Visual Impact of Zernike and Seidel Forms of Monochromatic Aberrations

Purpose. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different aberrations modes (e.g., coma, astigmatism, spherical aberration [SA]) and different aberration basis functions (Zernike or Seidel) on visual acuity (VA). Methods. Computational optics was used to generate retinal images degraded by either the Zernike or Seidel forms of second through fourth-order aberrations for an eye with a 5-mm pupil diameter. High contrast, photopic VA was measured using method of constant stimuli for letters displayed on a computer-controlled, linearized, quasimonochromatic (&lgr; = 556 nm) display. Results. Minimum angle of resolution (MAR) varied linearly with the magnitude (root mean square error) of all modes of aberration. The impact of individual Zernike lower- and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) varied significantly with mode, e.g., arc minutes of MAR per micrometer of root mean square slopes varied from 7 (spherical defocus) to 0.5 (quadrafoil). Seidel forms of these aberrations always had a smaller visual impact. Notably, Seidel SA had 1/17th the impact of Zernike SA with the same wavefront variance, and about 1/4th the impact of Zernike SA with matching levels of r4 wavefront error. With lower-order components removed, HOAs near the center of the Zernike pyramid do not have a large visual impact. Conclusions. The majority of the visual impact of high levels of fourth-order Zernike aberrations can be attributed to the second-order terms within these polynomials. Therefore, the impact of SA can be minimized by balancing it with a defocus term that flattens the central wavefront (paraxial focus) or maximizes the area of the pupil with a flat wavefront. Over this wide range of aberration types and levels, image quality metrics based on the Point Spread Function (PSF) and Optical Transfer Function (OTF) can predict VA as reliably as VA measures can predict retests of VA, and, thus, such metrics may become valuable predictors of both VA and, via optimization, refractions.

[1]  A Bradley,et al.  Apodization by the Stiles-Crawford effect moderates the visual impact of retinal image defocus. , 1999, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[2]  A. Bradley,et al.  Accuracy and precision of objective refraction from wavefront aberrations. , 2004, Journal of vision.

[3]  A. Bradley,et al.  Relationship between Refractive Error and Monochromatic Aberrations of the Eye , 2003, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[4]  R. Tousey,et al.  A Study of Night Myopia , 1951 .

[5]  Larry N Thibos,et al.  Metrics of Retinal Image Quality Predict Visual Performance in Eyes With 20/17 or Better Visual Acuity , 2006, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[6]  K. Alexander,et al.  Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity for Individual Sloan Letters , 1997, Vision Research.

[7]  David Williams,et al.  Visual performance after correcting the monochromatic and chromatic aberrations of the eye. , 2002, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[8]  David Williams,et al.  Image Metrics for Predicting Subjective Image Quality , 2005, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[9]  W. Charman,et al.  A Method for Simulation of Foveal Vision During Wear of Corrective Lenses , 2004, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[10]  A Bradley,et al.  Effects of Spherical and Astigmatic Defocus on Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity: A Comparison of Three Clinical Charts , 1991, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[11]  S. Cousens,et al.  The effect of optical defocus on the test-retest variability of visual acuity measurements. , 2004, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[12]  A. Guirao,et al.  A Method to Predict Refractive Errors from Wave Aberration Data , 2003, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[13]  Andrew Carkeet,et al.  The Slope of the Psychometric Function for Bailey-Lovie Letter Charts: Defocus Effects and Implications for Modeling Letter-By-Letter Scores , 2001, Optometry and Vision Science.

[14]  D. Lam,et al.  Influence of wavefront aberration and corneal subepithelial haze on low-contrast visual acuity after photorefractive keratectomy. , 2005, American journal of ophthalmology.

[15]  Raymond A. Applegate,et al.  Customized corneal ablation : the quest for super vision , 2001 .

[16]  A. Watson,et al.  Predicting visual acuity from wavefront aberrations. , 2008, Journal of vision.

[17]  G Smith.  Relation between spherical refractive error and visual acuity. , 1991, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[18]  T. Seiler,et al.  Increased higher‐order optical aberrations after laser refractive surgery: A problem of subclinical decentration , 2001, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[19]  Controlled induction of spherical aberration with custom soft contact lenses , 2009, Clinical & experimental optometry.

[20]  Gregory J. McCormick,et al.  Higher-order aberrations in eyes with irregular corneas after laser refractive surgery. , 2004, Ophthalmology.

[21]  G. J. Burton,et al.  Effects of the Seidel aberrations on visual target discrimination. , 1984, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics and image science.

[22]  R K Tyson.  Conversion of Zernike aberration coefficients to Seidel and higher-order power-series aberration coefficients. , 1982, Optics letters.

[23]  J T Holladay,et al.  Optical performance of multifocal intraocular lenses , 1990, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[24]  D R Williams,et al.  Effect of rotation and translation on the expected benefit of an ideal method to correct the eye's higher-order aberrations. , 2001, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[25]  A. van Meeteren,et al.  Calculations on the Optical Modulation Transfer Function of the Human Eye for White Light , 1974 .

[26]  Pablo Artal,et al.  Theoretical comparison of aberration-correcting customized and aspheric intraocular lenses. , 2007, Journal of refractive surgery.

[27]  Larry N Thibos,et al.  Metrics of optical quality derived from wave aberrations predict visual performance. , 2004, Journal of vision.

[28]  E. Sabadini,et al.  Vortex breakdown produced in a cylindrical rotating end wall , 2001 .

[29]  T W Raasch,et al.  Spherocylindrical Refractive Errors and Visual Acuity , 1995, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[30]  M. Cox,et al.  Correcting ocular spherical aberration with soft contact lenses. , 2004, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[31]  Arthur Bradley,et al.  Validation of an Off-Eye Contact Lens Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Aberrometer , 2008, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[32]  E. Sarver,et al.  Interaction between aberrations to improve or reduce visual performance , 2003, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[33]  M. Chalita,et al.  Wavefront analysis in post-LASIK eyes and its correlation with visual symptoms, refraction, and topography. , 2003, Ophthalmology.

[34]  John S. Werner,et al.  Spherical aberration yielding optimum visual performance: Evaluation of intraocular lenses using adaptive optics simulation , 2009, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[35]  O. Muftuoglu,et al.  Optical factors in increased best spectacle-corrected visual acuity after LASIK. , 2006, Journal of refractive surgery.

[36]  Edwin J Sarver,et al.  Visual Acuity as a Function of Zernike Mode and Level of Root Mean Square Error , 2003, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[37]  Jayoung Nam,et al.  Describing ocular aberrations with wavefront vergence maps , 2009, Clinical & experimental optometry.

[38]  Mujtaba A. Qazi,et al.  Comparison of contrast sensitivity, depth of field and ocular wavefront aberrations in eyes with an IOL with zero versus positive spherical aberration , 2009, Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

[39]  A. Bradley,et al.  Consequences of Monocular Diplopia for the Contrast Sensitivity Function , 1996, Vision Research.

[40]  Nicolas Chateau,et al.  Assessment of Just-Noticeable Differences for Refractive Errors and Spherical Aberration Using Visual Simulation , 2004, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[41]  Thomas Kohnen,et al.  Effect of intraocular lens asphericity on quality of vision after cataract removal: an intraindividual comparison. , 2009, Ophthalmology.

[42]  R. Legras,et al.  Effect of monochromatic induced aberrations on visual performance measured by adaptive optics technology. , 2010, Journal of refractive surgery.

[43]  Geunyoung Yoon,et al.  Vision improvement by correcting higher-order aberrations with phase plates in normal eyes. , 2004, Journal of refractive surgery.

[44]  W. Charman,et al.  The refraction of the eye in the relation to spherical aberration and pupil size. , 1978, The British journal of physiological optics.

[45]  R A Applegate,et al.  Corneal first surface optical aberrations and visual performance. , 2000, Journal of refractive surgery.

[46]  T. Oshika,et al.  Mesopic contrast sensitivity and ocular higher-order aberrations in eyes with conventional spherical intraocular lenses. , 2009, American journal of ophthalmology.

[47]  Austin Roorda,et al.  Visual performance in emmetropia and low myopia after correction of high-order aberrations. , 2007, Journal of vision.

[48]  Nicolas Chateau,et al.  Effects of Zernike wavefront aberrations on visual acuity measured using electromagnetic adaptive optics technology. , 2007, Journal of refractive surgery.

[49]  A. Kanellopoulos,et al.  Wavefront-guided enhancements using the wavelight excimer laser in symptomatic eyes previously treated with LASIK. , 2006, Journal of refractive surgery.

[50]  S. Barbero,et al.  Optical response to LASIK surgery for myopia from total and corneal aberration measurements. , 2001, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[51]  G Smith,et al.  Effect of Defocus on Visual Acuity As Measured by Source and Observer Methods , 1989, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[52]  M. Mrochen,et al.  Wavefront aberrations in eyes with decentered ablations , 2009, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[53]  H. Peters,et al.  The relationship between refractive error and visual acuity at three age levels. , 1961, American journal of optometry and archives of American Academy of Optometry.

[54]  H Strasburger,et al.  Invariance of the psychometric function for character recognition across the visual field , 2001, Perception & psychophysics.

[55]  A. Balestrazzi,et al.  Contrast sensitivity evaluation of aspheric and spherical intraocular lenses 2 years after implantation. , 2009, Journal of refractive surgery.

[56]  L. Thibos,et al.  Standards for reporting the optical aberrations of eyes. , 2002, Journal of refractive surgery.

[57]  Jorge L. Alió,et al.  Analysis of results related to good and bad outcomes of Intacs implantation for keratoconus correction , 2006, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[58]  A. Bradley,et al.  Statistical variation of aberration structure and image quality in a normal population of healthy eyes. , 2002, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[59]  H. Bedell,et al.  Variations in the Slope of the Psychometric Acuity Function with Acuity Threshold and Scale , 1985, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[60]  V. Mahajan.  Optical Imaging and Aberrations , 1998 .

[61]  A. Bradley,et al.  Predicting subjective judgment of best focus with objective image quality metrics. , 2004, Journal of vision.

[62]  K. Pesudovs.  Wavefront aberration outcomes of LASIK for high myopia and high hyperopia. , 2005, Journal of refractive surgery.