Seeing the reflection, refraction, dispersion, absorption, polarization, and scattering or diffraction of light within your own eye makes these properties of light truly personal. There are practical aspects of these within the eye phenomena, such as eye tracking for computer interfaces. They also offer some intriguing diversions, for example, being able to identify polarized light with the naked eye. Finally, some interesting features of the eye are revealed, like the presence of particles within the eye.
Topics
Computer interfaces
REFERENCES
1.
The Fresnel equations quantify the reflection as a function of the refractive indices.
2.
M. Tscherning, Physiologic Optics, 3rd ed. (Keystone Publishing Co., Philadelphia, 1920), pp. 50–56. (Available at: www.books. google.com.)
3.
G. J. Bull, “Lid pressure on the cornea,” in Transactions of the Eighth International Ophthalmological Congress, Second Sitting (University Press, Edinburgh, 1894), pp. 107–124. (Available at: www.books.google.com.)
4.
Ronald
Edge
and E. R.
Jones
, “Why do red and blue lines move in opposite directions
?” Phys. Teach.
22
, 462
–464
(Oct. 1984
).5.
R. D.
Edge
, “The optics of the eye lens
,” Phys. Teach.
27
, 392
–393
(May 1989
).6.
You may notice a slight displacement in the vertical black line due to the vertical alignment of the subpixels on a color LCD screen. I find I am able to use the chromatic aberration in my eye to just about cancel this out.
7.
David A. Atchison and George Smith, Optics of the Human Eye (Elsevier Health Sciences, Philadelphia, 2000), p. 182.
8.
Tos T. J. M.
Berendschot
and Dirk
van Norren
, “Macular pigment shows ringlike structures
,” Invest. Ophth. Vis. Sci.
47
, 709
–714
(2006
). (Available at: www.iovs.org.)9.
There are few to no receptors for blue light in the very center‐most part of our vision and this also helps counter the effects of chromatic aberration.
10.
Giles Skey Brindley, Physiology of the Retina and Visual Pathway, 2nd ed. (Edward Arnold Ltd., London, 1970), pp. 140–141.
11.
12.
Thomas J. T. P.
van den Berg
, Michiel P. J.
Hagenouw
, and Joris E.
Coppens
, “The ciliary corona: Physical model and simulation of the fine needles radiating from point light sources
,” Invest. Ophth. Vis. Sci.
46
, 2627
–2632
(2005
). (Available at: www. iovs.org.)13.
You can also see the shadow of the wrinkle in the cornea that results from squinting.
14.
Jearl
Walker
, “‘Floaters’: Visual artifacts that result from blood cells in front of the retina
,” Sci. Am.
246
(4
), 150
–162
(April 1982
).15.
Harvey E.
White
and Paul
Levatin
, “‘Floaters’ in the eye
,” Sci. Am.
206
(6
), 119
–127
bibliography 200 & 202 (June 1962
).
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2011 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2011
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
