Skip to main content

Optics and Vision

  • Chapter
  • 164 Accesses

Abstract

When I began teaching the optics of the eye to optometry students in 1935, most of the basic concepts of light and vision had already been discovered. In order to explain the developments which have occurred in my time, it will be helpful to review some of the early history. I have not tried to provide specific references in my review of the early history of the various topics; I have merely given dates for specific events and the years spanned by the lives of the various contributors. I want to identify as follows the historical reviews from which I have drawn material: Southall (1922, 1933, 1937), VON Helmholtz (1924), TTscherning (1924), Preston (1928), Bennett (1968), and Jenkins and White (1957).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

Names containing von are alphabetized in this list under v

  • Airy GB (1827) On a peculiar defect in the eye, and a mode of correcting it. Trans Camb Philos Soc 2:267–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Airy GB (1835) On the diffraction of an object glass with circular aperture. Trans Camb Philos Soc 5:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen MJ (1955) The stimulus to accommodation. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 32:422–431

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American National Standards Institute (1980) Nomenclature and definitions for illuminating engineering. (ANSI/IES RP-16–1980). Ilium Eng Society of North America, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ames A Jr (1925) Depth in pictorial art. The Art Bulletin 8:4–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedell HE, Enoch JM (1979) A study of the Stiles-Crawford (S-C) function at 35° in the temporal field and the stability of the foveal S-C peak over time. J Opt Soc Am 69:435–442

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bedford RE, Wyszecki GW (1957) Axial chromatic aberration of the eye. J Opt Soc Am 47:564–565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett AG (1968) Emsley and Swaine’s ophthalmic lenses, vol I. Hatton, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown N (1973) The change in shape and internal form of the lens of the eye on accommodation. Eye Res 15:441–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown PK, Wald G (1964) Visual pigments in single rods and cones of the human retina. Science 144:145–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byram GM (1944) Physical and photochemical basis of visual resolving power. J Opt Soc Am 34:571–591, 718–738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell FW, Green DG (1965) Optical and retinal factors affecting visual resolution. J Physiol 181:576–593

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell FW, Gubisch RW (1966) Optical quality of the human eye. J Physiol 186:558–578

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell FW, Westheimer G (1959) Factors influencing accommodation responses of the human eye. J Opt Soc Am 49:568–571

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coddington H (1829) A treatise of the reflection and refraction of light. Simpkins and Marshall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Vision Working Group 39 (1980) Recommended standard procedures for the clinical measurement and specification of visual acuity. Adv Ophthalmol 41:103–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Donders FC (1864) Accommodation and refraction of the eye. New Sydenham Society, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Drum B (1975) Additivity of the Stiles-Crawford effect for a Fraunhofer image. Vision Res 15:291–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duke-Elder (1949) Text-book of ophthalmology, vol IV. Mosby, St. Louis

    Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM (1957) Amblyopia and the Stiles-Crawford effect. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 34:298–308

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM (1963) Optical properties of the retinal receptors. J Opt Soc Am 53:71–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM, Fry GA (1958) Characteristics of a model retinal receptor studied at microwave frequencies. J Opt Soc Am 48:899–911

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM, Birch DG, Birch EE (1979) Monocular light exclusion for a period of days reduces directional sensitivity of human retina. Science 206:705–707

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM, Birch DG (1981) Inffered positive phototropic activity in human photoreceptors. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond Sci B. 291:323–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feder D (1951) Optical calculations with automatic computing machinery. J Opt Soc Am 41:630–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flieringa HJ, Van der Hoeve J (1924) Accommodation. Br J Ophthalmol 8:97–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fincham E (1937) The mechanism of accommodation. Br J Ophthalmol Monograph Supplement VIII

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RF (1971) The elastic constants of the human lens. J Physiol 212:147–180

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freytag G (1907) Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Brechungsindizes der Linse und der flüssigen Augenmedien des Menschen und höherer Tiere in verschiedenen Lebensaltern. J. F. Bergmann, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1946) Blurredness of the retinal image. Optom Wkly 37:1521–1523, 1537

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1955) Blur of the retinal image. Ohio State University Press, Columbus

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1959a) The image-forming mechanism of the eye. In: Field J (ed) Handbook of physiology, Neurophysiology I. Am Physiol Soc, 1:547–670

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1959b) The effect of age on the ACA ratio. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 36:299–303

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1965a) Physiological irradiation across the retina. J Opt Soc Am 55:108–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1965b) Distribution of focused and stray light on the retina produced by a point source. J Opt Soc Am 55:333–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1969) Geometrical optics. Chilton, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1970) The optical performance of the human eye. In: Wolf E (ed) Progress in optics, vol 8. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 51–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1976) Blur of the retinal image of an object illuminated by low pressure and high pressure sodium lamps. J Ilium Eng Soc 5:158–164

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1977) Sources suitable for use in illuminating visual acuity charts. In: Cool SJ, Smith EL III (eds) Frontiers of visual science. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 253–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1984a) The eye as an optical system. In: Grum F, Bartleson JC (eds) Optical radiation measurements, Vol V, Ch. 2. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1984b) The eye as a detector. In: Grum F, Bartleson JC (eds) Optical radiation measurements, Vd V, Ch. 3. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA (1983) Basic concepts underlying graphical analysis. In: Schor CM, Ciuffreda KJ (eds) Vergence eye movements: basic and clinical aspects. Butterworth, Woburn, MA, pp. 403–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA, Cobb PW (1935) A new method for determining the blurredness of the retinal image. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 423–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA, Hill WW (1962) The center of rotation of the eye. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 39:581–595

