Physiology of VISION

Sinan Canan, PhD

sinancanan@gmail.com
www.sinancanan.net

Vision: A visual representation of reality

Optics of vision Refraction

Refractive power dioptre

1/(focal length; f)
f = 1 m; 1 dioptre
f = 0.5 m; 2 dioptres
f = 5 m; 0.2 dioptres
Negative power for concave lensest

Optics of vision
Path of light in the eye:
Cornea (2/3 of the refractive power!)
Aqueous humor
Lens
Vitrous humor
Retina

Eye as a camera

Reduced eye (accomodated for distant vision)

Total refractive power = 59 dioptres
Lens 20-34 dioptres (accomodation)

Aqueous humor and the lens

Akz (aqueous) Humor ve Mercek

Fluid system of the eye

Intraocular pressure
12-20 (mean: 15) mmHg
Pathological increase (glucome) loss of sight
blindness!

Accomodation

Accomodation (video)

Physical imperfections of lenses

Chromatic abberation Blue-purple lights are
refracted more...
Spherical abberation edges of the lenses are
more refractive...

Muscles of the pupil

Pupillary reactions

Radius of the pupil 1.5 - 8mm

Adjustment of light intensity
Depth of field
Pupil radius depth of field

Pupillary Reflex

Light CN II Pons Pretectal area Edinger-Westphal nucleus

(sensory nuc of CN III) CN III Ciliary ganglion N. ciliare
Ciliary muscles + M. constrictor iridis Pupillary constriction
(Miozis)

Pupillary Reflex

Darkness LGN Edinger-Westphal inhibition

stimulation of the ciliospinal center (C8, T1-2) Symp. Nerves of
the neck G. cervicale sup. Plexus caroticus N.ciliares
M.dilatator iridis Pupillary dilatation (Mydriasis)

Refraction defects
Miopia
Hypermetropia
Astigmatism

Presbyopia

Perception of depth
Dimensions of known objects
Moving paralax
Stereopsis

Eye movements

Vision: Retina and Photoreceptors

Converting the light into a mental image
Photoreceptor cells: Rods and Cones

Retina

Retina

Retina Optik Disk (Kr Nokta)

Retina

Rods: Monochromatic
Cones: RED, GREEN ve BLUE
Intracellular discs: Visual pigments
Pigmented epithlial layer
Melanine granules
Prevents reflection

Retina

Retina

Retina
Pigment layer
Photoreceptor layer
(cones and rods)
External limiting lamina
Outer nuclear layer
Outer pelxiform layer
Inner nuclear layer
Inner plexiform layer
Ganglion layer
Inner limiting lamina

Light

Retina: Detaylar
Pigment layer
Photoreceptor layer
Outer limiting lamina
Outer nuclear layer
Outer plexiform layer
Inner nuclear layer
Innr plexiform layer
Ganglion layer

Light

Inner limiting lamina

Retina: Photoreceptors

Retina: Photoreceptors

Phototransduction (conversion of light to nerve signal)

Na+

Phototransduction (conversion of light to nerve signal)

Phototransduction (conversion of light to nerve signal)

Rhodopsin

Phototransduction (conversion of light to nerve signal)

Light
Change in photopigment
Metarodhopsin II
Activation of transducin ( g-protein)
Activation of phosphdiestrases
Decreased cGMP
Closure of Na channels
Hyperpolarization, decreased release of NTs
Action potential

Phototransduction (conversion of light to nerve signal)

Retinal receptor density

Fovea

Cones only
High color sensitivity
Low light sensitivity
Area of the sharpest image
formation
High receptor density

Color vision

Scyanolab
Chlorolab
Erythrolab

Color vision
Sunlight

Rain
drops

Visual processing in retina - Other cells

Retinada Grntnn lenmesi

Peripheral retina

Fovea

Horizontal Cells

Inhibitory cells
Lateral inhibition
Provides contrast

Horizontal Cells

Bipolar Cells

Inhibitory or
excitatory
Additional contrast
Sharpening of the
retinal image

Amacrine Cells

Interneurons
Different cell types;
Begining or end of the stimulus
Movement
Direct connection with rods
First analysis of visual data

Ganglion Cells
100 million rods + 3 million cones
1.6 million ganglion cells (convergence)
1 to 1 in fovea (sharp vision)
200 to 1 in peripheral retina (light sensitivity)
Types of ganglion cells:
W: 40%; 8m/sec, large reseptive areas

[coarse vision, detection of movement direction]

X: 55%; 14m/sec, small receptive areas

[sharp vision, color vision]

Y: 5%; 50m/sec, large receptive areas

[detection of rapid changes in viasual field]

Ganglion Cells

Color perception Color consistency

Color perception Color consistency

Renk Alglanmas Renk Tutarll

mavi

krmz

sar

krmz

Renk Alglanmas Renk Tutarll

mavi

krmz

sar

krmz

Vision pathways

Vision pathways Visual cortex

Light and Biorhythms Melanopsin Cells

Belenky, M.A., Smeraski, C.A., Provencio I., Sollars, P.J. and Pickard, G.E. (2003) Melanopsin
retinal ganglion cells receive bipolar and amacrine cell synapses. J. Comp. Neurol., 460, 380-393.

Finished...