Relations between the human retinal cone and ganglion cell distribution.

The distribution of human cone cells is well known and is frequently cited. The distribution of human ganglion cells is less well known and was published in a booklet which is less frequently cited in the eye literature. Selected published curves provided by these authors and Snellen acuity data were digitally encoded, transformed to linear vertical axes where necessary, scaled and compared. Comparisons were possible along the temporal hemi-meridian and provided correlations (r = 0.99 for ganglion cells versus cone cells; r = 0.99 for ganglion cells versus acuity, and r = 0.98 for cone cells versus acuity). Integration of densities along the horizontal hemi-meridian out to 50 degrees showed that approximately 50% of the cone cells are within 18 degrees of the foveola and that approximately 50% of the ganglion cells are within 13 degrees of the foveola. Appreciation of the strong interrelations between the cone-ganglion cell distributions may provide for a better understanding of the visual of inner-retinal disease. Presently it accounts for aspects of the production of pattern-elicited retinal signals which are under intense investigation in many centers.