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Medical Forum / General / Vision / September 2005Viusualizing blood cells.
It has been reported that one can see the action of white blood cells when (for example) looking at a clear blue sky. Is there any reason the red ones can't be seen? Don W. > It has been reported that one can see the action of white blood cells > when (for example) looking at a clear blue sky. Is there any reason the > red ones can't be seen? Red cells are smaller, but not drastically so. I don't believe you can see individual white blood cells this way. In a bright blue sky, you're seeing bits and clumps of vitreous fibers and remnants of embryonic structures. -MT You'll get different answers on this, but I don't think you can. What some people *think* are white blood cells are probably some sort of neuro-chemical feedback or "noise" that is happening somewhere between the retina and the occipital cortex. w.stacy, o.d. > It has been reported that one can see the action of white blood cells when > (for example) looking at a clear blue sky. Is there any reason the red ones > can't be seen? > > Don W. Applegate has a patent on a scheme that tracks the leucocytes to get a handle on the avascular zone of the macula. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5016643.html Don W. there is a device that I believe applegate developed that uses a blue rotating polarized light source that you can look into that allows WBC visualization as the cells passing single-file through the retinal vasculature. it can also be observed looking into a blue sky. WBCs have a nucleus, while RBCs do not. the presence of a dense nucleus within the cells allows visual discrimination between the two cell types due to its refractile characteristics. > there is a device that I believe applegate developed that uses a blue > rotating polarized light source that you can look into that allows WBC [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > within the cells allows visual discrimination between the two cell > types due to its refractile characteristics. I have myself noticed the fleeting white corpuscles (flashing spots) against a blue sky in the avascular outside of the fovea zone. I have an ARMD lesion. And through the grayish lesion (which is outside the fovea) I can see a scintillation (shimmering) against a clear blue sky. I am suspecting that this is gross vascular activity. Incidentally, looking at a clear blue sky may duplicate the blue field entoptoscope that Applegate mentions since the blue sky is polarized. But that device has a chance to see cells inside the macular region (??). That I have not seen against a clear blue sky. Applegate mentions in his patent that he was shooting for the home market. I wonder if he ever made it? Don W. |
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