Medically Modified Eyes

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-511
Author(s):  
Emily R. Cain

In Paedagogus 1.6.28, Clement describes baptism through the metaphor of a cataract surgery that enables the percipient to see God. In antiquity, cataract surgery was neither a common nor a safe procedure, which raises the question: why does Clement use such an unlikely metaphor for baptism? In this article, I demonstrate that this medical metaphor of cataract surgery enabled Clement to blur the line between the physical and the spiritual. The visual component of the metaphor allowed Clement to draw from Epicurean sensory perception and epistemology, which understood objects to emit tiny films that entered the eye of the body, with repeated contact leading to concept formation, in order to describe how the eye of the soul could see God once it has been transformed through baptism. For Clement, it is only through baptism that the cataract can be removed, thereby providing the baptized Christian with deified eyes to see God. In addition to having her cataract removed, according to Clement, the nature of the baptized Christian's vision changes from intromission to extramission, from receiving films to emitting a visual ray back to the divine. I further argue that the medical component of the metaphor allows Clement to describe the baptized Christian as fundamentally different from the rest of humanity and as part of an elite group that has undergone this uncommon and dangerous cataract surgery. Through these two aspects of his metaphor, Clement describes and defines Christians in terms of their medically modified eyes that enable them to see and to know God.

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212096345
Author(s):  
Pasquale Aragona ◽  
Elisa Imelde Postorino ◽  
Emanuela Aragona

Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed elective surgery worldwide. Although considered a safe procedure, potentially sight-threatening adverse events are possible. Among these, post-surgical inflammation and infections are the most relevant. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, and topical antibiotics are the pillars for the treatment of inflammation and for the prevention of infections. However, uncertainties remain regarding the duration of both topical antibiotic prophylaxis and corticosteroid treatment. LEADER7, a recent international clinical study conducted with the new fixed combination of levofloxacin and dexamethasone eye drops in patients undergoing uncomplicated cataract surgery, found that 1-week topical antibiotic prophylaxis is just as effective as the 2-week course commonly used in clinical practice. The study also showed that treatment for 1 week with dexamethasone results in complete resolution of inflammatory signs and symptoms in over 85% of patients, for whom further prolongation of corticosteroid treatment is, therefore, not necessary. This new treatment strategy can represent a significant step forward to reduce the unjustified use of prophylactic antibiotics after cataract surgery, limiting the emergence of bacterial resistance, as well as representing an opportunity to optimize the use and safety of the corticosteroid treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-145
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Melichařík ◽  
Pavel Otřísal

Abstract A paper deals with the influence of selective decontamination mixtures established in the Czech Armed Forces on an isolative protective foil used to the construction of anti-gas protective garment marked as OPCH-05. Presented information are a part of thematically focused works aimed to study of influences of all established decontamination mixtures on the Czech Armed Forces Chemical Corps´ garments of anti-gas protection. The quality of provided the Czech Armed Forces Chemical Corps´ specialists isolative protection is limited with the existence of several aspects which significantly determine with their materials equipment. For providing isolative protection of the body surface are used such as protective garments which are the hermetic type and they are constructively solved with the employment of the butyl-rubber polymeric mixture. The effective protection of the body surface must be guaranteed even within the presumption of a repeated contact with decontamination mixtures


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia K Faull ◽  
Anja Hayen ◽  
Kyle T S Pattinson

