabilitation intervention. The learning assessment procedure adopted in this study relied on hand-closure and eye-blinking responses and on microswitch technology to detect such responses and to present stimuli. Three participants were involved in the study. The technology consisted of a touch/pressure sensor fixed on the hand or an optic sensor mounted on an eyeglasses' frame, which were combined with a control system linked to stimulus sources. The study adopted an ABABCB sequence, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. Data showed that the level of responding during the B phases was significantly higher than the levels observed during the A phases as well as the C phase for two of the three participants (i.e., indicating clear signs of learning by them). Learning might be deemed to represent basic levels of knowledge/consciousness. Thus, detecting signs of learning might help one revise a previous diagnosis of vegetative state with wide implications for rehabilitation perspectives.

  16. Potential lost productivity resulting from the global burden of uncorrected refractive error.

    PubMed

    Smith, T S T; Frick, K D; Holden, B A; Fricke, T R; Naidoo, K S

    2009-06-01

    To estimate the potential global economic productivity loss associated with the existing burden of visual impairment from uncorrected refractive error (URE). Conservative assumptions and national population, epidemiological and economic data were used to estimate the purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product (PPP-adjusted GDP) loss for all individuals with impaired vision and blindness, and for individuals with normal sight who provide them with informal care. An estimated 158.1 million cases of visual impairment resulted from uncorrected or undercorrected refractive error in 2007; of these, 8.7 million were blind. We estimated the global economic productivity loss in international dollars (I$) associated with this burden at I$ 427.7 billion before, and I$ 268.8 billion after, adjustment for country-specific labour force participation and employment rates. With the same adjustment, but assuming no economic productivity for individuals aged > 50 years, we estimated the potential productivity loss at I$ 121.4 billion. Even under the most conservative assumptions, the total estimated productivity loss, in $I, associated with visual impairment from URE is approximately a thousand times greater than the global number of cases. The cost of scaling up existing refractive services to meet this burden is unknown, but if each affected individual were to be provided with appropriate eyeglasses for less than I$ 1000, a net economic gain may be attainable.

  17. The Right Track for Vision Correction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2003-01-01

    More and more people are putting away their eyeglasses and contact lenses as a result of laser vision correction surgery. LASIK, the most widely performed version of this surgical procedure, improves vision by reshaping the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, using an excimer laser. One excimer laser system, Alcon s LADARVision 4000, utilizes a laser radar (LADAR) eye tracking device that gives it unmatched precision. During LASIK surgery, laser During LASIK surgery, laser pulses must be accurately placed to reshape the cornea. A challenge to this procedure is the patient s constant eye movement. A person s eyes make small, involuntary movements known as saccadic movements about 100 times per second. Since the saccadic movements will not stop during LASIK surgery, most excimer laser systems use an eye tracking device that measures the movements and guides the placement of the laser beam. LADARVision s eye tracking device stems from the LADAR technology originally developed through several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with NASA s Johnson Space Center and the U.S. Department of Defense s Ballistic Missile Defense Office (BMDO). In the 1980s, Johnson awarded Autonomous Technologies Corporation a Phase I SBIR contract to develop technology for autonomous rendezvous and docking of space vehicles to service satellites. During Phase II of the Johnson SBIR contract, Autonomous Technologies developed a prototype range and velocity imaging LADAR to demonstrate technology that could be used for this purpose.

  18. The Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS): translation and psychometric evaluation of a Chinese (Taiwanese) version.

    PubMed

    Hsieh, Yi-Ju; Lenker, James A

    2006-01-01

    Chinese language instruments for measuring the impact of assistive technology are needed. This article reports on the development and preliminary evaluation of a Chinese (Taiwanese) translation of the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale. The language translation process followed standard procedures for cross-cultural adaptation, including: two versions of forward and backward translations, committee review, and pilot testing with bilingual participants. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of the Chinese PIADS (C-PIADS) were evaluated with 60 participants from Taiwan who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. Cronbach's alpha values for internal consistency ranged from 0.72 to 0.93 for the C-PIADS total scale and three subscales. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient analysis, which produced values ranging from 0.79 to 0.88 for the overall C-PIADS score and three sub-scales. Overall C-PIADS scores were not statistically different from data obtained from a similar device user population in the original PIADS validation study. The results of our preliminary psychometric assessment support continued development of the C-PIADS. Future research should focus on three things: additional data collection from a similar participant population, data collection from people with disabilities using assistive technology in Taiwan; and modification of the C-PIADS for use in other Mandarin-speaking regions, e.g., China and Hong Kong.

  19. Potential lost productivity resulting from the global burden of uncorrected refractive error

    PubMed Central

    Frick, KD; Holden, BA; Fricke, TR; Naidoo, KS

    2009-01-01

    Abstract Objective To estimate the potential global economic productivity loss associated with the existing burden of visual impairment from uncorrected refractive error (URE). Methods Conservative assumptions and national population, epidemiological and economic data were used to estimate the purchasing power parity-adjusted gross domestic product (PPP-adjusted GDP) loss for all individuals with impaired vision and blindness, and for individuals with normal sight who provide them with informal care. Findings An estimated 158.1 million cases of visual impairment resulted from uncorrected or undercorrected refractive error in 2007; of these, 8.7 million were blind. We estimated the global economic productivity loss in international dollars (I$) associated with this burden at I$ 427.7 billion before, and I$ 268.8 billion after, adjustment for country-specific labour force participation and employment rates. With the same adjustment, but assuming no economic productivity for individuals aged ≥ 50 years, we estimated the potential productivity loss at I$ 121.4 billion. Conclusion Even under the most conservative assumptions, the total estimated productivity loss, in $I, associated with visual impairment from URE is approximately a thousand times greater than the global number of cases. The cost of scaling up existing refractive services to meet this burden is unknown, but if each affected individual were to be provided with appropriate eyeglasses for less than I$ 1000, a net economic gain may be attainable. PMID:19565121

  20. Willingness to use follow-up eye care services after vision screening in rural areas surrounding Chennai, India.

    PubMed

    Su, Zhuo; Wang, Bing Q; Staple-Clark, Jennifer B; Buys, Yvonne M; Forster, Susan H

    2014-08-01

    To assess the willingness to utilise follow-up eye care services among participants of community vision screenings in rural villages surrounding Chennai. Vision screening participants aged ≥40 years were selected by systematic sampling and were invited to respond to a pretested verbal survey with close-ended questions before undergoing screening. Two hundred and ninety-two people responded. Among the respondents, 50.3% reported experiencing an eye problem, and 53% of these individuals had never had an eye examination. Acceptance rate for eye surgery, medications, and eyeglasses among the respondents was 59.2%, 52.7% and 90.8%, respectively. These acceptances were not associated with sex, age, or employment; medication acceptance was inversely associated with literacy. Surgery acceptance and medication acceptance were associated with area of residence. Presence of another chronic disease was a predictor for surgery acceptance among respondents experiencing eye problems. Maintaining consistent quality of services delivered is crucial for increasing uptake of existing eye care services. Educational interventions may increase eye care service usage by targeting all demographic subgroups of rural populations equally. Additional interventions should be offered to patients without previous exposure to the healthcare system. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  1. Intraocular camera for retinal prostheses: Refractive and diffractive lens systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hauer, Michelle Christine

    The focus of this thesis is on the design and analysis of refractive, diffractive, and hybrid refractive/diffractive lens systems for a miniaturized camera that can be surgically implanted in the crystalline lens sac and is designed to work in conjunction with current and future generation retinal prostheses. The development of such an intraocular camera (IOC) would eliminate the need for an external head-mounted or eyeglass-mounted camera. Placing the camera inside the eye would allow subjects to use their natural eye movements for foveation (attention) instead of more cumbersome head tracking, would notably aid in personal navigation and mobility, and would also be significantly more psychologically appealing from the standpoint of personal appearances. The capability for accommodation with no moving parts or feedback control is incorporated by employing camera designs that exhibit nearly infinite depth of field. Such an ultracompact optical imaging system requires a unique combination of refractive and diffractive optical elements and relaxed system constraints derived from human psychophysics. This configuration necessitates an extremely compact, short focal-length lens system with an f-number close to unity. Initially, these constraints appear highly aggressive from an optical design perspective. However, after careful analysis of the unique imaging requirements of a camera intended to work in conjunction with the relatively low pixellation levels of a retinal microstimulator array, it becomes clear that such a design is not only feasible, but could possibly be implemented with a single lens system.

  2. Simulator sickness analysis of 3D video viewing on passive 3D TV

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brunnström, K.; Wang, K.; Andrén, B.

    2013-03-01

    The MPEG 3DV project is working on the next generation video encoding standard and in this process a call for proposal of encoding algorithms was issued. To evaluate these algorithm a large scale subjective test was performed involving Laboratories all over the world. For the participating Labs it was optional to administer a slightly modified Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) from Kennedy et al (1993) before and after the test. Here we report the results from one Lab (Acreo) located in Sweden. The videos were shown on a 46 inch film pattern retarder 3D TV, where the viewers were using polarized passive eye-glasses to view the stereoscopic 3D video content. There were 68 viewers participating in this investigation in ages ranges from 16 to 72, with one third females. The questionnaire was filled in before and after the test, with a viewing time ranging between 30 min to about one and half hour, which is comparable to a feature length movie. The SSQ consists of 16 different symptoms that have been identified as important for indicating simulator sickness. When analyzing the individual symptoms it was found that Fatigue, Eye-strain, Difficulty Focusing and Difficulty Concentrating were significantly worse after than before. SSQ was also analyzed according to the model suggested by Kennedy et al (1993). All in all this investigation shows a statistically significant increase in symptoms after viewing 3D video especially related to visual or Oculomotor system.

  3. Reducing Short-Wavelength Blue Light in Dry Eye Patients with Unstable Tear Film Improves Performance on Tests of Visual Acuity.

    PubMed

    Kaido, Minako; Toda, Ikuko; Oobayashi, Tomoo; Kawashima, Motoko; Katada, Yusaku; Tsubota, Kazuo

    2016-01-01

    To investigate whether suppression of blue light can improve visual function in patients with short tear break up time (BUT) dry eye (DE). Twenty-two patients with short BUT DE (10 men, 12 women; mean age, 32.4 ± 6.4 years; age range, 23-43 years) and 18 healthy controls (10 men, 8 women; mean age, 30.1 ± 7.4 years; age range, 20-49 years) underwent functional visual acuity (VA) examinations with and without wearing eyeglasses with 50% blue light blocked lenses. The functional VA parameters were starting VA, functional VA, and visual maintenance ratio. The baseline mean values (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, logMAR) of functional VA and the visual maintenance ratio were significantly worse in the DE patients than in the controls (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the baseline starting VA (P > 0.05). The DE patients had significant improvement in mean functional VA and visual maintenance ratio while wearing the glasses (P < 0.05), while there were no significant changes with and without the glasses in the control group (P > 0.05). Protecting the eyes from short-wavelength blue light may help to ameliorate visual impairment associated with tear instability in patients with DE. This finding represents a new concept, which is that the blue light exposure might be harmful to visual function in patients with short BUT DE.

  4. Historical background of bone conduction hearing devices and bone conduction hearing aids.

    PubMed

    Mudry, Albert; Tjellström, Anders

    2011-01-01

    During the last 20 years, bone-anchored hearing aids (Baha(®)) became a familiar solution in the treatment of some types of hearing loss. The aim of this chapter is to present the different historical steps which have permitted the production of this new bone conduction hearing device. The recognition of bone conduction hearing is old and was known at least in Antiquity. During the Renaissance, Girolamo Cardano demonstrated a method by which sound may be transmitted to the ear by means of a rod or the shaft of a spear held between one's teeth: this was the beginning of teeth stimulators to improve hearing, firstly in connection with a musical instrument and then, in the second part of the 19th century, with the speaker. The development of the carbon microphone at the beginning of the 20th century allowed the construction of the bone conduction vibrator placed on the mastoid area, notably supported by eyeglasses since the 1950s. Confronted by various problems, and notably the loss of part of sound in the soft tissue of the external mastoid, the idea to implant the vibrator into the mastoid bone was developed in Göteborg, and the first Baha was implanted in 1977 by Anders Tjellström. From that date, various improvements allowed the development of the actual Baha. These different steps are presented in this study, supported by original documentation. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  5. A comparison of different types of hazardous material respirators available to anesthesiologists.

    PubMed

    Candiotti, Keith A; Rodriguez, Yiliam; Shekhter, Ilya; Castillo-Pedraza, Catalina; Rosen, Lisa Forman; Arheart, Kristopher L; Birnbach, David J

    2012-01-01

    Despite anesthesiology personnel involvement in initial treatment of patients exposed to potentially lethal agents, less than 40 percent of US anesthesiology training programs conduct training to manage these patients.(1) No previous studies have evaluated performance of anesthesiologists wearing protective gear. The authors compared the performance of anesthesiologists intubating a high-fidelity mannequin while wearing either a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) or a negative pressure respirator (NPR). Twenty participants practiced intubations on a high-fidelity simulator until comfortable. Each subject performed 10 repetitions, initially without any gear, then while wearing a protective suit, gloves, and respirator. The order of gear use was randomized and all subjects used both devices. Time for task completion were recorded, and at the end of the trial, subjects were asked to rate their comfort with the equipment. After controlling for other variables, overall statistically slower total performance times were observed with use of the PAPR when compared to the control arm and use of the NPR (p 5 0.01 and p < 0.007, respectively). Of the total 90 intubations, only one proved to be esophageal and initially undetected. The use of an NPR or PAPR does not preclude an anesthesiologist from successfully intubating, but practice is necessary. The slightly better performance with the NPR is weighed against the improved comfort of the PAPR and the fact that PAPR users could wear eyeglasses. Neither type of gear allowed the users to auscultate the lung fields to confirm correct endotracheal tube placement.

  6. [Development of a monitor for quantifying personal eye exposure to visible and ultraviolet radiation and its application in epidemiology].

    PubMed

    Eto, Norihito; Tsubota, Kazuo; Tanaka, Taichiro; Nishiwaki, Yuji

    2013-01-01

    Eye diseases including cataract, keratitis and pterygium have been reported to be sun-exposure-related. The association between macular degeneration and blue light has also been discussed. Moreover, it is hypothesized that retinal exposure to blue light may influence the human circadian rhythm. However, no monitoring devices exist that can measure eye exposure to visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation over time. To measure the exact dose at specific times, we have developed a novel sensing system (ray-sensing glass system: RaySeG). RaySeG can continuously measure and record the composition and intensity of light with a time-stamped system. Subjects wearing RaySeG were instructed to walk under various light conditions such as indoor and outdoor. RaySeG consists of two sensors embedded in the eyeglasses. These sensors are for UV (260-400 nm), visible lights (red, 615 nm; green, 540 nm; and blue, 465 nm: peak wavelength for each). The total weight of the system is about 100 g, and the size is comparable to that of a digital audio player. The system continuously recorded changes in visible and UV light exposure under various conditions. After accuracy validation, further experiments with a larger number of subjects are required. Our final goal is to apply the system to evaluating personal eye exposure to UV and visible light in epidemiological studies of eye diseases and circadian rhythm abnormality.

  7. Prevalence and associated risk factors of undercorrected refractive errors among people with diabetes in Shanghai.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Mengjun; Tong, Xiaowei; Zhao, Rong; He, Xiangui; Zhao, Huijuan; Zhu, Jianfeng

    2017-11-28

    To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of undercorrected refractive error (URE) among people with diabetes in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, where data for undercorrected refractive error are limited. The study was a population-based survey of 649 persons (aged 60 years or older) with diabetes in Baoshan, Shanghai in 2009. One copy of the questionnaire was completed for each subject. Examinations included a standardized refraction and measurement of presenting and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and fundus photography. The calculated age-standardized prevalence rate of URE was 16.63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.76-19.49). For visual impairment subjects (presenting vision worse than 20/40 in the better eye), the prevalence of URE was up to 61.11%, and 75.93% of subjects could achieve visual acuity improvement by at least one line using appropriate spectacles. Under multiple logistic regression analysis, older age, female gender, non-farmer, increasing degree of myopia, lens opacities status, diabetic retinopathy (DR), body mass index (BMI) index lower than normal, and poor glycaemic control were associated with higher URE levels. Wearing distance eyeglasses was a protective factor for URE. The undercorrected refractive error in diabetic adults was high in Shanghai. Health education and regular refractive assessment are needed for diabetic adults. Persons with diabetes should be more aware that poor vision is often correctable, especially for those with risk factors.

  8. Reducing Short-Wavelength Blue Light in Dry Eye Patients with Unstable Tear Film Improves Performance on Tests of Visual Acuity

    PubMed Central

    Kaido, Minako

    2016-01-01

    Purpose To investigate whether suppression of blue light can improve visual function in patients with short tear break up time (BUT) dry eye (DE). Methods Twenty-two patients with short BUT DE (10 men, 12 women; mean age, 32.4 ± 6.4 years; age range, 23–43 years) and 18 healthy controls (10 men, 8 women; mean age, 30.1 ± 7.4 years; age range, 20–49 years) underwent functional visual acuity (VA) examinations with and without wearing eyeglasses with 50% blue light blocked lenses. The functional VA parameters were starting VA, functional VA, and visual maintenance ratio. Results The baseline mean values (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, logMAR) of functional VA and the visual maintenance ratio were significantly worse in the DE patients than in the controls (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the baseline starting VA (P > 0.05). The DE patients had significant improvement in mean functional VA and visual maintenance ratio while wearing the glasses (P < 0.05), while there were no significant changes with and without the glasses in the control group (P > 0.05), Conclusions Protecting the eyes from short-wavelength blue light may help to ameliorate visual impairment associated with tear instability in patients with DE. This finding represents a new concept, which is that the blue light exposure might be harmful to visual function in patients with short BUT DE. PMID:27045760

  9. [Measuring the effect of eyeglasses on determination of squint angle with Purkinje reflexes and the prism cover test].

    PubMed

    Barry, J C; Backes, A

    1998-04-01

    The alternating prism and cover test is the conventional test for the measurement of the angle of strabismus. The error induced by the prismatic effect of glasses is typically about 27-30%/10 D. Alternatively, the angle of strabismus can be measured with methods based on Purkinje reflex positions. This study examines the differences between three such options, taking into account the influence of glasses. The studied system comprised the eyes with or without glasses, a fixation object and a device for recording the eye position: in the case of the alternate prism and cover test, a prism bar was required; in the case of a Purkinje reflex based device, light sources for generation of reflexes and a camera for the documentation of the reflex positions were used. Measurements performed on model eyes and computer ray traces were used to analyze and compare the options. When a single corneal reflex is used, the misalignment of the corneal axis can be measured; the error in this measurement due to the prismatic effect of glasses was 7.6%/10 D, the smallest found in this study. The individual Hirschberg ratio can be determined by monocular measurements in three gaze directions. The angle of strabismus can be measured with Purkinje reflex based methods if the fundamental differences between these methods and the alternate prism and cover test, and if the influence of glasses and other sources of error are accounted for.

