If you can't already tell, I have a fascination for eyes and vision. I remember going to the Optometrist office for the first time and donning my first pair of Harry Potter glasses (before Harry made them popular) - instant clarity. Yeah, science and technology is pretty magical.
The Camera Culture team at MIT's Media Lab evolved a holographic technology tech into a $2 box that refracts the image displayed on a smartphone screen. When combined with an app that displays a set of dots and lines, the user can manipulate the image until things look to be perfectly aligned. Once complete, the app spits out a prescription and you're just a quick trip to your local mall-based eyeglasses joint away from perfect vision. The goal is to make it easier for optometrists in developing countries to quickly and easily find glasses for people, but an app that could save a trip to the doctor's office is a wonderful thing regardless of where you are. [Engadget, via VizWorld]
The technology and approach is amazing, but optometrists are more than just "vision doctors", but rather gateway physicians. Surprisingly, patients are often referred to their primary care physician because there are noticeable changes in the eye that can cause some red flags to raise (see the Mobilife project). Both the white part (bulbar conjunctiva) of the eye and back (retina) are able to show different vascular diseases pretty well.
The technology and approach is amazing, but optometrists are more than just "vision doctors", but rather gateway physicians. Surprisingly, patients are often referred to their primary care physician because there are noticeable changes in the eye that can cause some red flags to raise (see the Mobilife project). Both the white part (bulbar conjunctiva) of the eye and back (retina) are able to show different vascular diseases pretty well.
So, as clear as you may able to see, go schedule an appointment =) How's that for an advertisement?
