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“It is a very important and very sophisticated step in the direction towards the artificial eye”. Roberto Cingolani, scientific director of the Iit (Italian Institute of Technology) does not use many words to describe his “light sensor”. It is an artificial retina, consisting of a thin layer of carbonium, capable of recognizing colours like the human eye.

“It is not yet an artificial eye - explains Congolani - because it lacks the lenses and the connection to the human brain. But according to me within 10 years we will have the artificial eye.”.

The novelty of of the invention resides in the use of molecular materials that have the same structure of biological tissues. “In difference with the silicon-based vision system - explains Cingolani - this new system is more flexible and potentially more compatible with the human eye, in the case of a transplantation”.

The “light sensor” is the first invention made by the new Iit located in Genova. Only yesterday it has deposited its new invention.

Awaiting the artificial eye the Iit invention has other immediate applications. “Possible short-term applications - explains Cingolani - are the realization of a “color meter” (instrument to measure colours with precision), with the possible use in the paint and photographic industry. In the medium and long term, instead, the invention may be applied for retina treatments and the realization of an artificial eye for humanoid robots”.

(Source: Apcom of 26 July 2006)

Usa, researchers at the University of Stanford have developed a new tissue that retains water, does not accumulate deposits and avoids infections.

A new tissue developed by scientists at the Californian University of Stanford might give hope to those who wait for a cornea transplant. “Duoptix” imitates the natural tissue and is mostly made of water because it retains 80% of liquids almost like natural tissue. Presented at the national congress of the American Chemical Society, the tissue is a “hydrogel”, i.e., a polimer, and may become an alternative to the transplantation of a human cornea.

“Duoptix” consits of two types of hydrogel. As all wearers of contact lenses know, after a while the lenses become opaque and cause infections when worn too often. One of these hydrogels is therefore resistant to proteine accumulation and infections. Another inconvience with contact lenses is the dryness of the eyes but the second hydrogel of which “Duoptix” is composed is made of poliacrilic acids, very similar to to the absorbing material used in diapers and retains liquids like a biological tissue.

Curtis W. Frank, chemical engineer who has created Duoptix, describes the material as: “Think of a fishnet but three-dimensional, resistant and flexible.” The important thing is that “Duoptix” can be surgically sewn, the hydrogels are transparent and permeable to the substances that feed the cornea, like glucosium. The syntetic disc, with a hole in the center, very porous, made of Duoptix does not replace the cornea but is used as a base for the migration of epitelial cells which will connect the natural tissues of the eye to the biotech tissues.

Since decennia scientists attempt to build artificial cornea for transplantation purposes but till now all tissues did not avoid infections around the implantation area and the accumulation of deposits on the chemical material. The researchers have tested Duoptix in animals with satisfying results, none of the animals have developed infections and the tissues have remained transparent.

Source: La Repubblica of 12 September 2006

Too much physical exercise can cause a transitory pressure increase in the eye and favour the formation of glaucoma. This confirms a study published in the September edition of Archives of Ophthalmology.

The authors of this study, guided by Geraldo Magela Vieira of the Institute of Specialized Ophthalmology of the Catholic University of Brasilia, started from the shared assumption that physical exercise aerobics as well as anaerobics in general reduce the pressure in the eye bulb in proportion with the effort. When the purpose of these excercises is to reduce weight it may happen that the pressure increases if measured with the Manovra of Valsalva.

Vieira and his colleagues recluted 30 voluntiers, male of age between 18 and 40 in perfect health; the participants were monitored while doing their usual exercises. Pressure was initially measured at the right eye while the volonteers held their breath while doing abdominal exercises; a second measurement was taken of the left eye while they breathed normally.

The measurement of the right eye showed an increase of 90%; this increase, sustain the authors, coul be caused by the increased air pressure in the lungs. The authors have noted also that some types of glaucoma are more common in subjects with frequently changing eye bulb pressure.

“A too intensive and prolongued physical exercise intended to lose weight in a drastic way could be a potential risk factor for the development or the progression of glaucomas, subjects that suffer of this eye pahtology should avoid certain physical exercises”, say the authors.

Source: Yahoo! Salute of 12 September 2006 (Emanuele Grasso)

Precise norms (Italian law 626/94) indicate the measures of prevention to guarantee the safety at the work place and the health of the workers when using video terminals. Computers do not cause the insurgence of myopia and other eyesight alterations but does highlight eyesight flaws that already exist.
After hours in front of the screen the eyes tire and disturbances appear like rash, tearing, fuzzy vision, etc…
“Eyesight problems and the related symptoms are frequent for videoscreen operators and the level of discomfort seems to increase with time in front of the screen” explains optometrist Rossella Fonte, University Milano Bicocca. “To prevent eyesight conditions and ergonomics that may favour the Syndrome of Eyesight at the computer (headache, double vision, colour distorsion) one should subject oneself to complete optometric analysis before or immediately after beginnig such an activity and then periodically”.
To limit eye fatigue it may be useful to stop looking at close objects and to focus on something far away, close the eyes for a couple of minutes. Some useful exercises are turning the head from one side to the other and to “lengthen” the neck, relax the arms.
Eye fatigue depends mostly of a bad illumination of the environment and the workplace:
- too much light;
- reflections on shiny surfaces;
- direct light coming from unscreened windows;
- sources of light positioned at the front or behind the video.

Di Annamaria Messa

Source: Salute di Repubblica (15/09/2006)