Gadgets for Eyeglasses

Remember Geordi La Forge' eyeglasses on Star Trek: Next Generation? Blind since birth, Geordi is able to see through his VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ replacement.) Modern technology is not quite there yet but more digital enhancements may soon be available in an eye wear store near you.

Hearing aids have long been embedded on eyeglass temples. TriSpecs has come out with sunglasses having MP3, Bluetooth technology and headphones on the eye wear temples. Vuzix boasts of its iWearAV920 model of video eyeglasses which connects an iPod through a USB drive right in the glass temple allowing for movie or video viewing on the eyeglasses. Sony has also come out with its own version of this video eye wear. Another futuristic innovation is NEC's invention of the translator eye wear. The gadget called the Tele Scouter is a pair of eyeglasses without the lenses. Software translates the spoken word picked up by headphones on the eyeglasses and projects the translation right into the wearer's retina much like a movie subtitle.

Scientists continue to work on technology to aid the visually impaired. Soon Star Trek's Geordi LaForge VISOR may be around the corner. It can happen. It will happen.

Don't Forget the Sun Glasses

Summertime is outdoors time. Whether you are sun tanning in the back porch, going to the beach, hiking or just taking a walk, don't forget the sun glasses. The eyes are just as vulnerable to the effects of the sun's rays as the skin.

Sun radiation comes in the form of ultraviolet rays and high energy visible rays. The ozone layer filters most of these radiations but enough do escape into the earth to cause damage to the skin and eyes.

There are three types of ultraviolet rays (UV) all of which have the potential to cause skin and eye damage.

• Ultraviolet A is a low energy radiation which can penetrate the cornea and reach the retina. Long term UVA exposure can cause cataracts and sometimes, macular degeneration, a disorder of the retina.
• Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a longer wave length. Although filtered by the ozone layer, enough radiation reach the earth to cause eye damage. UVB can burn the cornea, a condition known as photokeratitis. Snow blindness is an example of photokeratitis and is a risk especially in high altitude.
• Ultraviolet C (UVC) has the longest wave length and the greatest potential to cause UV damage. Fortunately, the ozone layer blocks this effectively and little escapes into the earth surface.

High energy visible radiation (HEV) or blue light is another type of sun radiation. It has the potential to damage the retina on prolonged exposure.

The eyes can be protected from harmful solar exposure by:

• wearing a wide brimmed hat.
• wearing sun glasses that block UV and HEV rays 100 percent
• limiting sun exposure

Remember, children and infants have delicate eyes and should have sun protection. They, too, need sun glasses that block sun rays 100 percent.

Enjoy the outdoors but don't forget the sun glasses.