Scotopic threshold responses to infrared irradiation in cats.
Infrared (IR) irradiation is frequently used in ophthalmological diagnosis and treatment. It has been used to selectively stimulate photodiode-based retinal prostheses to prove their function. Data concerning the natural IR-sensitivity of the retina are contradictory. In our experiments in dark-adapted cats an IR-laser (826 nm) and IR emitting diodes (875 nm) elicited clear scotopic threshold responses. Comparison of the two lasers (IR and a visible laser at 670 nm) using Lambs template and our experimental data revealed very similar differences in retinal sensitivity (4.28 and 3.94+/-0.29 log units, respectively). The fact that the cat retina is sensitive to IR-irradiation under certain conditions has important implications in interpreting the results from retinal prostheses and rewards further attention in its use in many ophthalmological applications.
Gekeler
Florian
F
University-Eye-Hospital, Schleichstrasse 12-16, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. gekeler@uni-tuebingen.de
Shinoda
Kei
K
Blatsios
Georgios
G
Werner
Annette
A
Zrenner
Eberhart
E
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000523:psychology*; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004596:Electroretinography; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012607:Scotoma; D012684:Sensory Thresholds