Optics of the human eye, 7.5 credits

Passed results of at least 45 higher education credits from The Optometry program semester 1 and 2

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- account for, choose and use appropriate eye models for various calculations of the eye as an optical system
- make fast and simple calculations or estimates of units relevant to the correction of various types of refractive errors
- in a simple way estimate and calculate paraxial optical side effects of glasses and contact lens correction
- assess the optical effect of the lacrimal lens in the alignment of stable contact lenses
- describe and carry out mathematical calculations necessary in super-refraction and statistical treatment of astigmatism
- account for and rank the different optical limitations of the eye
- through calculations estimate uncorrected visual acuity in various refractive errors and pupil sizes
- interpret and evaluate measurement results from instruments measuring wavefront aberration of the eye
- explain and interpret information about the concepts of PSF MTF, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in the eye
- explain and use relations between image quality and vision quality in the eye

The course is divided in two parts:

Paraxial reproduction in the eye: Repetition of basic geometric optics. Eye models, refractive errors and the correction principle, top point distance, main point refraction, glass refraction and focal point refraction. Vergence calculations and vergence reasoning. Accommodation and external accommodation results. Optical side effects of glass and contact lens correction, anisometropia. The contact lens as a thick lens, the lacrimal lens effect, total and make-up astigmatism, respectively, astigmatic decomposition and super-refraction.

Image quality and visual quality in the eye:

Monochromatic and chromatic aberrations in the eye, wavefront aberration, Zernike polynomials, aberrometers, diffraction and transmission. PSF and MTF, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, focal depths.

Practical and theoretical laboratory assignments and computer simulations in imaging and visual quality.

The teaching is given in the form of lectures interleaved with calculation exercises and assisted problem solving where the theoretical knowledge is illustrated and practiced individually through calculation examples. The course also comprises laboratory sessions that aim at an increased understanding of the optics through simulations and practical assignments.

The course is examined through written examination (6 credits, grading scale Fail/Pass/Pass with distinction) and approved laboratory sessions (1.5 credits, grading scale Fail/Pass).

A Pass grade in the examination, and in the laboratory sessions, award a Pass grade in the whole course. The grade Pass with distinction is given to a whole course when the examination is graded with a Pass with distinction and the laboratory sessions with a Pass grade.

Criteria for evaluating the parts of the course are established in separate documents.

Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be counted as an examination.

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the fall semester of 2019. Last examination according to this syllabus will be provided the fall semester of 2021 for students who have not completed the course.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Education.

The teaching language is Swedish but parts of the course may be given in English.