A systematic optical study of well characterized, Y-substituted Bi2Sr2CaCu2
O8+delta single crystals covering the range from optimal doping to the insu
lating phase is presented. Special attention is given to comparisons with t
wo other prototype cuprate systems La2-xSrxCuO4 and YBa4Cu3O7-delta. It is
emphasized that dynamical charge stripe correlations play an important role
in governing the difference in optical response between these systems. [S0
163-1829(99)04241-1].