title: Contemporary optics and ocular pathology.
abstract: A significant advantage of Fourier optics over classical optics is that it permits a differentiation between optical and retinal-neural causes of visual impairment. The basic methods of Fourier optics are introduced in a nonmathematical manner, as are their relationship to current clinical methods of measuring visual performance. Potential ophthalmic applications for Fourier optics in both clinical diagnosis and pre-operative ocular evaluation are discussed, and the importance of clinical measurement of visual performance at intermediate contrast states is emphasized.
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity