Posts tagged eyesight

Impression of scintillating scotoma occurring in an artist Scintillating scotoma is the most common visual aura preceding migraine. This depiction is showing the distorted field alone; it does not depict the normal parts of the field of vision. A scotoma is any area of alteration in the field of vision. Some are due to defects in the eye or the optic nerves, but scintillating scotomas are not. They are caused by migraines (or many other possible causes) interfering with the processing abilities of the occipital cortex. The scintillating scotoma flickers and blurs vision, but is never dark. It can hinder ability to read and drive, among other things. Clinical Lectures on Diseases of the Eye. J. Elliot Colburn, 1902.

Impression of scintillating scotoma occurring in an artist

Scintillating scotoma is the most common visual aura preceding migraine. This depiction is showing the distorted field alone; it does not depict the normal parts of the field of vision.

A scotoma is any area of alteration in the field of vision. Some are due to defects in the eye or the optic nerves, but scintillating scotomas are not. They are caused by migraines (or many other possible causes) interfering with the processing abilities of the occipital cortex. The scintillating scotoma flickers and blurs vision, but is never dark. It can hinder ability to read and drive, among other things.

Clinical Lectures on Diseases of the Eye. J. Elliot Colburn, 1902.

Examples of Surgery on the Eye

These are just a couple examples of ocular surgery. Unlike many surgeries, it is often not beneficial for the patient to be put under general anesthesia. Historically, the topical anesthetic cocaine was used during surgery, and the patient was lightly sedated. 

Currently, topical anesthetic in nasal and ocular/lachrymal surgery is one of the only legal uses of cocaine, even though most surgeons opt for synthetic narcotic anesthetics these days. It has an extreme vasoconstrictive effect, which leads to minimal bleeding. In delicate surgery of highly vascularized areas like the nasal passages and eyeball, removing the complicating factor of loose blood at the surgical site can mean the difference between sight and blindness.

Diseases of the Eye. George E. DeSchweinitz, 1917.

Cataract resultant of Nagasaki atomic bomb One of the effects of radiation exposure over 1 Gy is an increased incidence of cataract formation in the years following exposure. When exposure reaches 5-6 Gy, there’s a spike in cataract cases within the following two years. Ionizing radiation does the majority of its damage to dividing cells. Because the cells of the eye divide around the periphery (outer border) and move inwards toward the center of the lens as they replace old cells, the initial damage from radiation is not concentrated in one place, and lens opacity does not immediately occur.

Cataract resultant of Nagasaki atomic bomb

One of the effects of radiation exposure over 1 Gy is an increased incidence of cataract formation in the years following exposure. When exposure reaches 5-6 Gy, there’s a spike in cataract cases within the following two years.

Ionizing radiation does the majority of its damage to dividing cells. Because the cells of the eye divide around the periphery (outer border) and move inwards toward the center of the lens as they replace old cells, the initial damage from radiation is not concentrated in one place, and lens opacity does not immediately occur.

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Healing process of moderate-severe mustard gas burn to eyes

Casualty caused by bursting of “Yellow Cross” shell close to man, while he was riding a resistive mule, causing his box respirator to become momentarily displaced. Fine spray of liquid splashed lightly on right side, causing cutaneous blisters on right cheek, neck, forehead, and serious burning in right eye. Left eye showed only mild burning, with a short-term acute conjunctivitis.

In similar cases, infiltrated corneal ulcer with hypopyon and secondary infection are both serious concerns. This case healed slowly but unremarkably.

Plate XIa: Severely burned eye in the acute stage - Early second day after mustard gas exposure. Eyelids and external surface of globe display intense inflammation, tears constantly produced behind edematous eyelids. Photophobia and blepharospasm at this point make examination difficult.

Plate XIb: Slightly later stage in acute burning - Swelling in conjunctiva and below has subsided, but solid white edema in the palpebral aperature is still well marked. The cornea is grey in the exposed region.

Plate XIIa: Stage of resolution after severe burning - Vascular injection is passing off, and solid edema is becoming absorbed. Corneal epithelium no longer cloudy. At this stage, atropine should be discontinued, but dark shades should be continued.

Plate XIIb: Late stage of resolution - Vascular injection above and below cornea practically disappeared, and the solid white edema is reabsorbed. The formerly red parts of the eye are now white, and the formerly white part of the eye is now red. Atropine and dark shades should not be used at this stage (which is also similar to mild burns), and use of eyes should be encouraged, with occupation (such as knitting, transcription, etc).

An Atlas of Gas Poisoning. Medical Research Council [Canada], 1918.

“Say doc, I do fear for my eyesight. The longer my eyes remain in such proximity to that most detestable halitosis, the worse it gets!” Diseases of the Eye: A Handbook of Ophthalmic Practice for Students and Practitioners. George de Schweinitz, 1917.

“Say doc, I do fear for my eyesight. The longer my eyes remain in such proximity to that most detestable halitosis, the worse it gets!”

Diseases of the Eye: A Handbook of Ophthalmic Practice for Students and Practitioners. George de Schweinitz, 1917.

