Notes:

Regardless of the root cause of optical aberrations in eyes, the result is the same - a low quality retinal image. This slide illustrates the kinds of retinal blur which are expected as a result of typical levels of optical aberrations in eyes. These simulations reveal the presence of spatial distortion, loss of contrast, contrast reversals, and multiple images which exist in the retinal image of an aberrated eye.

Although the existence of optical imperfections in eyes beyond simple defocus or astigmatism has been known for as long as optometry has existed as a profession, they have never been routinely treated for two reasons. First, there has never been a simple way to measure aberrations of the eye, other than defocus and astigmatism. Second, even if we knew how much and what kind of aberration existed in an eye, we had no way to create the appropriate spectacle lens to correct the aberration.

Over the past 5 years the situation has changed dramatically as vision scientists have developed new methods for quickly and easily measuring the eye's imperfections in great detail and have begun to explore new technologies for correcting the eye's aberrations.

The remainder of my lecture will be devoted to an overview of these exciting new developments in visual optics research that are taking place here at Indiana University.