Retinal images in a model of a pseudophakic eye with classic and hybrid intraocular lenses

Abstract

In order to restore clear vision in the case of cataracts the opaque crystalline lens of the diseased eye is extracted and an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in its place. Different designs of IOLs are used in practice. The retinal image quality in such an eye (pseudophakic) depends on the parameters of the implanted IOL, in particular on its chromatic aberration. Since the dispersive properties of IOL material differ from that of a crystalline lens, the chromatic aberration of a pseudophakic eye is much greater than in a healthy eye. This paper studies a hybrid (refractive–diffractive) IOL of chromatic aberration chosen in a such way that the overall longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) of the pseudophakic eye is equal to that of the healthy eye. Simulated retinal images calculated with the help of typical lens design software ZEMAX® illustrate the usefulness of such a solution.

Keywords:

• diffractive optics
• image quality
• ophthalmic optics
• modeling of vision
• intraocular lens
• dispersion
• polychromatic light
• geometrical optics

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by SHARP-EYE: Adaptive Optics for Retinal Imaging and Improved Vision, a funded Research Training Network under the 5th Framework of the European Union (http://www.sharpeye.org). We are very grateful to the referee, whose comments and remarks have helped avoid errors and improve the paper.