The Human Eye and Vision

• The structure of the eye • The Retina

– Iris – Photoreceptors
– Cornea – Processing time
– Lens – Sensitivity

• Focusing
– Cornea
– Accommodation
 Structure of the Eye

The iris is roughly equivalent to the diaphragm in a camera, the

cornea and the lens are both lens-like objects, and the retina is
where the image is recorded, similar to a CCD sensor or film.
Structure of the Eye: Iris
• The iris is similar to the diaphragm
in a camera

• Your iris widens in dim light and

narrows in bright light

• The f-number of your eye varies

from f/2 (large opening) to f/8
(small opening)

• Compare this to the range of an

average camera lens, which may
have f-numbers from f/2.8 to f/22.
 Introduction
As we know that almost all human activities
depends on light. Sun is a prime natural source
of light but artificial lighting plays almost main
role in our daily life. These artificial lights are
produced by mechanical lamps and electrical
lamps.
But due to poor performance the mechanical light
are totally replaced by electrical lights. The
electrical lighting are mainly used for decorative
purpose, advertising, traffic control , medical
field and street lighting etc.
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 Sensitivity of Human Eye
As we know natural light consists of seven colors
having different wavelengths. The average
human eye is most sensitive to a wave length
of 5500 0A.
The relative sensitivity of eye for a particular
wave length is the visual effect produced by
the light on the average human eye as
compared with the effect of light having wave
length 5500 0A on human eye.
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 light
• That part of radiant energy from
a hot body which produced the
visual sensation on human eye is
called light.

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 Visual Perception
Visual field
visual field may be divided into three
zones
a.Area of distinct vision: Vertical angle 1
degree----- zone of sharp vision
b.Middle field: Vertical angle 40 degree
-------- vision unsharp
c.Outer field: Vertical angle 40-70 degree
------ movements perceptible
 Accommodation
Accommodation means the ability of the eye to
bring into sharp focus objects at varying
distances from infinity down to the nearest
point of distinct vision (the near point)
 Age and Accommodation
The eye lens gradually looses it elasticity with
age. As a result the near point gradually
recedes while the far point remains
unchanged.
Age Near Point
1 16 years 80mm
2 32 years 125mm
3 44 years 250mm
4 50 years 500mm
5 60 years 1000mm
 Lighting and Accommodation
When light is poor
1. Near point recedes (the iris opens; cannot focus
near objects)
2. far points moves nearer (can see comparatively
nearer objects)
3. Speed and precision of accommodation are
reduced
4. Contrast background gives quicker and more
precise accommodation
 Aperture of Pupil
As more light falls, the iris (which controls
opening) contracts during day light the aperture
diameter is 3-5 mm and during night it
increases to 7-8mm.
Also, the pupil contracts when near objects are
focused and opens when the eye is relaxed.
The pupil contracts under fatigue and sleepiness
and dilates under strong emotions, joy or pain
or deep thought.
 Adaptation of Retina
Car head lights dazzle at night but not in day
light. In a darkened cinema hall, if we go from
day light, we see very little but after a few
minutes objects gradually become visible.
 Visual Capacity
The most important function of the eye are:
a. Acuteness of vision
b. Sensitivity to contrast
c. Speed of perception
 Acuteness of vision
it is the ability to see the finest details of objects
and surfaces. The minimum distance between
two points in the image on the retina is 5u (5x10-6
m), which covers about four photoreceptors.
• Acuteness increases with the level of illumination
• Acuteness increases with the contrast between
the test symbol and its immediate background
• Acuteness is greater for dark figures on light
background than for the reverse.
 Illumination levels
• Illumination levels in the open vary between
2000 to 100,000 lx in the day while at night
artificial light of 50-500lx is normal.
• Among the light sources, direct filament lamps
cause hard shadows, discomfort and headaches
while the fluorescent tubes provide high output
of light, long life, and low luminance when
adequately shielded.
• Fluorescent tubes are therefore, preffered.
 Physiological Requirements of Artificial
lighting
• Illumination levels
Type of Activity Recommended intensity
Assembly work: Rough / Precise / Delicate 250/ 1000/ 1500
Work on tool making machine: Rough / Fine / 250/ 500/ 1000
very precise
Bookkeeping and office work 500
Technical drawing 1000
VDT workstation 300-500
Reduced readability source and data entry tasks 500-700
Arrangement and overall distribution
of Lights
• Source of light should be shaded or covered
with glare shields to keep the luminance
within 200 Cd/m2.
• Adequate, well balanced levels of illumination
are essential in establishing safe and productive
working conditions, and for minimizing
complaints due to sub standard lighting.
• Optimizing office and industrial lighting requires
consideration of work tasks, environmental
conditions and economic considerations
• The benefits of adequate lighting include greater
productivity and accuracy, improved safety and
security, and improved morale.
A complete lighting survey requires evaluating
several factors; the task, the working
environment, and the quantity and the quality
of lighting.
 Quantity of Light
• The required quantity of light (illuminance)
depends mostly on: the visible task, the time
allotted to perform the task, the worker, and
the importance of the various task
parameters.
• Examples of industrial and office tasks and
recommended light levels are in the table
below
 Quality of Light (flicker and glare, contrast
and shadows)
While the quantity of light is commonly
recognized as important, factors influencing
the quality of light have a significant impact.
These factors include flicker and glare.
 Flicker
Light flicker refers to quick, repeated changes in light intensity -
light that appears to flutter and be unsteady. Although lights
flicker on and off due to alternating current, the flicker rate is
normally too fast for us to detect.
• steps to reduce flicker include:
• Replacing bulbs routinely as older bulbs are more likely to
flicker and may emit less light.
• Ensuring that light fixtures, particularly ballast, are
functioning properly.
• Upgrading fluorescent lighting to electronic ballasts when
replacements are needed.
 Glare
• Glare is a common lighting problem, occurring
when a bright light source or reflection
interferes with the ability to see an object. In
addition to decreasing the ability to see, glare
can cause annoyance and discomfort.
• There are two types of glare – direct or
reflected.
Causes of direct glare are typically caused by sun or lighting
that is positioned to shine directly into someone’s field of
vision. A good test for direct glare is to stare off at an
object in the distance, and cover up a light source
between the source and the eye. If the object can now be
seen more easily, the light source is probably a source of
glare. Indirect glare can be caused by light reflected off of
polished, shiny or glossy surfaces, or from reflection off of
glass surfaces (windows, picture glass), or computer
monitors. To detect reflected glare, look at a task (for
example, the desktop or computer monitor) from a
normal working position. Block the light from the source
to the potential source of reflection. If details are now
more easily seen, reflected glare is a problem.
 General measures to reduce glare are:
• Having multiple small lights rather than one big one.
• Keeping lighting at recommended levels.
• Positioning light fixtures, work surfaces or computer monitors to
• reduce light that reflects into eyes.
• Positioning work area so that windows and fluorescent lights are
• parallel to line of sight.
• Keeping surfaces as shine free as possible (matte finish paints, non-
reflective surfaces, etc).
• Move shiny objects out of view of work areas.
• Degree of Contrast and Shadows
• There should be good contrast between objects of interest and
• background (i.e. print versus paper, characters on a computer monitor
• versus background).
• Greater lighting in areas next to but outside the immediate work
• environment can make visibility difficult.