  10. A Novel Wearable Device for Food Intake and Physical Activity Recognition

    PubMed Central

    Farooq, Muhammad; Sazonov, Edward

    2016-01-01

    Presence of speech and motion artifacts has been shown to impact the performance of wearable sensor systems used for automatic detection of food intake. This work presents a novel wearable device which can detect food intake even when the user is physically active and/or talking. The device consists of a piezoelectric strain sensor placed on the temporalis muscle, an accelerometer, and a data acquisition module connected to the temple of eyeglasses. Data from 10 participants was collected while they performed activities including quiet sitting, talking, eating while sitting, eating while walking, and walking. Piezoelectric strain sensor and accelerometer signals were divided into non-overlapping epochs of 3 s; four features were computed for each signal. To differentiate between eating and not eating, as well as between sedentary postures and physical activity, two multiclass classification approaches are presented. The first approach used a single classifier with sensor fusion and the second approach used two-stage classification. The best results were achieved when two separate linear support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were trained for food intake and activity detection, and their results were combined using a decision tree (two-stage classification) to determine the final class. This approach resulted in an average F1-score of 99.85% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.99 for multiclass classification. With its ability to differentiate between food intake and activity level, this device may potentially be used for tracking both energy intake and energy expenditure. PMID:27409622

  11. An improved apparatus of infrared videopupillography for monitoring pupil size

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, T.-.; Ko, M.-.; Ouyang, Y.; Chen, Y.-.; Sone, B.-.; Ou-Yang, M.; Chiou, J.-.

    2014-10-01

    The intraocular pressure (IOP) that can diagnose or track glaucoma generally because it is one of the physiology parameters that are associated with glaucoma. But IOP is not easy and consistence to be measured under different measure conditions. Besides, diabetes is associated with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN). Pupil size response might provide an indirect means about neuronal pathways, so the abnormal pupil size may relate with DAN. Hence an infrared videopupillography is needed for tracking glaucoma and exploring the relation between pupil size and DAN. Our previous research proposed an infrared videopupillography to monitoring the pupil size of different light stimulus in dark room. And this portable infrared videopupillography contains a camera, a beam splitter, the visible-light LEDs for stimulating the eyes, and the infrared LEDs for lighting the eyes. It can be mounted on any eyeglass frame. But it can modulate only two dimensions, we cannot zoom in/out the eyes. Moreover, the eye diameter curves were not smooth and jagged because of the light spots, lone eyelashes, and blink. Therefore, we redesign the optical path of our device to have three dimension modulation. Then we can zoom in the eye to increase the eye resolution and to avoid the LED light spots. The light spot could be solved by defining the distance between IR LED and CCD. This device smaller volume and less prices of our previous videopupillography. We hope this new infrared videopupillography proposed in this paper can achieving early detection about autonomic neuropathy in the future.

  12. Segmentation and Characterization of Chewing Bouts by Monitoring Temporalis Muscle Using Smart Glasses With Piezoelectric Sensor.

    PubMed

    Farooq, Muhammad; Sazonov, Edward

    2017-11-01

    Several methods have been proposed for automatic and objective monitoring of food intake, but their performance suffers in the presence of speech and motion artifacts. This paper presents a novel sensor system and algorithms for detection and characterization of chewing bouts from a piezoelectric strain sensor placed on the temporalis muscle. The proposed data acquisition device was incorporated into the temple of eyeglasses. The system was tested by ten participants in two part experiments, one under controlled laboratory conditions and the other in unrestricted free-living. The proposed food intake recognition method first performed an energy-based segmentation to isolate candidate chewing segments (instead of using epochs of fixed duration commonly reported in research literature), with the subsequent classification of the segments by linear support vector machine models. On participant level (combining data from both laboratory and free-living experiments), with ten-fold leave-one-out cross-validation, chewing were recognized with average F-score of 96.28% and the resultant area under the curve was 0.97, which are higher than any of the previously reported results. A multivariate regression model was used to estimate chew counts from segments classified as chewing with an average mean absolute error of 3.83% on participant level. These results suggest that the proposed system is able to identify chewing segments in the presence of speech and motion artifacts, as well as automatically and accurately quantify chewing behavior, both under controlled laboratory conditions and unrestricted free-living.

  13. A Novel Wearable Device for Food Intake and Physical Activity Recognition.

    PubMed

    Farooq, Muhammad; Sazonov, Edward

    2016-07-11

    Presence of speech and motion artifacts has been shown to impact the performance of wearable sensor systems used for automatic detection of food intake. This work presents a novel wearable device which can detect food intake even when the user is physically active and/or talking. The device consists of a piezoelectric strain sensor placed on the temporalis muscle, an accelerometer, and a data acquisition module connected to the temple of eyeglasses. Data from 10 participants was collected while they performed activities including quiet sitting, talking, eating while sitting, eating while walking, and walking. Piezoelectric strain sensor and accelerometer signals were divided into non-overlapping epochs of 3 s; four features were computed for each signal. To differentiate between eating and not eating, as well as between sedentary postures and physical activity, two multiclass classification approaches are presented. The first approach used a single classifier with sensor fusion and the second approach used two-stage classification. The best results were achieved when two separate linear support vector machine (SVM) classifiers were trained for food intake and activity detection, and their results were combined using a decision tree (two-stage classification) to determine the final class. This approach resulted in an average F1-score of 99.85% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.99 for multiclass classification. With its ability to differentiate between food intake and activity level, this device may potentially be used for tracking both energy intake and energy expenditure.

  14. Radiation exposure--do urologists take it seriously in Turkey?

    PubMed

    Söylemez, Haluk; Altunoluk, Bülent; Bozkurt, Yaşar; Sancaktutar, Ahmet Ali; Penbegül, Necmettin; Atar, Murat

    2012-04-01

    A questionnaire was administered to urologists to evaluate attitudes and behaviors about protection from radiation exposure during fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures. The questionnaire was e-mailed to 1,482 urologists, including urology residents, specialists and urologists holding all levels of academic degrees, between May and June 2011. The questionnaire administered to study participants was composed of demographic questions, and questions on radiation exposure frequency, and the use of dosimeters and flexible protective clothes. If a respondent reported not using dosimeters or protective clothes, additional questions asked for the reason. Of the 1,482 questionnaires 394 (26.58%) were returned, of which 363 had completed answers. A total of 307 physicians (84.58%) were exposed to ionizing radiation, of whom 79.61% stated that they perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy at the clinic. Fluoroscopy guidance was the initial choice of 96.19% of urologists during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Despite the common use of lead aprons (75.24%) most urologists did not use dosimeters (73.94%), eyeglasses (76.95%) or gloves (66.67%) while 46.44% always used thyroid shields during fluoroscopy. When asked why they did not use protective clothing, the most common answers were that protective clothes are not ergonomic and not practical. Results clearly highlight the lack of use of ionizing radiation protection devices and dosimeters during commonly performed fluoroscopy guided endourological procedures among urologists in Turkey. Copyright © 2012 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. The ocular biometric differences of diabetic patients.

    PubMed

    Kocatürk, Tolga; Zengin, Mehmet Özgür; Cakmak, Harun; Evliçoglu, Gökhan Evren; Dündar, Sema Oruç; Omürlü, Imran Kurt; Unübol, Mustafa; Güney, Engin

    2014-01-01

    To investigate the differences in ocular biometric and keratometric characteristics in comparison with biometric measurements using the noncontact optical low coherence reflectometer (OLCR) (Lenstar LS 900, Haag-Streit) on diabetic patients. The eyes of 170 patients were included in this study, including 81 diabetic and 89 nondiabetic subjects. Optical biometric measurements of diabetic and nondiabetic patients (between the ages of 25 and 85 years) who applied to the ophthalmology clinic were noted from March to June 2013. Detailed ophthalmologic examinations were done for every subject. Biometric measurements were done using the noncontact OLCR device. Patient age ranged from 29 to 83 years. Subgroup analyses were done in diabetic patients according to their Hba1C levels. The minimum Hba1C value was 5.3, maximum was 12.4, and mean was 7.56 ± 1.48. The median duration of diabetes was 5 years (25th-75th percentile 3.00-11.75). Diabetic patients were found to have thicker lens and shallower anterior chamber in both eyes compared to nondiabetic control subjects. There were no statistical differences between the groups according to central corneal thickness, axial length, or keratometric values in both eyes. However, lens thicknesses were found to be thicker and anterior chamber depth values were found to be shallower in the diabetic group in both eyes. It may useful to determine eyeglasses prescription, refractive surgery calculation, lens selection, and previous cataract surgery according to biometric measurements after the regulation of blood glucose.

  16. A Painter's View of the Cosmos In the Twenty-first Century

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cro-Ken, K.

    2016-01-01

    I am an ecosystem artist who uses paint to bring nature's “invisible forces” into view. My eco-sensitive palette recreates the push-pull forces that shape and mold all things. As a result, I create microscopic and telescopic views of earth and places scattered throughout our universe. Self-similarity led me to realize that if I want my mind to wonder into the far reaches of the universe, I must draw closer to nature. I show how space looks and appears and, more importantly, how it moves. My speed element palette is a portal through which I peer into the universe at scales great and small using paint as my lens. Microscopes, telescopes, the Internet, and even eyeglasses are portals through which technology affords us the ability to see that which is unseen to the unaided eye. Rather than see the world and then paint, the opposite is true for me. My work is revelatory, not representational and, as such, seeks similar occurrences in nature. Just as a planet's surface is a visual record of past events, so too do speed element experiments reveal traces of the past. It would be more accurate to call a painting that comes to rest a “painted.” It is video that captures images that eluded capture by the canvas and could more accurately be called a “painting. ” Simply put, I manipulate space, time, and matter—and the matter is never just paint.

  17. Use of Google Glass to Enhance Surgical Education of Neurosurgery Residents: "Proof-of-Concept" Study.

    PubMed

    Nakhla, Jonathan; Kobets, Andrew; De la Garza Ramos, Rafeal; Haranhalli, Neil; Gelfand, Yaroslav; Ammar, Adam; Echt, Murray; Scoco, Aleka; Kinon, Merritt; Yassari, Reza

    2017-02-01

    The relatively decreased time spent in the operating room and overall reduction in cases performed by neurosurgical trainees as a result of duty-hour restrictions demands that the pedagogical content within each surgical encounter be maximized and crafted toward the specific talents and shortcomings of the individual. It is imperative to future generations that the quality of training adapts to the changing administrative infrastructures and compensates for anything that may compromise the technical abilities of trainees. Neurosurgeons in teaching hospitals continue to experiment with various emerging technologies-such as simulators and virtual presence-to supplement and improve surgical training. The authors participated in the Google Glass Explorer Program in order to assess the applicability of Google Glass as a tool to enhance the operative education of neurosurgical residents. Google Glass is a type of wearable technology in the form of eyeglasses that employs a high-definition camera and allows the user to interact using voice commands. Google Glass was able to effectively capture video segments of various lengths for residents to review in a variety of clinical settings within a large, tertiary care university hospital, as well as during a surgical mission to a developing country. The resolution and quality of the video were adequate to review and use as a teaching tool. While Google Glass harbors the potential to dramatically improve both neurosurgical education and practice in a variety of ways, certain technical drawbacks of the current model limit its effectiveness as a teaching tool. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Experimental investigations of pupil accommodation factors.

    PubMed

    Lee, Eui Chul; Lee, Ji Woo; Park, Kang Ryoung

    2011-08-17

    PURPOSE. The contraction and dilation of the iris muscle that controls the amount of light entering the retina causes pupil accommodation. In this study, experiments were performed and two of the three factors that influence pupil accommodation were analyzed: lighting conditions and depth fixations. The psychological benefits were not examined, because they could not be quantified. METHODS. A head-wearable eyeglasses-based, eye-capturing device was designed to measure pupil size. It included a near-infrared (NIR) camera and an NIR light-emitting diode. Twenty-four subjects watched two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic videos of the same content, and the changes in pupil size were measured by using the eye-capturing device and image-processing methods: RESULTS. The pupil size changed with the intensity of the videos and the disparities between the left and right images of a 3D stereoscopic video. There was correlation between the pupil size and average intensity. The pupil diameter could be estimated as being contracted from approximately 5.96 to 4.25 mm as the intensity varied from 0 to 255. Further, from the changes in the depth fixation for the pupil accommodation, it was confirmed that the depth fixation also affected accommodation of pupil size. CONCLUSIONS. It was confirmed that the lighting condition was an even more significant factor in pupil accommodation than was depth fixation (significance ratio: approximately 3.2:1) when watching 3D stereoscopic video. Pupil accommodation was more affected by depth fixation in the real world than was the binocular convergence in the 3D stereoscopic display.

  19. Concept, design and analysis of a large format autostereoscopic display system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Knocke, F.; de Jongh, R.; Frömel, M.

    2005-09-01

    Autostereoscopic display devices with large visual field are of importance in a number of applications such as computer aided design projects, technical education, and military command systems. Typical requirements for such systems are, aside from the large visual field, a large viewing zone, a high level of image brightness, and an extended depth of field. Additional appliances such as specialized eyeglasses or head-trackers are disadvantageous for the aforementioned applications. We report on the design and prototyping of an autostereoscopic display system on the basis of projection-type one-step unidirectional holography. The prototype consists of a hologram holder, an illumination unit, and a special direction-selective screen. Reconstruction light is provided by a 2W frequency-doubled Nd:YVO4 laser. The production of stereoscopic hologram stripes on photopolymer is carried out on a special origination setup. The prototype has a screen size of 180cm × 90cm and provides a visual field of 29° when viewed from 3.6 meters. Due to the coherent reconstruction, a depth of field of several meters is achievable. Up to 18 hologram stripes can be arranged on the holder to permit a rapid switch between a series of motifs or views. Both computer generated image sequences and digital camera photos may serve as input frames. However, a comprehensive pre-distortion must be performed in order to account for optical distortion and several other geometrical factors. The corresponding computations are briefly summarized below. The performance of the system is analyzed, aspects of beam-shaping and mechanical design are discussed and photographs of early reconstructions are presented.

  20. Are Survivors Who Report Cancer-Related Financial Problems More Likely to Forgo or Delay Medical Care?

    PubMed Central

    Kent, Erin E.; Forsythe, Laura P.; Yabroff, K. Robin; Weaver, Kathryn E.; de Moor, Janet S.; Rodriguez, Juan L.; Rowland, Julia H.

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND Financial problems caused by cancer and its treatment can substantially affect survivors and their families and create barriers to seeking health care. METHODS The authors identified cancer survivors diagnosed as adults (n = 1556) from the nationally representative 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, the authors report sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors associated with perceived cancer-related financial problems and the association between financial problems and forgoing or delaying health care because of cost. Adjusted percentages using the predictive marginals method are presented. RESULTS Cancer-related financial problems were reported by 31.8% (95% confidence interval, 29.3%–34.5%) of survivors. Factors found to be significantly associated with cancer-related financial problems in survivors included younger age at diagnosis, minority race/ethnicity, history of chemotherapy or radiation treatment, recurrence or multiple cancers, and shorter time from diagnosis. After adjustment for covariates, respondents who reported financial problems were more likely to report delaying (18.3% vs 7.4%) or forgoing overall medical care (13.8% vs 5.0%), prescription medications (14.2% vs 7.6%), dental care (19.8% vs 8.3%), eyeglasses (13.9% vs 5.8%), and mental health care (3.9% vs 1.6%) than their counterparts without financial problems (all P<.05). CONCLUSIONS Cancer-related financial problems are not only disproportionately represented in survivors who are younger, members of a minority group, and have a higher treatment burden, but may also contribute to survivors forgoing or delaying medical care after cancer. PMID:23907958

  1. Are survivors who report cancer-related financial problems more likely to forgo or delay medical care?

    PubMed

    Kent, Erin E; Forsythe, Laura P; Yabroff, K Robin; Weaver, Kathryn E; de Moor, Janet S; Rodriguez, Juan L; Rowland, Julia H

    2013-10-15

    Financial problems caused by cancer and its treatment can substantially affect survivors and their families and create barriers to seeking health care. The authors identified cancer survivors diagnosed as adults (n=1556) from the nationally representative 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Using multivariable logistic regression analyses, the authors report sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors associated with perceived cancer-related financial problems and the association between financial problems and forgoing or delaying health care because of cost. Adjusted percentages using the predictive marginals method are presented. Cancer-related financial problems were reported by 31.8% (95% confidence interval, 29.3%-34.5%) of survivors. Factors found to be significantly associated with cancer-related financial problems in survivors included younger age at diagnosis, minority race/ethnicity, history of chemotherapy or radiation treatment, recurrence or multiple cancers, and shorter time from diagnosis. After adjustment for covariates, respondents who reported financial problems were more likely to report delaying (18.3% vs 7.4%) or forgoing overall medical care (13.8% vs 5.0%), prescription medications (14.2% vs 7.6%), dental care (19.8% vs 8.3%), eyeglasses (13.9% vs 5.8%), and mental health care (3.9% vs 1.6%) than their counterparts without financial problems (all P<.05). Cancer-related financial problems are not only disproportionately represented in survivors who are younger, members of a minority group, and have a higher treatment burden, but may also contribute to survivors forgoing or delaying medical care after cancer. Copyright © 2013 American Cancer Society.

  2. Finding your innovation sweet spot.

    PubMed

    Goldenberg, Jacob; Horowitz, Roni; Levav, Amnon; Mazursky, David

    2003-03-01

    Most new product ideas are either uninspired or impractical. So how can developers hit the innovation sweet spot--far enough from existing products to attract real interest but close enough that they are feasible to make and market? They can apply five innovation patterns that manipulate existing components of a product and its immediate environment to come up with something both ingenious and viable, say the authors. The subtraction pattern works by removing product components, particularly those that seem desirable or indispensable. Think of the legless high chair that attaches to the kitchen table. The multiplication pattern makes one or more copies of an existing component, then alters those copies in some important way. For example, the Gillette double-bladed razor features a second blade that cuts whiskers at a slightly different angle. By dividing an existing product into its component parts--the division pattern--you can see something that was an integrated whole in an entirely different light. Think of the modern home stereo--it has modular speakers, tuners, and CD and tape players, which allow users to customize their sound systems. The task unification pattern involves assigning a new task to an existing product element or environmental attribute, thereby unifying two tasks in a single component. An example is the defrosting filament in an automobile windshield that also serves as a radio antenna. Finally, the attribute dependency pattern alters or creates the dependent relationships between a product and its environment. For example, by creating a dependent relationship between lens color and external lighting conditions, eyeglass developers came up with a lens that changes color when exposed to sunlight.

  3. Increased Incidence of Visual Field Abnormalities as Determined by Frequency Doubling Technology Perimetry in High Computer Users Among Japanese Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Nakano, Tadashi; Hayashi, Takeshi; Nakagawa, Toru; Honda, Toru; Owada, Satoshi; Endo, Hitoshi; Tatemichi, Masayuki

    2018-04-05

    This retrospective cohort study primarily aimed to investigate the possible association of computer use with visual field abnormalities (VFA) among Japanese workers. The study included 2,377 workers (mean age 45.7 [standard deviation, 8.3] years; 2,229 men and 148 women) who initially exhibited no VFA during frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT) testing. Subjects then underwent annual follow-up FDT testing for 7 years, and VFA were determined using a FDT-test protocol (FDT-VFA). Subjects with FDT-VFA were examined by ophthalmologists. Baseline data about the mean duration of computer use during a 5-year period and refractive errors were obtained via self-administered questionnaire and evaluations for refractive errors (use of eyeglasses or contact lenses), respectively. A Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that heavy computer users (>8 hr/day) had a significantly increased risk of FDT-VFA (hazard ratio [HR] 2.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-6.48) relative to light users (<4 hr/day), and this association was strengthened among subjects with refractive errors (HR 4.48; 95% CI, 1.87-10.74). The computer usage history also significantly correlated with FDT-VFA among subject with refractive errors (P < 0.05), and 73.1% of subjects with FDT-VFA and refractive errors were diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The incidence of FDT-VFA appears to be increased among Japanese workers who are heavy computer users, particularly if they have refractive errors. Further investigations of epidemiology and causality are warranted.

  4. Active liquid-crystal deflector and lens with Fresnel structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shibuya, Giichi; Yamano, Shohei; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ozaki, Masanori

    2017-02-01

    A new type of tunable Fresnel deflector and lens composed of liquid crystal was developed. Combined structure of multiple interdigitated electrodes and the high-resistivity (HR) layer implements the saw-tooth distribution of electrical potential with only the planar surfaces of the transparent substrates. According to the numerical calculation and design, experimental devices were manufactured with the liquid crystal (LC) material sealed into the sandwiched flat glass plates of 0.7 mm thickness with rubbed alignment layers set to an anti-parallel configuration. Fabricated beam deflector with no moving parts shows the maximum tilt angle of +/-1.3 deg which can apply for optical image stabilizer (OIS) of micro camera. We also discussed and verified their lens characteristics to be extended more advanced applications. Transparent interdigitated electrodes were concentrically aligned on the lens aperture with the insulator gaps under their boundary area. The diameter of the lens aperture was 30 mm and the total number of Fresnel zone was 100. Phase retardation of the beam wavefront irradiated from the LC lens device can be evaluated by polarizing microscope images with a monochromatic filter. Radial positions of each observed fringe are plotted and fitted with 2nd degree polynomial approximation. The number of appeared fringes is over 600 in whole lens aperture area and the correlation coefficients of all approximations are over 0.993 that seems enough ideal optical wavefront. The obtained maximum lens powers from the approximations are about +/-4 m-1 which was satisfied both convex and concave lens characteristics; and their practical use for the tunable lens grade eyeglasses became more prospective.

  5. Prickly Pear Spine Keratoconjunctivitis

    PubMed Central

    Odat, Thabit Ali Mustafa; Al-Tawara, Mohammad Jebreel; Hammouri, Eman Hussein

    2014-01-01

    Objectives: To study the ocular and extra-ocular features, clinical presentation, and treatment of prickly pear glochids. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 23 eyes of 21 patients with ocular prickly pear spines who were seen between August and October 2011 in the outpatient ophthalmic clinic at Prince Rashid Bin Al Hassan military hospital in Jordan. Medical records of patients including age, gender, history of exposure to prickly pear plants, and ocular examination were reviewed. All glochids were localized and removed with forceps under topical anesthesia with the patient at the slit lamp. Patients were followed up after one week. Results: The mean age of patients was 37.1 years with a male to female ratio of 1.6: 1. Involvement of the right eye was seen in 61.9% patients, left eye in 28.6% patients, and bilateral involvement in 9.5% patients. Glochids were most commonly found in the upper subtarsal conjunctival space (47.6%) followed by inferior palpebral conjunctiva in 23.8% eyes. The most common complaint was eye irritation in 95.2% patients. Pain was a complaint in 57.1% patients. Superior corneal epithelial erosions or ulcer were found in 33.3% patients, inferior corneal epithelial erosions in 19.1% patients, and diffuse epithelial erosions in 9.5% patients. Glochids were found in other parts of the body in 38.1% patients. Conclusion: Although prickly pear glochid ocular surface injury is not uncommon in the region during summer, it should be considered in patient with eye pain during that period. Farmers who are in close contact with prickly pears should use protective eyeglasses and gloves. PMID:24669148

  6. Sentence comprehension in autism: thinking in pictures with decreased functional connectivity

    PubMed Central

    Kana, Rajesh K.; Keller, Timothy A.; Cherkassky, Vladimir L.; Minshew, Nancy J.; Just, Marcel Adam

    2015-01-01

    Comprehending high-imagery sentences like The number eight when rotated 90 degrees looks like a pair of eyeglasses involves the participation and integration of several cortical regions. The linguistic content must be processed to determine what is to be mentally imaged, and then the mental image must be evaluated and related to the sentence. A theory of cortical underconnectivity in autism predicts that the interregional collaboration required between linguistic and imaginal processing in this task would be underserved in autism. This functional MRI study examined brain activation in 12 participants with autism and 13 age- and IQ-matched control participants while they processed sentences with either high- or low-imagery content. The analysis of functional connectivity among cortical regions showed that the language and spatial centres in the participants with autism were not as well synchronized as in controls. In addition to the functional connectivity differences, there was also a group difference in activation. In the processing of low-imagery sentences (e.g. Addition, subtraction and multiplication are all math skills), the use of imagery is not essential to comprehension. Nevertheless, the autism group activated parietal and occipital brain regions associated with imagery for comprehending both the low and high-imagery sentences, suggesting that they were using mental imagery in both conditions. In contrast, the control group showed imagery-related activation primarily in the high-imagery condition. The findings provide further evidence of underintegration of language and imagery in autism (and hence expand the understanding of underconnectivity) but also show that people with autism are more reliant on visualization to support language comprehension. PMID:16835247

  7. Radiation protection in interventional radiology: survey results of attitudes and use.

    PubMed

    Lynskey, G Emmett; Powell, Daniel K; Dixon, Robert G; Silberzweig, James E

    2013-10-01

    To assess attitudes of interventional radiologists toward personal radiation protection and the use of radiation protection devices. Invitations to an anonymous online survey that comprised eight questions focused on operator attitudes toward radiation protection devices were sent via e-mail to the active membership of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR): a total of 3,158 e-mail invitations. A single reminder e-mail was sent. There were 504 survey responders (16% response rate). Reported radiation safety device use included lead apron (99%), thyroid shield (94%), leaded eyeglasses (54%), ceiling-suspended leaded shield (44%), rolling leaded shields (12%), ceiling-suspended/rolling lead-equivalent apron (4%), radiation-attenuating sterile surgical gloves (1%), and sterile lead-equivalent patient-mounted drape (4%). Reasons commonly cited for not using certain devices were comfort (eyewear), ease of use (mounted shields), and lack of availability (rolling/hanging shields and patient-mounted shields). Interventionalists have an array of tools from which to choose for personal radiation protection; however, for a variety of reasons related to lack of availability or choice, these tools are not universally employed. Further study may be of value to clarify why comfort was cited most often as the primary barrier to the use of protective eyewear and difficulty of use was cited as the primary barrier to use of mounted shields (despite reporting that concern for radiation-induced injury to the eye is paramount). It may also be of interest to further study why certain devices with demonstrable protection effects are not readily available, such as rolling/hanging and patient-mounted shields. © SIR, 2013.

  8. 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.

  9. VIIRS S-NPP Nighttime DNB Spectral Response Function (SRF): The At-launch Characteristics and How the SRF Changes with Time Due to Tungsten Oxides Chromaticity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guenther, B.; Lei, N.; Moeller, C.

    2015-12-01

    The VIIRS Day-Night Band (DNB) is designed with 3 gain stages: Low (LGS), Mid (MGS) and High (HGS) to span bright daytime to moonlit night earth scene signal levels. The published at-launch DNB relative spectral response (RSR) is based upon the LGS spectral measurements, since it was well measured in the pre-launch test program and the LGS can be calibrated by the on-board solar diffuser (MGS and HGS saturate on the SD). The LGS RSR however does not fully represent the spectral characteristics of nighttime DNB data from the MGS and HGS. Nighttime data users who apply the detailed DNB spectral characteristics in their analyses should use modulated RSR appropriate to the MGS and HGS observations. The RSR modulation is due to spectral darkening of the 4 mirrors of the S-NPP VIIRS telescope, which were contaminated with tungsten oxides in fabrication. These tungsten oxides are 'in family' with transition lenses on eyeglasses that darken when exposed to sunlight but do not recover when VIIRS goes into darkness because VIIRS in space is in a vacuum (transition lenses require atmospheric oxygen to recover). The on-going mirror darkening has caused a time-dependent shift in DNB RSR towards blue wavelengths. This presentation will provide access to the correct RSR to use for S-NPP DNB nighttime data over the mission time on-orbit. The changes in characteristics will be described in engineering terms to facilitate clear user understanding of how to handle RSR for nighttime observations over the mission lifetime.

  10. CIDER: Enabling Robustness-Power Tradeoffs on a Computational Eyeglass

    PubMed Central

    Mayberry, Addison; Tun, Yamin; Hu, Pan; Smith-Freedman, Duncan; Ganesan, Deepak; Marlin, Benjamin; Salthouse, Christopher

    2016-01-01

    The human eye offers a fascinating window into an individual’s health, cognitive attention, and decision making, but we lack the ability to continually measure these parameters in the natural environment. The challenges lie in: a) handling the complexity of continuous high-rate sensing from a camera and processing the image stream to estimate eye parameters, and b) dealing with the wide variability in illumination conditions in the natural environment. This paper explores the power–robustness tradeoffs inherent in the design of a wearable eye tracker, and proposes a novel staged architecture that enables graceful adaptation across the spectrum of real-world illumination. We propose CIDER, a system that operates in a highly optimized low-power mode under indoor settings by using a fast Search-Refine controller to track the eye, but detects when the environment switches to more challenging outdoor sunlight and switches models to operate robustly under this condition. Our design is holistic and tackles a) power consumption in digitizing pixels, estimating pupillary parameters, and illuminating the eye via near-infrared, b) error in estimating pupil center and pupil dilation, and c) model training procedures that involve zero effort from a user. We demonstrate that CIDER can estimate pupil center with error less than two pixels (0.6°), and pupil diameter with error of one pixel (0.22mm). Our end-to-end results show that we can operate at power levels of roughly 7mW at a 4Hz eye tracking rate, or roughly 32mW at rates upwards of 250Hz. PMID:27042165

  11. Research of spectacle frame measurement system based on structured light method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guan, Dong; Chen, Xiaodong; Zhang, Xiuda; Yan, Huimin

    2016-10-01

    Automatic eyeglass lens edging system is now widely used to automatically cut and polish the uncut lens based on the spectacle frame shape data which is obtained from the spectacle frame measuring machine installed on the system. The conventional approach to acquire the frame shape data works in the contact scanning mode with a probe tracing around the groove contour of the spectacle frame which requires a sophisticated mechanical and numerical control system. In this paper, a novel non-contact optical measuring method based on structured light to measure the three dimensional (3D) data of the spectacle frame is proposed. First we focus on the processing approach solving the problem of deterioration of the structured light stripes caused by intense specular reflection on the frame surface. The techniques of bright-dark bi-level fringe projecting, multiple exposuring and high dynamic range imaging are introduced to obtain a high-quality image of structured light stripes. Then, the Gamma transform and median filtering are applied to enhance image contrast. In order to get rid of background noise from the image and extract the region of interest (ROI), an auxiliary lighting system of special design is utilized to help effectively distinguish between the object and the background. In addition, a morphological method with specific morphological structure-elements is adopted to remove noise between stripes and boundary of the spectacle frame. By further fringe center extraction and depth information acquisition through the method of look-up table, the 3D shape of the spectacle frame is recovered.

  12. Inventory of Engineered Nanoparticle-Containing Consumer Products Available in the Singapore Retail Market and Likelihood of Release into the Aquatic Environment.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yuanyuan; Leu, Yu-Rui; Aitken, Robert J; Riediker, Michael

    2015-07-24

    Consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) are already entering the marketplace. This leads, inter alia, to questions about the potential for release of ENP into the environment from commercial products. We have inventoried the prevalence of ENP-containing consumer products in the Singapore market by carrying out onsite assessments of products sold in all major chains of retail and cosmetic stores. We have assessed their usage patterns and estimated release factors and emission quantities to obtain a better understanding of the quantities of ENP that are released into which compartments of the aquatic environment in Singapore. Products investigated were assessed for their likelihood to contain ENP based on the declaration of ENP by producers, feature descriptions, and the information on particle size from the literature. Among the 1,432 products investigated, 138 were "confirmed" and 293 were "likely" to contain ENP. Product categories included sunscreens, cosmetics, health and fitness, automotive, food, home and garden, clothing and footwear, and eyeglass/lens coatings. Among the 27 different types of nanomaterials identified, SiO2 was predominant, followed by TiO2 and ZnO, Carbon Black, Ag, and Au. The amounts of ENP released into the aquatic system, which was estimated on the basis of typical product use, ENP concentration in the product, daily use quantity, release factor, and market share, were in the range of several hundred tons per year. As these quantities are likely to increase, it will be important to further study the fate of ENP that reach the aquatic environment in Singapore.

  13. Disruptive innovations for designing and diffusing evidence-based interventions.

    PubMed

    Rotheram-Borus, Mary Jane; Swendeman, Dallas; Chorpita, Bruce F

    2012-09-01

    Evidence-based therapeutic and preventive intervention programs (EBIs) have been growing exponentially. Yet EBIs have not been broadly adopted in the United States. In order for our EBI science to significantly reduce disease burden, we need to critically reexamine our scientific conventions and norms. Innovation may be spurred by reexamining the traditional biomedical model for validating, implementing, and diffusing EBI products and science. The model of disruptive innovations suggests that we reengineer EBIs on the basis of their most robust features in order to serve more people in less time and at lower cost. A disruptive innovation provides a simpler and less expensive alternative that meets the essential needs for the majority of consumers and is more accessible, scalable, replicable, and sustainable. Examples of disruptive innovations from other fields include minute clinics embedded in retail chain drug stores, $2 generic eyeglasses, automated teller machines, and telemedicine. Four new research approaches will be required to support disruptive innovations in EBI science: synthesize common elements across EBIs; experiment with new delivery formats (e.g., consumer controlled, self-directed, brief, paraprofessional, coaching, and technology and media strategies); adopt market strategies to promote and diffuse EBI science, knowledge, and products; and adopt continuous quality improvement as a research paradigm for systematically improving EBIs, based on ongoing monitoring data and feedback. EBI science can have more impact if it can better leverage what we know from existing EBIs in order to inspire, engage, inform, and support families and children to adopt and sustain healthy daily routines and lifestyles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).

  14. Inventory of Engineered Nanoparticle-Containing Consumer Products Available in the Singapore Retail Market and Likelihood of Release into the Aquatic Environment

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yuanyuan; Leu, Yu-Rui; Aitken, Robert J.; Riediker, Michael

    2015-01-01

    Consumer products containing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) are already entering the marketplace. This leads, inter alia, to questions about the potential for release of ENP into the environment from commercial products. We have inventoried the prevalence of ENP-containing consumer products in the Singapore market by carrying out onsite assessments of products sold in all major chains of retail and cosmetic stores. We have assessed their usage patterns and estimated release factors and emission quantities to obtain a better understanding of the quantities of ENP that are released into which compartments of the aquatic environment in Singapore. Products investigated were assessed for their likelihood to contain ENP based on the declaration of ENP by producers, feature descriptions, and the information on particle size from the literature. Among the 1,432 products investigated, 138 were “confirmed” and 293 were “likely” to contain ENP. Product categories included sunscreens, cosmetics, health and fitness, automotive, food, home and garden, clothing and footwear, and eyeglass/lens coatings. Among the 27 different types of nanomaterials identified, SiO2 was predominant, followed by TiO2 and ZnO, Carbon Black, Ag, and Au. The amounts of ENP released into the aquatic system, which was estimated on the basis of typical product use, ENP concentration in the product, daily use quantity, release factor, and market share, were in the range of several hundred tons per year. As these quantities are likely to increase, it will be important to further study the fate of ENP that reach the aquatic environment in Singapore. PMID:26213957

  15. Leaded eyeglasses substantially reduce radiation exposure of the surgeon's eyes during acquisition of typical fluoroscopic views of the hip and pelvis.

    PubMed

    Burns, Sean; Thornton, Raymond; Dauer, Lawrence T; Quinn, Brian; Miodownik, Daniel; Hak, David J

    2013-07-17

    Despite recommendations to do so, few orthopaedists wear leaded glasses when performing operative fluoroscopy. Radiation exposure to the ocular lens causes cataracts, and regulatory limits for maximum annual occupational exposure to the eye continue to be revised downward. Using anthropomorphic patient and surgeon phantoms, radiation dose at the surgeon phantom's lens was measured with and without leaded glasses during fluoroscopic acquisition of sixteen common pelvic and hip views. The magnitude of lens dose reduction from leaded glasses was calculated by dividing the unprotected dose by the dose measured behind leaded glasses. On average, the use of leaded glasses reduced radiation to the surgeon phantom's eye by tenfold, a 90% reduction in dose. However, there was widespread variation in the amount of radiation that reached the phantom surgeon's eye among the various radiographic projections we studied. Without leaded glasses, the dose measured at the surgeon's lens varied more than 250-fold among these sixteen different views. In addition to protecting the surgeon's eye from the deleterious effects of radiation, the use of leaded glasses could permit an orthopaedist to perform fluoroscopic views on up to ten times more patients before reaching the annual dose limit of 20 mSv of radiation to the eye recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Personal safety and adherence to limits of occupational radiation exposure should compel orthopaedists to wear leaded glasses for fluoroscopic procedures if other protective barriers are not in use. Leaded glasses are a powerful tool for reducing the orthopaedic surgeon's lens exposure to radiation during acquisition of common intraoperative fluoroscopic views.

  16. Health-care access among adults with epilepsy: The U.S. National Health Interview Survey, 2010 and 2013✩

    PubMed Central

    Thurman, David J.; Kobau, Rosemarie; Luo, Yao-Hua; Helmers, Sandra L.; Zack, Matthew M.

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Community-based and other epidemiologic studies within the United States have identified substantial disparities in health care among adults with epilepsy. However, few data analyses addressing their health-care access are representative of the entire United States. This study aimed to examine national survey data about adults with epilepsy and to identify barriers to their health care. Materials and methods We analyzed data from U.S. adults in the 2010 and the 2013 National Health Interview Surveys, multistage probability samples with supplemental questions on epilepsy. We defined active epilepsy as a history of physician-diagnosed epilepsy either currently under treatment or accompanied by seizures during the preceding year. We employed SAS-callable SUDAAN software to obtain weighted estimates of population proportions and rate ratios (RRs) adjusted for sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Results Compared to adults reporting no history of epilepsy, adults reporting active epilepsy were significantly more likely to be insured under Medicaid (RR = 3.58) and less likely to have private health insurance (RR = 0.58). Adults with active epilepsy were also less likely to be employed (RR = 0.53) and much more likely to report being disabled (RR = 6.14). They experience greater barriers to health-care access including an inability to afford medication (RR = 2.40), mental health care (RR = 3.23), eyeglasses (RR = 2.36), or dental care (RR = 1.98) and are more likely to report transportation as a barrier to health care (RR = 5.28). Conclusions These reported substantial disparities in, and barriers to, access to health care for adults with active epilepsy are amenable to intervention. PMID:26627980

  17. Incidence of in-hospital falls in geriatric patients before and after the introduction of an interdisciplinary team-based fall-prevention intervention.

    PubMed

    von Renteln-Kruse, Wolfgang; Krause, Tom

    2007-12-01

    Falls are among the most common unwanted events in older hospital inpatients, but evidence of effective prevention is still limited compared with that in the community and in long-term care facilities. This article describes a prevention program and its effects on the incidence of falls in geriatric hospital wards. It was a prospective cohort study with historical control including all 4,272 patients (mean age 80, 69% female) before and 2,982 (mean age 81, 69% female) after introduction of the intervention. The intervention included fall-risk assessment on admission and reassessment after a fall; risk alert; additional supervision and assistance with the patients' transfer and use of the toilet; provision of an information leaflet; individual patient and caregiver counseling; encouragement of appropriate use of eyeglasses, hearing aids, footwear, and mobility devices; and staff education. Measurements included standardized fall-incidence reporting, activity of daily living and mobility status, number of falls and injurious falls, and number of patients who fell. Before the intervention was introduced, 893 falls were recorded. After the intervention was implemented, only 468 falls were recorded (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.73-0.92), 240 versus 129 total injurious falls (IRR=0.84, 95% CI=0.67-1.04), 10 versus nine falls with fracture (IRR=1.40, 95% CI=0.51-3.85) and 611 versus 330 fallers. The relative risk of falling was significantly reduced (0.77, 95% CI=0.68-0.88). A structured multifactorial intervention reduced the incidence of falls, but not injurious falls, in a hospital ward setting with existing geriatric multidisciplinary care. Improvement of functional competence and mobility may be relevant to fall prevention in older hospital inpatients.

  18. Investigating the perception of Romanian adults on ophthalmology services from an experiential marketing perspective

    PubMed Central

    Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Gheorghe, Iuliana-Raluca; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2017-01-01

    Nowadays, we live in a world in which we are daily bombed by hundreds of advertisements. Specialists have to discover other channels or embed attractive elements in the advertisements’ messages to cut through the clutter and catch the consumers’ attention. The evolution of the concept of service has changed from the commercial status to determining a lifestyle. Buying a service has led to a change in the consumer behavior. Consumers want to buy services that dazzle their senses, touch their hearts, and stimulate their minds, not as before, excellent or satisfying. Ophthalmology is the medical specialty that is the most oriented toward outpatient care, as hospitalization is required only in a small percentage of cases. The objective of this case study was to investigate the perception of Romanian adult consumers on ophthalmology services from an experiential marketing perspective, by using the Focus Group method. Ophthalmology requires a wide range of skills due to the diversity of consumers who demand specialized consultations. Experiential marketing is a valuable strategy that ophthalmologic organizations may use to target specific consumers. The purpose of this case study was to identify the perceptions of Romanian adults on experiential marketing campaigns and determine the degree to which these campaigns influenced their decisions of buying an ophthalmologic service. Using a snowball sampling technique we have sent a filter questionnaire to 40 people on the internet. The filter questionnaire consisted of questions about wearing eyeglasses, the period of wearing them, the last ophthalmologic consultation, the type of ophthalmologic clinic they were going to, age and education. The respondents revealed there is almost no visibility on promoting services even if there is an upsurge of organizations offering this type of health service in the Romanian ophthalmology sector. PMID:29450395

  19. Prevalence of obesity and overweight and its associated factors among registered pensioners in Ghana; a cross sectional studies.

    PubMed

    Nuertey, Benjamin D; Alhassan, Alabira Iddrisu; Nuertey, Augustine D; Mensah, Isaac Asimadu; Adongo, Victor; Kabutey, Clement; Addai, Joyce; Biritwum, Richard Bekoe

    2017-01-01

    The elderly are faced with health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems, which can be linked to obesity and overweight. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight and its associated factors amongst registered pensioners in Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among members of the national pensioners association of Ghana. 4813 pensioners took part in the study. Thirteen study centers were used in the study with at least one center per regional capital. Questionnaires, physical examinations, blood and urine sample examinations were carried out. Overall, 16.3% of the pensioners were obese while 30.0% were overweight. Prevalence of obesity among males and females were 8.0% and 34.5% respectively. Pensioners who were hypertensive had 1.8 times the odds (95% CI = 1.5-2.0) of being obese/overweight. Serum triglycerides levels of 2.26 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or more, were associated with 80% chance of obesity and overweight (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3 - 2.5). There was 30% increase in arthritis among obese/overweight pensioners compared to normal/underweight pensioners. Obesity and overweight pensioners were more likely to be using eyeglass (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.3-2.2) and less likely to report hearing loss (OR = 0.7, 95% CI =0.5-1.0). The prevalence of obesity among the elderly in Ghana is high. Age had an inverse linear relationship with BMI among pensioners. Hypertension, arthritis and dyslipidemia were associated with obesity among registered pensioners.

  20. A study of morbidity pattern among iron and steel workers from an industry in central India.

    PubMed

    Biswas, Manish J; Koparkar, Anil R; Joshi, Mohan P; Hajare, Shilpa T; Kasturwar, Nandakishor B

    2014-01-01

    Iron is the world's most commonly used metal and can usually be found with other elements in the form of steel. In this era of machines, it is the inevitable part in production of various materials like eyeglass frames, jet aircraft, the space shuttle, automobiles, and surgical instruments. Occupational factors make an important contribution to the global burden of disease, but the reliable data on occupational disease are much more difficult to obtain. Hence, the current study was carried out to find out the morbidity pattern among iron and steel workers. A cross-sectional study. was carried out after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethics Committee in an iron and steel factory. Worker's detailed information regarding profile was taken in pretested questionnaire format after obtaining the informed written consent and explaining the purpose of study. Workers were also interviewed regarding their years of job, job satisfaction, usage of protective devices, and history of injuries during work. Worker's detailed general and systemic examination was conducted. The overall prevalence of morbidities among the workers was 60%. It was observed that commonest morbidity in the workers was lumbago (musculoskeletal pain), that is, 33.25%which was more in Group B (49.73%) than Group A (18.78%), followed by occupational dermatitis (27%) which more common in Group A (33.33%) than Group B (19.79%). It was seen that occupation-related morbidities were more prevalent in Group A, i.e. Exposed group (P < 0.001). It was observed that occupation-related morbidities were more common in exposed group (EG) than that of nonexposed group (NEG) and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001).

  1. Impact of Free Glasses and a Teacher Incentive on Children's Use of Eyeglasses: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

    PubMed

    Yi, Hongmei; Zhang, Haiqing; Ma, Xiaochen; Zhang, Linxiu; Wang, Xiuqin; Jin, Ling; Naidoo, Kovin; Minto, Hasan; Zou, Haidong; Lu, Lina; Rozelle, Scott; Congdon, Nathan

    2015-11-01

    To study the effect of free glasses combined with teacher incentives on in-school glasses wear among Chinese urban migrant children. Cluster-randomized controlled trial. Children with visual acuity (VA) ≤6/12 in either eye owing to refractive error in 94 randomly chosen primary schools underwent randomization by school to receive free glasses, education on their use, and a teacher incentive (Intervention), or glasses prescriptions only (Control). Intervention group teachers received a tablet computer if ≥80% of children given glasses wore them during unannounced visits 6 weeks and 6 months (main outcome) after intervention. Among 4376 children, 728 (16.7%, mean age 10.9 years, 51.0% boys) met enrollment criteria and were randomly allocated, 358 (49.2%, 47 schools) to Intervention and 370 (50.8%, 47 schools) to Control. Among these, 693 children (95.2%) completed the study and underwent analysis. Spectacle wear was significantly higher at 6 months among Intervention children (Observed [main outcome]: 68.3% vs 23.9%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 11.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.91-22.5, P < .001; Self-reported: 90.6% vs 32.1%, OR = 43.7, 95% CI = 21.7-88.5, P < .001). Other predictors of observed wear at 6 months included baseline spectacle wear (P < .001), uncorrected VA <6/18 (P = .01), and parental spectacle wear (P = .02). The 6-month observed wear rate was only 41% among similar-aged children provided free glasses in our previous trial without teacher incentives. Free spectacles and teacher incentives maintain classroom wear in the large majority of children needing glasses over a school year. Low wear among Control children demonstrates the need for interventions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Biosocial variables and auditory acuity as risk factors for non-fatal childhood injuries in Greece.

    PubMed Central

    Petridou, E.; Zervos, I.; Christopoulos, G.; Revinthi, K.; Papoutsakis, G.; Trichopoulos, D.

    1995-01-01

    OBJECTIVES: To examine whether biosocial variables and auditory acuity are risk factors for injuries among children. SETTING: Children with injuries who presented at the emergency clinics of one of the two university hospitals for children in Athens, Greece between December 1993 and April 1994. METHODS: 144 children aged 5-14 years, residents of Athens, were brought to the emergency clinics for a moderate to severe injury. For each of these children one hospital control, matched for age and sex, and one classmate control similarly matched were identified. A standard interview form was completed for all 432 children and acouometric and tympanometric examinations were performed in each of them. Analysis was done through conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The likelihood of an accident was higher in children of younger fathers (odds ratio (OR) = 0.7, p = 0.04), children of mothers with non-professional jobs (OR = 1.9, p = 0.03) as well as in children of higher birth order (OR = 1.7, p = 0.01), in those with predominantly other than parental daily supervision (OR = 2.6, p = 0.001), and those with a history of previous accident (OR = 1.3, p = 0.002). Somatometric factors, school performance, use of corrective eyeglasses and subnormal auditory acuity were not found to be risk factors, but auditory imbalance and abnormal tympanograms were positively related to the risk of childhood injury (OR = 2.6, p = 0.02; and OR = 2.3, p = 0.08 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: the findings of this study underline the importance of attentive supervision and safety training of children living in modern cities; they also suggest that children with auditory imbalance and history of an accident are at higher injury risk and they should be targeted with specific intervention programs. PMID:9346003

  3. Does the treatment of amblyopia normalise subfoveal choroidal thickness in amblyopic children?

    PubMed

    Öner, Veysi; Bulut, Asker

    2017-03-01

    Recent studies have found a choroidal thickening in amblyopic eyes and suggested that there might be a relationship between the choroid and amblyopia. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a six-month treatment of amblyopia on choroidal thickness in anisometropic hyperopic amblyopic children. Thirty-two anisometropic hyperopic children with unilateral amblyopia were included in this prospective study. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured as the distance between the retinal pigment epithelium and the chorioscleral edge, by using spectral domain enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. The treatment of amblyopia was performed based on the full correction of the refractive error with eyeglasses, a refractive adaptation phase and occlusion by patching the fellow eye. The mean visual acuity of the amblyopic eyes significantly increased from 0.35 ± 0.3 to 0.16 ± 0.2 logMAR after the treatment (p < 0.001). The mean initial choroidal thickness was significantly higher in the amblyopic eyes than in the fellow eyes (p = 0.019). There were no significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment mean choroidal thickness in the amblyopic eyes (p = 0.428) and in the fellow eyes (p = 0.343). The mean choroidal thickness was still higher in the amblyopic eyes than in the fellow eyes after the treatment (p = 0.006). Although a six-month treatment of amblyopia increased the visual acuity of the anisometropic hyperopic amblyopic eyes, it could not significantly change choroidal thickness. Our results were in accordance with the conventional explanation, which suggests visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus abnormalities in the pathophysiology of amblyopia. © 2016 Optometry Australia.

  4. The Prevalence and Causes of Visaual Impairment and Blindness in a Rural Population in the North of Iran

    PubMed Central

    HASHEMI, Hassan; REZVAN, Farhad; YEKTA, AbbasAli; OSTADIMOGHADDAM, Hadi; SOROUSH, Sara; DADBIN, Nooshin; KHABAZKHOOB, Mehdi

    2015-01-01

    Background: Visual impairment is a very important public health problem. In Iran, reports of visual impairment and blindness have been published from the urban population while the prevalence of visual impairment in the rural population has not been reported. The purpose of this study to determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment, in a rural population in district of based on age and sex Methods: In a cross-sectional population-based study, using random cluster sampling, 13 of the 83 villages of Khaf County in the north east of Iran were selected. Eye examinations were performed in a Mobile Eye Clinic (Nooravaran Salamat, 2011) and included optometric examinations such as measuring uncorrected and corrected visual acuity along with non-cycloplegic refraction. Results: The prevalence of visual impairment, low vision, and blindness was 6.3% (95% CI 5.3–7.3), 3.4% (95% CI 2.6–4.1), and 3.0% (95% CI 2.3–3.6), respectively. The prevalence of visual impairment ranged from 1.8% in the participant younger than 20 years of age to 28% in the subjects aged 60 and over (P<0.001). After matching for age, the prevalence of visual impairment and low vision was significantly higher in women. The most prevalent causes of visual impairment were uncorrected refractory error (54.5%) and cataract (17.6%). Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment was significantly higher in the rural population of this study when compared to previous reports from Iran. It seems that provision of therapeutic facilities like cataract surgery and availability of eyeglasses in villages can considerably reduce the prevalence of visual impairment. PMID:26258099

  5. The Prevalence and Causes of Visaual Impairment and Blindness in a Rural Population in the North of Iran.

    PubMed

    Hashemi, Hassan; Rezvan, Farhad; Yekta, AbbasAli; Ostadimoghaddam, Hadi; Soroush, Sara; Dadbin, Nooshin; Khabazkhoob, Mehdi

    2015-06-01

    Visual impairment is a very important public health problem. In Iran, reports of visual impairment and blindness have been published from the urban population while the prevalence of visual impairment in the rural population has not been reported. The purpose of this study to determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment, in a rural population in district of based on age and sex. In a cross-sectional population-based study, using random cluster sampling, 13 of the 83 villages of Khaf County in the north east of Iran were selected. Eye examinations were performed in a Mobile Eye Clinic (Nooravaran Salamat, 2011) and included optometric examinations such as measuring uncorrected and corrected visual acuity along with non-cycloplegic refraction. The prevalence of visual impairment, low vision, and blindness was 6.3% (95% CI 5.3-7.3), 3.4% (95% CI 2.6-4.1), and 3.0% (95% CI 2.3-3.6), respectively. The prevalence of visual impairment ranged from 1.8% in the participant younger than 20 years of age to 28% in the subjects aged 60 and over (P<0.001). After matching for age, the prevalence of visual impairment and low vision was significantly higher in women. The most prevalent causes of visual impairment were uncorrected refractory error (54.5%) and cataract (17.6%). The prevalence of visual impairment was significantly higher in the rural population of this study when compared to previous reports from Iran. It seems that provision of therapeutic facilities like cataract surgery and availability of eyeglasses in villages can considerably reduce the prevalence of visual impairment.

  6. Prototype for measuring pupil size changes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ventura, Liliane; Pergoraro Silva, Fernando; Rossi, Giuliano; Riul, Cassius

    2007-02-01

    The neurological control of the visual process is extremely complex and the pupil movement plays an important role. It controls the intensity of light entering the eye, is responsible for focusing depth and avoiding undesired paracentral rays. As such factors vary along the day for each patient individually, allied to the individual answer to determined light stimulation, it is not possible to predict the pupilar size change along the day, leading to undetermined image quality of the patient for a pre-existent condition. Among the clinical and surgical procedures in order to enhance the quality of the visual system of the patient, wave-front based surgeries are performed and its efficiency is strongly dependent on the pupilar position as well as the area to be ablated. In order to predict the individual behavior of the pupil change during an ordinary routine of the patient we have been developing a system to provide means for the personal refractive surgery to be the most efficient as possible. This work presents a method for monitoring the dynamics of the pupil. The methodology presented in this work provides measurements of the patient's pupil sizes along an entire day with light intensity conditioned to the one that the patient is exposed. A prototype has been developed using an eyeglass frame, where a dichroic mirror (70% transmittance) is attached to the frame, as well as a CMOS camera and an infrared illumination system. The image of the pupil is acquired every 4 minutes, its transferring is done by wireless serial communication (RS-232) and saved in a flash memory. Image processing and pupil size determination are done later separately from monitoring. The system is under preliminary tests.

  7. Investigating the perception of Romanian adults on ophthalmology services from an experiential marketing perspective.

    PubMed

    Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Gheorghe, Iuliana-Raluca; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2017-01-01

    Nowadays, we live in a world in which we are daily bombed by hundreds of advertisements. Specialists have to discover other channels or embed attractive elements in the advertisements' messages to cut through the clutter and catch the consumers' attention. The evolution of the concept of service has changed from the commercial status to determining a lifestyle. Buying a service has led to a change in the consumer behavior. Consumers want to buy services that dazzle their senses, touch their hearts, and stimulate their minds, not as before, excellent or satisfying. Ophthalmology is the medical specialty that is the most oriented toward outpatient care, as hospitalization is required only in a small percentage of cases. The objective of this case study was to investigate the perception of Romanian adult consumers on ophthalmology services from an experiential marketing perspective, by using the Focus Group method. Ophthalmology requires a wide range of skills due to the diversity of consumers who demand specialized consultations. Experiential marketing is a valuable strategy that ophthalmologic organizations may use to target specific consumers. The purpose of this case study was to identify the perceptions of Romanian adults on experiential marketing campaigns and determine the degree to which these campaigns influenced their decisions of buying an ophthalmologic service. Using a snowball sampling technique we have sent a filter questionnaire to 40 people on the internet. The filter questionnaire consisted of questions about wearing eyeglasses, the period of wearing them, the last ophthalmologic consultation, the type of ophthalmologic clinic they were going to, age and education. The respondents revealed there is almost no visibility on promoting services even if there is an upsurge of organizations offering this type of health service in the Romanian ophthalmology sector.

  8. SVGA and XGA LCOS microdisplays for HMD applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bolotski, Michael; Alvelda, Phillip

    1999-07-01

    MicroDisplay liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display devices are based on a combination of technologies combined with the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS substrates. Two recent SVGA (800 X 600) pixel resolution designs were demonstrated based on 10 micron and 12.5-micron pixel pitch architectures. The resulting microdisplays measure approximately 10 mm and 12 mm in diagonal respectively. Further, an XGA (1024 X 768) resolution display fabricated with a 12.5-micron pixel pitch with a 16-mm diagonal was also demonstrated. Both the larger SVGA and the XGA design were based on the same 12.5-micron pixel-pitch design, demonstrating a quickly scalable design architecture for rapid prototyping life-cycles. All three microdisplay designs described above function in grayscale and high-performance Field-Sequential-Color (FSC) operating modes. The fast liquid crystal operating modes and new scalable high- performance pixel addressing architectures presented in this paper enable substantially improved color, contrast, and brightness while still satisfying the optical, packaging, and power requirements of portable commercial and defense applications including ultra-portable helmet, eyeglass, and heat-mounted systems. The entire suite of The MicroDisplay Corporation's technologies was devised to create a line of mixed-signal application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) in single-chip display systems. Mixed-signal circuits can integrate computing, memory, and communication circuitry on the same substrate as the display drivers and pixel array for a multifunctional complete system-on-a-chip. For helmet and head-mounted displays this can include capabilities such as the incorporation of customized symbology and information storage directly on the display substrate. System-on-a-chip benefits also include reduced head supported weight requirements through the elimination of off-chip drive electronics.

  9. Frequency and seasonal variation of ophthalmology-related internet searches.

    PubMed

    Leffler, Christopher T; Davenport, Byrd; Chan, Dana

    2010-06-01

    To use internet search activity to reveal the intensity of public interest and seasonal variation in ophthalmology-related diseases, symptoms, and treatments. Time-series analysis of internet search data. Google trend data for ophthalmology terms for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia from 2004 through 2008 were studied. Mean population-weighted temperature and fraction of schools in session were estimated from databases, and relative potential sunlight intensity was calculated. Multivariable linear regression was used to predict search term frequency based on environmental variables. Relative to diabetes searches (100%), common US eye-related searches were: "glasses" (44%), "Lasik" (16%), "contact lenses" (12.4%), "pink eye" (9.5%), "glaucoma" (5.9%), "cataract" (4.1%), "dry eyes" (2.1%), "eye twitching" (1.9%), and "eye pain" (1.9%). Seasonal nature was high for "conjunctivitis" (r(2) = 0.37), "pink eye" (r(2) = 0.32), "eye floaters" (r2 = 0.26), and "stye" (r(2) = 0.19), moderate for "glaucoma" (r(2) = 0.09) and "eye twitching" (r(2) = 0.06), and low for "uveitis" (r(2) = 0.02) and "macular degeneration" (r(2) < 0.01). Heat was associated with "stye" and cold was associated with "pink eye," "conjunctivitis," and "glaucoma" (all p < 0.002). Sunlight intensity was associated with "dry eyes" and "eye floaters" (p < 0.01). School sessions were associated positively with "eye twitching" (p >= 0.001) and negatively with "eyeglasses." "Eye allergy," "itchy eyes," and "watery eyes" were highly seasonal (r(2) = 0.75-0.38) and associated with "pollen" searches. Internet ophthalmology searches relate (in decreasing order) to refractive correction, eye diseases, and eye symptoms. Search study reveals the seasonality and environmental associations of interest in health terms.

  10. The use of head-mounted display eyeglasses for teaching surgical skills: A prospective randomised study.

    PubMed

    Peden, Robert G; Mercer, Rachel; Tatham, Andrew J

    2016-10-01

    To investigate whether 'surgeon's eye view' videos provided via head-mounted displays can improve skill acquisition and satisfaction in basic surgical training compared with conventional wet-lab teaching. A prospective randomised study of 14 medical students with no prior suturing experience, randomised to 3 groups: 1) conventional teaching; 2) head-mounted display-assisted teaching and 3) head-mounted display self-learning. All were instructed in interrupted suturing followed by 15 minutes' practice. Head-mounted displays provided a 'surgeon's eye view' video demonstrating the technique, available during practice. Subsequently students undertook a practical assessment, where suturing was videoed and graded by masked assessors using a 10-point surgical skill score (1 = very poor technique, 10 = very good technique). Students completed a questionnaire assessing confidence and satisfaction. Suturing ability after teaching was similar between groups (P = 0.229, Kruskal-Wallis test). Median surgical skill scores were 7.5 (range 6-10), 6 (range 3-8) and 7 (range 1-7) following head-mounted display-assisted teaching, conventional teaching, and head-mounted display self-learning respectively. There was good agreement between graders regarding surgical skill scores (rho.c = 0.599, r = 0.603), and no difference in number of sutures placed between groups (P = 0.120). The head-mounted display-assisted teaching group reported greater enjoyment than those attending conventional teaching (P = 0.033). Head-mounted display self-learning was regarded as least useful (7.4 vs 9.0 for conventional teaching, P = 0.021), but more enjoyable than conventional teaching (9.6 vs 8.0, P = 0.050). Teaching augmented with head-mounted displays was significantly more enjoyable than conventional teaching. Students undertaking self-directed learning using head-mounted displays with pre-recorded videos had comparable skill acquisition to those attending traditional wet-lab tutorials. Copyright © 2016 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Night-shift work and risk of compromised visual acuity among the workers in an electronics manufacturing company.

    PubMed

    Lin, Yu-Cheng; Ho, Kuo-Jung

    2018-01-01

    To evaluate the association between night-shift work exposure and visual health, this cross-sectional study utilized visual acuity, a surrogate measure for visual function, as a parameter, and performed an analysis comparing visual acuity between daytime and nighttime employees in an electronics manufacturing company. Data of personal histories, occupational records, physical examinations and blood tests was obtained from the electronic health records of workers. The total of 8280 workers including 3098 women and 5182 men, wearing their own daily used eyeglasses, were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the sample population was 34.7 years old (standard deviation = 5.4 years). All workers were divided into 3 work categories - consistent daytime worker (CDW), day-shift worker (DSW) and night-shift worker (NSW). The check-up results of glasses-corrected visual acuity (c-VA) were utilized to classify individuals as good (≥ 1.2, both eyes) and inadequate (< 0.8, the better eye) c-VA. Consistent daytime workers had the highest rate of good c-VA (42.5% vs. 25.1% DSW and 21.1% NSW, p = 0.047). Night-shift workers had the highest rate of inadequate c-VA (CDW, DSW and NSW: 2.6%, 6.2%, and 7.6%, p = 0.03) among all employees. After controlling for covariates, NSW were found at an increased risk for inadequate c-VA (adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-3.6, vs. CDW), and less likely to have good c-VA (ORa = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.4-0.5, vs. CDW). Night-shift work is moderately associated with compromised visual acuity of employees in this electronics manufacturing company. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):71-79. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.

  12. Comparison between over-glasses patching and adhesive patching for children with moderate amblyopia: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Kim, Su Jin; Jeon, Hyeshin; Jung, Jae Ho; Lee, Kwang Min; Choi, Hee Young

    2018-02-01

    To investigate efficacy of over-glasses patching treatment for amblyopic children using visual function improvement and Amblyopia Treatment Index (ATI) changes. In a randomized multi-center controlled clinical trial, 107 children aged 3-7 years with moderate amblyopia (visual acuity in the range of 20/40 to 20/100) were included to receive treatment with either an adhesive skin patch or a fabric over-glasses patch. The patients were prescribed 2 h of patching per day for the sound eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was investigated and ATI questionnaires were collected from parents at 5 weeks and 17 weeks after the initiation of treatment. ATI identifies barriers and problems associated with amblyopia treatment. We compared the changes of visual acuity of amblyopic eyes and ATI scores in two groups. At 17 weeks, the mean visual acuity of the amblyopic eye using Snellen chart improved 3.2 lines in the adhesive patching group and 2.7 lines for an over-glasses patching method that fit over eyeglasses (p = 0.345). A similar proportion of subjects in each group had improvement of ≥ 2 lines (adhesive patching group 67% vs over-glasses patching group 67%, p = 0.372). There was also no difference in treatment burden in each group as measured with the Amblyopia Treatment Index. The only item to demonstrate a significant difference between groups was that related to "Treatment makes the eye or eyelids red" (mean 4.0 ± 1.1 vs 3.0 ± 1.0 at 17 weeks, p = 0.001, for adhesive vs over-glasses patch). Over-glasses patching treatment is a useful option for amblyopia treatment when the patients suffer from adverse effects of using adhesive skin patching.

  13. Assessment of facial and cranial development and comparison of anthropometric ratios.

    PubMed

    Mahdi, Esmaeilzadeh

    2012-03-01

    Anthropometry is the biologic science of human body measurement. Craniofacial anthropometry discusses the characteristics on the measures of different soft and hard tissues of the head and face, and it is considered an important paraclinical record for the growth and development of the index and also for the diagnosis and curing orthodontic matters. Studying the craniofacial anthropometrics ratios is very useful in sciences such as dentistry, medicine, maxillofacial surgery, growth and development studies, plastic surgery, bioengineering, and nonmedical branches such as respiratory equipment and eye-glasses industries. The aims of this study were to determine Iranian cranial and facial anthropometric ratios and compare anthropometric ratios between Iranian and Canadian populations. This cross-sectional analytical study was done randomly on 564 four-to-eleven-year-old boys from Shirvan (North Khorasan, Iran) with normal face patterns. Facial and cranial ratios were estimated and compared. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. The mean values of these parameters were calculated .Finally, the regression line and the growth coefficient were determined for each parameter. Furthermore, the mean anthropometric measurement of Iranians was compared with Canadians. Student t test was used for comparing the measured values. Iranian population when born has hypereuryprosopic face and hypercephalic cranium form. While getting older, the midface height increases, face becomes more prominent, chin becomes shorter, and the face and cranium change to eurycephalic and hyperleptoprosopic form, respectively. Comparison of results related to the face and cranium size between Iranian and Canadian boys (4-11 years old) showed that many craniofacial ratios have significant differences (P < 0.05). Approximately, all of the anthropometric measurements in Iranian population and Canadians were significantly different. Considering the significant difference in the facial and cranial anthropologic ratios and size among Iranians and Canadians, the results obtained from Canadians should not be applied as criteria for treatment plans. Because of the wide population affinity combinations in Iran, more studies, with wider variations, should be conducted among different Iranian population affinity.

  14. Effects of compression and individual variability on face recognition performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McGarry, Delia P.; Arndt, Craig M.; McCabe, Steven A.; D'Amato, Donald P.

    2004-08-01

    The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 requires that the Visa Waiver Program be available only to countries that have a program to issue to their nationals machine-readable passports incorporating biometric identifiers complying with applicable standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In June 2002, the New Technologies Working Group of ICAO unanimously endorsed the use of face recognition (FR) as the globally interoperable biometric for machine-assisted identity confirmation with machine-readable travel documents (MRTDs), although Member States may elect to use fingerprint and/or iris recognition as additional biometric technologies. The means and formats are still being developed through which biometric information might be stored in the constrained space of integrated circuit chips embedded within travel documents. Such information will be stored in an open, yet unalterable and very compact format, probably as digitally signed and efficiently compressed images. The objective of this research is to characterize the many factors that affect FR system performance with respect to the legislated mandates concerning FR. A photograph acquisition environment and a commercial face recognition system have been installed at Mitretek, and over 1,400 images have been collected of volunteers. The image database and FR system are being used to analyze the effects of lossy image compression, individual differences, such as eyeglasses and facial hair, and the acquisition environment on FR system performance. Images are compressed by varying ratios using JPEG2000 to determine the trade-off points between recognition accuracy and compression ratio. The various acquisition factors that contribute to differences in FR system performance among individuals are also being measured. The results of this study will be used to refine and test efficient face image interchange standards that ensure highly accurate recognition, both for automated FR systems and human inspectors. Working within the M1-Biometrics Technical Committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) organization, a standard face image format will be tested and submitted to organizations such as ICAO.

  15. Spectacle-related eye injuries, spectacle-impact performance and eye protection.

    PubMed

    Hoskin, Annette K; Philip, Swetha; Dain, Stephen J; Mackey, David A

    2015-05-01

    The aim was to review the prevalence of spectacle-related ocular trauma and the performance of currently available spectacle materials and to identify the risk factors associated with spectacle-related ocular trauma. A literature review was conducted using Medline, Embase and Google with the keywords 'eyeglasses' OR 'spectacles' AND 'ocular injury' / 'eye injury'/ 'eye trauma' / 'ocular trauma'. Articles published prior to 1975 were excluded from this review because of advances in spectacle lens technology and Food and Drug Administration legislative changes requiring impact resistance of all prescription spectacle lenses in the United States. Six hundred and ninety-five individual ocular traumas, for which spectacles contributed to or were the main cause of injury, were identified in the literature. Eye injuries occurred when spectacles were worn in sports, in which medium- to high-impact energies were exerted from balls, racquets or bats and/or as a result of a collision with another player. Frame, lens design and product material choice were found to be associated with ocular injury, with polycarbonate lenses cited as the material of choice in the literature. International, regional and national standards for spectacle lenses had a wide range of impact requirements for prescription spectacle lenses, sports eye protection and occupational eye protection. Spectacle-related injury represents a small but preventable cause of ocular injury. With the increasing numbers of spectacle wearers and calls to spend more time outdoors to reduce myopia, spectacle wearers need to be made aware of the potential risks associated with wearing spectacles during medium- to high-risk activities. At particular risk are those prone to falls, the functionally one-eyed, those who have corneal thinning or have had previous eye surgery or injury. With increased understanding of specific risk factors, performance guidelines can be developed for prescription spectacle eye-protection requirements. © 2015 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Optometry © 2015 Optometry Australia.

  16. Ocular blast injuries related to explosive military ammunition.

    PubMed

    Gundogan, Fatih Cakir; Akay, F; Yolcu, U; Uzun, S; Ilhan, A; Toyran, S; Eyi, E; Diner, O

    2016-02-01

    To report the clinical features of ocular injuries associated with explosive military ammunition in insurgent attacks in Turkey. The medical records of 48 casualties who were treated for ocular injuries sustained in insurgent attacks at the Combat Region Hospitals in Turkey were retrospectively reviewed. The reviewed data included initial visual acuity, type of explosive military ammunition (ie, improvised explosive device, mine, hand grenade and rocket-propelled grenade), type of globe injury (open-globe vs closed-globe injury), traumatised globe zones, the presence/absence of an intraocular foreign body, medical interventions, status during the explosion and injuries to other parts of the body. The visual acuity differences between different explosive materials and between 'on-foot' and 'inside-vehicle' casualties were investigated. A total of 83 injured eyes were analysed. The mean patient age was 24.5±6.6 years. The mean initial logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.60±0.63. The injuries were due to improvised explosive devices in 28 cases (58.3%), land mines in 16 cases (33.3%), and hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades in 2 cases each (4.2%). Forty-seven eyes (56.6%) had open-globe injuries. The most frequently involved zones were zone 1 (50.0%) in closed-globe injuries and all zones (31.9%) in open-globe injuries. Intraocular foreign bodies were present in 45/47 (95.7%) eyes with open-globe injuries. Twelve (14.4%) eyes with no light perception were enucleated, and two (2.4%) eviscerated. The difference in the visual acuities between the on-foot and inside-vehicle casualties and between the injuries that were caused by the different types of explosive ammunitions was also insignificant (p=0.271 and 0.394, respectively). The clinical results for eye injuries caused by explosive military ammunition sustained during insurgent attacks in Turkey are disappointing irrespective of the explosive material. The use of protective eyeglasses might improve the outcomes and should be encouraged. 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/

  17. Measuring the perceived quality of ophthalmology services in private organizations. A marketing perspective.

    PubMed

    Gheorghe, Iuliana Raluca; Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2018-01-01

    Nowadays, the competition registered on the Romanian markets regarding the activity of private ophthalmology organizations has raised their interest in developing consumer-oriented strategies. The key factor that assures a differentiation as well as a competitive advantage is the service quality from a marketing perspective. From a marketing perspective, service quality is measured as a perceived discrepancy between the consumers' expectations and was actually performed in health care services. The most widely and validated measurement is the SERVQUAL scale. However, a variety of SERVQUAL scales have been applied in different health care environments without taking into consideration the specialty of the health care service. Thus, the objective of this paper was to measure the service quality in the Romanian ophthalmology private organizations using the SERVQUAL measurement, by identifying the SERVQUAL dimensions, which register the highest and the lowest gap scores. The instrument for data collection was the SERVQUAL self-administered questionnaire that consisted of 22 items measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The sample size encompassed 100 participants and the sampling technique was the snowball. The internal consistency, validity and the reliability of the SERVQUAL scale was determined by the Cronbach's alpha coefficients and factor analysis. The SERVQUAL questionnaire focused on 5 dimensions (tangibles, reliability, assurance, empathy and responsiveness) and each dimension, in its turn, was characterized by different items. The mean age of the participants was 49.52 years, with a mean income of 3031 Romanian Currency and the mean period of wearing eyeglasses was 5 years (±2). Further, there were 47% females and 53% males. The overall internal consistency of the SERVQUAL scale, as well as the dimensions' internal consistency were all above 0.7 and the factor analysis revealed that the items loaded properly on each dimension. Moreover, the gap scores of the SERVQUAL scale's dimensions pinpointed that the highest gap score was registered by the Tangibles dimension and the lowest gap score was registered by the Reliability dimension. Performing the ophthalmology service right the first time, contributes significantly to the improvement of the marketing effectiveness and the operating efficiency.

  18. Stereoscopic radiographic images with thermal neutrons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silvani, M. I.; Almeida, G. L.; Rogers, J. D.; Lopes, R. T.

    2011-10-01

    Spatial structure of an object can be perceived by the stereoscopic vision provided by eyes or by the parallax produced by movement of the object with regard to the observer. For an opaque object, a technique to render it transparent should be used, in order to make visible the spatial distribution of its inner structure, for any of the two approaches used. In this work, a beam of thermal neutrons at the main port of the Argonauta research reactor of the Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil has been used as radiation to render the inspected objects partially transparent. A neutron sensitive Imaging Plate has been employed as a detector and after exposure it has been developed by a reader using a 0.5 μm laser beam, which defines the finest achievable spatial resolution of the acquired digital image. This image, a radiographic attenuation map of the object, does not represent any specific cross-section but a convoluted projection for each specific attitude of the object with regard to the detector. After taking two of these projections at different object attitudes, they are properly processed and the final image is viewed by a red and green eyeglass. For monochromatic images this processing involves transformation of black and white radiographies into red and white and green and white ones, which are afterwards merged to yield a single image. All the processes are carried out with the software ImageJ. Divergence of the neutron beam unfortunately spoils both spatial and contrast resolutions, which become poorer as object-detector distance increases. Therefore, in order to evaluate the range of spatial resolution corresponding to the 3D image being observed, a curve expressing spatial resolution against object-detector gap has been deduced from the Modulation Transfer Functions experimentally. Typical exposure times, under a reactor power of 170 W, were 6 min for both quantitative and qualitative measurements. In spite of its intrinsic constraints, this simple technique may provide valuable information about the object otherwise available only through more refined and expensive 3D tomography.

  19. Measuring the perceived quality of ophthalmology services in private organizations. A marketing perspective

    PubMed Central

    Gheorghe, Iuliana Raluca; Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2018-01-01

    Nowadays, the competition registered on the Romanian markets regarding the activity of private ophthalmology organizations has raised their interest in developing consumer-oriented strategies. The key factor that assures a differentiation as well as a competitive advantage is the service quality from a marketing perspective. Objectives: From a marketing perspective, service quality is measured as a perceived discrepancy between the consumers’ expectations and was actually performed in health care services. The most widely and validated measurement is the SERVQUAL scale. However, a variety of SERVQUAL scales have been applied in different health care environments without taking into consideration the specialty of the health care service. Thus, the objective of this paper was to measure the service quality in the Romanian ophthalmology private organizations using the SERVQUAL measurement, by identifying the SERVQUAL dimensions, which register the highest and the lowest gap scores. Materials and methods: The instrument for data collection was the SERVQUAL self-administered questionnaire that consisted of 22 items measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The sample size encompassed 100 participants and the sampling technique was the snowball. The internal consistency, validity and the reliability of the SERVQUAL scale was determined by the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and factor analysis. The SERVQUAL questionnaire focused on 5 dimensions (tangibles, reliability, assurance, empathy and responsiveness) and each dimension, in its turn, was characterized by different items. Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.52 years, with a mean income of 3031 Romanian Currency and the mean period of wearing eyeglasses was 5 years (±2). Further, there were 47% females and 53% males. The overall internal consistency of the SERVQUAL scale, as well as the dimensions’ internal consistency were all above 0.7 and the factor analysis revealed that the items loaded properly on each dimension. Moreover, the gap scores of the SERVQUAL scale’s dimensions pinpointed that the highest gap score was registered by the Tangibles dimension and the lowest gap score was registered by the Reliability dimension. Conclusions: Performing the ophthalmology service right the first time, contributes significantly to the improvement of the marketing effectiveness and the operating efficiency. PMID:29796435

  20. INFRARED- BASED BLINK DETECTING GLASSES FOR FACIAL PACING: TOWARDS A BIONIC BLINK

    PubMed Central

    Frigerio, Alice; Hadlock, Tessa A; Murray, Elizabeth H; Heaton, James T

    2015-01-01

    IMPORTANCE Facial paralysis remains one of the most challenging conditions to effectively manage, often causing life-altering deficits in both function and appearance. Facial rehabilitation via pacing and robotic technology has great yet unmet potential. A critical first step towards reanimating symmetrical facial movement in cases of unilateral paralysis is the detection of healthy movement to use as a trigger for stimulated movement. OBJECTIVE To test a blink detection system that can be attached to standard eyeglasses and used as part of a closed-loop facial pacing system. DESIGN Standard safety glasses were equipped with an infrared (IR) emitter/detector pair oriented horizontally across the palpebral fissure, creating a monitored IR beam that became interrupted when the eyelids closed. SETTING Tertiary care Facial Nerve Center. PARTICIPANTS 24 healthy volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Video-quantified blinking was compared with both IR sensor signal magnitude and rate of change in healthy participants with their gaze in repose, while they shifted gaze from central to far peripheral positions, and during the production of particular facial expressions. RESULTS Blink detection based on signal magnitude achieved 100% sensitivity in forward gaze, but generated false-detections on downward gaze. Calculations of peak rate of signal change (first derivative) typically distinguished blinks from gaze-related lid movements. During forward gaze, 87% of detected blink events were true positives, 11% were false positives, and 2% false negatives. Of the 11% false positives, 6% were associated with partial eyelid closures. During gaze changes, false blink detection occurred 6.3% of the time during lateral eye movements, 10.4% during upward movements, 46.5% during downward movements, and 5.6% for movements from an upward or downward gaze back to the primary gaze. Facial expressions disrupted sensor output if they caused substantial squinting or shifted the glasses. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE Our blink detection system provides a reliable, non-invasive indication of eyelid closure using an invisible light beam passing in front of the eye. Future versions will aim to mitigate detection errors by using multiple IR emitter/detector pairs mounted on the glasses, and alternative frame designs may reduce shifting of the sensors relative to the eye during facial movements. PMID:24699708

  1. A prospective case control comparison of the ZeroGravity system versus a standard lead apron as radiation protection strategy in neuroendovascular procedures.

