Retina Flashcards
What fundamentally limits visual acuity?
Neural factors
Optical factors
What is visual acuity?
Ability to resolve fine detail
How do you test for visual acuity?
Recognition of letters on Snellen or LogMAR chart
How is visual acuity expressed?
VA = D'/D, where: D' = test distance D = distance where each letter subtends 5 min arc
At what visual acuity are you legally blind?
6/60
What is the meaning of 6/12?
Person has to be 6 m away to see what normal people see at 12 m, even though letter is bigger
What are the optical factors affecting visual acuity?
Pupil size Clarity of optical media - Cataracts - Corneal opacities Refractive errors - Myopia - Hypermetropia - Astigmatism - Presbyopia
What is the best visual acuity at photopic levels?
6/6
What determines central vision?
Density of cones in fovea
Are there many cones outside of the fovea?
No, not many
What is the best visual acuity at scotopic levels?
6/60
Where is night vision best?
Off-centre because highest density of rods 5-15 degrees away from fovea
What are the six neuron types of the retina?
Rods Cones Horizontal cells Bipolar cells Amacrine cells Ganglion cells
What are the synaptic layers of the retina?
Outer plexiform layer
Inner plexiform layer
What layers does light pass through before hitting the photoreceptors?
All
Describe rods
Night vision Scotopic Very sensitive One type only No colour vision 95% of photoreceptors Absent from fovea
Describe cones
Day vision Photopic Less sensitive Three types - Red - Green - Blue Allow colour vision 5% of photoreceptors Densest in fovea
How is the retina wired up?
Through pathway: phtoreceptors > bipolar cells > ganglion cells
Lateral interactions > modulation
- Horizontal cells
- Amacrine cells
Which layer of the retina are horizontal cells located?
Outer
Which layer of the retina are amacrine cells located?
Inner
Which cells are the output neurons of the retina?
Ganglion cells
How many different types of bipolar cells are there?
10
- 1x rod bipolar cell
- 9x cone bipolar cell
What are bipolar cells important for?
Spatial vision
Colour vision
From what is the input to horizontal cells?
Photoreceptors
To what is the output of horizontal cells?
Photoreceptors
What is the neurotransmitter released by horizontal cells?
GABA