Astigmatism of oblique incidence in the human model eye

Two cylindrical lenses of equal power, one positive and one negative, were used to correct astigmatism of oblique incidence in a wide-angle optical model of the human eye. Tangential and sagittal vergences were calculated at different visual angles from the posterior pole to the peripheral retina. The positive cylinder was placed with its axis parallel to the tangential meridian while the negative cylinder was placed with its axis parallel to the sagittal meridian. Improvement in the quality of the retinal image at different angles of incidence was obtained by varying the angle between the axes of the correcting cylinders. Corresponding gains in resolution have been calculated and confirmed by peripheral fundus photography.