Ectropion and cicatrix effects. Fig 1. Ectropion after cicatrix formation from burn healing; allowed upper eyelid to close. Fig 2. Corrective surgery performed on Fig 1. Fig 3. Resultant ectropion and iris/cornea deformation after healing of chemical burns caused by concentrated sulfuric acid. Fig 4. Central figure with ectropic eye “closed”. Mucous membranes of eyelid exposed to air. Fig 5. Cicatrix of right side of face, causing lower lid of eye to remain ectropic. Iconographie Ophthalmologique ou Description, avec Figures Coloriees, des Maladies de l’Organe de la Vue, comprenant l’Anatomie Pathologique, la Pathologie, et la Therapeutique Medico-Chiurgicals. J. Sichel, 1859.

Ectropion and cicatrix effects.

Fig 1. Ectropion after cicatrix formation from burn healing; allowed upper eyelid to close.

Fig 2. Corrective surgery performed on Fig 1.

Fig 3. Resultant ectropion and iris/cornea deformation after healing of chemical burns caused by concentrated sulfuric acid.

Fig 4. Central figure with ectropic eye “closed”. Mucous membranes of eyelid exposed to air.

Fig 5. Cicatrix of right side of face, causing lower lid of eye to remain ectropic.

Iconographie Ophthalmologique ou Description, avec Figures Coloriees, des Maladies de l’Organe de la Vue, comprenant l’Anatomie Pathologique, la Pathologie, et la Therapeutique Medico-Chiurgicals. J. Sichel, 1859.

Tumor of the left optical orbit. Highly vascularized tumor of the orbit originating from the inferior temporal bone, attaching to globe of eyeball, growing into lateral sinus, and applying extreme pressure to regional cartilage. Tumor and eye mass was removed successfully, relieving pain caused by growth. High blood loss from surgery, but nothing life-threatening. No vision loss in right eye. Fig 1. Tumor in situ. Fig 2. Tumor removed from head. Fig 3. Cross-section of tumor. Iconographie Ophthalmologique ou Description, avec Figures Coloriees, des Maladies de l’Organe de la Vue, comprenant l’Anatomie Pathologique, la Pathologie, et la Therapeutique Medico-Chiurgicals. J. Sichel, 1859.

Tumor of the left optical orbit.

Highly vascularized tumor of the orbit originating from the inferior temporal bone, attaching to globe of eyeball, growing into lateral sinus, and applying extreme pressure to regional cartilage. Tumor and eye mass was removed successfully, relieving pain caused by growth. High blood loss from surgery, but nothing life-threatening. No vision loss in right eye.

Fig 1. Tumor in situ.

Fig 2. Tumor removed from head.

Fig 3. Cross-section of tumor.

Iconographie Ophthalmologique ou Description, avec Figures Coloriees, des Maladies de l’Organe de la Vue, comprenant l’Anatomie Pathologique, la Pathologie, et la Therapeutique Medico-Chiurgicals. J. Sichel, 1859.

What a fantastic illustration. Medicine by candlelight! There were many ingenious devices to increase the luminosity of candlelight while magnifying the site being examined. It’s so weird thinking about examining someone’s eyes by candlelight these days… The Science and Art of Surgery. Being a Treatise on Surgical Injuries, Diseases, and Operations. John Eric Erichsen, 1872.

What a fantastic illustration. Medicine by candlelight! There were many ingenious devices to increase the luminosity of candlelight while magnifying the site being examined. It’s so weird thinking about examining someone’s eyes by candlelight these days…

The Science and Art of Surgery. Being a Treatise on Surgical Injuries, Diseases, and Operations. John Eric Erichsen, 1872.

The cellular layers of the retina in a non-pathological eyeball. Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat: A Manual for Students and Practitioners. A.G. Wippern, 1900.

The cellular layers of the retina in a non-pathological eyeball.

Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat: A Manual for Students and Practitioners. A.G. Wippern, 1900.

Surgical interventions of the iris and lens. Diseases of the Eye; A Handbook of Opthalmic Practice for Students and Practitioners. Dr. George E. DeSchweinitz, 1917.

Surgical interventions of the iris and lens.

Diseases of the Eye; A Handbook of Opthalmic Practice for Students and Practitioners. Dr. George E. DeSchweinitz, 1917.

My grandpa was kept in first grade until he was- no joke- THIRTEEN. Eyesight testing didn’t start in Kentucky until 1925, and as soon as they started that they noticed that he was blind as a bat and only was able to pretend that he had the slightest clue what was going on because he was using shadows and hearing. They knew he wasn’t stupid since he was still picking stuff up, but he couldn’t read at ALL. He actually ended up graduating a year of the rest of his class because he loved learning like a mofo. He eventually died while reading a chess strategy book. o_O

My grandpa was kept in first grade until he was- no joke- THIRTEEN. Eyesight testing didn’t start in Kentucky until 1925, and as soon as they started that they noticed that he was blind as a bat and only was able to pretend that he had the slightest clue what was going on because he was using shadows and hearing. They knew he wasn’t stupid since he was still picking stuff up, but he couldn’t read at ALL. He actually ended up graduating a year of the rest of his class because he loved learning like a mofo. He eventually died while reading a chess strategy book. o_O