Subjective blur limits for higher order aberrations.
OBJECTIVE
We compared subjective blur limits for defocus and the higher-order aberrations of coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration.


METHODS
Spherical aberration was presented in both Zernike and Seidel forms. Black letter targets (0.1, 0.35, and 0.6 logMAR) on white backgrounds were blurred using an adaptive optics system for six subjects under cycloplegia with 5 mm artificial pupils. Three blur criteria of just noticeable, just troublesome, and just objectionable were used.


RESULTS
When expressed as wave aberration coefficients, the just noticeable blur limits for coma and trefoil were similar to those for defocus, whereas the just noticeable limits for Zernike spherical aberration and Seidel spherical aberration (the latter given as an "rms equivalent") were considerably smaller and larger, respectively, than defocus limits.


CONCLUSIONS
Blur limits increased more quickly for the higher order aberrations than for defocus as the criterion changed from just noticeable to just troublesome and then to just objectionable.
Atchison
David A
DA
School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia. d.atchison@qut.edu.au
Guo
Huanqing
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000628:therapy*; D057108:Corneal Wavefront Aberration / Q000628:therapy*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult