Optical and developmental constraints on colour vision with lens eyes

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Abstract
Longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) is present in all animal lens eyes and is a limiting factor for colour vision. It is discussed how natural evolution has dealt with the problem of chromatic defocus in ways entirely different from technical solutions. Adaptations to LCA are present in the spectral sensitivities of photoreceptors, the architecture of the retina, the lens and the shape of the pupil. These adaptations raise interesting questions in developmental and cell biology, as well as regarding the evolution of lens eyes and colour vision. It is suggested that LCA has been a limiting factor in the evolution of the human visual system.

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