| The pupillary light reflex (PLR) is mediated by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglions cells (ipRGCs), a sub-group of retinal ganglion cells that contain photopigment melanopsin. Melanopsin activation drives a sustained pupil constriction after the offset of light stimulus, this so-called post-illumination pupil response (PIPR) is an in vivo index of melanopsin-driven ipRGC photoactivity. PIPR can be assessed by chromatic pupillometry, but consensus on a standardized PIPR testing protocol has not been reached yet. The purpose of this thesis is to develop an optimized PIPR testing methodology, and to use it to investigate clinical and basic science questions related to melanopsin and ipRGCs. Based on previous pilot work on full-field chromatic pupillometry, a new and repeatable method was developed to measure PIPR induced by hemifield, central-field and full-field light stimulation. This chromatic pupillometry system was then used to investigate a series of basic science and clinical questions related to melanopsin and ipRGCs. |
