Ask Slashdot: How to Exploit Post-Cataract Ultraviolet Vision?

xmas2003 writes "I recently had cataract surgery with a Crystalens implant. With my cloudy yellowing (UV-filtering) natural lens removed, I see the world in a new light (more on that in a moment) as everything is brighter and colors are more vivid ... plus in focus. As a typical Slashdot reader, I've been myopic since childhood, so it's wonderful not to have to wear glasses/contacts for distance. One interesting oddity is that I can now see ultraviolet light — it seems that there are a few people who have photoreceptors sensitive below 400nm into the UV spectrum. I've done some testing with a Black Light and UV filter to confirm this but would love to do more conclusive testing such as using a Monochromator — anyone in the Boulder, Colorado area have access to one? And any suggestions from Slashdot readers on how I can further explore this phenomenon? While I can't see dead people, I guess I have a 'superpower' ... although I'm not sure a middle-aged suburbanite dad should don purple tights and cape to become a crime-fighter!"

Black lights actually look black?

[justin12345]

Do black lights actually look black when on to most people? I thought they only looked black when they're off. To me they've always looked white with purple edges when on. I thought that was normal.

List of ideas.

[allaunjsilverfox2]

1. Check to see if this ability enhances your sight during low level light. 2. Check the boundaries of your abilities and record such data. Is there a certain amount of UV light you can and can not detect? 3. Use this ability for a stealth motion detector. If a robber can't see in the dark, but you can, this would be a advantage. 4. Use this ability to sneak in late at night to prevent people yelling at you! :p 5. During a Solar eclipse, TOTALLY watch it, with proper protection of course. You will be recieving a special view that few humans will ever experience. :3

Perhaps back in WWII

[RLBrown]

Back in WWII, when the medical treatment was much more primitive, elderly persons in England, who had vision partially restored by cataract surgery, were asked to watch for long wave UV covert signals, from off the coast vessels, as part of the war effort. This may be an urban legend -- it is unanswered on Snopes http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=25056 [snopes.com], but I do recall reading about it as a child, I believe in a commentary written by Arthur C. Clarke. But the memory is vague, and who knows where Clarke might have learned of it. So as something vaguely remembered from a book half a century old, that may or may not exist, where the original author may or may not have had first hand knowledge, ... well, by Internet standards, that's your proof right there!

They don't look black.

[sirwired]

Sorry; you do not have special UV-sensitive super-powers. So-called "black" lights are not, by any stretch of the imagination, UV-only. They have a filter on them that blocks most, but not all, visible light. They are called "black" lights because the UV causes appropriately fluorescent and phosphorescent materials to glow out of proportion to the visible light emitted by the bulb.

Ultraviolet astronomy.

[Ungrounded Lightning]

I understand that the definitive text on ultraviolet astronomy was written about then by an astronomer who had also been through the operation.

For him astronomical objects with high UV emission were "naked eye objects". He could just look through the telescope eyepiece and zero in on interesting stuff, when others had to wait for the film to be developed.

Not as big a deal these days, with 'scopes aimed using semiconductor image sensors rather than naked eye. But may still be an advantage.

Re:List of ideas.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep, Go find a really nicely filtered LED UV torch that only emits 400nm light. You're now your own nightvision.

I see UV too...

[Keebler71]

I see UV too,... at least technically and I don't believe it is that uncommon. In a college quantum physics lab we were looking at the emission spectrum of Hydrogen and the instructor was guiding us through various emission lines. He asked if we could see the purple line and then asked who could see the *other* purple line. I was the only one who could. He said he always asks that because every class there are one or two students (out of about 20) who could see just enough into the UV spectrum to see it. I don't recall which line it was but assume it was the Balmer n=6 line at 397nm.

I can't say this has been particularly more useful to me although I do think I see rainbows as 'wider' than most people with a much thicker "purple" band than others seem to see. Totally subjective and something I can't substantiate but I think I am more sensitive to sunlight as well.

Re:Perhaps back in WWII

[Mashiki]

I dunno. I remember my great grandmother talking about sitting with her grandmother watching for this on the coast along with a naval officer to report. It could very well still be sealed, which considering how useful it would still be today, wouldn't surprise me at all.

Re:I see UV too...

[Anonymous Coward]

It can also be different in each eye.

My right sees farther into the UV, and my left a bit into IR. It can be confusing when trying to match colors, especially to what someone else wants.

Re:Black lights actually look black?

[swalve]

I have this "power" as well. Found it out when got my first set of UV blocking contact lenses. Prior to that, in sunlight, there would be an uncomfortable unfocused ghosting off of things. With the new lenses, it was gone. (Same lens material, brand, shape and power.) Unlike the photo of the black light in the link, black lights emit a ghostly violet blob of unfocusable light. It is very uncomfortable, like being shined in the face with a flashlight.

Re:First step (or post)

[JWSmythe]

    Well, I can say that your assertion is flawed. I am a male. I can also see UV light with one eye. I had a congenital cataract (it was there from birth). When I was 19 (almost 20 years ago), the vision in one eye was 20/200 due to this. They cut the old lens out, and slid the new one in. At the time, we were advised to leave the bandage on for a week, so I did.

    When I removed the bandage, I didn't see anything remarkable, other than I could see clearly. I also found that the lens was not easy to bend, so my focus in that eye has been fixed ever since.

    Around Halloween time, I had my first experience under black lights. Well, it was more like extreme pain. The natural lens filters out the UV light. Being bathed in this bright UV light was roughly like looking straight into a very bright light.

    Over the next 5 years or so, I became adjusted to being able to see UV. It's not a big deal. Sometimes I see the rough equivalent to visual feedback when looking at particular colors (blue, violet, and UV). Each eye is seeing a different color on the same object.

    It's hard to explain what it looks like to most people though. A black light normally doesn't really look like anything. I see a bright blue light instead, only in one eye. Sometimes I close one eye, then alternate, so I can figure out what color the rest of you see. It's a very bright blue. Kind of like the difference between bottle of mustard, and a yellow caution sign. Well, except most of you would never have seen the yellow caution sign, so you won't have a frame of reference.

    So is it the whole UV range? Hell if I know. Maybe. Maybe not. I've never been presented with a color wheel that covers UV colors to help determine the full range.

    I always wear UV & polarized sunglasses when I'm outside. Light is really bright, especially in areas with a clear sky. Going from LA's smog to Florida's bright blue sky is like living in a house with 40W bulbs, and then replacing them all with 100W bulbs. Sunglasses are generally a good idea, but if I don't have them, I end up walking around with one eye open.

    About 20 years later, I still see it. I was at a convention over the weekend, and they had blue backdrops behind the speakers, with black lights pointing at them. In one eye, it was a dull blue glow. In the other eye, it was a distracting bright blue light. So I watched most of the time with one eye open. :) It could have been worse. I would be blind in that eye by now.

 

Monochromator in Boulder

[Anonymous Coward]

University of Colorado Boulder happens to have a top notch optics program. There are likely more monochromators in a ten mile radius of the city than almost anywhere else on earth. My suggestion, however, is to consult your ophthalmologist and to be certain that you are not doing damage to your eyes in looking at UV radiation. If you darken a room and turn up the UV, your pupils will dilate and you will see some light below 400 nm. However, UV light exposure to the retina can occur in eyes with natural lenses and can lead to macular degeneration - I would definitely not volunteer for a test with a monochromator in the UV!

Protect your vision - you are lucky to have it!

Re:First step (or post)

[Runaway1956]

Whoa, now - I called no one a liar. My skepticism bleeds through, sure. But, I allowed that the man sees something more than he ever saw before. And, I did my best to explain, for myself at least, what it is that he's seeing.

Now, if you'd care for a bit of explanation - I am "color blind". Pretty severely color impaired, actually, but not "blind". You can literally hide a red flower in a yard of green grass - I'll never find it. Blue, yellow, maybe orange, white - I can see all of those. Only on an extremely bright sunshiny day will I notice that damned red flower in a green background.

For that reason, I've studied, off and on, how vision works. And, I've read many times about UV sensitive vision.

I remain skeptical, and don't really believe that this male is seeing ultraviolet. But, I'm open minded enough to follow links, to read, to listen, and to learn. Maybe the guy really is seeing the outside edges of the ultraviolet. A lot of people are posting stuff that seems to support his statement.

Still skeptical, here, but looking, and learning. Is that good enough for you? I've certainly not put myself forward as an "authority" on vision. Crap, I can't even see half the reds and greens, and certainly can't see purple, violet, and all that other stuff. I couldn't be an authority on color vision if I really worked hard at it!