Human vision, visual correction, and visual science

Flourescent light sensitivity (flicker sensitivity )

At work I noticed that when I read my monitor (with a flourescent
overhead) or the printed page that the text seems to *move* and its
hard to focus on it but at home (with a similar monitor but lit by
incandescent  light) I do not have this problem.  However, at work if
it is a bright sunny day and I stand by the window I can read text just
fine.  I recently bought a incandescent lamp and put it in my cube and
if I read by that it is much clearer.  I am also very sensitive
monitors with low refresh rates.   If the monitor is at 60Hz its
unbearable.  But when I started in the computer industry I could easily
use 60Hz monitors.

A couple people at my small company have various stages of this issue,
but no one has mentioned the printed page issue.

Is there an article or name of this condition that I can use to find
out more information?  Would different flourescent bulbs help?  Any
suggestions?

posted by admin in Uncategorized and have Comments (38)

38 Responses to “Flourescent light sensitivity (flicker sensitivity )”

  1. admin says:

    use electronic ballast for the fluorescent tubes and use full spectrum
    ones.

  2. admin says:

    <xyzz…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

    news:1103156494.978894.149780@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > At work I noticed that when I read my monitor (with a flourescent
    > overhead) or the printed page that the text seems to *move* and its
    > hard to focus on it but at home (with a similar monitor but lit by
    > incandescent  light) I do not have this problem.  However, at work if
    > it is a bright sunny day and I stand by the window I can read text just
    > fine.  I recently bought a incandescent lamp and put it in my cube and
    > if I read by that it is much clearer.  I am also very sensitive
    > monitors with low refresh rates.   If the monitor is at 60Hz its
    > unbearable.  But when I started in the computer industry I could easily
    > use 60Hz monitors.

    > A couple people at my small company have various stages of this issue,
    > but no one has mentioned the printed page issue.

    > Is there an article or name of this condition that I can use to find
    > out more information?  Would different flourescent bulbs help?  Any
    > suggestions?

    Flourescent bulbs has a flicker and some people have a high flicker
    sensitivity.   As the ballast in the light fixture ages, it starts to
    malfuntion and flicker may be more apparent.   Incandescent bulbs do not
    flicker. The best solution is the one you have discovered:  use an
    incandescent bulb as supplemental light.  If other people notice it too,
    then ask your employer to replace the ballasts in the light fixtures.

    Dr Judy

  3. admin says:

    On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 13:33:24 -0500, "Dr Judy"

    <mpace99nos…@rogers.com> wrote:
    >Flourescent bulbs has a flicker and some people have a high flicker
    >sensitivity.   As the ballast in the light fixture ages, it starts to
    >malfuntion and flicker may be more apparent.   Incandescent bulbs do not
    >flicker.

    Most people can’t see the flicker of incandescent lamps, at least in
    the US and other 60 Hz countries. In 50 Hz countries more people will
    admit to seeing it. Typical incandescent output drops to around 85% of
    the average output at the nulls of the power waveform at 60 Hz.

    Personally, I can readily see or "feel" the difference in flicker
    between an incandescent lamp run on direct current with a variation of
    0.1 % and another run on 0.01 % variation power. Luckily I live
    "off-grid" and my entire house is wired with pure DC from huge storage
    batteries.

    > The best solution is the one you have discovered:  use an
    >incandescent bulb as supplemental light.  

    That may or may not help. If the fluorescents cannot be blocked from
    peripheral vision, they may still affect one’s perception, even if the
    focus of attention is mostly lit by incandescent light or even
    daylight. Imagine trying to work with a strobe light in your
    peripheral vision…  

    >  If other people notice it too,
    >then ask your employer to replace the ballasts in the light fixtures.

    Hopefully with high-frequency electronic ballasts that make the
    flicker almost imperceptible, and actually less apparent than the
    flicker of incandescent light. And save money both on power consumed
    and lamp and ballast life.

    Now if they could just fix the lousy color rendition of even the best
    "full spectrum" fluorescents…

    Loren

  4. admin says:

    Dear Prevention minded ODs and friends,

    When the ODs on this site question my engineering credibility — I am
    going to respond.

    Some ODs in fact support the concept of prevention with the plus — and
    we shoud understand the scientific support of the ODs who will offer
    you a "fighting chance" at prevention.

    After all — you have nothing to lose, and can easily turn down an
    optometrist who offers to help you in this manner.  But once you turn
    "prevention" down — you don’t get a "second chance" at it.

    Here are some thoughtufl remarks by
    "Herb" to counterbalance the majority opinion
    experessed by the ODs on this news-group.

    Best,

    Otis

    ______________

    From:  Herb B.  OD

    Subject:  Using Plus to Prevent Myopia

    Dear Dr. X

    Otis asked me to write you an email of support for using plus
    lenses to head off myopia in the early stages.

    I do not consider myself an authority on this matter, simply
    an optometrist who is interested in prevention and alternative
    therapies for visual problems, including myopia.

    A little background:  I am a career changer who was a
    geologist.  My daughter’s visual and spatial problems lead us to
    send her to a behavioral optometrist here in Denver, who succeeded
    in motivating my daughter to do vision therapy for her
    accommodative, binocular, and visual-perception problems.  I got
    interested and found I had similar problems.  I, too, went through
    vision therapy as an adult and was able to regain my binocular
    vision, i.e.  I had no 3D, and also perceptual problems.

    I then worked as a vision therapist for this other doctor (in
    the DC area) and finally decided to go to optometry school to be
    able to really get into this area.  However, I think its important
    to note that no one ever told me that I or my daughter could even
    think about reducing or preventing myopia, which we both have at
    about -3 D to -4 D.

    It wasn’t until later that I learned that my nephew had
    actually succeeded in throwing away his myopia glasses after
    working very hard with Dr.  Amiel Franke in DC.

    So then later, after optometry school, I was interning with
    my daughter’s OD here in Denver and that is where I learned of
    using biofeedback to reduce beginning myopia in a 17 year old who
    wanted to be 20/20 for the Air Force.  That was successful in
    reducing her from 20/40 to 20/20 in just a few weeks.  I think she
    probably did other exercises, too.

    As far as plus therapy, I routinely RX low plus on beginning
    myopes, and higher plus over their distance Rx if they insist on
    wearing minus.  I have not come to the point of being in a
    situation where I do not Rx minus lenses at all, but I foresee
    that coming in the future when I am more independent.

    A short story.  I had just arrived at optometry school in
    Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1994.  I went to the insurance agent to
    get car insurance.  There, the lady told me she had identical twin
    daughters, then about 20 years old, who when young, went to
    Pacific Optometry School across the street literally, and were
    told to both wear minus lenses for distance vision.  One girl was
    compliant and wore her glasses always.  The other, was a rebel!
    She would not wear her glasses.  Now, 15 years later, one wears a
    substantial minus Rx and the other wears no glasses at all!  I
    have seen the identical story with my own two children, but they
    are not twins.  The rebellious one wears no glasses and the other
    is very near-sighted.

    So, as I said to Otis, there is much evidence that plus works
    to prevent myopia in many cases, especially in convergence excess,
    high AC/A, and Acc.  Ins.  At the VERY WORST, it does NO harm!  So
    I am appalled that your board would hassle you.

    I am wishing you the best.  I could contact my mentor if you
    would like to get some references on plus, if you don’t already
    have them.

         Sincerely,

         Herb B., MS, OD

  5. admin says:

    This posting is an automatic reply to any sci.med.vision newsgroup thread
    that is receiving comments from a person named "Otis", "Otis Brown",
    "otisbr…@pa.net" or "Otis, Engineer".

    Otis is not an expert in any field of vision. His medical and eyecare
    training is nil.  He is a proponent of a myopia (i.e. nearsightedness)
    prevention technique that is unproven at best, and has in some aspects even
    been disproven by controlled scientific studies.  He has posted and reposted
    his ideas approximately 1000 times over the last two years despite being
    repeatedly debunked by numerous doctor practitioners and vision scientists.

    No one means to suppress the opinions of others.  This message is only meant
    to forewarn anyone who might misconstrue Otis as a trained eyecare expert.

    DO NOT REPLY TO HIS POSTINGS.  Do not feed the troll!

    Please see the weekly posting "welcome to sci.med.vision" which usually
    appears on Mondays for information on how to filter out his posts so that
    you may be able to participate in
    worthwhile discussions in this forum.  Thank you for your cooperation and
    understanding.

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote in message

    news:1103256912.014369.47610@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Dear Prevention minded ODs and friends,

  6. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    > I am wishing you the best.  I could contact my mentor if you
    > would like to get some references on plus, if you don’t already
    > have them.

    Yes, Herb, I’d be very interested in any published references you may have.

    -Mike Tyner, OD

  7. admin says:

    Dear Prevention minded friends,

    As usual, Mike Tyner and "RM" (who ever he is)
    warn you aginst optometrists who wish
    to help you with prevention — but
    telling you what is experimentally
    true about the dynamic behavior
    of the eye.

    You can pretty well guss at their motives.

    Prevention with the plus is difficult — but
    possible.

    Here is Herb, discussing "standard practice"
    and why it never changes.

    But this is a "free" site, and you should put
    understand the concept of the "second-opinion"
    and how it might affect your visual future.

    I am certain that Mike and "RM" will declare
    that Dr. Herb B. does not exist
    either.

    Think for yourself!

    Best,

    Otis
    Engineer

    __________________________

    From: A prevention minded optometrist

    Dear Otis;

    Subject:  Using Plus to Prevent Myopia

    Thank you for sending the email along to Dr.  Leung,

    I do remember some research from my op school days that said
    the average child, say about age 5, is hyperopic, but their
    accommodation is so strong in a "normal" child, that they can see
    perfectly near and far.  If such a child does have accommodative
    insufficiency, then they could have acuity problems and would need
    plus for near certainly and sometimes for far.

    Now, the child who is "plano" at age 5 does indeed have a
    higher likelihood of becoming myopic (statistically) because he or
    she does not have the "cushion" of plus power to take up the slack
    so to speak when their near-point visual demands increase with
    schooling later on.  This is the point where I have all along
    prescribed plus, but often low plus, for near.  I admit I am not
    an authority on the uses of higher plus that you are talking
    about, but I am certainly open to it if the person is motivated.
    This is the case with all therapies that the person has to do
    themselves as opposed to something the doctor does to them
    passively, like minus lenses.

    I consciously picked an optometry school to attend that
    "believed" in behavioral optometry, which gives a more open
    attitude to prevention and teaches many near-point tests that the
    average OD will not usually do.  Unfortunately, as I was
    attending, a new dean, who was an OD and MD, came in with some of
    his minions, and they introduced much more of the medical model.
    This in optometry seems to dismiss all these preventive strategies
    in favor of speed, efficiency, and money, relegating refractions
    to technicians or machines, so the OD can be a "real" doctor, and
    just breeze in for a few minutes to analyze the results of the
    technicians!  This way they can see many more patients and make
    much more money and gain prestige from the uninformed masses.

    This is a very unfortunate trend.       In the case of optometry,
    I really believe that many of the "old-timers" who were
    behaviorally-oriented, were more progressive than the newer crop
    of graduates, who seem to be frustrated ophthalmologists.
    Sincerely,

         Herb

         Herb B., MS, OD

  8. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    > I am certain that Mike and "RM" will declare
    > that Dr. Herb B. does not exist
    > either.

    I only asked for published references. Are you saying they don’t exist?

    -MT

  9. admin says:

    Dear Mike,

    I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    that the natural eye is dynamic.

    This is so simple that I do not see how you "miss" the
    point — but you do — totally.

    This is basic "input" versus "ouput" testing.

    But you sweep all the experimental (SCIENTIFIC) data off
    the table are TOTALLY BIASED, and they you pronounce
    that "there is no data".

    I guess that some will believe you — but others are
    going to "wake up".

    Even your fellow ODs (Herb) have a hard time
    taking your total rejection of this direct experimental
    data.

    Try reading the work of Franis Young and other gifted
    experimeters.  But all you will do is to generate
    excuses to ignore all of it.

    But I will be pleased to present further arguments
    describing your "science" my friend.

    Best,

    Otis

  10. admin says:

    "Dr. Herb" also offered to provide us with some references regarding
    prevention with plus.  Dr. Tyner asked for them.  I too would be
    interested in them.  Dr. Herb can feel free to post them on this forum,
    or email them privately if he preferes to do that.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Even your fellow ODs (Herb) have a hard time
    > taking your total rejection of this direct experimental
    > data.

    > Try reading the work of Franis Young and other gifted
    > experimeters.  But all you will do is to generate
    > excuses to ignore all of it.

    > But I will be pleased to present further arguments
    > describing your "science" my friend.

    > Best,

    > Otis

  11. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote in message >

    > I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    > that the natural eye is dynamic.

    I thought Dr. Herb might have some evidence that plus lenses work on human
    myopia. Guess not.

    -MT

  12. admin says:

    Dear Nipidoc,

    I will forward your request to him for his response.

    Please remember — we are talking ONLY about prevention
    before a minus lens is used.  As such the use of the
    plus MUST involve the intellectual understanding
    of the person who is using it.

    That is the only issue.

    Best,

    Otis

  13. admin says:

    > I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    > that the natural eye is dynamic.

    You have offered no direct experimental proof that the natural eye is
    dynamic.  You just keep proclaiming it over and over again as if that is
    enough.
    It is insufficient to quote an animal study where the animals are
    drastically overminused.
    It is insufficient to keep dredging up statements from old optometrists
    whose theories have since been disproven.
    It is insufficient to point out case reports of a couple of "pilot
    engineers" who have cleared their vision (if they even really exist) and
    then draw conclusions to the "entire population of adolescent eyes" (your
    words!).

    You have no proof, just a loud repetitive mouth.  And just what are your
    qualifications that allow you to give anyone advise about their vision
    problems?  Do you have scientific or clinical training in visual sciences?
    Why won’t you ever answer?

  14. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    > Please remember — we are talking ONLY about prevention
    > before a minus lens is used.  As such the use of the
    > plus MUST involve the intellectual understanding
    > of the person who is using it.

    Ah… so that’s why -250 myopes don’t get better when they remove their
    glasses – they lack the intellectual understanding. Now I get it.

    -MT

  15. admin says:

    Fair enough.   I look forward to Dr. Herbs references supporting the
    claim that the use of a plus lenses prevents the development of myopia
    before minus lenses are used.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    otisbr…@pa.net wrote:
    > Dear Nipidoc,

    > I will forward your request to him for his response.

    > Please remember — we are talking ONLY about prevention
    > before a minus lens is used.  As such the use of the
    > plus MUST involve the intellectual understanding
    > of the person who is using it.

    > That is the only issue.

    > Best,

    > Otis

  16. admin says:

    Dear Mike,

    Since Jan declares that the concept of prevention
    "must be destroyed" I think there is a valid
    case that the person should intellectually
    evaluate that kind of opinion.

    That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    Best,

    Otis

  17. admin says:

    "otisbr…@pa.net" <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote in
    news:1103431490.942946.326350@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Dear Mike,

    > Since Jan declares that the concept of prevention
    > "must be destroyed" I think there is a valid
    > case that the person should intellectually
    > evaluate that kind of opinion.

    > That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    > You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    > Best,

    > Otis

    Since Otis states that plus lenses will prevent myopia, THAT statement must
    be proven.  I think there is a valid case that the person should
    intellectually evaluate that kind of opinion.

    DrG

  18. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    > That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    > You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    Obviously my education is inadequate. We need more engineers teaching
    physics, medicine, and statistics.

    -MT

  19. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote in message

    news:1103342839.676725.300350@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com…

    > Dear Mike,

    > I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    > that the natural eye is dynamic.

