title: Noticeable, troublesome and objectionable limits of blur.
abstract: We investigated limits at which induced blur becomes noticeable, troublesome and objectionable. We used 15 cyclopleged subjects, a Badal optometer with lines of three high contrast letters as targets, 3-6 mm artificial pupils, and 0.0-0.7 logMAR letter sizes. For 0.0 logMAR size, mean "noticeable" blur limits were +/-0.33D, +/-0.30D and +/-0.28D at 3 mm, 4 mm and 6 mm, respectively, but increased by about 70% for 0.7 logMAR letters. All limits reduced by about 17% as pupil size increased from 3 mm to 6 mm. Letter size had a significant influence on all blur limits (1.6-2.1 times), but blur direction had no significant effect. Magnitudes of "troublesome" and 'objectionable" limits were 1.6-1.8 times and 2.1-2.5 times relative to "noticeable" limits, respectively. Our results suggest criteria for troublesome and objectionable blur are relatively unaffected by letter size.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia. d.atchison@qut.edu.au
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Atchison
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: P Gareth
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ridall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009907:Optometry / Q000379:methods; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity