Reflection of plane-polarized light by the retina.

Abstract

Experiments are described in which retinal reflectance was measured as a function of wavelength for three subjects. Two components of the reflected light were studied: that which retained polarization and that which was depolarized. Both components were found to be present at all visible wavelengths and to have magnitudes which rose at the red end of the spectrum, although the fraction of the reflected light which retained polarization was then lower. The results are compared with those of earlier studies. While there is qualitative agreement on the form of the wavelength-dependence of retinal reflectance, the magnitudes of the values deduced by different authors vary considerably. The influence of ocular birefringence on polarized-light studies of the retina is discussed, together with possible locations from the structures responsible for the observed reflectances.