Measuring the visual angle of polarization-related entoptic phenomena using structured light

• DOI: 10.1364/boe.507519
• Publication Date: 2024-01-12T11:00:10Z
• Authors: C. Kapahi; A. E. Silva; D. G. Cory; M. Kulmaganbetov; M. A. Mungalsingh; D. A. Pushin; T. Singh; B. Thompson; D. Sarenac
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; Medical Physics (physics.med-ph); Physics - Medical Physics; Article; Physics - Optics; Optics (physics.optics)

The ability to perceive polarization-related entoptic phenomena arises from the dichroism of macular pigments held in Henle’s fiber layer retina and can be inhibited by retinal diseases, such as age-related degeneration, which alters structure macula. Structured light tools enable direct probing pigment density through perception polarization-dependent patterns. Here, we directly measure visual angle an pattern created illumination with a structured state task that is insensitive corneal birefringence. central region stimuli was obstructed, size obstruction varying according psychophysical staircase. Two stimuli, one producing 11 azimuthal fringes other three fringes, were presented 24 healthy participants. produced average threshold 10° ± 1° 95% confidence interval (C.I.) [6°, 14°]. For extent 3.6° 0.3° C.I. = [1.3°, 5.8°] measured, value similar published Haidinger’s brush (4°). increase apparent clarity offers potential detect early signs disease over tasks using uniform polarization stimuli.