Effect of Retinal Image Motion on Visual Acuity

Abstract

An attempt to correlate visual acuity measurements with eye movements has been made. The Linear Filter theory (applicable only as far as small retinal illumination increments are concerned) has been applied to the system, eye/lens/retina. A description of the transmission of spatial information over a single-channel system has been performed. This requires translation of intensity functions into one-dimensional time-functions by the scanning motion of the eye. An image sharpening mechanism of the eye can be related to an overall sine wave response characteristic which decreases at very low line numbers. In this way, the visual acuity of single-line targets can be explained.