    Sorry Otis, I did not see your direct experimental proof, I must have missed
    it. Would you kindly repost it.
    I can’t understand why you don’t concider the hyperopic eye as "Natural".
    Please explain.

    > This is so simple that I do not see how you "miss" the
    > point — but you do — totally.

    > This is basic "input" versus "ouput" testing.

    Not so basic if it requires the Px to be inteligent and understand that the
    natural eye is dynamic.

    > But I will be pleased to present further arguments
    > describing your "science" my friend.

    We had enough of arguments based on your theories, show us proof. We can
    only act on evidence based medicine. Not on what Otis Brown thinks will
    happen if  a propper study is conducted.

    > Best,

    > Otis

    Roland J. Izaac

  20. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> schreef in bericht
    news:1103431490.942946.326350@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com…

    > Dear Mike,

    > Since Jan declares that the concept of prevention
    > "must be destroyed" I think there is a valid
    > case that the person should intellectually
    > evaluate that kind of opinion.

    > That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    > You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    > Best,

    > Otis

    And again Otis quote incorrect.
    There is no need to be the ”intellectual type” to recognize what I mean.
    Only Otis is missing what it stands for.


    Free to  Marcus Porcius Cato: ”Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam"

    I declare that Otis idea about preventing myopia in humans must be
    destroyed.

    Jan (normally Dutch spoken)

  21. admin says:

    "Mike Tyner" <mty…@mindspring.com> wrote in news:nh8xd.3855$yK.259
    @newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net:

    > <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    >> That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    >> You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    > Obviously my education is inadequate. We need more engineers teaching
    > physics, medicine, and statistics.

    > -MT

    This is the part of this whole exchange that I hate.  There is absolutely
    nothing wrong with engineers teaching physics, medicine, and statistics.  
    In fact, I teach a little of all three.  Don’t tar us all with the same
    brush.

    Scott

  22. admin says:

    Otis> I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    that the natural eye is dynamic.

    Rol > Sorry Otis, I did not see your direct experimental proof, I must
    have missed
    it. Would you kindly repost it.

    Otis> Dear Roland — if you will accept the separation of science
    (i.e.,
    DIRECT MEASUREMENTS of the refractive state of the natural eye
    from MEDICINE, i.e., dealing with a mass of people who only
    want an immediate "fix" with the minus lens — then we
    can proceed.  It will be up to the person engineer-pilot, to
    decide what course of action he might wish to take
    to implement prevention.

    Otis>  I will be pleased to repost the experimental
    data proving that the natural eye is "dynamic"
    in a few days.

    I can’t understand why you don’t concider the hyperopic eye as
    "Natural".
    Please explain.

    Otis>  To avoid "fighting" with you, I use the term "refractive status"
    where the eye can have a refractive status running between
    -1 diopter to +2.0 diopters and remain completely natural.

    Otis>  The word "hyperopic" is translated "farsighted", which
    implies "defect" to the layman.  To avoid any minstaken
    conotation of this nature, just use the neutral term,
    refractive status.

    Otis> This is so simple that I do not see how you "miss" the
    point — but you do — totally.

    Otis> This is basic "input" versus "ouput" testing.

    Not so basic if it requires the Px (patient) to be inteligent and
    understand that the
    natural eye is dynamic.

    Otis> Which does suggest that the engineer take time to
    go through a tutorial on measurement systems, and
    an analysis of the behavior of the natural eye — and
    why the engineer can expect that the eye will
    be proven to be dynamic.  Again, on an "input"
    versus "output" were you apply a "delta" to
    the visual environment and measure the
    expected e ^ (-t/TAU) time-constant responsed.

    Otis>  Obviously you expect everything to be reduced
    to 15 minutes with a person — and that is absolutly
    not possible.

    Otis>  You could define this at the difference between
    engineering-science (learning the truith about the
    natural eye’s behavior) versus servicing a
    a large number of people who walk in
    off the stree — and expect ONLY a minus-lens
    quick-fix.

    > But I will be pleased to present further arguments
    > describing your "science" my friend.

    Rol We had enough of arguments based on your theories, show us proof.

    Otis>  Concerning the dynamic nature of the natural eye — but of
    course.

    We can
    only act on evidence based medicine.

    Otis>  I am not asking you to "act".  I am asking you to think.
    The evidence I present is based on science, and not on medicine.
    There is a profound difference in attitude and understanding
    between these two professions.

    Not on what Otis Brown thinks will
    happen if a propper study is conducted.

    Otis>  I would be please to work towards prevention
    with other engineers who will evaluate your opinion,
    the experimental data, and make THEIR DECISION
    based on these aspects of this difficult situitation.

    Otis>  I look forward to the day when we can
    take that FIRST STEP my friend — along scientific,
    not medical lines.

    Best,

    Otis

  23. admin says:

    I apologize.  Otis tarnishes your profession.  He takes his training in
    engineering and tries to extend it into a field that he knows nothing about.

    —-

    "Scott Seidman" <namdiestt…@mindspring.com> wrote in message

    news:Xns95C480567174Escottseidmanmindspri@130.133.1.4…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > "Mike Tyner" <mty…@mindspring.com> wrote in news:nh8xd.3855$yK.259
    > @newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net:

    >> <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote

    >>> That is what I meant by "intellectual".
    >>> You have obviously missed that point my friend.

