Visual Physiology and Importance in Radiology Image illumination

Two types of vision, photoscopic and scotopic. Photoscopic vision is daylight

vision currently the way fluoroscopy is seen. Scotopic visions is nighttime vision
where a darkened room or special goggles helped seeing. Radiologist had to adapt their
vision to seeing images in the dark. Now with the development of image intensifiers
radiologist do not need to wait 15min in a dark room to dark adapt their eyes,
meaning activation of the rods in the periphery of the retina.
In the development of fluoroscopy equipment and the earlier images produced
were very dim. The eye can adapt to many levels of light and the illumination that the eye
can see is measured in lumens or candelas per meter squared (Cd/m^2 or lumen/m^2 also
called lux) This pertains to monitor viewing and is the unit of measurement of any
luminescence.
With the development of equipment images were dim and difficult to view. The
dark adapt method was needed to activate the rods and required preparation prior to
seeing patient. The dark adapt method was needed to activate rods when the dimly lit
luminescence from the glass fluorescent plate would glow with the image. The risk of
missing detail was higher with rod vision. The goal for better image diagnosis is to
have the cones activated. For cones to be activated, image brightness needed to increase.
Images needed to be made brighter and more protection for the person looking at the
dynamic image directly also so they could be out of the direct source of radiation.