Retinalreflektor

Retinalreflektor is a term used in vision science and related fields to refer to an optical technique or device designed to probe the light reflected by the retina. The concept encompasses both laboratory instruments that illuminate the retina with controlled patterns and detectors that record spatial or spectral reflectance, as well as theoretical models that describe how retinal tissue returns light under varying conditions.

In practice, a retinalreflektor typically employs a light source—often LEDs or lasers—paired with imaging sensors or photodiode arrays. The system projects a known illumination pattern or wavelength, then captures the reflected signal. By comparing the input and reflected light, researchers generate maps of retinal reflectivity, which can help infer properties of retinal layers or detect abnormalities.

Applications include research into retinal physiology, calibration of imaging devices, and clinical assessment of diseases that change reflectance, such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. The technique can also support studies of aging, pigmentation, and ocular media transparency.

History and terminology: the name retinal reflection plus reflector is a descriptive compound used in some papers and art–science projects; it is not a single standardized instrument, and different laboratories may implement the concept with differing configurations.

See also: fundus photography, retinal imaging, reflectometry, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography.