FSK3374 Visual Optics 7.5 credits

Fundamental principles of paraxial imaging in the eye; sign convention and cardinal points. Schematic eyes; their axes and optical parameters. Purkinje images. Optical and neural limitations to visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and depth of field. Refractive errors; distance correction, prescription, astigmatic decomposition, classification and population distribution. Quality of the image on the retina and uncorrected vision in spherical ametropia and astigmatism. Amblyopia. Axial and refractive anisometropia. Aniseikonia. Accommodation, presbyopia, near and far point with and without correction, including effectivity. Convergence and accommodation. Ocular aberrations, scattering, and diffraction, as well as their effect on image quality, visual acuity and depth of field. Aberrometers and wavefront aberrations. Subsidiary optical effects of spectacles. After-images and the Troxler effect. Ocular movements and torsion. Binocular vision, stereopsis, heterophoria and heterotropia. Subjective refraction. Measurement principles and function of instruments; subjective and objective optometers, slitlamp, ophthalmoscope, retinoscope, keratometer, corneal topographer. Techniques for screening and autorefractors. Visual phenomena caused by the pigmentation, polarizing properties, and varying transmission of the eye.

The overall goal of this course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the optics of the eye and its clinical aspects, with emphasize on the visual function. The course also covers how the optical parameters of the eye can be measured.

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

• Chose and apply different optical approximations to evaluate the quality of the image on the retina for different states of ametropia, levels of accommodation, pupil sizes, objects and visual aids.
• Predict and evaluate the effect of monocular and binocular visual quality from different measures of ocular image quality, including both higher order aberrations and paraxial optical effects.
• Explain the optical principles and functions of instruments commonly found in an optometrist practice, as well as evaluate their limitations regarding accuracy and measurement errors. 

Registered as PhD-student

Geometrical optics and Optical design

R. B. Rabbetts, Bennett and Rabbett's Clinical Visual Optics, 4th edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007. 

Newest edition should be used. Is completed with research articles.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• INL1 - Exam tasks, 2.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
• RED1 - Presentation, 5.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Approved answers to all written exercises. Presents the course content orally in a coherent way and takes active part in the seminars through discussion on the content of own and others presentations in relation to current research in visual optics.

Linda Lundström

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.