PROPERTIES OF

LIGHT III
By komal sharma
Bopt, Mopt
FLUORESCENCE

Definition:
· The property of a molecule to spontaneously emit light of a longer wavelength
when stimulated by light of a shorter wavelength.
Ø Mechanism:
· Light may be absorbed by an electron in ground stateè raising the electron into an
excited state Electron in the excited state is unstable and it tend to return
spontaneously into the ground state, By emitting a photon (light energy) that is
less energetic and so of longer wavelength fluorescence.
Clinical applications:
A. the orange dye fluorescein sodium:
o The property:
When excited by blue light (465–490 nm) emits yellow–green light (520–530 nm) (Fig.
2.7).
Uses:
I. Fluorescein angiography
■ Mechanism:
White light from the flash unit of a fluorescein camera passes through a blue 'excitation' filter
illuminate the fundus with blue light (Fig. 2.8).
■ The wavelengths transmitted by the excitation filter approximate to the absorption
spectrum of fluorescein.
■ Most of the light is absorbed, some is reflected unchanged, and some is changed to
yellow–green light by fluorescence.
■ The blue reflected light and yellow–green fluorescent light leaving the eye are separated
by a yellow–green 'barrier' filter in the camera.
■ Fluorescence before injection of dye may be termed autofluorescence or
pseudofluorescence.
■ The phenomenon of pseudofluorescence occurs if there is an overlap in the spectral
transmission of the excitation and barrier filters. This allows reflected wavelengths at the
green end of blue to pass through the barrier filter and appear as fluorescence.
II. Other important applications:
1. The staining of ocular surface defects.
2. Anterior segment angiography.
3. The measurement of aqueous humour production and outflow.
4. In light microscopy, the localization of tissue constituents using fluorescein bound to specific
immunoglobulin.
B. Indocyanine Green:
▫ The properties:
■ Indocyanine green (ICG) dye is a fluorescent substance which absorbs 805
nm and emits 835 nm infrared radiations.
■ The retinal pigment epithelium does not absorb these wavelengths, and it is
therefore possible to observe fluorescence of the choroidal circulation after
ICG is administered intravenously.
■ Only 4% of 805 nm radiation absorbed by ICG is emitted at 835 nm
compared with the total fluorescence of fluorescein.
ABSORBANCE

■ Definition:
· When light falls upon an object it may be absorbed (or reflected, transmitted or undergo
some combination of the above) by the object.
■ Clinical applications:
a) Optical devices: As light filters and sun glasses.
b) Re-radiation: Absorbed light is usually converted into heat by the absorbing electrons but
it may be used to excite an electron into a higher level and be re-radiated (as in the case of
fluorescence).
BIREFRINGENCE:
Definition:
· The splitting of a light wave intoè two unequally reflected or transmitted
waves by an optically anisotropic medium (have two refractive indices ) such
as calcite or quartz. Also called double refraction.
· Many transparent solids are optically isotropic, meaning that the index of
refraction is equal in all directions throughout the crystalline lattice.
Examples of isotropic solids are glass
· Example:
■ Crystals of quartz have this property, which is known as birefringence.
■ Because they split incident unpolarised light into two polarized beams
travelling in different directions, they have two refractive indices
DICHROISM

Definition:
· The molecular structure of dichroic substances completely blocks
transmission of light waves not aligned with its structure by absorption.
The property:
Only one beam of polarized light emerges, much weakened in intensity
compared with the incident non-polarized light.
Example:
· Tourmaline and Polaroid (the latter made from fine iodine and quinine
sulphate crystals
embedded in plastic) are dichroic substances,
Clinical applications:
1. To produce Haidinger's brushes in pleoptics: An entoptic phenomenon used
in foveal training.
2. To dissociate eyes in assessment of binocular vision: By polarizing glasses.
3. To examine lenses for stress: In optical lens making.