Ask Slashdot: How to Exploit Post-Cataract Ultraviolet Vision?

xmas2003 writes "I recently had cataract surgery with a Crystalens implant. With my cloudy yellowing (UV-filtering) natural lens removed, I see the world in a new light (more on that in a moment) as everything is brighter and colors are more vivid ... plus in focus. As a typical Slashdot reader, I've been myopic since childhood, so it's wonderful not to have to wear glasses/contacts for distance. One interesting oddity is that I can now see ultraviolet light — it seems that there are a few people who have photoreceptors sensitive below 400nm into the UV spectrum. I've done some testing with a Black Light and UV filter to confirm this but would love to do more conclusive testing such as using a Monochromator — anyone in the Boulder, Colorado area have access to one? And any suggestions from Slashdot readers on how I can further explore this phenomenon? While I can't see dead people, I guess I have a 'superpower' ... although I'm not sure a middle-aged suburbanite dad should don purple tights and cape to become a crime-fighter!"

Comments

Dangerous

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't go out of your way to expose your eyes to UV!

Re:Dangerous

[jamesh]

Then again, remember that sunlight contains lots of UV light, so those levels are fine (except if you're a basement dweller)

Except that the filter that prevents the UV reaching the back of his eyeball is now gone... There is probably a good reason why you have that filter there in the first place!

Re:List of ideas.

[Joce640k]

3. Use this ability for a stealth motion detector. If a robber can't see in the dark, but you can, this would be a advantage.

That would be infra-red, not UV...

Re:First step (or post)

[Baloroth]

That would be tetrachromats, who can see richer colors (the fourth cone is somewhere between red and green) but not ultraviolet. It is however extremely rare. Totally different phenomenon AFAIK, and girls can have it due to having two X chromosomes. I've never heard of humans seeing into ultraviolet, but I suppose it is possible.

Re:First step (or post)

[Z8]

That wikipedia article you linked to said that the new type of cone that some women may have "lies between the standard red and green cones". It has nothing to do with seeing ultraviolet.