Abstract

The background of the human eye consists of a variety of layers, which have slightly different optical properties. The change in refractive index between the aqueous humor and the internal limiting membrane of the retina results in a specular reflection of light incident on this layer. The state of polarization of this specularly reflected light is generally maintained. However, the polarization state of light being scattered from deeper retinal layers is changed. In general, the light detected in an ophthalmoscope is a combination of specularly and diffusely reflected light of several retinal layers.

© 1990 Optical Society of America