Potential Therapeutic Efficacy of a Virtual Pupil Made of Polarizing Plates for Correction of Aniridia

Abstract

To investigate whether diagonally-placed polarizing plates can mimic a functional pupil using an artificial eye. An artificial eye system was used to evaluate the visibility of the fundus and the quality of vision associated with polarizing plates, an artificial iris with a pupillary hole, or a black-diaphragm intraocular lens. The transparency of various wavelengths of light through each material was also evaluated. The observational field was limited to the same extent through the artificial iris and when one polarizing plate with a pupillary hole and an intact polarizing plate were placed diagonally. The observational field could be widened as by a mydriatic pupil when the intact polarizing plate was removed, leaving the polarizing plate with the pupillary hole at the iris plane. The observational field limited through the black-diaphragm intraocular lens could not be changed. Visual quality was almost the same with the polarizing plates, artificial iris, or black-diaphragm intraocular lens. The strength of the light was slightly reduced when passed through one polarizing plate or two parallel polarizing plates. It was dramatically reduced when passed through two diagonal polarizing plates or a black-diaphragm. Diagonally placed polarizing plates can mimic a functional pupil using an artificial eye. If one polarizing plate with a pupillary hole is placed at the iris plane, a virtual pupil can be created by wearing polarizing glasses, and this system is controllable by wearing or removing the glasses. This system may be a suitable alternative treatment for aniridia.