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry GA, Bridgman CS, Ellerbrock VJ, Allen MJ (1943) Means for measuring and compensating chromastereopsis with special reference to the MI height finder. Report from The Ohio State Univ. Res. Foundation Project 117 to the Natl Def Res Com

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauss KF (1838–1843) Dioptrische Untersuchungen. Abh Koen Ges Wiss Göttingen 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullstrand A (1924) Appendices to Part I. In: von Helmholtz H (1924) Treatise on physiological optics, vol I. Optical Society of America, Rochester

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubisch RW (1967) Optical performance of the human eye. J Opt Soc Am 57:407–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamasaki D, Ong J, Marg E (1956) The amplitude of accommodation in presbyopia. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 33:3–14

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hecht S, Shlaer S, Pirenne MH (1942) Energy, quanta, and vision. J Gen Physiol 25:819–840

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jampel RS (1960) Convergence, divergence, pupillary reactions, and accommodation of the eyes from faradic stimulation of the macaque brain. J Comp Neurol 115:371–399

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Javal LE (1891) Mémoires d’ophthalmométrie. Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins FA, White HE (1957) Fundamentals of optics. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapp H (1869) The influence of spectacles on the optical constants and visual acuteness of the eye. Arch Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1:377–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Koomen M J, Tousey R, Scholnik R (1949) The spherical aberration of the eye. J Opt Soc Am 39:370–376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laurance L (1926) Visual optics and sight testing. School of Optics, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Grand Y (1935) Sur le mesure de l’acuité visuelle au moyen de franges d’interférence. CR Acad Sci 200:490–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Grand Y (1967) Form and space vision. Indiana University Press., Bloomington

    Google Scholar 

  • Lommel E (1884) Die Beugungserscheinungen einer kreisrunden Öffnung und eines kreisrunden Schirmchens. Abh K. Bayer. Akad Wiss 15:229–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks WB, Dobelle WH, MacNichol EF (1964) Visual pigments of the primate retinal cones. Science 143:1181–1183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millodot M, Sivak JG (1979) The spherical aberration of the eye. Vision Res 19:685–687

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mote HG, Fry GA (1939a) The significance of Javal’s rule. Am J Optom 16:362–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Mote HG, Fry GA (1939b) Relation of the keratometric findings to the total astigmatism of the eye. Am J Optom 16:402–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Mündt H Jr, Hughes WF Jr (1956) Ultrasonics in ocular diagnosis. Am J Ophthalmol 41:488–498

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien B (1945) A theory of the Stiles-Crawford effect. J Opt Soc Am 36:506–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien B (1951) Vision and resolution in the retina. J Opt Soc Am 41:882–894

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • OSA Committee on Colorimetry (1953) The science of color. Crowell, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Page CH, Vigoureuv P (1974) The international system of units (SI). National Bureau of Standards special publication 330. National Bureau of Standards, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Pomerantzeff O (1975) Equator-plus camera. Invest Ophthalmol 14:401–406

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice CF (1900) Ophthalmic lenses, dioptric formulae for combined cylindrical lenses. The prism-dioptry and other optical papers. Keystone, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston T (1928) The theory of light, 5 th edn. Macmillan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayleigh JWS (1888) Wave theory of light. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 th ed. 14:421–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Röhler R (1962) Die Abbildungseigenschaften der Augenmedien. Vision Res 2:391–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rushton RH (1938) The clinical measurement of the axial length of the living eye. Trans Ophthalmol Soc 58:136–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Rushton WAH (1962) Visual pigments in man. Sci Am 207:120–132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivak JG, Millodot M (1975) Axial chromatic aberration of the crystalline lens. Atti Fond Giorgio Ronchi 30:173–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Southall JPC (1922) The beginnings of optical science. J Opt Soc Am 6:293–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southall JPC (1933) Mirrors, prisms, and lenses, 3 rd ed. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Southall JPC (1937) Introduction to physiological optics. Oxford University Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark L (1968) Neurological control systems. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Stiles WS, Crawford BH (1933) Luminous efficiency of rays entering the pupil at different points. Proc R Soc London [B] 112:428–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes GG (1849) On a mode of measuring the astigmatism of a defective eye. Rep Br Ass Advmt Sci, Part II, p. 10

    Google Scholar 

  • Toraldo Di Francia G (1949) Retina cones as dielectric antennas. J Opt Soc Am 39:324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troland LT (1917) On the measurement of visual stimulation intensities. J Exp Psychol 2:1–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tscherning M (1924) Physiologic optics. Keystone, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Hoven RC (1959) Partial cycloplegia and the accommodation-convergence relationship. Am J Optom Arch Am Acad Optom 36:21–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Helmholtz H (1924) A treatise on physiological optics, vol I. Optical Society of America, Rochester

    Google Scholar 

  • Yos J J, Walraven PL (1962) The Stiles-Crawford effect. A survey. Atti Fond Giorgio Ron- chi 17:302–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald G, Griffin DR (1947) The change in the refractive power of the human eye in dim and bright light. J Opt Soc Am 37:321–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weale RA (1965) Vision and fundus reflectometry. Doc Ophthalmol 19:252–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westheimer G (1960) Modulation thresholds for sinusoidal light distributions on the retina. J Physiol 152:67–74

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Westheimer G (1966) The Maxwellian view. Vision Res 6:669–682

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright WD (1947) Researches on normal and defective colour vision. Mosby, St. Louis

    Google Scholar 

  • Young T (1801) On the mechanism of the eye. Philos Trans R Soc Lond 91:23–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fry, G.A. (1984). Optics and Vision. In: Dawson, W.W., Enoch, J.M. (eds) Foundations of Sensory Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69425-7_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69425-7_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-69427-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69425-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics