Workshop on the role of psychophysics and physiological optics in ophthalmic diagnosis and patient evaluation. Bethesda, Md, September 19--20, 1976.

This article summarizes the proceedings of a workshop which explored new ideas and technology in optics and psychophysics which might be directed toward the diagnosis of retinal diseases and abnormalities of the visual nervous system. The workshop attempted to initiate an interaction between laboratory scientists and clinicians that would allow them to evaluate which techniques in psychophysics and physiological optics were ready for clinical exploration. Workshop participants examined four broad clinical areas toward which this technology might be directed: (1) localization of anomalies in disorders of the retina; (2) evaluation of patients with common eye diseases; (3) prevention of visual disorders and optimization of visual functions, and (4) acquisition of normative data. Whithin these four broad areas, a number of specific diagnostic applications of psychophysical and optical measurement methods were discussed. Participants also discussed mechanisms by which the National Eye Institute might coordinate laboratory and clinical research in this field.