Environmental effects on human vision

Environmental effects (?) on Human vision:

        One of my friends who is originally from middle east came to America 5
years ago. But, after less than a year, he gradually became near-sighted. His
vision back in his original habitat was normal.  I have asked different
physicians for possible explanations, but none know.  

        One reason (?) may be change in environment, and therefore the
environmental factors acting on organic/sense systems. I suspect changes in
nutrition, geography, health factors, and/or possible psycho-social behavior.
But, I cannot think of how or with what specific mechanisms and/or factors can
environment effect vision to a such great degree to cause near-sightedness.

        If any of you readers know or know some source of help for explaining
this change (medical fact books, individuals, doctors,…), please contact me
by this medium. [p8064...@Edinboro.edu]

13 Responses to “Environmental effects on human vision”

  1. admin says:

    In article <27…@ttidca.TTI.COM> hollo…@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath) writes:
    >In article <4…@edinboro.edu> p8064…@edinboro.edu writes:
    >}
    >}   One of my friends who is originally from middle east came to America 5
    >}years ago. But, after less than a year, he gradually became near-sighted. …
    >}       One reason (?) may be change in environment, …

    >How old is your friend?  The pairing of his change of vision with change
    >of environment may be purely conicidental.  My vision began deteriorating
    >at about age 40, with no change in environment at all.  Likewise for
    >many other people.

    It could also be that, for the first time, he was working in conditions
    that made him notice the limitations of his vision.  I believe this is
    the explanation for most of the "My computer ruined my eyes" stories.


    ——————————————————-
    Michael A. Covington | Artificial Intelligence Programs
    The University of Georgia  |  Athens, GA 30602   U.S.A.
    mcovi…@aisun1.ai.uga.edu      mcovi…@uga.cc.uga.edu

  2. admin says:

    In article <4…@edinboro.edu> p8064…@edinboro.edu writes:
    }Environmental effects (?) on Human vision:
    }
    }       One of my friends who is originally from middle east came to America 5
    }years ago. But, after less than a year, he gradually became near-sighted. …
    }       One reason (?) may be change in environment, …

    How old is your friend?  The pairing of his change of vision with change
    of environment may be purely conicidental.  My vision began deteriorating
    at about age 40, with no change in environment at all.  Likewise for
    many other people.


    The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollo…@ttidca.tti.com)
    Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
    3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (213) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in ’92!
    Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe

  3. admin says:

    In a message of <Jul 22 20:39>, p8064…@edinboro.edu (1:114/15) writes:

     p>From: p8064…@edinboro.edu

     p>        One of my friends who is originally from middle east came to
     p>America 5
     p>years ago. But, after less than a year, he gradually became
     p>near-sighted. His
     p>vision back in his original habitat was normal.  I have asked different
     p>physicians for possible explanations, but none know.  

    He may be experiencing something called pseudomyopia. The exact cause is not
    certain. What is certain is that it exists and can be especially severe in
    young adults. A cycloplegic refraction (which paralyzes the focussing
    mechanism) can rule this out. Sometimes it is precipitated by stress
    especially when a lot of reading is involved.

    Leo Bores, M.D.

    –  
    Uucp: …{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!15.25!Leo.Bores
    Internet: Leo.Bo…@p25.f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org

  4. admin says:

    Pseudomyopia… you mean the eye accommodates and won’t go back?
    Interesting. Tell us more…

    ——————————————————-
    Michael A. Covington | Artificial Intelligence Programs
    The University of Georgia  |  Athens, GA 30602   U.S.A.
    mcovi…@aisun1.ai.uga.edu      mcovi…@uga.cc.uga.edu

  5. admin says:

    Along these lines, what would happen if a normally functioning person
    took L-dopa?  My gut feeling is nothing, but if L-dopa promotes dopamine
    uptake (right?), I guess it could have some kind of stimulatory effect…
    Anyone?

    Louis Koziarz
    University of Illinois

  6. admin says:

    In article <1991Jul22.170226.23…@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> lnk10…@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Louis Koziarz) writes:
    >Along these lines, what would happen if a normally functioning person
    >took L-dopa?  My gut feeling is nothing, but if L-dopa promotes dopamine
    >uptake (right?), I guess it could have some kind of stimulatory effect…
    >Anyone?

    Ingestion of l-DOPA would probably cause nausea and vomiting.
    I doubt you’d get any kind of a stimulatory effect.

    l-DOPA doesn’t promote dopamine uptake (whatever that is);
    l-DOPA is converted to dopamine in the periphery and in
    the central nervous system.


    Steve Dyer
    d…@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
    d…@arktouros.mit.edu

  7. admin says:

    Wow! that’s pretty bizarre, to use ephedrine HCL
    as a sobering-up drug. I used to get more of a buzz
    off popping ephedrine that off drinking booze, and
    i certainly would -never- drive a car when taking
    ephedrine. we used to use it as a speed (amphetamine)
    substitute (after all, it’s perfectly legal OTC drug,
    right? *grin*) during final exams and all-nighters.
    Some of my friends and I also noticed that we had
    more energy and less appetite when we tookit too. I
    can’t imagine using the stuff to "come down" from
    being trashed on alcohol – ephedrine or alcohol alone
    got me trashed enough, never mind combining them!
    I think this is a crazy idea!

    Mari

  8. admin says:

    In article <8…@spdcc.SPDCC.COM>, d…@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) writes:
    > l-DOPA doesn’t promote dopamine uptake (whatever that is);

                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    Steve, re-uptake is the process where a chemical is taken back into the
    presynaptic nerve terminal via an active transport pump. This can occur after
    the chemical is metabolized (neurotransmitter in this case) or while it is
    still biologically active.

    L-Dopa is the product of an amino acid L-Tyrosine, which is very plentiful in
    our diets. Its is important to know the following biochemistry of L-Tyrosine:

    L-Tyrosine –> L-Dopa –> Norepinephrine –> Epinephrine

    (I would give the specific enzymes but I think that’s a bit out of the scope of
    the discussion).

    Hope this helps,

    Tony
    +————————————————————————-+
    |Anthony Paul Schliesser                        GRX0…@UOFT02.UTOLEDO.EDU|
    |The University of Toledo                       GRX0…@UOFT02.BITNET     |
    |College of Pharmacy                            FAC2…@UOFT01.UTOLEDO.EDU|
    |                                               FAC2…@UOFT01.BITNET     |
    +————————————————————————-+

  9. admin says:

    I doubt it. A friend of a friend used to take it and thought it made
    him sober up so he could drive. He ended up one night driveing around a
    corner straight into a truck because he couldn’t control his turn on
    a perfectly easy corner. I think it turns you into a very alert
    drunk.


    John Collier                            Email: Coll…@HPS.unimelb.edu.au
    HPS — University of Melbourne            jcoll…@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au
    Parkville, Victoria, AUSTRALIA 3052     Fax:   61+3 344 7959

  10. admin says:

            I am in the process of getting ready to make a plaster cast
            of my body for a craft purpose.  I’ve checked into plaster
            tape and have decided its a bit too expensive for me right
            now…  Does anyone have a recommendation on how to make
            a plaster cast using powdered plaster of paris and guaze?
            Should I grease my body with a oil for easy removal?
            Is it easy to cut with household shears?
            Do you think cheesecloth would work instead of gauze?
            How quickly does the plaster dry? And should I do it in
            batches.?
            The finished cast will be from mid-thigh to up around my
            neck and the upper parts of my arms…

            Any info would greatly be appreaciated!

            Thanks in advance

            Susan R.

  11. admin says:

    In article <1991Aug12.134422.7…@mlb.semi.harris.com> s…@gumbee.mlb.semi.harris.com (Susan Richmond) writes:

    >    I am in the process of getting ready to make a plaster cast
    >    of my body for a craft purpose.  I’ve checked into plaster
    >    tape and have decided its a bit too expensive for me right
    >    now…  Does anyone have a recommendation on how to make

    Buy a cheap pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt, 2-3 rolls of duct tape,
    and have a friend wrap you up in duct tape with about 2-5 layers everywhere.
    The tape/glue/fabric composite will be fairly stiff.  When you are done,
    have your friends cut you out, then insert crumpled up newspaper for
    filling, and tape the cut back up.  This method is effective, and costs
    less than $30.  I have seen this done a few times, but if you do this
    in front of an audience, remember to wear something underneath the
    sacrificed sweatpants/shirt…

    -Tom

  12. admin says:

    In article <1991Aug12.134422.7…@mlb.semi.harris.com> s…@gumbee.mlb.semi.harris.com (Susan Richmond) writes:

    }
    }       I am in the process of getting ready to make a plaster cast
    }       of my body for a craft purpose.  I’ve checked into plaster
    }       tape and have decided its a bit too expensive for me right
    }       now…  Does anyone have a recommendation on how to make
    }       a plaster cast using powdered plaster of paris and guaze?

    Interesting to speculate on why this request was posted to alt.drugs…

    Let’s see if we can follow the thought-trail….

    Alt.drugs–>Drugs—>Rock&Roll—>RockStars—>Plaster Casting!!!!

    Obviously looking for those with expertise in the area.

    Lance

    Lance T. Franklin            +———————————————-+
    (l…@ncmicro.lonestar.org)   | "You want I should bop you with this here    |
    NC Microproducts, Inc.       |    Lollipop?!?"                 The Fat Fury |
    Richardson, Texas            +———————————————-+

  13. admin says:

    In article <1991Aug12.134422.7…@mlb.semi.harris.com>, s…@gumbee.mlb.semi.harris.com (Susan Richmond) writes:

    >    I am in the process of getting ready to make a plaster cast
    >    of my body for a craft purpose.  I’ve checked into plaster
    >    tape and have decided its a bit too expensive for me right
    >    now…  Does anyone have a recommendation on how to make
    >    a plaster cast using powdered plaster of paris and guaze?
    >    Should I grease my body with a oil for easy removal?
    >    Is it easy to cut with household shears?
    >    Do you think cheesecloth would work instead of gauze?
    >    How quickly does the plaster dry? And should I do it in
    >    batches.?
    >    The finished cast will be from mid-thigh to up around my
    >    neck and the upper parts of my arms…

    >    Any info would greatly be appreaciated!

    Covering in excess of 75% of your body surface area with an exothermic
    chemical reaction is not compatible with getting older. The same goes
    for not being able to breath as the plaster sets. Working in sections
    might mitigate these problems somewhat, but I’d look for alternatives.

    Seek guidance from a theatrical department’s technical people. They use
    some kind of polymer for this. Consider paper-mache. Price a used
    mannequin or dress-maker’s form.

    Plaster doesn’t cut well with shears. When cutting a cast, there’s no
    real substitute for a cast saw (which uses a reciprocal blade motion)
    and experience. A cast is separated from the skin not by oil but by
    carefully-layered, thick, spongy cast padding over which the plaster is
    applied. Making your own cast material from gauze (or cheescloth) and
    powdered plaster of Paris is probably unrealistic.

    Sorry to be so negative, but htis is not a trivial undertaking.

    John, jmatth…@desire.wright.edu