title: Minimum change in spherical aberration that can be perceived.
abstract: It is important to know the visual sensitivity to optical blur from both a basic science perspective and a practical point of view. Of particular interest is the sensitivity to blur induced by spherical aberration because it is being used to increase depth of focus as a component of a presbyopic solution. Using a flicker detection-based procedure implemented on an adaptive optics visual simulator, we measured the spherical aberration thresholds that produce just-noticeable differences in perceived image quality. The thresholds were measured for positive and negative values of spherical aberration, for best focus and + 0.5 D and + 1.0 D of defocus. At best focus, the SA thresholds were 0.20 ± 0.01 µm and -0.17 ± 0.03 µm for positive and negative spherical aberration respectively (referred to a 6-mm pupil). These experimental values may be useful in setting spherical aberration permissible levels in different ophthalmic techniques.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Edificio 34), E-30100, Murcia Spain.
authors.forename: Silvestre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzanera
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Óptica, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo (Edificio 34), E-30100, Murcia Spain.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Artal
keywords: (330.4460) Ophthalmic optics and devices; (330.7327) Visual optics, ophthalmic instrumentation