Eye Didn't Know!

Happy Birthday, Georgia O'Keeffe

Did you know? American artist Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) lived to age 99, and was active artistically until she died. At age 77, however, she was diagnosed with severe macular degeneration in each eye. Shortly thereafter, she had a vascular occlusion ot the retina in one eye, which damaged her vision even further. In her 80s she tried using an assistant to paint, but this was not successful! With her vision failing, she then turned to pottery.

Did you also know? If you visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, be sure to visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. And even if you are not a fan of her art, I highly recommend the O'Keeffe Cafe next door!

photo of O'Keeffe by Steiglitz, Wikimedia Commons

Happy Birthday, Claude Monet

Did you know? Claude Monet (1840-1926) was the quintessential impressionist. His 1873 painting, Impression: Sunrise, gave the movement its name.

At age 68 Monet noticed that his vision was deteriorating, and his ability to handle colors was worsening. He destroyed some of his later works because of this. At age 72 he received a diagnosis of cataracts. He sought the opinion of no fewer than six Paris ophthalmologists. He was deathly afraid of cataract surgery.

His paintings in these later years lost more and more detail--not because his art was becoming abstract, but because he couldn't see!

At age 82 he could only detect light in his right eye, and could barely see the top of the eye chart in his left eye. At age 83 he consented to cataract surgery in his right eye. He did not have surgery in his left eye. This made vision difficult. There were no lens implants then, so he needed thick glasses for his operated eye to see, but the two eyes could not work together.

At age 86 he died of lung cancer and emphysema.

Did you also know? A cataract occurs as the natural lens within the eye becomes cloudy, usually due to age. Fortunately cataract surgery today is remarkably successful, and cataracts as advanced as Monet's are rarely seen in this country.

James Thurber

Did you know? Humorist and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber (1894-1961) lost his right eye as a child when it was shot with an arrow. His left eye suffered repeated bouts of inflammation throughout his life, leading to gradually worsening vision. He used a very large easel to draw his cartoons until giving them up at age 57. He continued to write, dictating his stories to a secretary.

Did you also know? Losing one eye does not cause vision loss in the other eye from “overuse.” However, a traumatic injury to one eye can cause the body to form antibodies to eye tissue, causing inflammation in the other eye. This was common in the Civil War, and in Thurbur’s time, but is very unusual today with better treatments.

"Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?" James Thurber, cartoon caption, 1939.

Visual Migraines

Did you know? Many people occasionally suffer from the visual phenomena of migraines without the accompanying headache? These phenomena often take the form of jagged, or zig-zag lines, sparkling lights, or prismatic effects. They usually last about 20 minutes or so, and can be accompanied by a blind spot. If someone has one for the first time, it can be quite unnerving, and often I see patients in my office describing these symptoms. As long as they don’t suddenly increase in frequency, they rarely indicate more serious medical problems.

Did you also know? Since at least the middles ages, artists have recorded the visual effects of migraines. Recently, art competitions have emerged to give modern-day artists an outlet for their migraine-inspired artwork.