Adaptometria de escuro para estudos de retina

Abstract

Vision is one of the most important senses of man. Many diseases that affect the sense of vision are related to the retina. Some of these diseases specifically affecting the photoreceptors, light-sensitive cells that is the first stage of vision. The examinations of dark adaptation have motivated interest in the study of mechanisms of retinal diseases. This exam directly accesses the functions of the photoreceptors by noninvasive methods. The technique consists in measuring the time to recovery of sensitivity of the retina after exposing the retina to a controlled amount of light. The dark adaptometry equipment is used to monitor the response of these cells to a light stimulus and then reveal some deficiency in the operation. This work describes the procedures, calculations, measurements and verifications necessary for the calibration of an existing dark adaptometer. This equipment was developed in the Image Laboratory at PUCRS, led by Professor Dario Azevedo, Ph.D. from a modified fundus camera. This dark adaptometer is able to test localized regions of the retina, while visualizing the regions of interest, and therefore compensating for any eye movements. For calibration of dark adaptometer, various calculations based on literature review was conducted. After using instruments such as spectrometer, radiometer, and light meter luminometer dark adaptometer was calibrated. The operation of each block that makes up this instrument was checked. Measurements of illuminance values of the light stimulus, retinal luminance attenuation of dark adaptometer, attenuation imposed by optical fiber, was observed throughout the range of attenuation filters (0 dB to 60 dB), also checked the operation of the wheels were made and a shutter that filters are controlled by the motor steps. The dark adaptometer met all specifications, i.e., the values set in the calculations in this work has been achieved.