Visual discomfort while watching stereoscopic three-dimensional movies at the cinema

Visual discomfort while watching stereoscopic three-dimensional movies at the cinema

".... the analysis of the symptoms experienced by S3D movie spectators based on retrospective visual comfort assessments, showed a higher level of external symptoms (eye burning, eye ache, tearing, etc.) when compared to the internal ones that are typically more perceptual (blurred vision, double vision, headache, etc.). Furthermore, spectators of S3D movies reported statistically higher symptoms when compared to 2D spectators....."

Comments: In a way this does not make sense. Eye burning, aching, tearing should be present as often monocularly as binocularly. If S3D movies cause more symptoms than those viewed in 2D....the fact that they are 3D (needing a certain level to binocular skills) means that 3D induced symptoms must have a fairly great binocular component.

Withdrawal of medicines that cause deaths: takes longer than you think

So how long did you think it would take for a drug to be withdrawn? Well it depends on where you live and it often takes longer than you think.....

Comments: This obviously a serious and life threatening problem that could lead to unnecessary deaths. Be aware of any and all problems associated with the medicine you take. Check with your physician often. DM

Smith-Kettlewell Institute: Visual Function and Its Management in mTBI

A good friend and colleague of mine just brought this to my attention. Enjoy!

Smith-Kettlewell Institute:  Visual Function and Its Management in mTBI

Effect of oculomotor rehabilitation on accommodative responsivity in mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract — Accommodative dysfunction is a common oculomotor sequelae of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This study evaluated a range of dynamic (objective) and static (subjective) measures of accommodation in 12 nonstrabismic individuals with mTBI and near vision-related symptoms before and after oculomotor training (OMT) and placebo (P) training (6 wk, two sessions per week, 3 h of training each). Following OMT, the dynamics of accommodation improved markedly. Clinically, there was a significant increase in the maximum accommodative amplitude both monocularly and binocularly. In addition, the near vision symptoms reduced along with improved visual attention. None of the measures were found to change significantly following P training. These results provide evidence for a significant positive effect of the accommodatively based OMT on accommodative responsivity. Such improvement is suggestive of oculomotor learning, demonstrating considerable residual brain-visual system plasticity in the adult compromised brain.

Convergence insufficiency with unilateral exophoria at near in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - a preliminary study.

Convergence insufficiency with unilateral exophoria at near in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder - a preliminary study.

"....[CI/XT] can be linked to disruptions in cortico-ponto-cerebellar network and midbrain. It was the only neurological symptom that differed schizophrenia and bipolar disorder groups, thus it might be used in differential diagnosis. Further research is needed to obtain a full clinical description of the symptom.....



Also see:

Schnell PH, Maino D, Jespersen R. Psychiatric Illness and Associated Oculo-visual Anomalies. In Taub M, Bartuccio M, Maino D. (Eds) Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient with Special Needs; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. New York, NY;2012:111-124.

Maino DM. Rado ME, Pizzi WJ. Ocular anomalies of individuals with mental illness and dual diagnosis. J Am Optom Assoc 1996;67:740-8.