Visual Optics (3 units). The class examines instrumentation and optics as they pertain to the human visual system. The class is suited for both graduate and undergraduate students who have prerequisites in Geometrical and Fourier Optics.

Meeting Times: MW 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.

Instructor:
Jim Schwiegerling, Ph.D.
jschwieg@u.arizona.edu

Course Outline:

Section 1 - What is vision? Anatomy of the eye. Dissection. Average and range of sizes, shapes and indices of ocular components. Overview of optical modeling. Definition of visual acuity.

Section 2 - Schematic eye models. Gullstrand-LeGrand and Helmholtz models. First-order properties. Locations of cardinal points. Definitions of near point, far point, myopia and hyperopia. Aspheric eye models. Stiles-Crawford, photopic response, diffraction. Location of eye axes.

Section 3 Spherical, Chromatic, Astigmatism (axial and oblique). Techniques for measuring aberrations. Nominal values. Derivation of these quantities from raytrace data. Retinal curvature.

Section 4 - Visual performance - Theoretical resolution. Vernier acuity, grating acuity, Snellen acuity. Vision charts. Specification of visual acuity. Contrast sensitivity. Fourier theory - PSF, MTF, modulation threshold. Campbell and Green experiments. Van Nes and Bouman experiments. Changes in contrast sensitivity. Square-wave response.

Section 5 - Double-pass measurement of PSF. Deconvolution. Asymmetric passes. Aberroscope. Shack-Hartmann test, Raytracing, Talbot-Moire.

Section 6 - Zernike Polynomials and wavefront representation.

Section 7 - Spherical ametropia, cylindrical error, Scheiner disk, vector addition of crossed cylinders. Correction with sphero-cylindrical spectacle lenses. Correction with spherical, aspheric and toric contact lenses. Prism ballast.

Section 8 - Optometers, Autorefractors: image analysis, retinoscopic scanning and Scheiner disk types. Fogging.

Section 9 - Lensmeters, Accommodation , age changes, near addition. Progressive lenses. Spherical and astigmatic considerations.

Section 10 - Intraocular lenses. Power calculations. Multifocal contact and intraocular lenses. Aphakia and pseudophakia. Defocus Transfer Function.

Section 11 - Other corrections: RK/AK, PRK, ALK/LASIK, orthokeratology, interscleral ring.

Section 12 - Pupillometry. Measurement of the anterior cornea. Placido disks, stereo-photogrammetry and scanning slit devices. Height, slope and curvature representations of the cornea. Derivation of relationships. Keratometric index of refraction.

Section 13 - Calculation of radii of curvature, astigmatic axis and conic constant from Zernike expansion coefficients. Keratoconus detection.

Section 14 - Miscellaneous Ocular Measurements. Measurement of corneal thickness - scanning slit, pachymetry. Measurement of the angle in glaucoma. Gonioscopy. Scheimpflug imaging. Phakometry, Purkinje images.

Section 15 - Visual Fields. Spatial and temporal summation. Perimetry: Tangent Screen, Goldman projection, Static and Kinetic. Scotomas.

Section 16 - Measurement and imaging the retina. Direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus camera. Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Optical coherence tomography. Applications: glaucoma screening, nerve fiber layer measurement.

Section 17 - Radiometry and Photometry. MPE.

Section 18 - Color matching. Additive and subtractive color mixing. Color vision - Trichromatic vs. opponent-process theories. Spectral response of cone pigments. Color blindness.

Patent Class 1 - Elements of a patent. Patent searching.

Patent Class 2 - Specific Example of an ophthalmic patent.

Eye Lecture - Miscellaneous types of eyes found in nature.


Homework, Exams and Grades - The final grade in the course is calculated as follows: