Author: Bryan Jones

The inward rectifying K+ channels (IRKs) are common ion channels that encompass seven distinct subtypes, each a potential target for pathology or a potential actor in various insults to the nervous system, the retina included.  IRKs in the retina are found in Müller glia, retinal pigment epithelium and on neurons in retina, so are fundamental to retinal …

Continue reading “Notable Paper: Structural basis of PIP2 activation of the classical inward rectifier K+ channel Kir2.2”

This project called “Bianco, a multimedia project on visual deficiencies” by an amazing photographer/photojournalist Stefano da Luigi was sent by photojournalist extraordinaire and friend of Webvision, Trent Nelson.  Stefano da Luigi’s work in this photoessay, a winner of the Visa Pour L’Image, Perpignan 2011 Multimedia Award is a stunningly intimate series of images of people experiencing …

Continue reading “Portraits of Looks by Stefano da Luigi”

I have a certain fondness for insects and believe that our understanding of vision and visual pathways can benefit greatly from the study of insect visual systems.  Our understanding of visual processing is actually pretty limited and simpler visual systems to study from eye to brain are found in insects compared to vertebrates.   In …

Continue reading “Notable Paper: Neural Organization and Visual Processing in the Anterior Optic Tubercle of the Honeybee Brain”

I missed this paper in the chaos and runup to ARVO, but its conclusions are remarkably compelling.  Imagine that you were blind for years, perhaps from birth and suddenly, you were able to see with perfect clarity.  Would you be able to recognize items like a pyramid, a box or a sphere by sight when …

Continue reading “Notable Paper: The Newly Sighted Fail to Match Seen With Felt”

Photographer:  Paula F. Morris, CRA, FOPS  Moran Eye Center.   Diffuse and tangentially illuminated images of corneal deposits and folks in TASS Syndrome. Images taken a using a Zeiss clinical slit-lamp biomicroscope with a Nikon D1S digital back at 24 X and 40 X.   TASS or Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome is an inflammation of the anterior segment of …

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