Editing Retinal scan

{{Short description|Biometric method for identity verification}}
{{for|diagnostic retinal examination|Fundus photography|Ophthalmoscopy}}

[[Image:Retina_camera_controls.jpg|thumb|A close-up view of the controls of a Topcon retinal camera]]A '''retinal scan''' is a [[biometric]] technique that uses unique patterns on a person's [[retina]] blood vessels. It is not to be confused with other ocular-based technologies: [[iris recognition]], commonly called an "iris scan", and [[eye vein verification]] that uses scleral veins.

The [[human]] retina is a thin [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] made up of [[Nerve|neural cells]] that is located in the posterior portion of the [[Human eye|eye]]. Because of the complex structure of the [[Capillary|capillaries]] that supply the retina with [[blood]], each person's retina is unique, making retinal scans an emerging authentication method.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Vora|first1=Rita A.|last2=Bharadi|first2=V A|last3=Kekre|first3=H B|title=2012 International Conference on Communication, Information & Computing Technology (ICCICT) |chapter=Retinal scan recognition using wavelet energy entropy |date=Oct 2012|chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/iccict.2012.6398120|pages=1–6 |publisher=IEEE|doi=10.1109/iccict.2012.6398120|isbn=978-1-4577-2078-9|s2cid=17203983 }}</ref> The network of [[blood vessel]]s in the retina is not entirely genetically determined and thus even [[identical twin]]s do not share a similar pattern.

Although retinal patterns may be altered in cases of [[diabetes]], [[glaucoma]] or retinal degenerative disorders, the retina typically remains unchanged from birth until death. Due to its unique and unchanging nature, the retina appears to be the most precise and reliable biometric, aside from DNA.<ref>Retina and Iris Scans.  Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security. Copyright © 2004 by The Gale Group, Inc.</ref> The National Center for State Courts estimate that retinal scanning has an error rate of one in ten million.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Understanding Public Perceptions: Trust and Engagement in ICT-mediated Services|last1 = Cofta|first1 = Piotr|publisher = International Engineering Consortium|year = 2008|isbn = 9781931695954|page = 153|last2 = Furnell|first2 = Steven|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mFv49vJb6E0C&pg=PA153|access-date = 29 September 2014|chapter = Use of Biometric Data|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mFv49vJb6E0C&pg=PA143|quote = The error rate for fingerprint identification can be as high as 1 in 500, whereas a retinal scan boasts an error rate of 1 in 10,000,000.}}</ref>

A retinal scan is performed by casting an unperceived beam of low-energy [[infrared light]] into a person’s eye as they look through the scanner's eyepiece. This beam of light traces a standardized path on the retina. Because retinal [[blood vessels]] absorb light more readily than the surrounding tissue, the amount of reflection varies during the scan. The pattern of variations is [[digitized]] and stored in a [[database]].<ref>[http://www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/Ra-Thy/Retinography.html Retinography: How Retinal Scanning Works.]   Retrieved on 2007-04-02.</ref>

==History==
The idea for retinal identification was first conceived by Carleton Simon and Isadore Goldstein and was published in the New York State Journal of Medicine in 1935.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120912190731/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,755453,00.html "Eye Prints," TIME Magazine, Dec. 16, 1935]. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.</ref> The idea was ahead of its time, but once [[technology]] caught up, the concept for a retinal scanning device emerged in 1975. In 1976, Robert "Buzz" Hill formed a corporation named EyeDentify, Inc., and made a full-time effort to research and develop such a device.<ref>{{Citation|last=Hill|first=Robert “Buzz”|title=Retina Identification|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47044-6_6|work=Biometrics|year=1999 |pages=123–141|place=Boston, MA|publisher=Springer US|doi=10.1007/0-306-47044-6_6 |isbn=978-0-387-28539-9|access-date=2020-11-14|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1978, specific means for a retinal scanner was patented, followed by a commercial model in 1981.<ref>{{Cite patent|title=Apparatus and method for identifying individuals through their retinal vasculature patterns|gdate=1977-01-17|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4109237A/en}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Because of the relative obscurity and "high tech" nature of retinal scans, they are frequently used as a device in fiction to suggest that an area has been particularly strongly secured against intrusion. Some notable examples include:

*In the movie ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'' (1982), Admiral Kirk gains access to top secret computer files by use of a retinal scan.
*In the science fiction novel ''[[The Long Result]]'' by John Brunner (1965), a retinal scanner is used to access a Remote Control Centre at a spaceport.
*In the movie ''[[Batman (1966 film)|Batman]]'' (1966), Batman describes to Robin how the tiny vessels in the retina are unique to the individual, and by utilizing the portable retina scan device in the Batmobile, they confirm the identity of the Penguin.
*In the comic book film series ''[[X-Men_(film_series)|X-Men]]'' Charles Xavier uses a retinal scanner to unlock Cerebro. This is bypassed by the [[Shapeshifting|shape-shifter]] Mystique assuming his form and William Stryker using an unknown mechanism.
*In the ''[[Half-Life (series)|Half-Life]]'' video game series, the scientists of Black Mesa are frequently shown operating retinal scanners to access locked doors or hidden devices.
*Characters in the films ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' (1983), ''[[GoldenEye]]'' (1995), ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]'' (1996), ''[[Barb Wire (1996 film)|Barb Wire]]'' (1996), ''[[Entrapment (film)|Entrapment]]'' (1999), ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]'' (2002) and ''[[Paycheck (film)|Paycheck]]'' (2003) and ''[[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels (film)]]'' (2000) utilize or try to deceive retinal scanners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blog/2009/10/6/why-retina-scanning-works-better-for-james-bond-than-it-ever-would-for-us/24.aspx|title=Why retina scanning works better for James Bond than it ever would for us|date=6 October 2009 }}</ref>
*In the ''[[Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell|Splinter Cell]]'' video game series, retinal scanners are used to identify agents within the Third Echelon and guards within military/business complexes.
*In the 2012 film ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', characters gain access to a quantity of very rare [[iridium]] by using two devices: one which apparently hooks onto a victim's eyeball, and another which receives signals from the first to holographically reconstruct the retina to fool the scanner.
*In the 1993 film ''[[Demolition Man (film)]]'', Simon Phoenix deceives a retinal scanner by taking the eyeball from a prison doctor.
*In the video game [[Doom (2016 video game)|Doom (2016)]], a retinal scanner linked with a mutilated researcher is utilized to gain access to the [[BFG 9000]].

==Uses==
Retinal scanners are typically used for authentication and identification purposes. Retinal scanning has been utilized by several government agencies including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and [[NASA]], and has also been used in prisons.<ref>[http://et.wcu.edu/aidc/BioWebPages/Biometrics_Eye.html Iris/Retinal Identification.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426110015/http://et.wcu.edu/aidc/BioWebPages/Biometrics_Eye.html |date=April 26, 2007 }}  Wcu.Edu.  Retrieved on 2007-04-02.</ref> Retinal scanning also has medical application. Communicable illnesses such as [[AIDS]], [[syphilis]], [[malaria]], [[chicken pox]] and [[Lyme disease]] as well as [[hereditary disease]]s like [[leukemia]], [[lymphoma]], and [[sickle cell anemia]] affect the eyes. [[Pregnancy]] also affects the eyes. Likewise, indications of chronic health conditions such as [[congestive heart failure]], [[atherosclerosis]], and [[cholesterol]] issues first appear in the eyes.<ref>O staff, Courtney.  [http://www.physorg.com/news6134.html  "Retinal Scans Do More Than Let You In The Door."]  Retrieved on 2007-04-02.</ref> Retinal scanning is sometimes confused with [[iris recognition]], which has been employed for a wider scope of applications.

==Pros and cons==
{{Advantages and disadvantages|date=February 2025}}

'''Advantages'''<ref>[http://blog.m2sys.com/biometric-hardware/iris-recognition-vs-retina-scanning-what-are-the-differences/ "Iris Recognition vs. Retina Scanning – What are the Differences?"], M2SYS Blog on Biometric Technology.</ref>
* Low occurrence of false positives
* Extremely low (almost 0%) false negative rates
* Highly reliable because no two people have the same retinal pattern
* Speedy results: Identity of the subject is verified very quickly
'''Disadvantages'''<ref>Roberts, Chris.  [http://www.ccip.govt.nz/newsroom/information-notes/2005/biometrics.pdf "Biometrics"]  Retrieved on 2009-06-11.</ref>
* Measurement accuracy can be affected by a disease such as [[cataracts]]
* Measurement accuracy can also be affected by severe [[astigmatism]]
* Scanning procedure is perceived by some as invasive
* Subject being scanned must be very close to the camera optics<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bytechplanet.com/blog/iris-recognition-vs-retina-scanning/|title=Iris recognition vs retina scanning|website=www.bytechplanet.com}}</ref>
* High equipment cost

==See also==
* [[Vein matching]]
* [[Iris recognition]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Biometrics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Retinal Scan}}
[[Category:Biometrics]]