Validation of a method for measuring the retinal thickness with Shack–Hartmann aberrometry in an artificial eye

Abstract

In Shack–Hartmann aberrometry, it is assumed that a wave front emerges from a single point focused on a retina. However, the retina is a multi-layered structure and reflections may occur from several layers. This may result in several overlapping spot patterns on the CCD due to different vergences of the outgoing wave fronts. The amount by which these spot patterns are displaced may contain information about the retinal thickness. In this study, we perform simulations of formation of double spots in a living eye and also apply this method to measure the thickness of an artificial retina with a simple structure. We also compare the results obtained with artificial eye and compare them to the simulated data. We evaluate the recommended range of the lenslet parameters for analyzing the retinal thickness. We conclude that this method could be used in a living eye for estimating the total retinal thickness and to confirm retinal pathologies associated with significant increase in the retinal thickness like glaucoma, macular edema, etc.

Keywords:

• retinal thickness
• aberrometry
• wave front

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Social Fund under [grant number 2013/0021/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/APIA/VIAA/001].