Abstract

The directional sensitivity of the retina is the joint result of many interacting factors, including the angular tuning of individual cones, the variation in tilt among different cones, and the scattering of light in the inner layers of the retina en route to the cones. Cone disarray and retinal scatter degrade the absolute sensitivity of the retina as well as broadening the Stiles-Crawford effect. Optical and psycho-physical sources of evidence are reviewed which suggest that retinal scatter and cone disarray, though measurable and functionally significant in many contexts, are not sufficient to make the normal distribution of visual sensitivity over the pupil much broader than is implied by the angular tuning of individual cones.

© 1993 Optical Society of America