AbstractBreathlessness debilitates millions of people with chronic illness. Mismatch between breathlessness severity and objective disease markers is common and poorly understood. Traditionally, sensory perception was conceptualised as a stimulus-response relationship, although this cannot explain how conditioned symptoms may occur in the absence of physiological signals from the lungs or airways. A Bayesian model is now proposed in which the brain generates sensations based on expectations learned from past experiences (priors), which are then checked against incoming afferent signals. In this model, psychological factors may act as moderators. They may either alter priors, or change the relative attention towards incoming sensory information, leading to more variable interpretation of an equivalent afferent input.In the present study we conducted a preliminary test of this model in a supplementary analysis of previously published data (Hayen 2017). We hypothesised that individual differences in psychological traits (anxiety, depression, anxiety sensitivity) would correlate with the variability of subjective evaluation of equivalent breathlessness challenges. To better understand the resulting inferential leap in the brain, we explored whether these behavioural measures correlated with activity in areas governing either prior generation or sensory afferent input.Behaviorally, anxiety sensitivity was found to positively correlate with each subject’s variability of intensity and unpleasantness during mild breathlessness, and with unpleasantness during strong breathlessness. In the brain, anxiety sensitivity was found to positively correlate with activity in the anterior insula during mild breathlessness, and negatively correlate with parietal sensorimotor areas during strong breathlessness.Our findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity may reduce the robustness of this Bayesian sensory perception system, increasing the variability of breathlessness perception and possibly susceptibility to symptom misinterpretation. These preliminary findings in healthy individuals demonstrate how differences in psychological function influence the way we experience bodily sensations, which might direct us towards better understanding of symptom mismatch in clinical populations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Adrian Martin ◽  
Valeriu Tomescu

Hypothesis. Energy efficiency within an elite group of athletes will ensure metabolic adaptation during training.Objectives. To identify energy system efficiency and contribution according to exercise intensity, and performance obtained during a 2,000 m race simulation in an elite group of rowers.Method. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2016 in Bucharest, Romania, on a group of 16 elite rowers. Measurements were performed through Cosmed Quark CPET equipment, and Concept 2 ergometer, by conducting a VO2max test over a standard rowing distance of 2,000 m. The analyzed parameters during the test were: HR (bpm), Rf (b/min), VE (l/min), VO2 (ml/min), VCO2 (ml/min), VT (l), O2exp (ml), CO2exp (ml), RER, PaCO2 (mmHg), PaO2 (mmHg), Kcal/min, FAT (g), CHO (g), from which we determined the ventilatory thresholds, and the energy resource used during the specific 2,000 m rowing distance (ATP, ATP+CP, muscle glycogen).Results. We performed an association between HR (180.2±4.80 b/min), and carbohydrate consumption during the sustained effort (41.55±3.99 g) towards determining the energy systems involved: ATP (3.49±1.55%), ATP+CP (18.06±2.99%), muscle glycogen (77.9±3.39%). As a result, completion time (366.3±10.25 s) was significantly correlated with both Rf (p=0.0024), and VO2 (p=0.0166) being also pointed out that ≥5 l VO2 value is associated with an effort time of ≤360 s. (p=0.040, RR=3.50, CI95%=1.02 to 11.96). Thus, the average activation time among muscle ATP (12.81±5.70 s), ATP+CP (66.04±10.17 s, and muscle glycogen (295±9.5 s) are interrelated, and significantly correlated with respiratory parameters.Conclusions. Decreased total activity time was associated with accessing primary energy source in less time, during effort, improving the body energy power. Its effectiveness was recorded by early carbohydrates access, as a primary energy source, during specific activity performed up to 366 seconds.


Author(s):  
И. К. Намазова ◽  
Г. Т. Саилова ◽  
С. Р. Меджидова ◽  
А. Р. Салманова