    PubMed

    Haussen, Diogo C; Van Der Bom, Imramsjah Martijn John; Nogueira, Raul G

    2016-10-01

    We aimed to compare the performance of the ZeroGravity (ZG) system (radiation protection system composed by a suspended lead suit) against the use of standard protection (lead apron (LA), thyroid shield, lead eyeglasses, table skirts, and ceiling suspended shield) in neuroangiography procedures. Radiation exposure data were prospectively collected in consecutive neuroendovascular procedures between December 2014 and February 2015. Operator No 1 was assigned to the use of an LA (plus lead glasses, thyroid shield, and a 1 mm hanging shield at the groin) while operator No 2 utilized the ZG system. Dosimeters were used to measure peak skin dose for the head, thyroid, and left foot. The two operators performed a total of 122 procedures during the study period. The ZG operator was more commonly the primary operator compared with the LA operator (85% vs 71%; p=0.04). The mean anterior-posterior (AP), lateral, and cumulative dose area product (DAP) radiation exposure as well as the mean fluoroscopy time were not statistically different between the operators' cases. The peak skin dose to the head of the operator with LA was 2.1 times higher (3380 vs 1600 μSv), while the thyroid was 13.9 (4460 vs 320 μSv), the mediastinum infinitely (520 vs 0 μSv), and the foot 3.3 times higher (4870 vs 1470 μSv) compared with the ZG operator, leading to an overall accumulated dose 4 times higher. The ratio of cumulative operator received dose/total cumulative DAP was 2.5 higher on the LA operator. The ZG radiation protection system leads to substantially lower radiation exposure to the operator in neurointerventional procedures. However, substantial exposure may still occur at the level of the lens and thyroid to justify additional protection. 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/

  2. Interactions between biomaterials and the sclera: Implications on myopia progression

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Su, James

    Myopia prevalence has steadily climbed worldwide in recent decades with the most dramatic impact in East Asian countries. Treatments such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, and laser surgery for the refractive error are widely available, but none cures the underlying cause. In progressive high myopia, invasive surgical procedures using a scleral buckle for mechanical support are performed since the patient is at risk of becoming blind. The treatment outcome is highly dependent on the surgeon's skills and the patient's myopia progression rate, with limited choices in buckling materials. This dissertation, in four main studies, represents efforts made to control high myopia progression through the exploration and development of biomaterials that influence scleral growth. First, mRNA expression levels of the chick scleral matrix metalloproteinases, tissue-inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases, and transforming growth factor-beta 2 were assessed for temporal and defocus power effects. The first study elucidated the roles that these factors play in scleral growth regulation and suggested potential motifs that can be incorporated in future biomaterials design. Second, poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone) as injectable gels and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as solid strips were implanted in chicks to demonstrate the concept of posterior pole scleral reinforcements. This second study found that placing appropriate biomaterials at the posterior pole of the eye could directly influence scleral remodeling by interacting with the host cells. Both studies advanced the idea that scleral tissue remodeling could be potentially controlled by well-designed biomaterials. These findings led to the exploration of biomimetic hydrogels comprising enzymatically-degradable semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (edsIPNs) to determine their biocompatibility and effects on the chick posterior eye wall. This third study demonstrated the feasibility of stimulating scleral growth by applying biomimetic injectable materials. Fourth, the muscarinic antagonist drug, atropine, was encapsulated within the edsIPNs and delivered to the chick eye posterior pole to evaluate the local effect of atropine release. This fourth study offered an alternative method of ocular drug delivery for treatment of myopia, with the potential to elucidate the actual location of the inhibitive effect of atropine on myopia progression. In summary, this dissertation contributes to the design and use of biomaterials specific to myopia therapy and adds novel insights to scleral tissue engineering.

  3. UV Radiation: a new first year physics/life sciences laboratory experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petelina, S. V.; Siddaway, J. M.

    2010-12-01

    Unfortunately, Australia leads the world in the number of skin cancer cases per capita. Three major factors that contribute to this are: 1) the level of damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation in Australia is higher than in many other countries. This is caused, among other factors, by the stratospheric ozone depletion and Antarctic ozone hole; 2) many people in Australia are of Irish-Scottish origin and their skin can not repair the damage caused by the UV radiation as effectively as the skin of people of other origins; 3) Australia is one of the world’s leaders in the outdoor activities where people tend to spend more time outside. As our experience has shown, most Australian University students, high school students, and even high school teachers were largely unaware of the UV damage details and effective safety measures. Therefore, a need for new ways to educate people became apparent. The general aim of this new 1st year laboratory experiment, developed and first offered at La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) in 2009, is to investigate how UV-B radiation levels change under various solar illumination conditions and how effective different types of protection are. After pre-lab readings on physical concepts and biological effects of UV radiation, and after solving all pre-lab problems, the students go outside and measure the actual change in UV-B and UV-A radiation levels under various conditions. Some of these conditions are: direct sun, shade from a building, shade under the roof, reflection from various surfaces, direct sun through cheap and expensive sunglasses and eyeglasses, direct sun through various types of cloth and hair. The equipment used is the UV-Probe manufactured by sglux SolGel Technologies GmbH. The students’ feedback on this new laboratory experiment was very positive. It was ranked top among all physics experiments offered as part of that subject (Physics for Life Sciences) in 2009 and top among all physics experiments presented for peer evaluation at the Advanced Science Education Learning Laboratory Workshop in April 2010 at the University of Adelaide, Australia. All three main components of the UV Radiation experiment - pre-lab exercises, taking measurements, and a group discussion led by a demonstrator, were assessed by the students and by the teaching academics as a very important and valuable contribution to learning.

  4. Awareness of incident open-angle glaucoma in a population study: the Barbados Eye Studies.

    PubMed

    Hennis, Anselm; Wu, Suh-Yuh; Nemesure, Barbara; Honkanen, Robert; Leske, M Cristina

    2007-10-01

    To evaluate factors related to awareness of incident open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the Barbados Eye Studies. Cohort study with 81% to 85% response rate over 9 years. Four thousand three hundred fourteen participants of African descent, 40 to 84 years old at baseline. Standardized study visits included an interview on demographic, medical, health care, and other factors; various ophthalmic measurements; fundus photography; and comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations for those referred. Definite OAG was defined by both visual field and optic disc criteria after ophthalmologic confirmation, regardless of intraocular pressure (IOP). Definite incident participants without prior OAG diagnosis/treatment were considered unaware. Logistic regression analyses evaluated factors associated with OAG unawareness. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Over 9 years, 125 participants newly developed definite OAG, of whom 53% were previously unaware. At baseline, the unaware group had significantly lower mean IOP (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94) and more hyperopia (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.08-6.69) than those aware. Most unaware and aware participants had > or =2 medical care visits in the previous year (72.7% vs. 83.1%). However, those in the unaware group sought eye care less frequently than those aware (last visit in preceding year, 33.4% vs. 64.4%); these visits were mainly for eyeglasses (71.4% vs. 12.5%), with most having glaucoma tests only during study visits (72.7% vs. 37.3%). The unaware group reported more visits to opticians/optometrists than to private ophthalmologists (OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.00-17.66) and fewer visits to a public ophthalmologic clinic (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86). Over half of participants with incident OAG were unaware of their diagnosis. Unawareness was related to lower IOP, hyperopia, and eye care utilization patterns. Although persons in the unaware group had regular visits for medical care, visits for eye care and OAG testing were limited. Unawareness was 4 times more likely when opticians/optometrists were the regular eye care source, compared with private ophthalmologists, and about 80% less likely with a public ophthalmologic source. These findings highlight the high frequency of undiagnosed OAG and importance of comprehensive examinations in disease detection.

  5. Effectiveness of a short message reminder in increasing compliance with pediatric cataract treatment: a randomized trial.

    PubMed

    Lin, Haotian; Chen, Weirong; Luo, Lixia; Congdon, Nathan; Zhang, Xinyu; Zhong, Xiaojian; Liu, Zhaochuan; Chen, Wan; Wu, Changrui; Zheng, Danying; Deng, Daming; Ye, Shaobi; Lin, Zhuoling; Zou, Xia; Liu, Yizhi

    2012-12-01

    Regular follow-up is essential to successful management of childhood cataract. We sought to assess whether a mobile phone short message service (SMS) for parents of children with cataract could improve follow-up adherence and the proportion of procedures performed in timely fashion. Randomized, controlled trial. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01417819. We included 258 parent-child pairs involved in the Childhood Cataract Program of the Chinese Ministry of Health. Participants were randomized (1:1) to a mobile phone SMS intervention or standard follow-up appointments. All participants were scheduled to attend ≥ 4 follow-up appointments according to the protocol. Parents in the intervention group received SMS automated reminders before scheduled appointments. The control group parents did not receive SMSs or any alternative reminder of scheduled appointments. Regular ocular examinations and analyses were performed by investigators masked to group allocation; however, study participants and the manager in charge of randomization and sending SMSs were not masked. Number of follow-up appointments attended, additional surgeries, laser treatments, changes in eyeglasses prescription, and occurrence of secondary ocular hypertension. Among parent-child participants, 135 were randomly assigned to the SMS intervention and 123 to standard appointments. Attendance rates for the SMS group (first visit, 97.8%; second, 91.9%; third, 92.6%; fourth, 83%) were significantly higher than those for the control group (first visit, 87.8%; second, 69.9%; third, 56.9%; fourth, 33.3%). The increase in attendance rate for total number of follow-up visits with SMS reminders was 47.2% (relative risk [RR] for attendance, 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.78; P = 0.003). The number needed to remind (NNR) to gain 1 additional visit by 1 child was 3 (95% CI, 1.8-4.2). A total of 247 clinical interventions were carried out in the SMS group and 134 in the control group (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.37-1.99; P = 0.007). The NNR to result in 1 additional clinical intervention was 5 (95% CI, 3.5-6.5). The SMS reminders significantly improved follow-up adherence in pediatric cataract treatment. Using readily available mobile phone resources may be an effective and economic strategy to improve management of childhood cataract in China. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article. Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Design and development of NiTi-based precipitation-strengthened high-temperature shape memory alloys for actuator applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hsu, Derek Hsen Dai

    As a vital constituent in the field of smart materials and structures, shape memory alloys (SMAs) are becoming ever-more important due to their wide range of commercial and industrial applications such as aircraft couplings, orthodontic wires, and eyeglasses frames. However, two major obstacles preventing SMAs from fulfilling their potential as excellent actuator materials are: 1) the lack of commercially-viable SMAs that operate at elevated temperatures, and 2) the degradation of mechanical properties and shape memory behavior due to thermal cyclic fatigue. This research utilized a thermodynamically-driven systems design approach to optimize the desired properties by controlling the microstructure and processing of high-temperature SMAs (HTSMAs). To tackle the two aforementioned problems with HTSMAs, the introduction of Ni2TiAl coherent nanoprecipitates in a Ni-Ti-Zr/Hf HTSMA matrix is hypothesized to strengthen the martensite phase while simultaneously increasing the transformation temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the transformation temperatures and thermal cyclic stability of each alloy. Also, microstructural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atom probe tomography (APT). Lastly, compression testing was used to assess the mechanical behavior of the alloys. From the investigation of the first set of Ni48.5Ti31.5-X Zr20AlX (X = 0, 1, 2, 3) prototype alloys, Al addition was found to decrease the transformation temperatures, decrease the thermal cyclic stability, but also increase the strength due to the nucleation and growth of embrittling NiTi2 and NiTiZr Laves phases. However, the anticipated Heusler phase precipitation did not occur. The next study focused on Ni50Ti30-XHf20Al X (X = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) prototype alloys which replaced Zr with Hf to avoid the formation of brittle Laves phases. Heusler precipitation was successfully demonstrated in the aged 4 and 5% Al alloys, but no transformation was detected. Finally, the last investigation explored the potential of high transformation temperatures in Ni50Ti25-XHf25AlX and Ni50Ti20-XHf30AlX (X = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) prototype alloys. The final design was narrowed down to a Ni 50Ti20Hf25Al5 alloy aged at 800°C that is expected to exhibit high transformation temperatures while concurrently strengthened by Heusler nanoprecipitates.

  7. Consumer exposure to Bisphenol A from plastic bottles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bidabadi, Fatemeh

    Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plastic monomer and plasticizer and is a chemical that has one of the highest volume production worldwide, with more than six billion pounds each year. Its' primary use is the production of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins used to line metal cans in a host of plastic consumer products such as toys, water pipes, drinking containers, eyeglass lenses, sports safety equipment as well as consumer electronics. Studies have shown that BPA is leached from lacquer coated cans and baby feeding bottles due to hydrolysis of the Polymer during thermal treatment. Studies have also shown that even under normal use BPA may leach from food and beverage containers. For many years Bisphenol A was treated as neutral to human health. The detection of BPA in drinking water and food products has raised the interest of many researches since 1990. Thousands of studies have examined the impact of BPA to determine its effects in laboratory animals. Numerous toxicological and biochemical studies have supported that BPA has estrogenic properties. The effects of exposure to BPA can be harmful to fetus, infants and young children. BPA is used in products where traces of it can be found in every human at higher levels of concentration than that which causes problems in animals. The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has defined "low dose" of endocrine disrupting chemicals as doses below no observable adverse effect (NOAE) for specific chemicals. In BPA, this dose is 50 mg/kg of body weight per day. Today there are more than 150 published results describing how low doses of BPA effects animals. A recent study reported that adult female mice, monkeys, and humans metabolized BPA at almost identical rates. Since the level of BPA and other endocrine chemicals appears to be increasing throughout the World, especially where plastics are prevalent, it is extremely important to study the effects of this chemical on man and wildlife. This research effort addresses reported traces of BPA detected using different analytical techniques. In this study, the presence of BPA in different baby feeding bottles was determined. In general, the concentration of BPA released increased with increasing time of heating and longer use. The experimental results also showed that BPA is present in those plastic containers, even though labeled " BPA free". Research and studies done by scientists and other health organizations have agreed to measure BPA levels in human tissue, and determine its negative effects to human health. At this time the source and level of exposure to BPA is unknown. For this reason, much more research is needed to uncover more evidence of this toxic chemical.

  8. Optical correction of refractive error for preventing and treating eye symptoms in computer users.

    PubMed

    Heus, Pauline; Verbeek, Jos H; Tikka, Christina

    2018-04-10

    Computer users frequently complain about problems with seeing and functioning of the eyes. Asthenopia is a term generally used to describe symptoms related to (prolonged) use of the eyes like ocular fatigue, headache, pain or aching around the eyes, and burning and itchiness of the eyelids. The prevalence of asthenopia during or after work on a computer ranges from 46.3% to 68.5%. Uncorrected or under-corrected refractive error can contribute to the development of asthenopia. A refractive error is an error in the focusing of light by the eye and can lead to reduced visual acuity. There are various possibilities for optical correction of refractive errors including eyeglasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery. To examine the evidence on the effectiveness, safety and applicability of optical correction of refractive error for reducing and preventing eye symptoms in computer users. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; Embase; Web of Science; and OSH update, all to 20 December 2017. Additionally, we searched trial registries and checked references of included studies. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomised trials of interventions evaluating optical correction for computer workers with refractive error for preventing or treating asthenopia and their effect on health related quality of life. Two authors independently assessed study eligibility and risk of bias, and extracted data. Where appropriate, we combined studies in a meta-analysis. We included eight studies with 381 participants. Three were parallel group RCTs, three were cross-over RCTs and two were quasi-randomised cross-over trials. All studies evaluated eyeglasses, there were no studies that evaluated contact lenses or surgery. Seven studies evaluated computer glasses with at least one focal area for the distance of the computer screen with or without additional focal areas in presbyopic persons. Six studies compared computer glasses to other types of glasses; and one study compared them to an ergonomic workplace assessment. The eighth study compared optimal correction of refractive error with the actual spectacle correction in use. Two studies evaluated computer glasses in persons with asthenopia but for the others the glasses were offered to all workers regardless of symptoms. The risk of bias was unclear in five, high in two and low in one study. Asthenopia was measured as eyestrain or a summary score of symptoms but there were no studies on health-related quality of life. Adverse events were measured as headache, nausea or dizziness. Median asthenopia scores at baseline were about 30% of the maximum possible score.Progressive computer glasses versus monofocal glassesOne study found no considerable difference in asthenopia between various progressive computer glasses and monofocal computer glasses after one-year follow-up (mean difference (MD) change scores 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.0 to 5.4 on a 100 mm VAS scale, low quality evidence). For headache the results were in favour of progressive glasses.Progressive computer glasses with an intermediate focus in the upper part of the glasses versus other glassesIn two studies progressive computer glasses with intermediate focus led to a small decrease in asthenopia symptoms (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.23, low-quality evidence) but not in headache score in the short-term compared to general purpose progressive glasses. There were similar small decreases in dizziness. At medium term follow-up, in one study the effect size was not statistically significant (SMD -0.64, 95% CI -1.40 to 0.12). The study did not assess adverse events.Another study found no considerable difference in asthenopia between progressive computer glasses and monofocal computer glasses after one-year follow-up (MD change scores 1.44, 95% CI -6.95 to 9.83 on a 100 mm VAS scale, very low quality evidence). For headache the results were inconsistent.Progressive computer glasses with far-distance focus in the upper part of the glasses versus other glassesOne study found no considerable difference in number of persons with asthenopia between progressive computer glasses with far-distance focus and bifocal computer glasses after four weeks' follow-up (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.40 to 2.50, very low quality evidence). The number of persons with headache, nausea and dizziness was also not different between groups.Another study found no considerable difference in asthenopia between progressive computer glasses with far-distance focus and monofocal computer glasses after one-year follow-up (MD change scores -1.79, 95% CI -11.60 to 8.02 on a 100 mm VAS scale, very low quality evidence). The effects on headaches were inconsistent.One study found no difference between progressive far-distance focus computer glasses and trifocal glasses in effect on eyestrain severity (MD -0.50, 95% CI -1.07 to 0.07, very low quality evidence) or on eyestrain frequency (MD -0.75, 95% CI -1.61 to 0.11, very low quality evidence).Progressive computer glasses versus ergonomic assessment with habitual (computer) glassesOne study found that computer glasses optimised for individual needs reduced asthenopia sum score more than an ergonomic assessment and habitual (computer) glasses (MD -8.9, 95% CI -16.47 to -1.33, scale 0 to 140, very low quality evidence) but there was no effect on the frequency of eyestrain (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.38 to 3.11, very low quality evidence).We rated the quality of the evidence as low or very low due to risk of bias in the included studies, inconsistency in the results and imprecision. There is low to very low quality evidence that providing computer users with progressive computer glasses does not lead to a considerable decrease in problems with the eyes or headaches compared to other computer glasses. Progressive computer glasses might be slightly better than progressive glasses for daily use in the short term but not in the intermediate term and there is no data on long-term follow-up. The quality of the evidence is low or very low and therefore we are uncertain about this conclusion. Larger studies with several hundreds of participants are needed with proper randomisation, validated outcome measurement methods, and longer follow-up of at least one year to improve the quality of the evidence.

