Abstract

The vulnerability of the blue (S) cone pathways to retinal disease has been attributed by some to S (blue) receptors, which are said to be more susceptible to metabolic damage (the fragile receptor hypothesis). Other investigators have suggested postreceptoral causes. To test the fragile receptor hypothesis, a two-site model of the S cone system is presented, and a psychophysical procedure is described. Data from a patient with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) and a patient with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. As expected from previous work, the data reinforce the conclusion that the primary defect in CSNB is at the level of the receptors. The data from the patient with RP are consistent with the fragile receptor hypothesis.

© 1988 Optical Society of America

Foveal sensitivity changes in retinitis pigmentosa

Vivienne Greenstein, Donald C. Hood, and Ronald E. Carr
Appl. Opt. 26(8) 1385-1389 (1987)

Rod densitometry in congenital stationary night blindness

Johan E. E. Keunen, Gerard J. van Meel, and Dirk van Norren
Appl. Opt. 27(6) 1050-1056 (1988)

Photoreceptor responses of patients with congenital stationary night blindness

Rockefeller S. L. Young, James Price, James W. Walters, and Joseph M. Harrison
Appl. Opt. 26(8) 1390-1394 (1987)

S cone pathway sensitivity in eyes with high risk and low risk drusen characteristics

Janet S. Sunness, Robert W. Massof, Neil M. Bressler, and Susan B. Bressler
Appl. Opt. 28(6) 1158-1164 (1989)

Theoretical interpretation and derivation of flash-on-flash threshold parameters in visual system diseases

Robert W. Massof, Sergiu Marcus, Gislin Dagnelie, David Choy, Janet Sunness, and Michael Albert
Appl. Opt. 27(6) 1014-1024 (1988)