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Followup: Ultraviolet Vision After Cataract Surgery

Posted by timothy on from the sounds-like-a-fun-upgrade dept.

xmas2003 writes "Several months ago, I posted to Slashdot about being able to see ultraviolet light after cataract surgery. While a lot of the discussion whimsically discussed the best way for 'Captain UV' or 'UltraMan' to use this 'super-power,' there were some people who were skeptical or (incorrectly) said this is Tetrachromatic vision. I've subsequently done more testing using an Oriel Instruments MS257 Monochromator and was able to see color down to 350nm — below the usual ~400nm limit of the visual spectrum. It's also easily demonstrable with a pair of 400nm and 365nm UV flashlights. Some readers who also have UV vision commented this can be quite annoying at black-lit Disney Rides, Halloween Haunted Houses, etc. Fortunately for me, it's just an interesting oddity so far. Along those lines, some interesting related stories about using UV vision during World War II and Star Gazing. Finally, many/most people end up getting vision debilitating cataracts, so my experience having a Crystalens implanted after cataract surgery may be informative."

9 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can you see through clothes?

    1. Re:Cool by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Difficulty seeing in a high-UV environment would be the least of my worries. If I found myself suddenly able to see UV, I'd be more worried about the increased risk of getting cancer of the optic nerve.

      Because UV is generally considered to be moderately dangerous, I would argue that this is a design flaw in the replacement lenses, and an easily fixable flaw at that. Until the manufacturer realizes their mistake, you should always wear a pair of clear glasses or sunglasses with a UV-opaque coating (on the outside) and an anti-glare coating (on the inside) to reduce the risk of permanent damage to your eyes.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  2. Can you read this? by Pirulo · · Score: 5, Funny



    If you can't read the line above. Then you don't have UV vision.

    1. Re:Can you read this? by jank1887 · · Score: 5, Funny

      rickrolled again. well played sir.

  3. human eye lenses are naturally yellow/brown by waterbear · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seeing UV after cataract surgery proabbly isn't a 'tetrachromic' effect. Human eye lenses are naturally yellow at birth, browner as we get older, browner still and they start being called 'cataracts'. They filter out the UV at any age. So the retina never usually gets a chance to try out its UV-seeing ability using its basic trichromatic receptor kit.

    -wb-

  4. Try Some Astronomy by Iskender · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The relatively bright star Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris) is actually the brightest star in the sky in UV light. Of course you don't have pure UV vision but rather just a bit more UV bias.

    However, since you seem to enjoy an experiment I suggest going somewhere where at least the brightest stars are visible, and comparing relative brightnesses between stars with a person with average vision.

    Some background and a chart for Adhara below. It's close to Sirius which in turn is easy to find by using the belt of Orion.
    http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/adhara.html
    http://www.rocketmime.com/astronomy/fig/CanisMajor_wAdhara.gif

  5. Quite the write-up by Lev13than · · Score: 5, Funny

    That was an amazingly detailed and quite interesting write up - I found the numerous close-up photos and descriptions quite informative. Based on your proclivity for detail I am very glad that you suffered from cataracts and not colorectal polyips.

    --
    When you have nothing left to burn you must set yourself on fire
  6. My brother can see infrared by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A few years back my brother (who was about 14 at the time) got a Wii and was having trouble getting the controller to work. I was troubleshooting with him over the phone and asked him if the sensor bar was plugged in and he responded "I think so, no wait it's not. The light's not on." I asked him what light? The only lights on the Wii sensor bar are the infrared lights. He said he knew that, but they weren't on. Apparently he can barely see infrared light. I did some tests with some remote controls that do not light up when pressing the buttons and would ask him to tell me when I press the button. Not very scientific I know, but it was enough for me to prove that he does indeed see something. He can see the lights on remote controls, night security cameras, and of course the Wii sensor bar. They all appear very faint, but over Christmas I got him some cheap toy night vision goggles which apparently use infrared LED's and it was bright enough in a very dark room to act as a flashlight for him.

  7. Re:Come back... by Charliemopps · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I had the same problem until I was in my mid-tweties. I could hear VERY high frequency sound. The ear doctors equipment tested me all the way up to the limit of his testing equipment. I could "hear" when the headlights were turned on in a car. I could hear radio towers when we drove by them. It was so high pitched it was more like I felt the noise than heard it, it was very hard for me to pin-point the source, it was not very "Directional"

    But then, some time when I was around the age of 23, I went to a Motorhead concert. It cured me. I couldn't hear AT ALL for 2 days after the show, but after the ringing finally subsided I had normal hearing. Thank you Lemmy.