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What are those floaty things in your eye? - Michael Mauser

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Sometimes, against a uniform, bright background such as a clear sky or a blank computer screen, you might see things floating across your field of vision. What are these moving objects, and how are you seeing them? Michael Mauser explains the visual phenomenon that is floaters.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Michael Mauser
  • Producer Stephen Whittle
  • Animator Jane E. Davies
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
Additional Resources for you to Explore
For more information on seeing floaters as well other things within the eye see the video: "See inside your eye, Part 1: Using a point light source to see floaters and cataracts." Visit the Mayo Clinic and find out more about floaters here. Interested in the blue field entoptic phenomenon? Check out this link: "See inside your eye, Part 2: Using a blue light field to see white blood cells moving on your retina."

What does the anatomy of the eye have to do with Physics? Visit the Physics classroom and find out! How does the eye allow you to see things up close and far away? Watch this video and learn about the structure and working of the human eye. Still need another view or more information about how the eye works? Bausch and Lomb’s Journey Through the Human Eye will give you more insight into vision!

Glare from the sun? Dry eyes? Itchy Eyes? Keep those eyes of yours healthy! Check out National Geographic and find out why! Speaking of eye health, do you wear sunglasses for health reasons or to look great? Here are some reasons why sunglasses should be part of your daily health routine. Are you working on a computer everyday? How is it affecting your vision? Visit Time Magazine’s article: How to Avoid Computer Eye Strain and find out what you can do to protect your eyes! CNN also has information on how to avoid digital eyestrain.

Can food improve or help maintain your eye health? Check out the list of 13 Food That Do Your Eyes Good! Do you eat healthy ”eye” food? It’s not just about carrots anymore.

Are human eyes and animal eyes similar or are they extremely different? Visit Animal Eyes presented by the Museum of Vision and find out! For a much more in-depth discussion on animal eyes watch this lecture from Gresham College.

TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
In the TED Talk "Own your body's data" Talithia Williams makes a case for collecting temperature data on your body to monitor the functioning of your thyroid and ovulation cycles. Many people routinely monitor weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood oxygenation, resting heart rate, and other indications of how their body is functioning in response to changes in diet and exercise. People with macular degeneration can monitor their vision with an Amsler grid. People have used a small light source held close to the eye to entoptically monitor the growth of a cataract in the lens.
12/01/2014 • 
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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Michael Mauser
  • Producer Stephen Whittle
  • Animator Jane E. Davies
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen

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