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Biomedical subjects

I J Murray

Publications and source records attributed to I J Murray.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

The visual defect in multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis. A combined psychophysical and electrophysiological investigation.

Chromatic and achromatic visual function were investigated using psychophysical and evoked potential techniques in 32 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or optic neuritis. There was no evidence for either chromatic or achromatic vision being selectively damaged. There was, however, some evidence that demyelination of the optic nerve causes a visual defect in which the transmission of high temporal frequencies is imparied. In some patients either a red or blue deficit was evident, but overall there was no evidence of a wavelength specific colour vision defect in our patient group. Reduction of chromatic sensitivity as determined psychophysically had a statistically significant correlation with the amplitude and latency of the chromatic visual evoked potential.

Adult

Visual changes mediated by beer in retrobulbar neuritis--an investigative case report.

A patient with established retrobulbar neuritis and Uhthoff's phenomenon who claimed that his visual acuity improved after drinking beer was assessed by detailed quantitative psychophysical tests. Studies of electrophysiological responses and biochemical levels of blood serum before and after drinking on several occasions were also made. The results of tests of contrast sensitivity, spectral sensitivity, flicker sensitivity, and visually evoked potential confirmed his observation. Some mechanisms for this phenomenon are considered.

Adult

Movement detection and spatial phase.

Contrast thresholds for the detection of movement are determined when a sinusoidal grating pattern is shifted in spatial phase. "True" contrast reversal (180 degrees phase shift) is compared with smaller phase shifts for a range of spatial frequencies. An unexpected increase in movement sensitivity is revealed for intermediate spatial frequencies. This effect is confined to those spatial frequencies where interaction between pattern and movement detectors occurs.

Humans

A pilot study on the use of visual field expanders.

The nature and magnitude of the visual difficulties of five volunteer patients with severely contracted visual field and high visual acuities was investigated by several techniques. These comprised a questionnaire providing a quantitative score of visual impairment, a specially devised visual search task, and an arbitrary method of estimating visual efficiency. Many aspects of visual impairment resulting from contract visual fields were revealed and discussed. Performance scores on the search task indicated that the field expander would probably be useful to a small number of cases for continuous wear, usually as a binocular bioptic system. Other cases might benefit from a clip-on or hand-held device for occasional use. Methods of manufacture and dispensing and difficulty in locating suitable patients were the major limiting factors in this study. The methods of assessment, and the optical system described in this study are worthy of further investigation and development for trial on a larger number of patients.

Eyeglasses