  9. Darkness and near work: myopia and its progression in third-year law students.

    PubMed

    Loman, Jane; Quinn, Graham E; Kamoun, Layla; Ying, Gui-Shuang; Maguire, Maureen G; Hudesman, David; Stone, Richard A

    2002-05-01

    To evaluate myopia prevalence, myopia progression, and various potential myopia risk factors in third-year law students. Cross-sectional study and survey. One hundred seventy-nine third-year law students at the University of Pennsylvania. We administered a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of myopia, myopia progression, and risk factors, including near work, family history, and daily light/dark exposure. We conducted a screening eye examination to ascertain myopia status. Myopia was defined as the mean spherical equivalent of the two eyes of 5.6 hours of darkness per day (95% vs. 80%, P = 0.07). To account for possible confounding effects of risk factors with myopia progression, logistic regression with categorization of the continuous exposure variables (hours of near work, sleep, and darkness) above or below median values weakened the near work association (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 0.5-6.7, P = 0.35) but continued to identify darkness association with daily hours of darkness (odds ratio 4.8, 95% confidence interval 1.0 >/= 23.3, P < 0.05). Among the 77 students with myopia onset before college, those with

  10. Towards perfect light coupling and absorption in nanomembranes with omni-directional anti-reflection and photonic crystal structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chadha, Arvinder Singh

    Silicon photonics is realized as a promising platform to meet the requirements of higher bandwidth and low cost high density monolithic integration. More recent demonstrations of a variety of stretchable, foldable and transfer printed ultra-thin silicon integrated circuits have instigated the use of flexible silicon nanomembrane for practical applications. Equally impressive innovations are demonstrated in the area of flat screen displays, smart cards, eyeglasses, and wearable displays. However, the overall efficiency of a variety of optical device is limited by poor light management resulting from difficulty of light coupling, small absorption volume in thin-film nanomembrane, and glare at oblique incidence to name a few. The aim of this thesis is to present the work of micro- and nano-scale structures for out-of-plane light coupling and absorption for integrated silicon photonics and high performance solar cells and photodetectors, with maximum absorption in the functional layer and minimal front-surface reflection and minimal rear-surface transmission. Perfect absorption in a variety of semiconductor nanomembranes (NM) and atomic layers of two dimensional (2D) materials over different wavelength spectrum is realized due to the local field intensity enhancement at critical coupling to the guided resonances of a photonic crystal (PC). A judicious choice of grating parameters tailors the power diffracted in the zeorth order and higher order modes making the device work as a broadband reflector, an in-plane coupler or a combination of both reflector and an in-plane coupler. At surface normal incidence, the polarization dependence of the grating based reflector is eliminated by the use of 2D photonic crystals. The incorporation of such a reflector after the functional nanomembrane layer reduces the back-surface transmission. Effect of incident angle, polarization and incident plane misalignment dependence on the reflection of a silicon NM based reflector are investigated in detail. The front-surface Fresnel reflection is reduced with the incorporation of an omni-directional anti-reflection coating (Omni-ARC) based on nanostructures or by deposition of graded refractive index (GRIN) films. A design methodology based on the comparison of the rate of change of the refractive index profile of nanostructures of different shapes and thickness as an equivalent GRIN film suggests the minimum feature size needed to give near perfect ARC. Numerical models were built to account for the non - uniform GRIN film deposition on both rigid and flexible, flat and curved surfaces resulting from the variation in the resonant infrared matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (RIR-MAPLE) process technology. With the miniaturization of the devices, the effect of finite beam size and finite active area of the photonic components on the optical properties like transmission, reflection and scattering loss was studied as well. All the numerical studies presented in the thesis are validated by experimental results.

  11. Testing safety eyewear: how frame and lens design affect lens retention.

    PubMed

    McMahon, Janice M; Beckerman, Stephen

    2007-02-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the role that frame and lens design play in lens retention during high-impact testing of safety eyewear that advertises conformance to the performance-based ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard. A total of 75 Z87 safety eyeglass frames (3 each of 25 frame models) were used in this study, procured from 5 of the leading U.S. safety frame manufacturers. Frames were fitted by an independent laboratory with 2.0-mm plano polycarbonate lenses in compliance with ANSI Z87.1-2003. Finished spectacles were sent to a subsequent laboratory testing facility where each frame was subjected to both high-mass and oblique-incidence high-velocity impacts to determine frame characteristics that were most highly associated with testing failure. Among the frame and lens parameters that were considered in this analysis were the A and B dimensions, effective diameter, distance between lenses, bridge type, frame material, bevel type, and frame cost. Certain variables were controlled for by maintaining consistency among all spectacle pairs, e.g., lens prescription, center thickness, and edge thickness. Multiple logistic regression was used to control potential confounding variables and to develop the best combination of them for predictive value. Of 25 separate frame models assessed, 10 passed both high-mass and high-velocity impact testing, i.e., none of the 3 frame/lens samples failed. Of the models that failed, 13 failures were caused by high-velocity testing, 1 by high-mass testing, and 1 failed both high-mass and high-velocity testing. None of the 15 spectacles with the SprinGuardtrade mark (Hilco, Plainville, Massachusetts) bevel design failed, although these were proprietary to 1 manufacturer and included only 5 frame models. Two spectacle designs (6 individual frames) incorporated an inverted bevel design of which 3 of the frames failed impact testing. Controlling for drop ball velocity among the 54 remaining standard "V" bevel spectacle pairs, the odds of failure were about 8 to 9 times higher for metal frames than Zylonite frames (odds ratio [OR], 8.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 52.3; P = 0.02), and the odds of failure were about 4 times higher for lens effective diameters of less than 50 mm than for lens effective diameters more than 50 mm (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 14.8; P = 0.03). Among our sample of safety spectacles, failure from high-mass impact resistance testing rarely occurred. No spectacles with the SprinGuard bevel design failed in our analysis, but this was limited to a small sample size from a single manufacturer. Among our sample of 54 spectacle pairs with a v-bevel design, metal frame material and an effective diameter of less than 50 mm were the strongest predictors of failure relative to high-velocity impact testing with a 45 degrees temporal angle projectile.

  12. Advanced Three-Dimensional Display System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Geng, Jason

    2005-01-01

    A desktop-scale, computer-controlled display system, initially developed for NASA and now known as the VolumeViewer(TradeMark), generates three-dimensional (3D) images of 3D objects in a display volume. This system differs fundamentally from stereoscopic and holographic display systems: The images generated by this system are truly 3D in that they can be viewed from almost any angle, without the aid of special eyeglasses. It is possible to walk around the system while gazing at its display volume to see a displayed object from a changing perspective, and multiple observers standing at different positions around the display can view the object simultaneously from their individual perspectives, as though the displayed object were a real 3D object. At the time of writing this article, only partial information on the design and principle of operation of the system was available. It is known that the system includes a high-speed, silicon-backplane, ferroelectric-liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (SLM), multiple high-power lasers for projecting images in multiple colors, a rotating helix that serves as a moving screen for displaying voxels [volume cells or volume elements, in analogy to pixels (picture cells or picture elements) in two-dimensional (2D) images], and a host computer. The rotating helix and its motor drive are the only moving parts. Under control by the host computer, a stream of 2D image patterns is generated on the SLM and projected through optics onto the surface of the rotating helix. The system utilizes a parallel pixel/voxel-addressing scheme: All the pixels of the 2D pattern on the SLM are addressed simultaneously by laser beams. This parallel addressing scheme overcomes the difficulty of achieving both high resolution and a high frame rate in a raster scanning or serial addressing scheme. It has been reported that the structure of the system is simple and easy to build, that the optical design and alignment are not difficult, and that the system can be built by use of commercial off-the-shelf products. A prototype of the system displays an image of 1,024 by 768 by 170 (=133,693,440) voxels. In future designs, the resolution could be increased. The maximum number of voxels that can be generated depends upon the spatial resolution of SLM and the speed of rotation of the helix. For example, one could use an available SLM that has 1,024 by 1,024 pixels. Incidentally, this SLM is capable of operation at a switching speed of 300,000 frames per second. Implementation of full-color displays in future versions of the system would be straightforward: One could use three SLMs for red, green, and blue, respectively, and the colors of the voxels could be automatically controlled. An optically simpler alternative would be to use a single red/green/ blue light projector and synchronize the projection of each color with the generation of patterns for that color on a single SLM.

  13. Magmatic Systems in 3-D

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kent, G. M.; Harding, A. J.; Babcock, J. M.; Orcutt, J. A.; Bazin, S.; Singh, S.; Detrick, R. S.; Canales, J. P.; Carbotte, S. M.; Diebold, J.

    2002-12-01

    Multichannel seismic (MCS) images of crustal magma chambers are ideal targets for advanced visualization techniques. In the mid-ocean ridge environment, reflections originating at the melt-lens are well separated from other reflection boundaries, such as the seafloor, layer 2A and Moho, which enables the effective use of transparency filters. 3-D visualization of seismic reflectivity falls into two broad categories: volume and surface rendering. Volumetric-based visualization is an extremely powerful approach for the rapid exploration of very dense 3-D datasets. These 3-D datasets are divided into volume elements or voxels, which are individually color coded depending on the assigned datum value; the user can define an opacity filter to reject plotting certain voxels. This transparency allows the user to peer into the data volume, enabling an easy identification of patterns or relationships that might have geologic merit. Multiple image volumes can be co-registered to look at correlations between two different data types (e.g., amplitude variation with offsets studies), in a manner analogous to draping attributes onto a surface. In contrast, surface visualization of seismic reflectivity usually involves producing "fence" diagrams of 2-D seismic profiles that are complemented with seafloor topography, along with point class data, draped lines and vectors (e.g. fault scarps, earthquake locations and plate-motions). The overlying seafloor can be made partially transparent or see-through, enabling 3-D correlations between seafloor structure and seismic reflectivity. Exploration of 3-D datasets requires additional thought when constructing and manipulating these complex objects. As numbers of visual objects grow in a particular scene, there is a tendency to mask overlapping objects; this clutter can be managed through the effective use of total or partial transparency (i.e., alpha-channel). In this way, the co-variation between different datasets can be investigated, even if one data object lies behind another. Stereoscopic viewing is another powerful tool to investigate 3-D relationships between objects. This form of immersion is constructed through viewing two separate images that are interleaved--typically 48 frames per second, per eye--and synced through an emitter and a set of specialized polarizing eyeglasses. The polarizing lenses flicker at an equivalent rate, blanking the eye for which a particular image was not drawn, producing the desired stereo effect. Volumetric visualization of the ARAD 3-D seismic dataset will be presented. The effective use of transparency reveals detailed structure of the melt-lens beneath the 9°03'N overlapping spreading center (OSC) along the East Pacific Rise, including melt-filled fractures within the propagating rift-tip. In addition, range-gated images of seismic reflectivity will be co-registered to investigate the physical properties (melt versus mush) of the magma chamber at this locale. Surface visualization of a dense, 2-D grid of MCS seismic data beneath Axial seamount (Juan de Fuca Ridge) will also be highlighted, including relationships between the summit caldera and rift zones, and the underlying (and humongous) magma chamber. A selection of Quicktime movies will be shown. Popcorn will be served, really!

  14. 3D visualization and stereographic techniques for medical research and education.

    PubMed

    Rydmark, M; Kling-Petersen, T; Pascher, R; Philip, F

    2001-01-01

    While computers have been able to work with true 3D models for a long time, the same does not apply to the users in common. Over the years, a number of 3D visualization techniques have been developed to enable a scientist or a student, to see not only a flat representation of an object, but also an approximation of its Z-axis. In addition to the traditional flat image representation of a 3D object, at least four established methodologies exist: Stereo pairs. Using image analysis tools or 3D software, a set of images can be made, each representing the left and the right eye view of an object. Placed next to each other and viewed through a separator, the three dimensionality of an object can be perceived. While this is usually done on still images, tests at Mednet have shown this to work with interactively animated models as well. However, this technique requires some training and experience. Pseudo3D, such as VRML or QuickTime VR, where the interactive manipulation of a 3D model lets the user achieve a sense of the model's true proportions. While this technique works reasonably well, it is not a "true" stereographic visualization technique. Red/Green separation, i.e. "the traditional 3D image" where a red and a green representation of a model is superimposed at an angle corresponding to the viewing angle of the eyes and by using a similar set of eyeglasses, a person can create a mental 3D image. The end result does produce a sense of 3D but the effect is difficult to maintain. Alternating left/right eye systems. These systems (typified by the StereoGraphics CrystalEyes system) let the computer display a "left eye" image followed by a "right eye" image while simultaneously triggering the eyepiece to alternatively make one eye "blind". When run at 60 Hz or higher, the brain will fuse the left/right images together and the user will effectively see a 3D object. Depending on configurations, the alternating systems run at between 50 and 60 Hz, thereby creating a flickering effect, which is strenuous for prolonged use. However, all of the above have one or more drawbacks such as high costs, poor quality and localized use. A fifth system, recently released by Barco Systems, modifies the CrystalEyes system by projecting two superimposed images, using polarized light, with the wave plane of the left image at right angle to that of the right image. By using polarized glasses, each eye will see the appropriate image and true stereographic vision is achieved. While the system requires very expensive hardware, it solves some of the more important problems mentioned above, such as the capacity to use higher frame rates and the ability to display images to a large audience. Mednet has instigated a research project which uses reconstructed models from the central nervous system (human brain and basal ganglia, cortex, dendrites and dendritic spines) and peripheral nervous system (nodes of Ranvier and axoplasmic areas). The aim is to modify the models to fit the different visualization techniques mentioned above and compare a group of users perceived degree of 3D for each technique.

  15. Modeling the consumer’s perception of experiential marketing in the Romanian private ophthalmologic services

    PubMed Central

    Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Gheorghe, Iuliana-Raluca; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2017-01-01

    Introduction. The importance of experience in marketing grew, as the concept itself is very personal and difficult to measure. Experience turns out to be complicated but once placed in a context it gets significant features. As the health care competitive environment increases, marketers are looking for new and effective methods of engaging consumers by using experiential marketing strategies. Moreover, little is known about the consumers’ perceptions related to ophthalmologic services. Aim. The objective of this paper was to measure the consumer’s perception of experiential marketing in the Romanian private ophthalmologic services by using structural equation modeling. Materials and Methods. The Experiential Marketing model consisted of the following components: Sense Experience, Feel Experience, Think Experience, Act Experience and Relate Experience as well as the consequences of applying Experiential Marketing in the form of willingness to purchase a service, generating word-of-mouth communication and building consumer loyalty. The sampling method was non-probabilistic, using the snowball technique and the sample was made up of 190 people who wore eyeglasses for more than 3 years. The instrument for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of 2 parts: the first section contained several demographic questions and the second section encompassed closed end questions related to the perception of private ophthalmologic services from an experiential marketing perspective. All the second section questions were measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 with Strongly Disagree to 5 to Strongly Agree. The data analysis was conducted in SPSS and the structural equation modeling was performed in WarpPLS version 6.0. Findings. There were 71.05% respondents, who appreciated the application of experiential marketing in private ophthalmologic services, followed by 18.95%, who were confused. The demographic profile of respondents encompassed the following features: females with the ages between 36 and 45, from the rural area and with a middle level of education, their private ophthalmologic consultation frequency was at every 3 months and they also declared having a stable physician. Going further with the analysis, 89.63% of the respondents admitted they were willing to buy a private ophthalmologic service based on the experiential marketing application strategies. The design of a model containing both the constituent elements of the experimental marketing and its consequences in ophthalmologic services was conducted by modeling with structural equations in WarpPLS version 6.0 software. Thus, the validity of the model was assessed with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, Composite reliability values, as well as with the Average Variance Extracted coefficients, and the fitness of the model was determined by using the ARS, APC, and AVIF values, respectively. According to the beta coefficients and levels of statistical significance (p<0.05), some hypotheses have been rejected or negative relationships have been established between dependent and independent variables. Conclusions. Sense experience had a negative impact on WOM and consumer loyalty, Think Experience had a negative influence on the WOM, Relate Experience had a negative impact on consumer Loyalty, as well as Relate Experience had a negative impact on willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service. In contrast, the following positive relationships were established: Feel Experience established a positive relationship with WOM and consumer loyalty, Think Experience presented a positive impact both on consumer loyalty and on willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service, Act Experience presented a positive impact on WOM and willingness to purchase and last, willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service presented a positive influence on consumer loyalty and WOM. However, managers in Ophthalmology can successfully use experimental marketing strategies if they promote a story, meaning a life experience. PMID:29450402

  16. Modeling the consumer's perception of experiential marketing in the Romanian private ophthalmologic services.

    PubMed

    Gheorghe, Consuela-Mădălina; Gheorghe, Iuliana-Raluca; Purcărea, Victor Lorin

    2017-01-01

    Introduction. The importance of experience in marketing grew, as the concept itself is very personal and difficult to measure. Experience turns out to be complicated but once placed in a context it gets significant features. As the health care competitive environment increases, marketers are looking for new and effective methods of engaging consumers by using experiential marketing strategies. Moreover, little is known about the consumers' perceptions related to ophthalmologic services. Aim. The objective of this paper was to measure the consumer's perception of experiential marketing in the Romanian private ophthalmologic services by using structural equation modeling. Materials and Methods. The Experiential Marketing model consisted of the following components: Sense Experience, Feel Experience, Think Experience, Act Experience and Relate Experience as well as the consequences of applying Experiential Marketing in the form of willingness to purchase a service, generating word-of-mouth communication and building consumer loyalty. The sampling method was non-probabilistic, using the snowball technique and the sample was made up of 190 people who wore eyeglasses for more than 3 years. The instrument for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of 2 parts: the first section contained several demographic questions and the second section encompassed closed end questions related to the perception of private ophthalmologic services from an experiential marketing perspective. All the second section questions were measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 with Strongly Disagree to 5 to Strongly Agree. The data analysis was conducted in SPSS and the structural equation modeling was performed in WarpPLS version 6.0. Findings. There were 71.05% respondents, who appreciated the application of experiential marketing in private ophthalmologic services, followed by 18.95%, who were confused. The demographic profile of respondents encompassed the following features: females with the ages between 36 and 45, from the rural area and with a middle level of education, their private ophthalmologic consultation frequency was at every 3 months and they also declared having a stable physician. Going further with the analysis, 89.63% of the respondents admitted they were willing to buy a private ophthalmologic service based on the experiential marketing application strategies. The design of a model containing both the constituent elements of the experimental marketing and its consequences in ophthalmologic services was conducted by modeling with structural equations in WarpPLS version 6.0 software. Thus, the validity of the model was assessed with the Cronbach's alpha coefficients, Composite reliability values, as well as with the Average Variance Extracted coefficients, and the fitness of the model was determined by using the ARS, APC, and AVIF values, respectively. According to the beta coefficients and levels of statistical significance (p<0.05), some hypotheses have been rejected or negative relationships have been established between dependent and independent variables. Conclusions. Sense experience had a negative impact on WOM and consumer loyalty, Think Experience had a negative influence on the WOM, Relate Experience had a negative impact on consumer Loyalty, as well as Relate Experience had a negative impact on willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service. In contrast, the following positive relationships were established: Feel Experience established a positive relationship with WOM and consumer loyalty, Think Experience presented a positive impact both on consumer loyalty and on willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service, Act Experience presented a positive impact on WOM and willingness to purchase and last, willingness to purchase an ophthalmologic service presented a positive influence on consumer loyalty and WOM. However, managers in Ophthalmology can successfully use experimental marketing strategies if they promote a story, meaning a life experience.

