Visual Exam 2022 - Student Summary

1) Which of the following are correct (4 points):

- The reduced eye is a simplified model of the ocular optical system, with a single
refracting surface and a uniform refractive index.
- Because the difference in refractive index between air and the cornea is much
greater than between water and the cornea, we become very far-sighted underwater
when diving without diving goggles
- Our eye has various higher order optical errors (“aberrations”)due to which the image
quality on the retina decreases when the pupil is big
- In humans, visual acuity with very small pupils is limited by the diffraction of the light
at the pupil opening

2) How does the human eye manage to focus on near objects? Briefly explain how and
why this ability changes from childhood to late adulthood. Use the correct
terminology (no more than 6 lines) (4 points)

3) Which of the following statements are correct? (4 points)

- Eccentric photorefraction can be used to measure the refractive state of the eye
without patient-feedback
- For optical coherence tomography (OCT), some broadband infrared light is required,
as the coherence length is then large and the position of reflecting interfaces in the
depth of the retina can be determined.
- The electroretinogram (ERG) is a record over time of the light-induced change in the
voltage measured between the corneal surface and a reference electrode on the skin
of the skull.
- The ERG a-wave originates in the inner retina and reflects the activity of the ganglion
cells.

4) Which of the following statements regarding color vision are correct (4 points)
- Mammals typically have two different types of cones
- Night vision is mediated by cones.
- Trichromats can distinguish less colors than Dichromats
- The density of cones is highest in the fovea

5) Photoreceptors are neurons highly specialized for photon capture, signal

amplification, and transmission to second order neurons of the inner retina. Describe
the general structure and composition of photoreceptor cells and their four main
subdivisions. What functions do each of these subdivisions fulfill? (~1/2 page) (4
points)

6) a. Draw a simple schematic of the mammalian retina with the 5 major classes of
neurons. (Specialized types, such as ‘All amacrine cells’, ‘starburst amacrine cells’ or
‘direction-selective ganglion cells’ are not required here!) (2 points)
 b. Label the 5 classes of neurons and indicate (1) the direction of light hitting the
retina and (2) the vertical (glutamatergic) signal flow in the retina from the light detecting
neurons to the output neurons. (2 points)

7) Which of the following statements are correct? (4 points)

- Ganglion cells are output neurons of the retina. Their axons form the optic nerve and
are used to send the information about the visual environment to higher regions of
the brain.
- For night vision, cone photoreceptors play an important role because they are much
more sensitive than rod photoreceptors and can detect starlight.
- In the mouse retina, the direction of moving objects in the visual environment can be
detected by a specific amacrine cell/ganglion cell circuit.
- Parallel pathways (e.g. for speed and chromatic information) in the visual system
start with the divergence of the light signal at the cone photoreceptor-to-cone biplar
cell synapse.

8) Describe how the primary visual cortex (V1) contributes to the process of figure-
ground segmentation (both as a function of time from image onset as well as a
function of the different layers of the corex (~½ page). (4 points)

9) What functional differences between the superior colliculus (SC) and primary visual
cortex (V1) can you describe? How are the two areas similar, and how are they
different? And how are they anatomically connected? Describe the roles of the two
areas in as much detail as possible (½ page). (4 points)

10) What pattern of visual field loss would a patient experience if their optic tract on one
side of the brain (e.g. right) was severed, and why? (2 points)

11) What is the difference between corollary discharge and proprioception, and how
might they both aid in vision? (2 points)

12) Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) is one mechanism by which

the eye achieves immune privilege. Which of the two following statements are
correct? (4 points)

13) a. Which are the two main risk loci associated with developing AMD? (1 point)
b. What are the three pathways of complement activation, and which of these is
strongly associated with AMD? (1 point)
c. Briefly describe the role of the complement protein, factor H, in regulating
complement activation, and how does this go wrong in AMD? (1 point)
d. Which other organ, apart from the eye, suffers from disease associated with
mutations in the CFH gene (1)? (1 point)

14) With respect to the biological function of genes causing hereditary eye diseases,
genes coding for proteins that are involved in ciliary trafficking are among the largest
group. Please explain briefly why (~½ page) (4 points)