Abstract

The transmission properties of the ocular media are important for various aspects of vision research. Many age-related changes in visual function are in part due to the alteration in transmission properties of the ocular media as a consequence of the normal aging process (e.g. Weale, 1963; Werner and Wooten, 1980). In particular, there is a greater preretinal transmission loss for short wavelength light than for middle or long wavelengths. Recent investigations have also shown that certain eye diseases produce a selective loss of sensitivity to short wavelengths as an early manifestation of visual dysfunction (Adams, 1982; Applegate et. al., 1987; Heron et. al., 1988; Johnson et. al., 1989). It is therefore necessary to distinguish the amount of short wavelength sensitivity loss that is due to the ocular media from the portion that is due to early pathologic neural changes.

© 1990 Optical Society of America