2. RETINA
The retina is the innermost layer of the
eye.
It consists of photoreceptor cells that
convert light energy into nerve impulses.
These electrical signals are passed via
the optic nerve to the visual cortex allowing
us to visualise our surroundings.
3. RETINA LAYERS
The retina consists of layers, which can be
subcategorized into retinal pigmented
epithelium (RPE) and neural retina.
The RPE is a single layer of cuboidal
epithelial cells and located in the outermost
layer of the retina. It is responsible for the
nourishment and support of the neural
retina.
The tight junctions between the RPE cells
form part of the blood-retinal barrier, which
helps to prevent molecules passing from the
choroid into the retina. The RPE is also
involved in a visual cycle as it regenerates
photosensitive pigments.
4. LAYERS OF NEURAL RETINA
The neural retina consists of multiple layers.
The three main cells in the neural retina are
(from the outermost to innermost):
Photoreceptor cell
Bipolar cell
Retinal ganglion cell
5. The photoreceptors are involved
in phototransduction, a process of converting
light photons to an electrical impulse.
The impulse is then relayed by the bipolar
cell to the ganglion cell.
The axons of the ganglion cells then form
the nerve fibre layer of the retina, which exits
the eye as an optic nerve.
PHOTORECEPTOR CELL
Types of Photoreceptor
There are three main types of photoreceptors in the
human eyes called
Rods
cones
intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
6. RODES
Rods are much more sensitive to light than cones.
They can signal the absorption of a single photon!
Hence, they are mainly responsible for scotopic
vision (in low-light levels). However, as the light levels
increase their phototransduction cascades become
saturated and are unable to reflect changes in light
intensity.
In terms of their distribution, rods are found on the
outside of the fovea and contribute
to peripheral vision. Thus, patients with degenerative
changes of rod cells, such as retinitis pigmentosa, may
present with a symptom of night-blindness known as
nyctalopia and peripheral vision loss.
7. CONES
In contrast, cones are concentrated in the fovea –
the central part of this contains no rods. This is also
the part of the retina with the highest acuity of
vision. In contrast to rods, cones are much less
sensitive to light. Hence, they are solely responsible
for vision in the daylight.
The other main function of cones
is colour vision. It is mediated by three different
types of cones, which are sensitive to different
ranges of light wavelengths.
8. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal
ganglion cells:-
Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion
cells (ipRGCs), also called photosensitive
retinal ganglion cells (pRGC), or melanopsin-
containing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs), are
a type of neuron in the retina of
the mammalian eye.