WP 1.1: Circumventing presbyopia and simulating vision in the ageing eye

The research focus is on developing advanced optical solutions for vision correction and depth-of-field extension, with applications in both clinical ophthalmology and extended reality technologies, such as augmented, mixed, and virtual reality. By combining experimental optics, human subject validation, and translational technology development, this work develops an innovative prototype to improve both clinical visual outcomes and the user experience in immersive digital environments.

The project aims to, by optical means, extend the depth-of-field equally to, or surpassing, that of pharmaceutical pupil miosis. An optical test bench incorporating a spatial light modulator has been designed and tested. The spatial light modulator is used to induce different phase-patterns to increase the depth-of-field and the system has a three-path design to enable simultaneous and precise validation of this extension: (1) the phase profile (via Shack–Hartmann sensing), (2) the objective image quality (via camera), and (3) the subjective visual performance (via direct observation).