PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M C Campbell

Publications and source records attributed to M C Campbell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The development of the crystalline lens is sensitive to visual input in the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni.

We investigated whether the development of the vertebrate crystalline lens is sensitive to visual input. The optical properties of fish lenses were examined as a function of lens size and the optical rearing conditions. Fish (Haplochromis burtoni, Cichlidae) were reared in white light (control group), under spectral deprivation (monochromatic lights), deprivation of the cone system (scotopic illumination), and complete visual deprivation (darkness). Longitudinal spherical aberrations (LSAs) and refractive index profiles of the lenses were measured with thin laser beams. The performance of the lens was modeled by ray-tracing calculations from measured LSAs. In lenses from the control group, LSA and f/R (focal length relative to lens radius) decreased as a function of age. The optical properties of the lenses were modified after rearing in darkness, scotopic illumination, and in monochromatic lights due to changes in the refractive index profile. Rearing in darkness and scotopic illumination reduced the optical quality of the lens. In animals reared under spectral deprivation, the lens did not create well-focused images for all spectral cone types in the same plane, as it does in animals reared in white light. We conclude that visual input seems to play an important role in the development of the lens. The control mechanisms remain unknown.

Animals↗

Multifocal lenses compensate for chromatic defocus in vertebrate eyes.

The focal length of the vertebrate eye is a function of wavelength, i.e. the eye suffers from longitudinal chromatic aberration. Chromatic defocus is a particularly severe problem in eyes with high light-gathering ability, since depth of field is small due to a pupillary opening that is large in relation to the focal length of the eye. Calculations show that in such eyes only a narrow spectral band of light can be in focus on the retina. For the major part of the visual spectrum, spatial resolution should be limited by the optics of the eye and far lower than the resolving power achievable by the retinal cone photoreceptor mosaic. To solve this problem, fishes with irises unresponsive to light have developed lenses with multiple focal lengths. Well-focused images are created at the wavelengths of maximum absorbance of all spectral cone types. Multifocal lenses also appear to be present in some terrestrial species. In eyes with mobile irises, multifocal lenses are correlated with pupil shapes that allow all zones of the lens, with different refractive powers, to participate in the imaging process, irrespective of the state of pupil constriction.

Animals↗

Biometric, optical and physical changes in the isolated human crystalline lens with age in relation to presbyopia.

The biometric, optical and physical properties of 19 pairs of isolated human eye-bank lenses ranging in age from 5 to 96 years were compared. Lens focal length and spherical aberration were measured using a scanning laser apparatus, lens thickness and the lens surface curvatures were measured by digitizing the lens profiles and equivalent refractive indices were calculated for each lens using this data. The second lens from each donor was used to measure resistance to physical deformation by providing a compressive force to the lens. The lens capsule was then removed from each lens and each measurement was repeated to ascertain what role the capsule plays in determining these optical and physical characteristics. Age dependent changes in lens focal length, lens surface curvatures and lens resistance to physical deformation are described. Isolated lens focal length was found to be significantly linearly correlated with both the anterior and posterior surface curvatures. No age dependent change in equivalent refractive index of the isolated lens was found. Although decapsulating human lenses causes similar changes in focal length to that which we have shown to occur when human lenses are mechanically stretched into an unaccommodated state, the effects are due to nonsystematic changes in lens curvatures. These studies reinforce the conclusion that lens hardening must be considered as an important factor in the development of presbyopia, that age changes in the human lens are not limited to the loss of accommodation that characterizes presbyopia but that the lens optical and physical properties change substantially with age in a complex manner.

Adolescent↗

Presbyopia and the optical changes in the human crystalline lens with age.

Lenses from 27 human eyes ranging in age from 10 to 87 years were used to determine how accommodation and age affect the optical properties of the lens. A scanning laser technique was used to measure focal length and spherical aberration of the lenses, while the lenses were subjected to stretching forces applied through the ciliary body/zonular complex. The focal length of all unstretched lenses increased linearly with increasing age. Younger lenses were able to undergo significant changes in focal length with stretching, whereas lenses older than 60 years of age showed no changes in focal length with stretching. These data provide additional evidence for predominantly lens-based theories of presbyopia. Further, these results show that there are substantial optical changes in the human lens with increasing age and during accommodation, since both the magnitude and the sign of the spherical aberration change with age and stretching. These results show that the optical properties of the older presbyopic lens are quite different from the younger, accommodated lens.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

An infrared eccentric photo-optometer.

An objective infrared optometer has been designed, based on the optical principles of eccentric photorefraction. A CCD camera with an eccentric infrared light source images the subject's pupil through a Badal optometer. The slope of the light distribution across the pupil is continuously recorded. Accommodative state is measured by moving the camera behind the Badal lens until the slope is zero. This position corresponds to the case where the camera is conjugate with the retina of the observer. In this Badal optometer, the irradiance of light at the pupil plane, the sensitivity of the photorefractor, and the focal setting of the camera lens remain constant for all positions of the camera from the eye. The repeatability of a single measure of refractive state in a cyclopleged eye was less than 0.05 D. Static accommodative responses taken from 3 subjects in both closed and open loop conditions provided expected stimulus/response measures. The instrument can also be adapted to measure dynamic accommodation.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Slope-based eccentric photorefraction: theoretical analysis of different light source configurations and effects of ocular aberrations.

A geometrical-optical technique is used to predict the changes in the slope of the eccentric-photorefraction intensity profiles as a function of refractive state. We investigate how the intensity profiles vary with refractive state for different light source configurations and monochromatic aberrations in the eye. The best possible light source configuration extends from zero eccentricity (to increase sensitivity and reduce the dead zone) to a high eccentricity (to increase the working range). An advantage of using the extended light source is that the intensity profile of the eccentric-photorefraction reflex is more linear for extended sources than for point light sources. It is also shown that the change in slope with refractive state is dependent on pupil size. Furthermore, when asymmetric aberrations are present, the change in intensity profile slope with refractive state is dependent on the circumferential position of the light source, but this dependence can be resolved by averaging slope values obtained by using two sources placed on opposite sides of the pupil. The importance of this study to existing eccentric-photorefractor designs is discussed, and recommendations for improved eccentric photorefractors are suggested.

Color Vision Defects↗

Effect of monochromatic aberrations on photorefractive patterns.

Photorefractive methods have become popular in the measurement of refractive and accommodative states of infants and children owing to their photographic nature and rapid speed of measurement. As in the case of any method that measures the refractive state of the human eye, monochromatic aberrations will reduce the accuracy of the measurement. Monochromatic aberrations cannot be as easily predicted or controlled as chromatic aberrations during the measurement, and accordingly they will introduce measurement errors. This study defines the error or uncertainty by extending the existing paraxial optical analyses of coaxial and eccentric photorefraction. This new optical analysis predicts that, for the amounts of spherical aberration (SA) reported for the human eye, there will be a significant degree of measurement uncertainty introduced for all photorefractive methods. The dioptric amount of this uncertainty may exceed the maximum amount of SA present in the eye. The calculated effects on photorefractive measurement of a real eye with a mixture of spherical aberration and coma are shown to be significant. The ability, developed here, to predict photorefractive patterns corresponding to different amounts and types of monochromatic aberration may in the future lead to an extension of photorefractive methods to the dual measurement of refractive states and aberrations of individual eyes.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Geometrical theory to predict eccentric photorefraction intensity profiles in the human eye.

In eccentric photorefraction, light returning from the retina of the eye is photographed by a camera focused on the eye's pupil. We use a geometrical model of eccentric photorefraction to generate intensity profiles across the pupil image. The intensity profiles for three different monochromatic aberration functions induced in a single eye are predicted and show good agreement with the measured eccentric photorefraction intensity profiles. A directional reflection from the retina is incorporated into the calculation. Intensity profiles for symmetric and asymmetric aberrations are generated and measured. The latter profile shows a dependency on the source position and the meridian. The magnitude of the effect of thresholding on measured pattern extents is predicted. Monochromatic aberrations in human eyes will cause deviations in the eccentric photorefraction measurements from traditional crescents caused by defocus and may cause misdiagnoses of ametropia or anisometropia. Our results suggest that measuring refraction along the vertical meridian is preferred for screening studies with the eccentric photorefractor.

Computer Simulation↗

Structure and expression of the cDNA for the C isozyme of phosphofructo-1-kinase from rabbit brain.

Rabbit brain contains three phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK) isozymic subunits designated A, B, and C. The primary structures of the first of these two isozyme types have been determined previously. The isozyme C of rabbit brain was isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography and subjected to proteolytic and chemical digestion. A large number of peptides were sequenced, the total number of amino acids identified being equal to about 80% of the total structure. The sequence of the cDNA derived from brain mRNA for C isozyme was determined from polymerase chain reaction fragments synthesized using oligonucleotides designed on the basis of the peptide sequences. The deduced size of the C isozyme was 86,371 Da, slightly larger than PFKs described previously. The amino acid sequence identity with the rabbit A isozyme was 68.9% and a range of identity to other sequenced mammalian PFKs was 67-69%. Using these data plus previously published data on chemical modification, assignments of the 6 organic ligand binding sites of PFK were inferred. The full-length cDNA was cloned into and expressed in Escherichia coli. Phosphofructokinase C was purified to homogeneity from the bacterial extracts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Growth and optical development of the ocular lens of the squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).

Lens focal properties (spherical aberration), diameter and relative anterior/posterior proportions were measured photographically for Japanese squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) at ages 4-6 weeks, 7-9 weeks and 7-8 months. The measures involved photographing the refractive effects of lenses in a physiological solution, with and without an index matching fluid (polyvinylpyrroloidone solution), on a parallel array of fine helium-neon laser beams. Spherical aberration was determined from measurement of back vertex distance. Similar measurements were made on lenses from the eyes of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). The cephalopod lens develops as hemispheric halves from separate ectodermal sources. The posterior component contributes, on average, about 60% of axial lens diameter in S. lessoniana of all ages and 55% in S. officinalis. However, these proportions vary widely in both species. All lenses of both species show that spherical aberration is neutralized, although small variations in back vertex distance (positive and negative spherical aberration) were measured. Preliminary measures indicate that the refractive index distribution within the cephalopod lens varies in a manner reminiscent of teleost lenses. Squid lenses from animals 7-9 weeks of age were optimally corrected for spherical aberration. Some squid of this age, from a separate tank, showed a high incidence of cataract development. In each case, lens opacification was caused by deterioration of the posterior lens component.

Aging↗

Refractive index distribution and spherical aberration in the crystalline lens of the African cichlid fish Haplochromis burtoni.

Refractive index distribution in the teleost crystalline lens was measured with a nondestructive method in freshly excised lenses of the African teleost fish Haplochromis burtoni. Independently, spherical aberration was measured in a parallel set of lenses. The measured refractive index profiles show a continual decrease of refractive index from the center to the surface of the lens. The H. burtoni lens is of high optical quality and slightly overcorrected for spherical aberration. Details of the small residual spherical aberration were accurately predicted by ray-tracing model calculations based on the measured refractive index profile. The refractive index profile and the spherical aberration both show more complex characteristics than suggested by earlier measurements and lens models.

Animals↗

The influence of chromatic aberration on the static accommodative response.

Previous measurements of static accommodation have consistently shown steady state errors over most of the range; the response lags below the stimulus and, at low levels, the response leads the stimulus. A series of experiments is presented in which the longitudinal and, for the first time, transverse chromatic aberrations of the eye were varied and the resultant stimulus-response functions of accommodation were measured. The results show that the steady state error of accommodation is not influenced by manipulations of the magnitude or the direction of either longitudinal or transverse chromatic aberration. This indicates that a particular wavelength is not preferentially focussed on the retina as a function of stimulus level and supports the negative feedback theory of accommodation.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

The Julius F. Neumueller Award in Optics, 1989: change of pupil centration with change of illumination and pupil size.

Pupil centration is important to the optical blur on the retina. Using a dual Maxwellian view system we measured the centration of the pupil with respect to the achromatic axis of the eye as a function of pupil size. Significant shifts of the pupil center (up to 0.6 mm) with pupil dilation were measured in both nasal and temporal directions. The effect was usually symmetrical between the two eyes and the shift was linear with pupil size in one-half of the subjects. From their initial positions the linear pupil center shifts with dilation were in the direction of the achromatic axis.

Analysis of Variance↗

Geometrical optical analysis of photorefractive methods.

Photorefractive methods allow rapid measures of the refractive and accommodative state of infants and young children whose brief attention and co-operation limit the use of more traditional methods such as retinoscopy and autorefraction. Three methods have been defined: orthogonal, isotropic and eccentric. We provide a common geometrical optical analysis for these three methods where the photorefractive pattern is defined at the plane of focus of the camera. Since this plane is conjugate with the detector plane of the camera then the critical optical parameters can be defined without reference to the design of the camera by simply determining the relative magnification of the projected image of an object photographed at the camera's plane of focus. Specifically the pattern width CF (mm) over a photorefractor's working range can be defined for the isotropic and orthogonal methods as: [formula: see text] and for the eccentric method as: [formula: see text] where: K is a myopic refractive error of the eye (dioptres) (K Less than 0); P the distance of the flash source to the eye (dioptres); L the distance in front of the eye of the camera's plane of focus (dioptres) (L less than 0); GH the pupil diameter (mm); e the eccentricity of the flash source from the camera aperture (mm); M magnification of the image measured relative to the camera plane of focus.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

The effect of a progesterone/estradiol ear implant on the performance of young beef steers.

A progesterone/estradiol ear implant was tested over a 84 d feedlot period on 96 young Bonsmara steers which were randomly allocated to implant and control groups. Animals were adapted over 5 d to a complete feed formulated to South African feedlot standards. Health aberrations were observed and feed intake, mass gain and slaughter data were recorded. The implant group elicited a 23.2 kg gain per animal (P less than 0.01). Mean treatment feed intakes varied marginally but the implant group showed a 14.91% feed to gain improvement over controls. Warm carcass dressing percentage showed an overall improvement of 4.96% for both groups. Bloat incidence was calculated at 0.98% over 8,064 cattle feedlot days. Mortality was 2.08% and 12 animals were considered to be chronic bloaters. This may have been due to the high proportion of fine particles in the diet. A composite feed sample revealed that 62.48% consisted of particle lengths of 0.5-4mm. The effect of this on ruminal health is briefly discussed. It is concluded that the progesterone/estradiol implant provided greater mass gain and improved feed to gain ratios for treated steers over a control group.

Animal Feed↗

The optical transverse chromatic aberration on the fovea of the human eye.

The horizontal component of optical transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) at the fovea between 486 and 656 nm is measured in a sample of 8 eyes by two novel methods, both using vernier adjustment tasks with a retinal illumination of approx. 780 td and for a pupil size of approximately 5.5 mm dia. Initially, in an indirect method, TCA is derived along the line of sight from chromatic parallax. Secondly, TCA is measured directly using a semi-Maxwellian view and compensating for longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA). Both techniques are unaffected by coma or by the Stiles-Crawford effects, thus optical TCA rather than the TCA perceived in normal view is measured. On average, optical TCA is in the same direction but less than previously predicted by eye models and predictions of the optical quality of the eye in white light are modified. Factors underlying the lower average value of optical TCA and variability among subjects, especially pupil centration and foveal position, are discussed. The relationship of optical TCA to TCA perceived in normal view and to chromostereopsis is analysed. The results suggest that the optical design of the human eye is optimized to reduce the wavelength dependent phase shift in the optical transfer function, which could be produced by optical TCA.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Psychophysical measurement of the blur on the retina due to optical aberrations of the eye.

The blur on the retina in the horizontal meridian due to monochromatic and chromatic aberrations has been measured using a novel psychophysical technique. Longitudinal chromatic aberration gives the dominant blur for pupil sizes of 4-5 mm, followed by monochromatic aberrations, and blur due to optical transverse chromatic aberration. In some eyes, coma was present as a result of a displacement of the axis of symmetry from the centre of the pupil, but in three eyes, coma was present without spherical aberration. The technique also allows a measurement of the effective pupil centre relative to the geometric centre and a partial analysis of the relative positions of the reference axes of the eye.

Adolescent↗