Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Vitreous Floaters and PhD updates


Fraser River, BC (photo from trekearth.com)

Restoration Why Later
I had the vitrectomy and lens replacement please see section D of post above.

June 21, 2012

Vitreous Floaters update

In my August archives one can find my article entitled ‘Vitreous Floaters’. My floaters have nothing to do with cancer.
http://www.diseasesdatabase.com/umlsdef.asp?glngUserChoice=31270
Vitreous floaters:
"A blurry spot that appears to float around in the eye but does not block vision. The blur is the result of debris from the vitreous humour casting a shadow on the retina."
Source: National Cancer Institute Thesaurus, 2006_03D

Vitreous floaters:
"Floaters; spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor or lens."

Source: National Cancer Institute Thesaurus, 2006_03D

I have visited several eye surgeons here in the Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver) and my local surgeon/ophthalmologist provided the reference in order that I could go ahead and pursue a vitrectomy from a surgeon in Vancouver, as my local surgeon/ophthalmologist does not perform a vitrectomy.
http://www.stlukeseye.com/Surgical/Vitrectomy.asp
Vitrectomy

Overview

The vitreous is a normally clear, gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye. It makes up approximately 2/3 of the eye's volume, giving it form and shape before birth. Certain problems affecting the back of the eye may require a vitrectomy, or surgical removal of the vitreous. After a vitrectomy, the vitreous is replaced as the eye secretes aqueous and nutritive fluids.

A vitrectomy may be performed to clear blood and debris from the eye, to remove scar tissue, or to alleviate traction on the retina. Blood, inflammatory cells, debris, and scar tissue obscure light as it passes through the eye to the retina, resulting in blurred vision. The vitreous is also removed if it is pulling or tugging the retina from its normal position.


I visited with the surgeon in Vancouver and he stated that there was a 5-10% chance of retinal detachment from a vitrectomy since I have an amblyopic (weak eye) right eye. Retinal detachment is defined below.
http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/retinaldetach/index.asp
What is retinal detachment?The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position. If not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss.
In some cases there may be small areas of the retina that are torn. These areas, called retinal tears or retinal breaks, can lead to retinal detachment.

Since there is significant chance of detachment by a medical definition, I was asked to get a second opinion from the surgeon across the hall in the Vancouver office. I went yesterday and this slightly more experienced surgeon/ophthalmologist stated there was a 15% chance of a retinal detachment since my right eye, which has the more serious floaters, is amblyopic. This doctor stated that 95% of the time a retinal detachment can be fixed, but I know that things are always different after a surgery, and the eye would not be exactly like it was prior to having floaters. He stated categorically, unlike any of the other surgeons I have visited, that the floaters in both eyes will all eventually sink below my line of sight. I had read that floaters can sink below the line of sight, and he agreed with my suggestion that in ten years that floaters would not be seen anymore. He stated that the vitreous jell shrinks and the floaters will therefore sink below my sight line, in particular in my myopic (near sighted), amblyopic (weak eye) sooner than in my 20 vision left eye. The right eye has by far more floaters, and previously had a large clump in it, which was destroyed by Dr. Scott Geller in Fort Myers, Florida with a YAG laser.
http://www.vitreousfloaters.com/

If this doctor with the second opinion is correct, I am seriously considering holding off on surgeries and I will continue to wear dark sun glasses as I work on the computer (now) and when I am outside, which I do because of light sensitivity anyway. I can see over the next year or so if things improve. There is another consideration as a vitrectomy leads to a cataract, which is a clouding of the lens. A lens replacement with my myopic, amblyopic eye is possible, but the question is how much increased or decreased double vision will there be with a new lens. I will visit the cataract surgeon soon.

PhD update

I received good news today. I was without an academic advisor for 8-9 months, as my original advisor changed jobs. Today, Wales sent me a letter stating that I received a 12 month extension from the last day of this year. This is excellent as I now probably have three months work to do in thirteen months, but trust me I am going to try hard to get it done in three months.

I would be interested in reading comments and entering discussion, in regard to the chart below. But of course feel free to comment on other blog related topics.
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/christianity_judaism.htm

History & Stats
Christianity
Judaism
date founded
c. 30 AD
c. 1300 BC
place founded
Palestine
Palestine
founders & early leaders
Jesus, Peter, Paul
Abraham, Moses
original languages
Aramaic and Greek
Hebrew
major location today
Europe, North and South America
Europe, Israel, North America
adherents worldwide today
2 billion
14 million
adherents in USA
159 million
5.6 million
adherents in Canada
21 million
350,000
adherents in UK
51 million
320,000
current size rank
largest
12th largest
major branches
Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
Religious Authority
Christianity
Judaism
sacred text
Bible = Old Testament (Jewish Bible) + New Testament
Tanakh (Jewish Bible)
inspiration of sacred text
views vary: literal word of God, inspired human accounts, or of human origin only
views vary: inspired human accounts or of human origin only
status of biblical prophets
true prophets
true prophets
status of Jewish Bible
canonical
canonical
status of Jewish Apocrypha
canonical (Catholic);
useful but noncanonical (Protestant)
noncanonical but useful
status of New Testament
canonical
noncanonical, not useful
other written authority
church fathers, church councils, ecumenical creeds (all branches);
papal decrees, canon law (Catholic)
Talmud, halakhah
modern human authorities
pope (Catholic);
each Christian with aid of Holy Spirit (Protestant)
rabbis
summaries of doctrine
Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed
13 Articles of Faith
Beliefs & Doctrine
Christianity
Judaism
ultimate reality
one God, Jehovah, the God of Abraham
one God, Jehovah, the God of Abraham
nature of God
Trinity - one substance, three persons
unity - one substance, one person
other spiritual beings
angels and demons
angels and demons
revered humans
saints, church fathers
prophets
identity of Jesus
Son of God, God incarnate, savior of the world
false prophet
birth of Jesus
virgin birth
normal birth
death of Jesus
death by crucifixion
death by crucifixion
resurrection of Jesus
affirmed
denied
second coming of Jesus
affirmed
denied
divine revelation
through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in Bible
through Prophets, recorded in Bible
human nature
"original sin" inherited from Adam - tendency towards evil
two equal impulses, one good and one bad
means of salvation
correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (some Protestants emphasize faith alone)
belief in God, good deeds
God's role in salvation
predestination, various forms of grace
divine revelation and forgiveness
good afterlife
eternal heaven
views vary: either heaven or no afterlife
bad afterlife
eternal hell, temporary purgatory (Catholicism)
views vary: either eternal Gehenna, reincarnation, or no afterlife
view of the other religion
Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation.
Christianity is a false interpretation of Judaism.
Rituals & Practices
Christianity
Judaism
house of worship
church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, meeting hall
synagogue, temple, schul
religious leaders
priest, bishop, archbishop, patriarch, pope, pastor, minister, preacher, deacon
rabbi, rebbe
sacred rituals
sacraments
mitzvot (commandments)
major sacred rituals
baptism, communion (Eucharist)
observing Sabbath, wearing tallit and tefilin, prayer services
head covered during prayer?
generally no
generally yes (especially men)
central religious holy days
Lent, Holy Week, Easter
Yom Kippur, Days of Awe, Passover
other holidays
Christmas, saints days
Chanukah, Purim
major symbols
cross, crucifix, dove, anchor, fish, alpha and omega, chi rho, halo
Star of David, chai, hamsa, tree

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2007/11/busted-unlike-beckham.html