Topic: Physics

Scientists from University at Buffalo have used quantum optics to make a rare visual phenomenon in the eye easier to see. This could lead to a new way to test retinal health.

Modern life depends on quantum physics, which makes technologies like GPS navigation and computer chips possible. Now, scientists are using this same science to help us understand our eyes better. A team from University at Buffalo has used a technique from quantum optics to make Boehm's brushes easier to see.

Boehm's brushes are faint, two-lobed patterns that sometimes appear in peripheral vision when polarized light scatters off structures in the retina. People with retinal disease may be less likely to perceive them, so scientists have long wondered if they could serve as a biomarker of retinal health. However, Boehm's brushes are often too hard to see, even for people with healthy eyes.

The researchers used a specially engineered form of polarized light called structured light. This type of light is developed for quantum optics and is used in microscopy and precision sensing. Unlike ordinary polarized light, its carefully arranged polarization pattern better matches the symmetry of structures in the retina. When this light reached the retina, Boehm's brushes appeared larger, brighter, and more complex.

The experiments were done at the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. Participants viewed the structured light through an optical setup similar to a traditional eye exam and answered questions about what they saw.

Why It Matters

This discovery could lead to a new way to test retinal health, which is important for people in India who are at risk of macular degeneration due to increasing rates of diabetes and aging population.

Key Facts

• Scientists from University at Buffalo used quantum optics to make Boehm's brushes easier to see.
• Boehm's brushes are faint, two-lobed patterns that appear in peripheral vision when polarized light scatters off structures in the retina.
• The researchers used structured light, a specially engineered form of polarized light developed for quantum optics and used in microscopy and precision sensing.
• The experiments were done at the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo with 12 healthy volunteers.
• The goal is to use Boehm's brushes as a biomarker of retinal health to test people with retinal diseases.

Key Terms

Quantum optics

A branch of physics that studies the behavior of light and its interactions with matter at the quantum level.

Implications

This discovery could lead to a new way to test retinal health, which is important for people in India who are at risk of macular degeneration due to increasing rates of diabetes and aging population.