The Visual Acuity Model Of The Artificial Retina On The Basis Of The Cone Cell Distribution

Abstract

Purpose: : Visual acuity of the artificial retina was predicted on the basis of the cone cell distribution investigated by Curcio CA et al. (J Comp Neurol. 1990 Feb 22;292(4):497-523) Macula usually deteriorated severely in all retinal layers in the recepients, pericentral visual acuities were simulated.

Methods: : The visual acuity was modeled as minimum discernable and minimum separable. Receptive field was designed as cone cell and bipolar cell to be matched one by one, and honeycomb-shape arrangement of the bipolar cell to ganglion cell. Minimum discernable model was considered as a solitary activation of one photoreceptor, and minimum separable model as two activated photoreceptors intervened by one inactive photoreceptor. Pericentral visual acuities between the visual angles of five to fifteen degrees were considered as the visual acuity that can be achieved by the artificial retina.

Results: : Pericentral visual acuity was about 20/80 in minimum discernable model, and about 20/200 in minimum separable model. This model was validated in normal volunteers by the peripheral visual acuity measurement program developed by the authors.

Conclusions: : Artificial retina may give useful visual acuity in the blind for the daily lives with its optimized condition.

Keywords: retina • visual acuity • computational modeling