Variable optical activation of human cone photoreceptors visualized using a short coherence light source

Opt Lett. 2009 Dec 15;34(24):3782-4. doi: 10.1364/OL.34.003782.

Abstract

It has been shown that after a visible stimulus, optical oscillations of nearly all cone photoreceptors can be observed using long coherence length light and in a few cones using short coherence length light. Here, we show that after exposure to a visible stimulus, a short coherence length imaging source reveals light-evoked oscillation signals in a large number of cones. More than 80% of cones in a given retinal area are activated (modulation in the reflectance signal) after stimulation, and the pattern of their activation can be subjectively classified into one of four categories. The application of light-evoked signal detection techniques for in vivo retinal imaging may prove useful for assessing the functional status of cones in normal and diseased retinae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / physiology
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Light
  • Lighting / methods*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / physiology*
  • Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / radiation effects