Red Eye?

I would not wish to worry you unnecessarily, but there was a recently reported case in the UK where a woman took a picture of her young son in which one eye had red eye whilst the other had white eye – she took him to a doctor and cancer of the eye was diagnosed!! Something to bear in mind for all photographers, as it was reckoned the early diagnosis may have saved his life, although he lost the eye.

Harry

"Doug Cutler" wrote in message

Greetings,
I have a portrait that should show Red Eye (unavoidable situation) however the "red" spot is bright white. Could this be due to Contact Lenses?, I think it would be impolite to ask the lady!!
Thanks,
Doug.

in article , Harry Limey at
wrote on 5/13/04 10:00 AM:

I would not wish to worry you unnecessarily, but there was a recently reported case in the UK where a woman took a picture of her young son in which one eye had red eye whilst the other had white eye – she took him to a doctor and cancer of the eye was diagnosed!! Something to bear in mind for all photographers, as it was reckoned the early diagnosis may have saved his life, although he lost the eye.

Harry

There is nothing really wrong about this story, but I wonder. A retinoblastoma, which is usually the tumor when a story of this type comes up, causes blindness long before the white mass becomes apparent. I guess if the subject were an infant, blindness might be present without notice, but routine well-baby exams would likely have discovered it, and the earlier it appears the more likely it is that other family members have had the same cancer. This has something of the taste of an urban legend, though I do not deny the possibility. If you can trace down the original source I would be fascinated to see it.
Larry

On Thu, 13 May 2004 15:47:13 -0400, Larry Preuss
wrote:

in article , Harry Limey at
wrote on 5/13/04 10:00 AM:

I would not wish to worry you unnecessarily, but there was a recently reported case in the UK where a woman took a picture of her young son in which one eye had red eye whilst the other had white eye – she took him to a doctor and cancer of the eye was diagnosed!! Something to bear in mind for all photographers, as it was reckoned the early diagnosis may have saved his life, although he lost the eye.

There is nothing really wrong about this story, but I wonder. A retinoblastoma, which is usually the tumor when a story of this type comes up, causes blindness long before the white mass becomes apparent.

To an observer, using their own eyes. In those conditions, however, you can’t visually see the problem with the retina until the condition has progressed to the point where blindness has already occurred. The red-eye effect in photos is caused by light bouncing off the retina itself (something you also cannot see by using just your own eyes) – and a white-eye effect is an early indicator, often prior to blindness having set in and long before you could see it with your naked eye.

I guess if
the subject were an infant, blindness might be present without notice, but routine well-baby exams would likely have discovered it, and the earlier it appears the more likely it is that other family members have had the same cancer. This has something of the taste of an urban legend, though I do not deny the possibility. If you can trace down the original source I would be fascinated to see it.

http://www.eyecancermd.org/retinoblastoma/diagnosis.html – has example "white eye" photos.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/27/earlyshow/contribu tors/emilysenay/main596279.shtml http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/H170/ http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/103003_NH_childreneyecancer .html (note this part: "If you find a white spot in a photo it doesn’t always mean cancer. Doctors say it can be a sign of cataracts.") http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/red_eye_effect

Jackie

in article , Jackie Laderoute at
wrote on 5/13/04 4:20 PM:

On Thu, 13 May 2004 15:47:13 -0400, Larry Preuss
wrote:

in article , Harry Limey at
wrote on 5/13/04 10:00 AM:

I would not wish to worry you unnecessarily, but there was a recently reported case in the UK where a woman took a picture of her young son in which one eye had red eye whilst the other had white eye – she took him to a doctor and cancer of the eye was diagnosed!! Something to bear in mind for all photographers, as it was reckoned the early diagnosis may have saved his life, although he lost the eye.

There is nothing really wrong about this story, but I wonder. A retinoblastoma, which is usually the tumor when a story of this type comes up, causes blindness long before the white mass becomes apparent.

To an observer, using their own eyes. In those conditions, however, you can’t visually see the problem with the retina until the condition has progressed to the point where blindness has already occurred. The red-eye effect in photos is caused by light bouncing off the retina itself (something you also cannot see by using just your own eyes) – and a white-eye effect is an early indicator, often prior to blindness having set in and long before you could see it with your naked eye.

I guess if
the subject were an infant, blindness might be present without notice, but routine well-baby exams would likely have discovered it, and the earlier it appears the more likely it is that other family members have had the same cancer. This has something of the taste of an urban legend, though I do not deny the possibility. If you can trace down the original source I would be fascinated to see it.

http://www.eyecancermd.org/retinoblastoma/diagnosis.html – has example "white eye" photos.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/27/earlyshow/contribu tors/emilysenay/ma in596279.shtml
http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/H170/ http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/103003_NH_childreneyecancer .html (note this part: "If you find a white spot in a photo it doesn’t always mean cancer. Doctors say it can be a sign of cataracts.") http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/red_eye_effect

Jackie

Thank you, Jackie. This is not precisely my field, and I am pleased to have the instruction. Wonderful (I shouldn’t say that, but I can’t think of a more appropriate word) photos.
Larry

Larry

This is the link to the news item
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenf amily.html?in_article_id=301106&in_page_id=1799
Which was published on the 8th May 2004 and includes the actual picture.

Harry

"Larry Preuss" wrote in message

in article , Jackie Laderoute at
wrote on 5/13/04 4:20 PM:

On Thu, 13 May 2004 15:47:13 -0400, Larry Preuss
wrote:

in article , Harry Limey at
wrote on 5/13/04 10:00 AM:

I would not wish to worry you unnecessarily, but there was a recently reported case in the UK where a woman took a picture of her young son

in

which one eye had red eye whilst the other had white eye – she took

him to

a doctor and cancer of the eye was diagnosed!! Something to bear in

mind

for all photographers, as it was reckoned the early diagnosis may have

saved

his life, although he lost the eye.

There is nothing really wrong about this story, but I wonder. A retinoblastoma, which is usually the tumor when a story of this type

comes

up, causes blindness long before the white mass becomes apparent.

To an observer, using their own eyes. In those conditions, however, you can’t visually see the problem with the retina until the condition has progressed to the point where blindness has already occurred. The red-eye effect in photos is caused by light bouncing off the retina itself (something you also cannot see by using just your own eyes) – and a white-eye effect is an early indicator, often prior to blindness having set in and long before you could see it with your naked eye.

I guess if
the subject were an infant, blindness might be present without notice,

but

routine well-baby exams would likely have discovered it, and the

earlier it

appears the more likely it is that other family members have had the

same

cancer. This has something of the taste of an urban legend, though I do

not

deny the possibility. If you can trace down the original source I would

be

fascinated to see it.

http://www.eyecancermd.org/retinoblastoma/diagnosis.html – has example "white eye" photos.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/27/earlyshow/contribu tors/emilysenay/ma

in596279.shtml
http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/H170/ http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/news/103003_NH_childreneyecancer .html (note this part: "If you find a white spot in a photo it doesn’t always mean cancer. Doctors say it can be a sign of cataracts.") http://www.sciencedaily.com/encyclopedia/red_eye_effect

Jackie

Thank you, Jackie. This is not precisely my field, and I am pleased to

have

the instruction. Wonderful (I shouldn’t say that, but I can’t think of a more appropriate word) photos.
Larry

in article , Harry Limey at
wrote on 5/13/04 7:01 PM:

Larry

This is the link to the news item
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenf amily.html?in_arti cle_id=301106&in_page_id=1799
Which was published on the 8th May 2004 and includes the actual picture.
Harry

Thanks, Harry. For some reason I am unable to access that page, but it is good to know that it was substantiated by a photo.
Larry

This lady’s story is no urban legend (and I know of some similar stories, unfortunately, where the photo’s oddity was noticed "too late"):

http://www.lovejoey.com/

in article
wrote on 5/14/04 5:28 PM:

This lady’s story is no urban legend (and I know of some similar stories, unfortunately, where the photo’s oddity was noticed "too late"):
http://www.lovejoey.com/

To my relief I was correctly informed very soon after my posting. Your story of Joey should be a part of every process of medical education. Larry