We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How does a Retinal Scan Work?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 58,613
Share

Used almost exclusively in high-end security applications, the retinal scan uses a low-intensity light source and a delicate sensor to scan the pattern of blood vessels at the back of the retina, a pattern unique to each individual. Though it was known as early as the 1930s that each human eyeball had unique characteristics, it was not until 1984 that the first retinal scanner was made available for commercial use. It was produced by EyeDentify, a company formed in 1976, still the primary manufacturer of these devices.

During a retinal scan, the user must remove glasses, stare at a specific point, and hold their head still for the 10-15 seconds it takes to complete the scan. This type of scan is very difficult to fake because no technology exists that allows the forgery of a human retina, and the retina of a deceased person decays too fast to be used to fraudulently bypass such a scan.

Retinal scanning is part of biometrics, the field of science and engineering which develops ways to uniquely identify individual persons. The most popular form of biometrics employed today is of course the fingerprint, though the error rate for fingerprint identification is sometimes as high as 1 in 500. A retinal scan, on the other hand, boasts an error rate of 1 in 10,000,000. Its close cousin, the iris scan, is slightly less precise, maintaining an error rate of approximately 1 in 131,000.

Traditionally used to block physical gateways, such as those guarding the cores of power plants or military installations, retinal scanning has been employed in recent times to safeguard critical computers and their data. The retinal scan retails for as low as $220, making it affordable to anyone wanting to maintain high levels of security. Furthermore, it is probably the most accurate biometric available, far surpassing the fingerprint in both reliability and accuracy.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
By anon229863 — On Nov 15, 2011

@anon69778: Yes there are such things as clones!

Proof #1) Dolly the sheep

Proof #2) Star Wars: The Clone Wars

By anon159208 — On Mar 10, 2011

@anon69778 - tell dolly the sheep that there are no clones.

By aquarose367 — On Apr 29, 2010

So if a person develops diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy, would their blood vessels change so much that the retinal scan would not recognize the original retina?

By anon73226 — On Mar 26, 2010

Scientists like to claim they've created clones through genetic egg cell implants. The truth is that this isn't cloning. It's making a younger version (though realistically it's the same age) of the animal.

Even if they did this on humans, fingerprints would still be different, so would eye retinas. Identical twins are the closest to clones there is, and they still have different eye retina patterns and fingerprint patterns.

By anon69778 — On Mar 10, 2010

There are no such things as clones.

By anon65407 — On Feb 13, 2010

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hand geometry over finger print technology?

By anon65405 — On Feb 13, 2010

no two individuals or twins have same retina patterns. xzm

By anon37948 — On Jul 22, 2009

to -anon19934

Advantages over fingerprints:

-more accurate, (accuracy not effected by dirt on fingers, misplaced fingers, etc..)

-uses less data space

-fast and impossible (for now) to fake

Disadvantages over fingerprints:

-slightly more expensive then basic fingerprint reader

-user has to put their face next to the machine and focus on a retina scanner for 3 seconds

By anon19934 — On Oct 22, 2008

Thank you very much this was very helpful. do you happen to know what are the disadvantages and advantages over the use of fingerprints??

By anon7029 — On Jan 16, 2008

do clones have the same retina pattern?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/how-does-a-retinal-scan-work.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.