Blink-To-Live eye-based communication system for users with speech impairments.

Eye-based communication languages such as Blink-To-Speak play a key role in expressing the needs and emotions of patients with motor neuron disorders. Most invented eye-based tracking systems are complex and not affordable in low-income countries. Blink-To-Live is an eye-tracking system based on a modified Blink-To-Speak language and computer vision for patients with speech impairments. A mobile phone camera tracks the patient's eyes by sending real-time video frames to computer vision modules for facial landmarks detection, eye identification and tracking. There are four defined key alphabets in the Blink-To-Live eye-based communication language: Left, Right, Up, and Blink. These eye gestures encode more than 60 daily life commands expressed by a sequence of three eye movement states. Once the eye gestures encoded sentences are generated, the translation module will display the phrases in the patient's native speech on the phone screen, and the synthesized voice can be heard. A prototype of the Blink-To-Live system is evaluated using normal cases with different demographic characteristics. Unlike the other sensor-based eye-tracking systems, Blink-To-Live is simple, flexible, and cost-efficient, with no dependency on specific software or hardware requirements. The software and its source are available from the GitHub repository ( https://github.com/ZW01f/Blink-To-Live ).

Four-point scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses without scleral flaps.

PURPOSE: To report the visual results and complications of a new technique for scleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) without scleral flaps. METHODS: Half-thickness 3 mm scleral grooves 1 mm behind the limbus were constructed opposite to each other. The straight needle with a double-armed 10/0 prolene suture was introduced at one end of the scleral groove to exit through the corneal incision then passed through the two holes of the IOL. It re-entered the globe through the corneal incision and then passed behind the iris to exit the globe at the other end of the scleral groove. The same was repeated on the other side. The corneal section was enlarged, the IOL was implanted, and the two ends were tied to each other to form a loop that was rotated and buried in the scleral groove. RESULTS: The study included eight men and seven women. Their ages ranged from 7 to 69 years (mean 40+/-21.53 years). The preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 3/60 to 6/9. The operation time ranged from 25 to 50 min (mean 34.55+/-7.66 min). Anterior vitrectomy was performed in nine (60%) cases. Ciliary bleeding during needle passage occurred in six (40%) cases and accidental suture cutting during section enlargement occurred in one (6.7%) case. There was no major IOL decentration. The final UCVA ranged from 6/24 to 6/18 and the final BCVA ranged from 6/24 to 6/9. Five cases (33.33%) showed postoperative glaucoma and three cases (20%) had mild to moderate vitreous haemorrhage. No cases of suture erosion, postoperative endophthalmitis, retinal detachment or IOL dislocation were detected. CONCLUSION: This technique of four-point scleral fixation of posterior chamber IOLs reduces the operation time, achieves good centration and stability of the IOL, and minimises postoperative suture-related complications.