Retinal illuminance using a wide-angle model of the eye.

A computer model of relative retinal illuminance, based on our optical wide-angle model of the eye, is proposed for the cases of Ganzfeld illumination and the Maxwellian view through a range of visual field angles from 0 degrees to 80 degrees. The proposed model is designed to be functionally correct and to represent closely the anatomical parameters of the eye. Unlike earlier proposed models, this model is based on our previously reported measurements of spherical aberration in 100 eyes in vivo and is designed to be correct in the peripheral field and with large pupils. Data are reported for pupil diameters of 2, 4, and 8 mm. The effect of crystalline lens extinction on retinal illumination is also estimated for average eyes of young (age 19 years) and old (age 63 years) individuals at two wavelengths (410 and 532 nm). In the Ganzfeld case, illumination of the retina decreases with increasing visual angle. In the Maxwellian view, retinal illuminance increases with increasing visual angle.