title: A novel sensor array for field based ocular ultraviolet radiation measurements.
abstract: The intensification of terrestrial solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) due to the diminution of the ozone layer has promoted a variety of research into establishing the impact of this elevated potential dose of UVR on biological tissues. Certain anterior ocular tissues have been found to be susceptible to damage by incident UVR and potentially blinding diseases such as pterygium are thought to be a direct result of absorbed UVR at the nasal limbus. There is a need for more accurate quantification and localisation of incident UVR at the anterior ocular surface. A novel solar blind photodiode sensor array system has been designed, constructed and tested for this purpose. Initial measurements to quantify the irradiance across the anterior ocular surface within the latitudes known as the 'pterygium belt' provide us with a set of core data for different head orientations and tilt angles and indicate the accuracy and stability of the system.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, Focas Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland. david.fleming@dit.ie
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bergmanson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays