Mistlberger G Crespo GA Bakker E 2014 This review provides an overview of the key aspects of designing ionophore-based optical sensors (IBOS). Exact response functions are developed and compared with a simplified, generalized equation. We also provide a brief introduction into less established but promising working principles, namely dynamic response and exhaustive exchange. Absorbance and fluorescence are the main optical readout strategies used in the evaluation of a sensor response, but they usually require a robust referencing technique for real-world applications. Established referencing schemes using IBOS as well as those from other optical sensors are also discussed. Finally, the power of recently developed photoresponsive ion extraction/release systems is outlined and discussed in view of dynamically switchable IBOS or regenerative exhaustive exchange IBOS. https://sonar.ch/global/documents/248035 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1146/annurev-anchem-071213-020307 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/25014348 Annual review of analytical chemistry (Palo Alto, Calif.). - 2014 chemical mapping ion sensing pH cross sensitivity photoresponsive ion sensors referenced signals Ionophore-based optical sensors. http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501