Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (2002) 35: 1395-1406 Optical aberrations of the human eye 1395 ISSN 0100-879X Measuring higher order optical aberrations of the human eye: techniques and applications L. Alberto V. Carvalho1, 1Grupo de Óptica, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, J.C. Castro1 and São Carlos, SP, Brasil L. Antonio V. Carvalho2 2Departamento de Matemática, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil Abstract Correspondence In the present paper we discuss the development of wave-front, an Key words L. Alberto V. Carvalho instrument for determining the lower and higher optical aberrations of · Optical aberrations Grupo de Óptica, IFSC, USP the human eye. We also discuss the advantages that such instrumenta- · Corneal topography 13560-900 São Carlos, SP tion and techniques might bring to the ophthalmology professional of · Zernike polynomials Brasil the 21st century. By shining a small light spot on the retina of subjects · Refractive surgery E-mail:
[email protected] and observing the light that is reflected back from within the eye, we are able to quantitatively determine the amount of lower order aberra- Research partially supported by FAPESP (Nos. 01/03132-8 and tions (astigmatism, myopia, hyperopia) and higher order aberrations 00/06810-4). L. Antonio V. Carvalho (coma, spherical aberration, etc.). We have measured artificial eyes is partially supported by CNPq with calibrated ametropia ranging from +5 to -5 D, with and without (No. 304041/85-8). 2 D astigmatism with axis at 45º and 90º. We used a device known as the Hartmann-Shack (HS) sensor, originally developed for measuring the optical aberrations of optical instruments and general refracting surfaces in astronomical telescopes.