Исследованы изменения провоспалительных цитокинов - IL -1βи TNF -α во влаге передней камеры и в сыворотке крови до хирургического лечения катаракты у 81 пациента (на 81 глазу) с катарактой. Из них у 46 пациентов был верифицирован диагноз псевдоэксфолиативного синдрома (ПЭС), оценена степень выраженности дистрофических изменений, отложений псевдоэксфолиативного материала (основная группа). 35 пациентов без ПЭС были включены в контрольную группу. По совокупной оценке результатов биомикроскопии и ультразвуковой биомикроскопии структур глаза было выделено три стадии развития ПЭС: I - 11 (23,91%) глаз (на одном глазу у 11 пациентов, так как к операции готовился один глаз), II - 20 (43,48%), III - 15 (32,61%). Воспалительные осложнения после неосложненной хирургической терапии катаракты имелись у 17,39% пациентов на глазах с ПЭС, из них у 13,04% - при II стадии ПЭС, у 4,35% - при III стадии ПЭС. На глазах пациентов с ПЭС I стадии и в контрольной группе осложнений не было. Результаты исследования IL -1β, TNF -α в сыворотке крови, во влаге передней камеры выявили значимые различия показателей у пациентов с ПЭС в сравнении с лицами без него в зависимости от стадии. У пациентов с ПЭС соматические патологии выявлены в 2 раза чаще, а повышенные концентрации IL -1β, TNF -α при ПЭС подтверждают мнение, что его следует рассматривать как возрастную патологию органа зрения. Таким образом, снижение с возрастом компенсаторных возможностей организма, набор хронической возрастной патологии формируют возрастные изменения структур, в том числе патогенетические механизмы ПЭС, фон хирургического лечения пациентов старшего возраста, в известной мере предопределяя характер и особенности послеоперационного периода, возможных осложнений. There have been studied changes of proinfl ammatory cytokines, IL -1β and TNF -α, in anterior chamber aqueous humor and in blood serum before cataract surgery in 81 patients with cataract. Of these, 46 patients had verified diagnosis of pseudoexfoliative syndrome (PEХ) of varying degree of manifestation of dystrophic changes and deposits of pseudoexfoliative material (main group). In 35 patients, PES (comparison group) has not been detected. 2-stage biomicroscopy (with a narrow pupil, after tonometry with mydriasis) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) have been conducted. According to the results of biomicroscopy and UBM structures of the eye, 3 stages of development of PEX have been identified: I - 11 (23,91 %), II - 20 (43,48 %), III - 15 (32,61 %). Inflammatory complications after cataract surgery have been in 17,39 % of eyes with PEХ, of which PEX Stage II in 13,04 % and PEХ Stage III in 4,35 %. There have been no complications in the eyes with PEX Stage I and without PEX. In comparison with patients without PEX, significant differences in the indicators of IL -1β and TNF -α both in the blood serum and in the aqueous humor of the anterior chamber of patients with PEX have been found. In particular, there have been confi rmed significant differences of indicators depending on the stage of development of changes during PEX. At the same time, higher concentrations of IL -1β and TNF -α during PEX, as well as somatic pathologies in patients with PES occurring 2 times more often, confirm the opinion that PEX should be considered as pathology of the organ of vision. Thus, decrease in the compensatory abilities of the body with age and a set of chronic age-related pathology form the pathogenetic mechanisms of PEX, including age-related changes in structures and surgery background in older patients, to a certain extent predetermining the nature and features of the postoperative period and possible complications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 88-92
Author(s):  
Shilpi Kapoor ◽  
Shagufta Rather ◽  
Dinesh Gupta

Background: Peribulbar anaesthesia has almost totally replaced general anaesthesia and retrobulbar block for ocular procedures especially in adults. Peribulbar block involves injections above and below the orbit, with local anesthetic deposited within the orbit but does not enter the muscle cone. Relatively safe but it is still associated with complications which are detailed in this study. Aims and Objective: To study the complications of classic double injection technique of peribulbar anaesthesia given in supine position before cataract surgery and to find the percentage of patients achieving complete block with 7ml of anaesthetic solution given by peribulbar route. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 500 patients who were admitted for undergoing cataract extraction surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology in GMC Jammu for a period of 8 months from December 2018 to July 2019. Results: It was observed that 103 patients out of 500 (20.6%) developed one or more of complications. Chemosis was the most common complication which occurred in 87 (17.4%) patients followed by subcunjunctival haemorrhage observed in 19 (3.8%) patients. Lid ecchymosis occurred in 16 (2.4%) patients. Retrobulbar haemorrhage occurred in 11 (2.2%) patients. 2 (0.4%) patients developed severe lid edema. In 2 (0.4%) patients wrong eye was given block. 1 (0.2%) patient developed CRAO. Complete akinesia was obtained in 415 (83%) patients with 7ml of block. Rest required supplementary injections. 14 (2.8%) patients did not attain full akinesia after 12ml of block. Conclusion: Peribulbar block is a relatively safe procedure for obtaining ocular analgesia and akinesia, but is still associated with complications ranging from minor lid edema and chemosis to grave events like RBH to CRAO.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-165
Author(s):  
Gamze Uçan Gündüz ◽  
◽  
Berna Akova Budak ◽  

