Abstract

Waveguide modal patterns have been observed in retinal receptors of rat, monkey, and human eyes. Phenomena characteristically occurring in dielectric waveguides have been noted. That aspect considered here is the appearance of different (or combinations of different) hues when the retina is irradiated with white light of a xenon arc and the receptor outer segments are viewed. The distribution varies to some degree with angle of incidence of the radiant energy, and the phenomenon is present in both rods and cones. It is demonstrated in freshly obtained normal human and monkey central foveal areas and in some peripheral retinal receptors. Some implications of these findings are discussed.

© 1961 Optical Society of America

Optical Properties of the Retinal Receptors*†

Jay M. Enoch
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53(1) 71-85 (1963)

Validation of an Indicator of Mammalian Retinal Receptor Response: Action Spectrum*

Jay M. Enoch
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54(3) 368-374 (1964)

Characteristics of a Model Retinal Receptor Studied at Microwave Frequencies*

Jay M. Enoch and Glenn A. Fry
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(12) 899-911 (1958)

Spectral Sensitivity of Single Neural Units in the Bullfrog Retinal*

Robert M. Chapman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 51(10) 1102-1112 (1961)

Validation of an Indicator of Mammalian Retinal Receptor Response: Absolute Threshold *

Jay M. Enoch
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54(8) 1027-1030 (1964)