    >> Obviously my education is inadequate. We need more engineers teaching
    >> physics, medicine, and statistics.

    >> -MT

    > This is the part of this whole exchange that I hate.  There is absolutely
    > nothing wrong with engineers teaching physics, medicine, and statistics.
    > In fact, I teach a little of all three.  Don’t tar us all with the same
    > brush.

    > Scott

  24. admin says:

    "Scott Seidman" <namdiestt…@mindspring.com> wrote

    > This is the part of this whole exchange that I hate.  There is
    > absolutely nothing wrong with engineers teaching physics,
    > medicine, and statistics.  In fact, I teach a little of all three.
    > Don’t tar us all with the same brush.

    I apologize, too.

    The notable difference is that you likely have some formal training in those
    areas.

    -MT

  25. admin says:

    <otisbr…@pa.net> wrote in message

    news:1103487809.145990.265550@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Otis> I have repeatedly provided direct experimental proof
    > that the natural eye is dynamic.

    > Rol > Sorry Otis, I did not see your direct experimental proof, I must
    > have missed
    > it. Would you kindly repost it.

    > Otis> Dear Roland — if you will accept the separation of science
    > (i.e.,
    > DIRECT MEASUREMENTS of the refractive state of the natural eye
    > from MEDICINE, i.e., dealing with a mass of people who only
    > want an immediate "fix" with the minus lens — then we
    > can proceed.  It will be up to the person engineer-pilot, to
    > decide what course of action he might wish to take
    > to implement prevention.

    > Otis>  I will be pleased to repost the experimental
    > data proving that the natural eye is "dynamic"
    > in a few days.

    > I can’t understand why you don’t concider the hyperopic eye as
    > "Natural".
    > Please explain.

    > Otis>  To avoid "fighting" with you, I use the term "refractive status"
    > where the eye can have a refractive status running between
    > -1 diopter to +2.0 diopters and remain completely natural.

    So if it falls out of this range, it cannot be concidered completely
    natural.
    Does it follow then that an eye with a "refractive status" 0f -1.25 is not
    completely natural and therefore is not concidered dynamic and will not
    follow the visual environment?

    Please answere

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Otis>  The word "hyperopic" is translated "farsighted", which
    > implies "defect" to the layman.  To avoid any minstaken
    > conotation of this nature, just use the neutral term,
    > refractive status.

    > Otis> This is so simple that I do not see how you "miss" the
    > point — but you do — totally.

    > Otis> This is basic "input" versus "ouput" testing.

    > Not so basic if it requires the Px (patient) to be inteligent and
    > understand that the
    > natural eye is dynamic.

    > Otis> Which does suggest that the engineer take time to
    > go through a tutorial on measurement systems, and
    > an analysis of the behavior of the natural eye — and
    > why the engineer can expect that the eye will
    > be proven to be dynamic.  Again, on an "input"
    > versus "output" were you apply a "delta" to
    > the visual environment and measure the
    > expected e ^ (-t/TAU) time-constant responsed.

    "….and the eye will be proven to be dynamic" That sounds like future tense
    to me Otis. You are sugesting treatment with a plus lens be introduced
    because you believe it will be proven correct some time in the future. That
    my friend is quackery. You want to make quacks out of us?

    > Otis>  Obviously you expect everything to be reduced
    > to 15 minutes with a person — and that is absolutly
    > not possible.

    Actually if we suspect accomodative myopia, a cyclo refraction can show it
    in a short time. Why wait months and years?

    > Otis>  You could define this at the difference between
    > engineering-science (learning the truith about the
    > natural eye’s behavior) versus servicing a
    > a large number of people who walk in
    > off the stree — and expect ONLY a minus-lens
    > quick-fix.

    Can’t make sence of the above

    > > But I will be pleased to present further arguments
    > > describing your "science" my friend.

    No, no, no. please present further arguments defending your science instead.

    > Rol We had enough of arguments based on your theories, show us proof.

    > Otis>  Concerning the dynamic nature of the natural eye — but of
    > course.

    > We can
    > only act on evidence based medicine.

    > Otis>  I am not asking you to "act".  I am asking you to think.
    > The evidence I present is based on science, and not on medicine.
    > There is a profound difference in attitude and understanding
    > between these two professions.

    Offering the "Second opinion" to patients is acting without proof.

    > Not on what Otis Brown thinks will
    > happen if a propper study is conducted.

    > Otis>  I would be please to work towards prevention
    > with other engineers who will evaluate your opinion,
    > the experimental data, and make THEIR DECISION
    > based on these aspects of this difficult situitation.

    Unfortunately Otis, the decision to incorporate plus therapy in our
    practicees does not lie with engineers.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Otis>  I look forward to the day when we can
    > take that FIRST STEP my friend — along scientific,
    > not medical lines.

    > Best,

    > Otis

  26. admin says:

    >and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    >or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro ophthalmologist.

    >Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision therapy. Are
    >these programs any good?

    >Any comments appreciated.

    >Thanks, David

    Stick with MDs—but change if you are not satisfied.
    (This isn’t really an eye problem but a neurological problem)

  27. admin says:

    rusht…@aol.com (Rushtown) wrote in
    news:20041215013758.08274.00002079@mb-m05.aol.com:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >>and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    >>or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro
    >>ophthalmologist.

    >>Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision
    >>therapy. Are these programs any good?

    >>Any comments appreciated.

    >>Thanks, David

    > Stick with MDs—but change if you are not satisfied.
    > (This isn’t really an eye problem but a neurological problem)

    Aw, gee thanks for the vote of confidence in optometry.  Now just what is
    it that the neuro-ophthalmologist is going to be able to offer?

    People go through rehab with phycial therapists all the time following
    "neurological" injuries.  The neurologist doesn’t conduct the PT.  Same
    relationship holds in this situation.

    DrG

  28. admin says:

    >>and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    >>or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro ophthalmologist.

    >>Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision therapy.
    >Are
    >>these programs any good?

    >>Any comments appreciated.

    >>Thanks, David

    >Stick with MDs—but change if you are not satisfied.
    >(This isn’t really an eye problem but a neurological problem)

    Thanks for your suggestion. She has seen two neuro ophthalmologists. One atter
    the nerve surgery on her left eye and another after the last surgery to install
    the skull plate. That is why I am considering other options.

    Thanks, David

  29. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >rusht…@aol.com (Rushtown) wrote in
    >news:20041215013758.08274.00002079@mb-m05.aol.com:

    >>>and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    >>>or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro
    >>>ophthalmologist.

    >>>Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision
    >>>therapy. Are these programs any good?

    >>>Any comments appreciated.

    >>>Thanks, David

    >> Stick with MDs—but change if you are not satisfied.
    >> (This isn’t really an eye problem but a neurological problem)

    >Aw, gee thanks for the vote of confidence in optometry.  Now just what is
    >it that the neuro-ophthalmologist is going to be able to offer?

    >People go through rehab with phycial therapists all the time following
    >"neurological" injuries.  The neurologist doesn’t conduct the PT.  Same
    >relationship holds in this situation.

    >DrG

    Below is a paragraph from one of the web pages I found while looking around the
    net. I found some of the statements very familiar except in our case there is
    no litigation involved and my wife’s vision is blurry not  double vision
    (unless the double vision is so minor that it just makes her vision seem
    blurry).

    The following paragraph is from the web site:
    http://www.headinjurylaw.com/vision2.htm

    The software of the visual system consists of the neural wiring of the optic
    nerve, the optic
    chiasm, the optic tracts and their offshoots, the lateral geniculate nucleus
    (LGN) of the
    thalamus, the optic radiations from the LGN and the visual cortex located at
    the back of
    the brain in the occipital lobe. The wiring is made up of thin, delicate axons
    and the visual
    processing units in the LGN and visual cortex consist of tiny living cells with
    fragile
    membranes. The axons are vulnerable to stretch/strain damage and the cells are
    vulnerable to shaking or perturbation which can damage or kill them. Closed
    head trauma
    causing "mild tbi" (with minimal or no loss of consciousness) frequently
    traumatizes the
    software of the visual system with disruption of binocular vision such as
    blurry or double
    vision. However, closed head brain trauma which damages the vision software
    causes no
    detectable mechanical damage to eye structures and no cranial nerve damage with
    easily
    detectible strabismus or hyperopia. The patient’s eyes look fine. He can still
    read an eye
    chart. His brain shows no bleeding on CT or swelling/compression on MRI. In
    such cases,
    and there are many thousands every year, the typical ophthalmologist chalks up
    the
    patient’s complaints of double vision to "hysteria" or "malingering,"
    especially when they
    learn a claim has been filed. This not only wounds the feelings of the patients
    (who know
    they are telling the truth, their vision really is double) but deprives them of
    necessary
    treatment and may ruin their personal injury lawsuit or workers compensation
    claim
    without good reason.

    Thanks, David

  30. admin says:

    >Take a look at this for starters.
    >http://www.iblindness.org/books/bates/

    Thanks, I will check it out.

    David

  31. admin says:

    but don’t behave as the people at that site, they are true ignorants,
    as all the other professionals in this field.
    this is a matter of spiritual quest.

    http://thecentralfixation.com

  32. admin says:

    Take a look at this for starters.
    http://www.iblindness.org/books/bates/

  33. admin says:

    "Dyhibb" <dyh…@aol.com> wrote in message

    news:20041214224955.11961.00001619@mb-m16.aol.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > On September 1, 2002, my wife had an accident which resulted in a severe
    > brain
    > injury to the right side of the head. One of the results of the injury was
    > the
    > left eye turned towards her nose and would not move toward the center. She
    > had
    > two surgeries last year and the eye will now move to just left of center
    > and
    > all the way to the right.

    > She has been complaining of getting very dizzy  mostly when she is
    > standing or
    > walking but sometimes when she is sitting.

    > She was checked out by a neuro-opthomologist and he said the current
    > prescription for her glasses was still fine and said that she may still be
    > recovering from the surgery she had in October to put in a skull plate.

    > Then she was checked out by an audiology specialist and he asked her to
    > describe her dizziness and decided it was more of a blurred vision
    > problem.

    > We are waiting for an appointment for her to get some "vestibular testing"
    > but
    > after doing some research on the internet, I am wondering if I should skip
    > the
    > vestibular testing and get her an appointment with a "functional
    > optometrist"
    > or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro ophthalmologist.

    Dizziness is almost always due to a vestibular problem, get that done first.

    Vision training by optometrists is directed primarily at improving binocular
    vision.  Your wife does not have binocular vision due to major damage to the
    6th cranial nerve which controls the lateral rectus of her left eye; the
    muscle is not working and will not be made to work with vision training.
    Sometimes the nerve recovers after injury, recovery may take months to
    years.   The neuro ophthalmologist who knows the details of your wife’s
    injury and surgeries can tell you whether any recovery is expected.

    > Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision therapy.
    > Are
    > these programs any good?

    Usually these programs are used in conjunction with a vision training person
    (either optometrist or occupational therapist) who knows the details of your
    wife’s injury and could tell you whether a program would work and recommend
    a specific one.   Again, most are directed at improving binocular fusion
    which your wife will likely not achieve due to the nerve damage.

    Dr Judy

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Any comments appreciated.

    > Thanks, David

  34. admin says:

    HI Dr. Judy,

    Thanks for your suggestions.

    David

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >"Dyhibb" <dyh…@aol.com> wrote in message
    >news:20041214224955.11961.00001619@mb-m16.aol.com…
    >> On September 1, 2002, my wife had an accident which resulted in a severe
    >> brain
    >> injury to the right side of the head. One of the results of the injury was
    >> the
    >> left eye turned towards her nose and would not move toward the center. She
    >> had
    >> two surgeries last year and the eye will now move to just left of center
    >> and
    >> all the way to the right.

    >> She has been complaining of getting very dizzy  mostly when she is
    >> standing or
    >> walking but sometimes when she is sitting.

    >> She was checked out by a neuro-opthomologist and he said the current
    >> prescription for her glasses was still fine and said that she may still be
    >> recovering from the surgery she had in October to put in a skull plate.

    >> Then she was checked out by an audiology specialist and he asked her to
    >> describe her dizziness and decided it was more of a blurred vision
    >> problem.

    >> We are waiting for an appointment for her to get some "vestibular testing"
    >> but
    >> after doing some research on the internet, I am wondering if I should skip
    >> the
    >> vestibular testing and get her an appointment with a "functional
    >> optometrist"
    >> or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro ophthalmologist.

    >Dizziness is almost always due to a vestibular problem, get that done first.

    >Vision training by optometrists is directed primarily at improving binocular
    >vision.  Your wife does not have binocular vision due to major damage to the
    >6th cranial nerve which controls the lateral rectus of her left eye; the
    >muscle is not working and will not be made to work with vision training.
    >Sometimes the nerve recovers after injury, recovery may take months to
    >years.   The neuro ophthalmologist who knows the details of your wife’s
    >injury and surgeries can tell you whether any recovery is expected.

    >> Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision therapy.
    >> Are
    >> these programs any good?

    >Usually these programs are used in conjunction with a vision training person
    >(either optometrist or occupational therapist) who knows the details of your
    >wife’s injury and could tell you whether a program would work and recommend
    >a specific one.   Again, most are directed at improving binocular fusion
    >which your wife will likely not achieve due to the nerve damage.

    >Dr Judy

    >> Any comments appreciated.

    >> Thanks, David

  35. admin says:

    1.

    The brain injury described (so vaguely) does suggest DAI (diffuse axonal
    injury) did arise. DAI is a very useful marker for damage done via TBI.
    There are some scans that can detect DAI, that may be worth persuing but it
    will only confirm DAI, not much that can be done about it. Vision problems
    are not uncommon post tbi though the exact reasons remain unclear. Dizziness
    also occurs post tbi.

    2.

    Don’t skip the vestibular testing, should at least be checked out.

    3.

    The internet is replete with miracle cures, enter at your own risk. Caveat
    emptor.

    4.

    Does your wife *always* experience double vision and dizziness. There may be
    some merit in trying to determine what makes it worse, the frequency of the
    symptoms and any correlations noted. Did the symptom appear before the
    corrective surgery?

    5.

    Given the injury you should consider some dietary changes that may aid
    recovery. Nothing spectacular, mostly common sense, but post TBI some
    dietary changes can be beneficial for recovery. Don’t fall for the "miracle
    herbs fallacy", in fact don’t even try the same without first consulting the
    doctor. Some non-traditional forms of therapy can help but you need to be
    very careful about this. MUCH wiser to go for an optimal diet that
    facilitates brain recovery.

    http://www.neuroskills.com/index.shtml?main=/edu/ceumtbi18.shtml

    Check out in above link: Vision and TBI under directories pull down menu on
    the left.

    http://www.brainplace.com/bp/prescriptions/default.asp

    This site has a variety of links related to keeping the brain healthy.

    "Dyhibb" <dyh…@aol.com> wrote in message

    news:20041215095916.21876.00001851@mb-m14.aol.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > >rusht…@aol.com (Rushtown) wrote in
    > >news:20041215013758.08274.00002079@mb-m05.aol.com:

    > >>>and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    > >>>or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro
    > >>>ophthalmologist.

    > >>>Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision
    > >>>therapy. Are these programs any good?

    > >>>Any comments appreciated.

    > >>>Thanks, David

    > >> Stick with MDs—but change if you are not satisfied.
    > >> (This isn’t really an eye problem but a neurological problem)

    > >Aw, gee thanks for the vote of confidence in optometry.  Now just what is
    > >it that the neuro-ophthalmologist is going to be able to offer?

    > >People go through rehab with phycial therapists all the time following
    > >"neurological" injuries.  The neurologist doesn’t conduct the PT.  Same
    > >relationship holds in this situation.

    > >DrG

    > Below is a paragraph from one of the web pages I found while looking
    around the
    > net. I found some of the statements very familiar except in our case there
    is
    > no litigation involved and my wife’s vision is blurry not  double vision
    > (unless the double vision is so minor that it just makes her vision seem
    > blurry).

    > The following paragraph is from the web site:
    > http://www.headinjurylaw.com/vision2.htm

    > The software of the visual system consists of the neural wiring of the
    optic
    > nerve, the optic
    > chiasm, the optic tracts and their offshoots, the lateral geniculate
    nucleus
    > (LGN) of the
    > thalamus, the optic radiations from the LGN and the visual cortex located
    at
    > the back of
    > the brain in the occipital lobe. The wiring is made up of thin, delicate
    axons
    > and the visual
    > processing units in the LGN and visual cortex consist of tiny living cells
    with
    > fragile
    > membranes. The axons are vulnerable to stretch/strain damage and the cells
    are
    > vulnerable to shaking or perturbation which can damage or kill them.
    Closed
    > head trauma
    > causing "mild tbi" (with minimal or no loss of consciousness) frequently
    > traumatizes the
    > software of the visual system with disruption of binocular vision such as
    > blurry or double
    > vision. However, closed head brain trauma which damages the vision
    software
    > causes no
    > detectable mechanical damage to eye structures and no cranial nerve damage
    with
    > easily
    > detectible strabismus or hyperopia. The patient’s eyes look fine. He can
    still
    > read an eye
    > chart. His brain shows no bleeding on CT or swelling/compression on MRI.
    In
    > such cases,
    > and there are many thousands every year, the typical ophthalmologist
    chalks up
    > the
    > patient’s complaints of double vision to "hysteria" or "malingering,"
    > especially when they
    > learn a claim has been filed. This not only wounds the feelings of the
    patients
    > (who know
    > they are telling the truth, their vision really is double) but deprives
    them of
    > necessary
    > treatment and may ruin their personal injury lawsuit or workers
    compensation
    > claim
    > without good reason.

    > Thanks, David

  36. admin says:

    Do a simple test: cover one eye with an eyepatch. Is the dizziness and/or
    visual blur still the same?

    If yes, then it is unrelated to binocular eye cooperation problems, as using
    one eye eliminates that.

    If the blur is gone, try the other eye – is the blur related to one of the
    eyes (probably not.)

    If there is still dizziness with one eye covered, try closing BOTH eyes. If
    there is still dizziness, then it is definitedly NOT related to the eyes,
    and they are out of the picture when they are both closed.

    Regarding Dr. Judy’s comment that she does not have binocular vision – may
    not be entirely true.
    if the muscle surgery (sounds like a transposition of Foster procedure for
    total 6th nerve paralysis) was successful, and the eye is aligned in primary
    position, even though there is lateral gaze limitation, there is no reason
    not to have binocular vision where the eyes are aligned. Of course, if the
    visual axes do no line up at all, then, no, there is no binocular vision.
    These muscle procedures can restore or increase the field of single
    binocular vision, or move it more towards the center, although the extent
    will be limited.

    David Robins, MD
    Board certified Ophthalmologist
    Pediatric and strabismus subspecialty
    Member of AAPOS
    (American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

    On 12/14/04 8:49 PM, in article
    20041214224955.11961.00001…@mb-m16.aol.com, "Dyhibb" <dyh…@aol.com>
    wrote:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > On September 1, 2002, my wife had an accident which resulted in a severe brain
    > injury to the right side of the head. One of the results of the injury was the
    > left eye turned towards her nose and would not move toward the center. She had
    > two surgeries last year and the eye will now move to just left of center and
    > all the way to the right.

    > She has been complaining of getting very dizzy  mostly when she is standing or
    > walking but sometimes when she is sitting.

    > She was checked out by a neuro-opthomologist and he said the current
    > prescription for her glasses was still fine and said that she may still be
    > recovering from the surgery she had in October to put in a skull plate.

    > Then she was checked out by an audiology specialist and he asked her to
    > describe her dizziness and decided it was more of a blurred vision problem.

    > We are waiting for an appointment for her to get some "vestibular testing" but
    > after doing some research on the internet, I am wondering if I should skip the
    > vestibular testing and get her an appointment with a "functional optometrist"
    > or "neuro-optometrist" instead of going back to a neuro ophthalmologist.

    > Also, I came across some web sites that sell software for vision therapy. Are
    > these programs any good?

    > Any comments appreciated.

    > Thanks, David

  37. admin says:

    > If there is still dizziness with one eye covered, try closing BOTH
    eyes. If
    > there is still dizziness, then it is definitedly NOT related to the
    eyes,
    > and they are out of the picture when they are both closed.

    Dizziness is ALWAYS created by the eyes.

    Now you see how these doctors are completely ignorant of the truth?

    This test is very easy: if he feels dizziness with eyes closed, the
    answer is that with eyes closed the strain is most.

    The patient should learn some methods for resting his eyes and mind and
    find a way to improve his condition.

    Little improvements bring forth big improvements.

    Eyeglasses must be avoided.

    http://TheCentralFixation.com

  38. admin says:

    It seems to me that with so many visits to the neuro-ophthalmologist,
    that any problem with visual acuity would have been documented.  Go
    figure.

    DrG

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