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Retinal Glial Cells Enhance Human Vision Acuity

A. M. Labin and E. N. Ribak
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 158102 – Published 16 April 2010
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Abstract

We construct a light-guiding model of the retina outside the fovea, in which an array of glial (Muller) cells permeates the depth of the retina down to the photoreceptors. Based on measured refractive indices, we propagate light to obtain a significant increase of the intensity at the photoreceptors. For pupils up to 6 mm width, the coupling between neighboring cells is only a few percent. Low cross talk over the whole visible spectrum also explains the insensitivity to chromatic aberrations of the eye. The retina is revealed as an optimal structure designed for improving the sharpness of images.

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  • Received 11 January 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.158102

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. M. Labin and E. N. Ribak

  • Physics Department, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel

See Also

Eye Cells as Light Pipes

Oliver Baker
Phys. Rev. Focus 25, 15 (2010)

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Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 15 — 16 April 2010

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