Simulation and experimental research on luminance uniformity in full-field electroretinogram stimulators

Abstract

Full-field electroretinogram (ERG) is a technique to study the function of the retina. The Ganzfeld is the stimulator used to provide uniform light for light input to the visual system. This study aims to design an improved stimulator and study the effects of its illumination geometric parameters on luminance uniformity. The developed Ganzfeld model was simulated in software ASAP, and then built in the laboratory. An illumination tube with variable parameters was mounted on the integrating sphere to investigate the effects on luminance uniformity. A linear regression method was applied to predict the relationship between luminance uniformity and illumination geometric parameters using ANOVA analysis. The simulated results were verified by the experiments, showing no significant difference (p < 0.05). Illumination tube diameter and angle show positive effects on the luminance uniformity, while height negatively affects the luminance uniformity. An equation indicating the parameter effects was obtained, and optimized luminance uniformity was calculated.