Summary
This review covers absolute visual threshold and visual function in the context of clinical trials, with particular attention to the newly identified role of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) beyond non-image-forming functions. Understanding ipRGC contributions to vision is practically relevant for designing lighting environments that account for the full range of human photoreceptor responses, including in clinical and low-vision settings.
Key Findings
- ipRGCs, initially thought to be involved solely in non-image-forming functions (e.g., circadian photoentrainment and pupillary light reflex), are now recognized to contribute to visual function at or near absolute threshold.
- The review contextualizes photoreceptor biology—rods, cones, and ipRGCs—within clinical trial outcome measures, highlighting the importance of accounting for all photoreceptor classes when assessing visual function.
Categories
Eye Health & Vision: Reviews visual threshold and photoreceptor function including clinical outcomes relevant to retinal health and vision assessment.
The Science of Light: Discusses ipRGCs as an additional photoreceptor class, their properties, and their role in non-image-forming and image-forming visual functions.
Author(s)
MP Simunovic, JR Grigg, OA Mahroo
Publication Year
2022
Number of Citations
5
Related Publications
Eye Health & Vision
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Genetic reactivation of cone photoreceptors restores visual responses in retinitis pigmentosa
- Melanopsin and rod–cone photoreceptors play different roles in mediating pupillary light responses during exposure to continuous light in humans
- Characteristic patterns of dendritic remodeling in early-stage glaucoma: evidence from genetically identified retinal ganglion cell types
- Intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin retinal ganglion cell contributions to the pupillary light reflex and circadian rhythm
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice