2-4 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

distance from the fovea is increased, and they are usually connected in
groups to a single fiber of the optic nerve. Between 110 X 10
6
and 125
X
10
6
rods have been counted in the retina.
4
Scotopic {rod) vision begins to function when field brightnesses drop
below 0.01 footlambert. The gray appearance (regardless of color) of
objects under low illumination levels is one consequence. Because of the
coarse rod reception mosaic and the multiple connections of rods to single
nerve fibers, sharp images are not transmitted and objects appear as fuzzy
silhouettes. The optical axis for rod vision is removed by 5 to 10 degrees
from the fovea. As a result one usually sees best by somewhat averted
vision at low brightness levels.
10
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HOTOPIC)
F OD
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CONE
VISION
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38 0.42 0.46 0.50 0.54 0.58 0.62 0.66 0.70 0.74
WAVELENGTH IN MICRONS
1 micron
=
10,000 angstroms
=
1/10,000 centimeter
FIG. 2-2. Relative spectral sensitivity curves
for photopic (cone) and scotopic (rod) vision show-
ing the Purkinje effect on the wavelength of maxi-
mg the Furkinj
mum sensitivity
FIG. 2-3. In the rods, both
chemical and photochemical ac-
tivity has been observed involv-
ing rhodopsin, retinene, vitamin
A, and protein.
The macular pigment, a yellow layer covering the fovea and area immedi-
ately surrounding it, is believed to be one cause of the difficulty of obtain-
ing identical color matches from different observers. Since it varies in
color between individuals and appears to deepen in color with age, the
spectral composition of light that must pass through it before the cones
are stimulated will be modified and thus modify any judgement passed
by an observer making a color match.
The Photochemical Theory
Because of the complexity of the visual process, which includes many
uncontrollable variables, a complete investigation of most visual phe-
nomena is almost impossible at the present time. Nevertheless, sufficient
experimental evidence has been collected to justify the general acceptance
of the fundamental concepts of the photochemical theory of vision.
5