AIM: To compare the visual results and postoperative complications of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) in children who underwent cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation. METHODS: This retrospective study included 117 eyes of 63 children with bilateral pediatric cataract undergoing cataract surgery and primary IOL implantation. The patients were divided into two groups, Group I included 58 eyes of 30 patients with PMMA IOLs; Group II included 59 eyes of 33 patients with hydrophobic acrylic IOLs. The clinical features, refraction errors, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and surgical complications were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 5.8 (2-12)y and mean follow up period was 40.5 (6-196)mo. Postoperatively, BCVA was ≥0.5 in 80 eyes (68.4%) and this was comparable in two groups. Visual axis opacification was seen in 28 eyes (48.3%) in Group I and 16 eyes (27.1%) in Group II and this difference was statistically significant (P=0.018). Postoperative IOL dislocation and posterior synechia formation were also noted. When all postoperative complications were considered, there were significantly less complications in the acrylic IOL group than PMMA IOL group (P=0.020). CONCLUSION: Pediatric cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation is a safe procedure. Hydrophobic acrylic IOLs may lead to less postoperative complications compared to PMMA IOLs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoon Noh ◽  
Young-Sik Yoo ◽  
Kyoung Yoon Shin ◽  
Dong Hui Lim ◽  
Tae-Young Chung

AbstractThis study tried to compare the clinical outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted astigmatic keratotomy (FSAK) and toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for astigmatism correction and identify factors affecting the efficacy of FSAK and toric IOL implantation in astigmatism correction. This retrospective case series comprised patients with corneal astigmatism ranging between 0.5 D and 4.5 D. Patients underwent FSAK or toric IOL implantation for cataract treatment and correction of astigmatism at the Samsung Medical Center, a tertiary surgical center, between April 2016 and December 2018. All patients underwent examination before and at three months after the surgery for comparative evaluation of refractive astigmatism, corneal high order aberrations and irregularity index. The astigmatism correction was analyzed by the Alpins method. Subgroup analysis of preoperative factors was based on the extent of target-induced astigmatism (TIA), the degree of astigmatism, and astigmatism classification based on topography. Thirty-one eyes underwent toric IOL implantation and 35 eyes underwent FSAK. The refractive astigmatism was significantly decreased in both toric IOL (P = 0.000) and FSAK group (P = 0.003). The correction index (CI) of refractive astigmatism was 0.84 ± 0.39 in the toric IOL and 0.71 ± 0.60 in the FSAK group. There was no difference between the two groups (P = 0.337). The CI of the FSAK group was significantly lower than in the toric IOL group when TIA was more than 1.5 D (P = 0.006), when correcting against-the-rule (P = 0.017), and limbus-to-limbus astigmatism (P = 0.008). In conclusion, toric IOL implantation is an effective and safe procedure for correcting preoperative astigmatism in cataract surgery in the short-term observation.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (1) ◽  
pp. R71-R79 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Talbott

Dogs were trained to stand quietly on a movable table that was surrounded by a movable roof. The position of the dogs was monitored while the table was stationary and the roof was moved to provide an optokinetic stimulus restricted to the lateral visual fields. Sinusoidal oscillation of the visual surround caused these quietly standing dogs to generate consistent changes in body position. At low frequencies (around 0.1 Hz) the body position changes tended to lead the position of the optokinetic stimulus. At higher frequencies of visual surround oscillation, the dogs' position changes lagged the optokinetic stimulus position by larger amounts as the frequency of motion got higher. These data showing a postural reaction due to motion of the optokinetic stimulus demonstrate a strong visual component of the postural control system.


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