  17. Artificial vision: needs, functioning, and testing of a retinal electronic prosthesis.

    PubMed

    Chader, Gerald J; Weiland, James; Humayun, Mark S

    2009-01-01

    Hundreds of thousands around the world have poor vision or no vision at all due to inherited retinal degenerations (RDs) like retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Similarly, millions suffer from vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In both of these allied diseases, the primary target for pathology is the retinal photoreceptor cells that dysfunction and die. Secondary neurons though are relatively spared. To replace photoreceptor cell function, an electronic prosthetic device can be used such that retinal secondary neurons receive a signal that simulates an external visual image. The composite device has a miniature video camera mounted on the patient's eyeglasses, which captures images and passes them to a microprocessor that converts the data to an electronic signal. This signal, in turn, is transmitted to an array of electrodes placed on the retinal surface, which transmits the patterned signal to the remaining viable secondary neurons. These neurons (ganglion, bipolar cells, etc.) begin processing the signal and pass it down the optic nerve to the brain for final integration into a visual image. Many groups in different countries have different versions of the device, including brain implants and retinal implants, the latter having epiretinal or subretinal placement. The device furthest along in development is an epiretinal implant sponsored by Second Sight Medical Products (SSMP). Their first-generation device had 16 electrodes with human testing in a Phase 1 clinical trial beginning in 2002. The second-generation device has 60+ electrodes and is currently in Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Increased numbers of electrodes are planned for future versions of the device. Testing of the device's efficacy is a challenge since patients admitted into the trial have little or no vision. Thus, methods must be developed that accurately and reproducibly record small improvements in visual function after implantation. Standard tests such as visual acuity, visual field, electroretinography, or even contrast sensitivity may not adequately capture some aspects of improvement that relate to a better quality of life (QOL). Because of this, some tests are now relying more on "real-world functional capacity" that better assesses possible improvement in aspects of everyday living. Thus, a new battery of tests have been suggested that include (1) standard psychophysical testing, (2) performance in tasks that are used in real-life situations such as object discrimination, mobility, etc., and (3) well-crafted questionnaires that assess the patient's own feelings as to the usefulness of the device. In the Phase 1 trial of the SSMP 16-electrode device, six subjects with severe RP were implanted with ongoing, continuing testing since then. First, it was evident that even limited sight restoration is a slow, learning process that takes months for improvement to become evident. However, light perception was restored in all six patients. Moreover, all subjects ultimately saw discrete phosphenes and could perform simple visual spatial and motion tasks. As mentioned above, a Phase 2/3 trial is now ongoing with a 60+ device. A 250+ device is on the drawing board, and one with over 1000 electrodes is being planned. Each has the possibility of significantly improving a patient's vision and QOL, being smaller and safer in design and lasting for the lifetime of the patient. From theoretical modeling, it is estimated that a device with approximately 1000 electrodes could give good functional vision, i.e., face recognition and reading ability. This could be a reality within 5-10 years from now. In summary, no treatments are currently available for severely affected patients with RP and dry AMD. An electrical prosthetic device appears to offer hope in replacing the function of degenerating or dead photoreceptor neurons. Devices with new, sophisticated designs and increasing numbers of electrodes could allow for long-term restoration of functional sight in patients with improvement in object recognition, mobility, independent living, and general QOL.

  18. Obituary: Edward W. Burke, Jr. (1924-2011)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bloomer, Raymond, Jr.

    2011-12-01

    Dr. Edward W. Burke Jr. passed away on June 15, 2011, after suffering a heart attack. Dr. Burke devoted his professional life to the research and teaching of physics and astronomy at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. Edward W. Burke, Jr., was born in Macon, Georgia, on September 16, 1924. He was a Navy veteran, having been commissioned as an ensign in 1944. He served in the Pacific near the end of World War II. He proceeded to complete his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Presbyterian College in 1947 and pursued the M.S. and Ph.D. in physics (1949 and 1954, respectively) at the University of Wisconsin. Under the direction of Professor Julian Mack, his thesis was titled "Isotope Shift in the Spectra of Boron." Although he did research in atomic spectra in the early part of his career, his interest in astronomy and variable stars in particular were his primary interests during his long academic career. Dr. Burke began his illustrious career at King College in 1949. He initiated the astronomy program there in 1950, included constructing a 12.5 inch Newtonian telescope, homemade as was most everything in those days. Many of his students learned about photometry at the Burke Observatory on the college campus. Burke was known for his trips to the Kitt Peak and Lowell observatories accompanied by undergraduate students on his trips, all of which were made by automobile which he preferred over flying. His initial interest in Ap stars later broadened into variable and especially eclipsing binary stars. His motivation was maintained by his desire to have his students experience basic research and to spark their interest in advanced degrees. Numerous students achieved advanced science and medical degrees because of Burke's encouragement and mentoring. In 1959, Dr. Burke was awarded a Fulbright professorship and traveled to Chile where he taught physics for a year in the Engineering School at the University of Chile in Santiago. He worked to establish a physics program there and upon a return visit in 2003 he found that the university physics program was thriving. In the 52 years of his association with King College, Dr. Burke served in many capacities. Over the years he was the tennis coach, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for 31 years until his retirement in 1991. He continued to be involved on campus as a Professor Emeritus until his death. Throughout his career he engaged the public in the wonder of astronomy. He organized the Bristol Astronomy Club for the amateur astronomers in the region. In 1957 he spearheaded the King College Moonwatch program, an international man-made satellite observing program organized by the Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory. He initiated Science Open House at King College, a program which hosted hundreds of talented high school junior and senior students from the Appalachian region, to enjoy tours and demonstrations in the science departments. Throughout his career he opened the Burke Observatory for thousands of interested viewers. Burke was a southern gentleman, true to his roots in Macon, Georgia. At the same time he was also a man who never took "no" for an answer. He always found a way to recommend a way to solve a problem, to get a grant to do research, or to plan another observing trip. He was an eternal optimist who seemed to envision the possibilities rather than the limitations. In addition to his duties at King College, he was a long-time member of the Lions Club where he spent considerable time helping disadvantaged people obtain suitable eyeglasses. He also taught Sunday School at State Street United Methodist Church for many years. He was an avid birdwatcher with the Bristol Bird Club. In his later years he competed in badminton at the Senior Olympics and served as a line judge at the 1996 National Senior Olympics in Atlanta. He was married to Julee Struby Burke for 64 years. Julee was a participant in several research trips out west and served as a constant source of encouragement throughout his long career. Dr. Burke is survived by his wife, Julee, a son, Edward W. Burke, III, a daughter, Julia Burke Torbert (Edgar) and one grandson, Samuel Burke Torbert. An endowed chair has been established in his name at King College: The Edward W. Burke, Jr., Endowed Chair in Natural Science. His legacy to education in the natural sciences in the Appalachian region will continue to inspire future generations.

  19. Intraocular Lenses for the Treatment of Age-Related Cataracts

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Executive Summary Objective The objective of the report is to examine the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of various intraocular lenses (IOLs) for the treatment of age-related cataracts. Clinical Need: Target Population and Condition A cataract is a hardening and clouding of the normally transparent crystalline lens that may result in a progressive loss of vision depending on its size, location and density. The condition is typically bilateral, seriously compromises visual acuity and contrast sensitivity and increases glare. Cataracts can also affect people at any age, however, they usually occur as a part of the natural aging process. The occurrence of cataracts increases with age from about 12% at age 50 years, to 60% at age 70. In general, approximately 50% of people 65 year of age or older have cataracts. Mild cataracts can be treated with a change in prescription glasses, while more serious symptoms are treated by surgical removal of the cataract and implantation of an IOL. In Ontario, the estimated prevalence of cataracts increased from 697,000 in 1992 to 947,000 in 2004 (35.9% increase, 2.4% annual increase). The number of cataract surgeries per 1,000 individuals at risk of cataract increased from 64.6 in 1992 to 140.4 in 1997 (61.9% increase, 10.1% annual increase) and continued to steadily increase to 115.7 in 2004 (10.7% increase, 5.2% increase per year). Description of Technology/Therapy IOLs are classified either as monofocal, multifocal, or accommodative. Traditionally, monofocal (i.e.. fixed focusing power) IOLs are available as replacement lenses but their implantation can cause a loss of the eye’s accommodative capability (which allows variable focusing). Patients thus usually require eyeglasses after surgery for reading and near vision tasks. Multifocal IOLs aim to improve near and distant vision and obviate the need for glasses. Potential disadvantages include reduced contrast sensitivity, halos around lights and glare. Accommodating IOLs are designed to move with ciliary body contraction during accommodation and, therefore, offer a continuous range of vision (i.e. near, intermediate and distant vision) without the need for glasses. Purported advantages over multifocal IOLs include the avoidance of haloes and no reduction in contrast sensitivity. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was the first material used in the fabrication of IOLs and has inherent ultraviolet blocking abilities. PMMA IOLs are inflexible, however, and require a larger incision for implantation compared with newer foldable silicone (hydrophobic) and acrylic (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) lenses. IOLs can be further sub-classified as being either aspheric or spheric, blue/violet filtered or non-filtered or 1- or 3-piece. Methods of Evidence-Based Analysis A literature search was conducted from January 2003 to January 2009 that included OVID MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), The Cochrane Library, and the International Agency for Health Technology Assessment/Centre for Review and Dissemination. Inclusion Criteria Exclusion Criteria adult patients with age-related cataractssystematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs)primary outcomes: distance visual acuity (best corrected distance visual acuity), near visual acuity (best distance corrected near visual acuity)secondary outcomes: contrast sensitivity, depth of field, glare, quality of life, visual function, spectacle dependence, posterior capsule opacification. studies with fewer than 20 eyesIOLs for non-age related cataractsIOLs for presbyopiastudies with a mean follow-up <6monthsstudies reporting insufficient data for analysis Comparisons of Interest The primary comparison of interest was accommodative vs. multifocal vs. monofocal lenses. Secondary comparisons of interest included: tinted vs. non-tinted lenses aspheric vs. spheric lenses multipiece vs. single piece lenses biomaterial A (e.g. acrylic) vs. biomaterial B (e.g. silicone) lenses sharp vs. round edged lenses The quality of the studies was examined according to the GRADE Working Group criteria for grading quality of evidence for interventional procedures. Summary of Findings The conclusions of the systematic review of IOLs for age-related cataracts are summarized in Executive Summary Table 1. Considerations for the Ontario Health System Procedures for crystalline lens removal and IOL insertion are insured and listed in the Ontario Schedule of Benefits. If a particular lens is determined to be medically necessary for a patient, the cost of the lens is covered by the hospital budget. If the patient chooses a lens that has enhanced features, then the hospital may choose to charge an additional amount above the cost of the usual lens offered. An IOL manufacturer stated that monofocal lenses comprise approximately 95% of IOL sales in Ontario and premium lenses (e.g., multifocal/accomodative) consist of about 5% of IOL sales. A medical consultant stated that all types of lenses are currently being used in Ontario (e.g., multifocal, monofocal, accommodative, tinted, nontinted, spheric, and aspheric). Nonfoldable lenses, rarely used in routine cases, are primarily used for complicated cataract implantation situations. ES Table 1: Conclusions for the Systematic Review of IOLs for Age-Related Cataracts Comparison Conclusion GRADE Quality Multifocal vs. monofocal Objective OutcomesSignificant improvement in BDCUNVANo significant difference in BCDVAInconclusive evidence for contrast sensitivityInconclusive evidence for glareSubjective OutcomesInconclusive evidence for visual satisfactionSignificant increase in glare/halosSignificant increase in freedom from spectacles moderatemoderatelowvery lowlowlow/moderatelow/moderate Accommodative vs. multifocal/monofocal Inconclusive due to Insufficient limited evidence for any effectiveness outcome very low Hydrophilic acrylic vs. other materials (hydrophobic acrylic, silicone) Significant increase in PCO score Low Sharp edged compared to round edged Significant reduction in PCO score Low One piece compared to three piece No significant difference in PCO score low Hydrophobic acrylic compared to silicone No significant difference in PCO score moderate Aspherical modified prolate anterior surface compared to spherical No significant difference in VASignificant reduction in contrast sensitivity very lowvery low Blue light filtering compared to non blue-light filtering No significant difference in BCDVANo significant difference in contrast sensitivityNo significant difference in HRQL lowlowhigh/moderate BCDVA refers to best corrected distance visual acuity; BDCUNVA, best distance corrected unaided near visual acuity; HRQL, health related quality of life; PCO, posterior capsule opacification; VA, visual acuity. PMID:23074519

  20. Phakic intraocular lenses for the treatment of refractive errors: an evidence-based analysis.

    PubMed

    2009-01-01

    The objective of this analysis is to review the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. CONDITION AND TARGET POPULATION REFRACTIVE ERRORS: Refractive errors occur when the eye cannot focus light properly. In myopia (near- or short-sightedness), distant objects appear blurry because the axis of the eye is too long or the cornea is too steep, so light becomes focused in front of the retina. Hyperopia (far sightedness) occurs when light is focused behind the retina causing nearby objects to appear blurry. In astigmatism, blurred or distorted vision occurs when light is focused at two points rather than one due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Refractive errors are common worldwide, but high refractive errors are less common. In the United States, the prevalence of high myopia (≤ -5 D) in people aged 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and 60 years and older is 7.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5% - 8.3%), 7.8% (95% CI, 6.4% - 8.6%), and 3.1% (95% CI, 2.2% - 3.9%), respectively. The prevalence of high hyperopia (≥ 3 D) is 1.0% (95% CI, .6% - 1.4%), 2.4% (95% CI, 1.7% - 3.0%), and 10.0% (95% CI, 9.1% - 10.9%) for the same age groupings. Finally, the prevalence of astigmatism (≥ 1 D cylinder) is 23.1% (95% CI, 21.6% - 24.5%), 27.6% (95% CI, 25.8% - 29.3%) and 50.1% (48.2% - 52.0%). LOW VISION: According to the Ontario Schedule of Benefits, low visual acuity is defined by a best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) of 20/50 (6/15) or less in the better eye and not amenable to further medical and/or surgical treatment. Similarly, the Ontario Assistive Devices Program defines low vision as BSCVA in the better eye in the range of 20/70 or less that cannot be corrected medically, surgically, or with ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses. Estimates of the prevalence of low vision vary. Using the criteria of BSCVA ranging from 20/70 to 20/160, one study estimated that 35.6 per 10,000 people in Canada have low vision. The 2001 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) found that 594,350 (2.5%) Canadians had "difficulty seeing ordinary newsprint or clearly seeing the face of someone from 4 m," and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) registry classified 105,000 (.35%) Canadians as visually disabled. PHAKIC INTRAOCULAR LENSES (PIOL): A phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) is a supplementary lens that is inserted into the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye to correct refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism). Unlike in cataract surgery, the eye's natural crystalline lens is not removed when the pIOL is inserted, so the eye retains its accommodative ability. In Canada and the United States, iris-fixated (anterior chamber lenses that are anchored to the iris with a claw) and posterior chamber lenses are the only types of pIOLs that are licensed by Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration, respectively. EVIDENCE-BASED ANALYSIS METHOD: RESEARCH QUESTIONS #ENTITYSTARTX00026; What are the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of pIOLs for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism?Do certain subgroups (e.g. high myopia and low vision) benefit more from pIOLs?How do pIOLs compare with alternative surgical treatment options (LASIK, PRK, and CLE)?Using appropriate keywords, a literature search was conducted up to January 2009. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and observational studies with more than 20 eyes receiving pIOLs were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcomes of interest were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), predictability of manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), and adverse events. The GRADE approach was used to systematically and explicitly evaluate the quality of evidence. The search identified 1,131 citations published between January 1, 2003, and January 16, 2009. Including a health technology assessment (HTA) identified in the bibliography review, 30 studies met the inclusion criteria: two HTAs; one systematic review; 20 pre-post observational studies; and seven comparative studies (five pIOL vs. LASIK, one pIOL vs. PRK, and one pIOL vs. CLE). Both HTAs concluded that there was good evidence of the short-term efficacy and safety of pIOLs, however, their conclusions regarding long-term safety differed. The 2006 HTA found convincing evidence of long-term safety, while the 2009 HTA found no long-term evidence about the risks of complications including cataract development, corneal damage, and retinal detachment. The systematic review of adverse events found that cataract development (incidence rate of 9.6% of eyes) is a substantial risk following posterior chamber pIOL implantation, while chronic endothelial cell loss is a safety concern after iris-fixated pIOL implantation. Adverse event rates varied by lens type, but they were more common in eyes that received posterior chamber pIOLs. The evidence of pIOL effectiveness is based on pre-post case series. These studies reported a variety of outcomes and different follow-up time points. It was difficult to combine the data into meaningful summary measures as many time points are based on a single study with a very small sample size. Overall, the efficacy evidence is low to very low quality based on the GRADE Working Group Criteria. For all refractive errors (low to high), most eyes experienced a substantial increase in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) with more than 75% of eyes achieving UCVA of 20/40 or better at all postoperative time points. The proportion of eyes that achieved postoperative UCVA 20/20 or better varied substantially according type of lens used and the type of refractive error being corrected, ranging from about 30% of eyes that received iris-fixated lenses for myopia to more than 78% of eyes that received posterior chamber toric lenses for myopic astigmatism. Predictability of manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) within ± 2.0 D was very high (≥ 90%) for all types of lenses and refractive error. At most time points, more than 50% of eyes achieved a MRSE within ± 0.5 D of emmetropia and at least 85% within ± 1.0 D. Predictability was lower for eyes with more severe preoperative refractive errors. The mean postoperative MRSE was less than 1.0 D in all but two studies. Safety, defined as a loss of two or more Snellen lines of best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), was high for all refractive errors and lens types. Losses of two or more lines of BSCVA were uncommon, occurring in fewer than 2% of eyes that had received posterior chamber pIOLs for myopia, and less than 1% of eyes that received iris-fixated lens implantation for myopia. Most eyes did not experience a clinically significant change in BSCVA (i.e. loss of one line, no change, or gain of one line), but 10% to 20% of eyes gained two or more lines of BSCVA. The pIOL outcomes for UCVA, predictability, BSCVA, and adverse events were compared with FDA targets and safety values for refractive surgery and found to meet or exceed these targets at most follow-up time points. The results were then stratified to examine the efficacy of pIOLs for high refractive errors. There was limited data for many outcomes and time points, but overall the results were similar to those for all levels of refractive error severity. The studies that compared pIOLs with LASIK, PRK, and CLE for patients with moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism showed that pIOLs performed better than these alternative surgical options for the outcomes of: UCVA,predictability and stability of MRSE,postoperative MRSE,safety (measured as clinically significant loss of BSCVA), andgains in BSCVA.Correction of refractive cylinder (astigmatism) was the only outcome that favoured refractive surgery over pIOLs. This was observed for both toric and non-toric pIOLs (toric pIOLs correct for astigmatism, non-toric pIOLs do not). Common adverse events in the LASIK groups were diffuse lamellar keratitis and striae in the corneal flap. In the pIOL groups, lens repositioning and lens opacities (both asymptomatic and visually significant cataracts) were the most commonly observed adverse events. These studies were determined to be of low to very low evidence quality based on the GRADE Working Group Criteria. Eye, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, phakic intraocular lens, LASIK, PRK, uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, refractive errors, clear lens extraction.

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