Eye Didn't Know!

Happy Birthday Abe!

Did you know? There is a story about Abraham Lincoln seeing his ghost while looking into a mirror from his bed, shortly after being elected in 1860. By studying numerous photographs and portraits of Lincoln, ophthalmologists have determined that Lincoln had a weakness of a muscle in his left eye (the trochlea), which made the eye unable to look downward in certain positions, including when trying to look into a mirror from a supine position. This would explain his double vision during the incident. Others have ascribed this story to a mirror having two reflecting surfaces, but I find that less convincing.

Did you also know? Physicians say there’s a 50/50 chance that Lincoln had Marfan’s Syndrome, which causes elongation of the hands and jaw during adulthood, due to an excess of human growth hormone. (Marfan's Syndrome can also can dislocation of the lens within the eye).

photo courtesy wikimedia commons

Happy Birthday Louis Braille

Did you know? Louis Braille (1809–1852), invented the braille system of writing for the blind and visually impaired. Braille became blind at age four when he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father's awl. This caused inflammation and eventual blindness in the other eye as well, a condition called sympathetic ophthalmia. Braille's system uses six raised dots to represent letters of the alphabet. Later he extended the system for use in music and mathematics.

Did you also know? The Braille Institute of America is a private, non–profit organization whose mission is "to eliminate blindness and severe sight loss as a barrier to a fulfilling life."

Edgar Degas

Happy birthday, Edgar Degas!

Did you know? Famed impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917) progressively lost his vision, although we do not know the exact cause. At age 36 he first noticed a central blind spot, which gradually grew larger. He was very sensitive to sunlight, and usually painted indoor subjects. He found that using pastels was much easier than mixing oils, which required better identification of colors. When his vision deteriorated further, he turned to sculpture and photography (!) to continue his artistic pursuits. Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum has a huge collection of Degas' work, including excellent examples of work before and after his vision loss.

Did you also know? Degas lived with relatives in New Orleans during 1872-3. His house is now a lovely bed and breakfast and museum, which I highly recommend visiting.

pastel circa 1885:

pastel circa 1895:

(all images courtesy wikimedia commons)

Happy Birthday George!

Did you know? During our Revolutionary War, George Washington faced a mutiny by the officers of the Continental Army. During a confrontation with these officers, he tried to read an important letter to them but was unable to until he reached for his new reading glasses. (Washington was 51 at the time). He stated: "Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find my self growing blind." At the sight of their leader needing reading glasses the audience was overcome with emotion and the mutiny was avoided.

Did you also know? There is not yet any perfect surgery to correct presbyopia, which is the stiffening of the lens which causes a need for reading glasses. Many options are being tried, though, including reshaping the cornea with radio waves to make one eye more nearsighted, (conductive keratoplasty, or CK), reshaping to cornea with a laser to emulate progressive eyeglass lenses (PresbyLasik), or removing the stiff natural lens and implanting a multifocal or accomodating intraocular lens.