ABSTRACT
The hypothesis that retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is worsened by blue light has been raised a century ago. In order to check this hypothesis we calculated the theoretical dose distribution of light on the retinal surface. The relative dose to the different parts of the retina was calculated using a Monte-Carlo method. The changes in the peripheral isopters were calculated both degrading at a constant rate and degrading proportionally to light exposure. There is a considerably greater exposure to the superior compared to the inferior visual field. The maximum dose of UV and blue light is located on the superior field about 4mm above the macula. The dose received by the peripheral retina is markedly lower than the dose received by the central retina. The visual field defects most commonly described in RP are concentric, centered by the macula. These defects cannot, therefore, be explained by the impact of light on the retina. But some regional form of RP with a superior field defect can result from an abnormal genetically encoded sensitivity to ultraviolet and blue light.
Subject(s)
Light , Retinitis Pigmentosa/physiopathology , Visual Fields , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Monte Carlo MethodABSTRACT
Mueller matrices of dense aqueous suspensions of different concentrations are measured with a phase-modulated Mueller ellipsometer as a function of the scattering angle. Different concentrations of a solution containing 404-nm-diameter polystyrene latex spheres dispersed in water were prepared. Experimental results are compared with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation of the propagation of photons with the cell geometry accounted for. The Fresnel laws and the Mie theory determine the changes in direction and polarization during the propagation of the photon. Excellent agreement over the whole angular range is found between experimental and simulated Mueller matrices.
ABSTRACT
The computation of the scattering properties of cirrus cloud ice crystals by the ray-tracing approach is described. A light beam is represented by its Stokes quadrivector I, which describes intensity as well as polarization, and the scattering properties of particles (molecules, droplets, or ice crystals) are introduced by means of a 4 x 4 transformation matrix M known as the Mueller matrix, or M matrix. Obtaining such a matrix for each kind of particle gives access to a complete description of the scattering medium. Most computations of the M matrices of cirrus ice crystals have introduced several simplifying hypotheses, by using basic shapes, by assuming a random orientation of the particles, or both. The present study focuses on the calculation of the complete M matrix for a specific shape of particles (i.e., hexagonally based crystals) either with optional oscillation about the horizontal plane or with random orientation. The validity of the computation code is checked against specific well-known cases for randomly oriented particles. For horizontally oscillating particles the computation of this matrix is a new result. Sensitivity of the M matrix to the following variables is studied: refractive index, amplitude of oscillation, particle shape and size, and angle of incidence.