Chapter 9: Refraction by the eye Flashcards
How can the full analysis of refraction by a thick lens be simplified?
Concept of principal points and principal planes:
* a ray incident at the first principal point or plane, P1, leaves the second principal point or plane, P2, at the same vertical distance from the principal axis
What are 3 measures used to calculate the exact position of a principal point (using the thick lens formula)?
- curvature of the lens surfaces
- lens thickness
- refractive index of the lens material
How are the principal planes, principal axis and principal points relate for a thick lens?
the principal planes intersect the principal axis at right angles at the principal points
What are the nodal points of thick lens?
- there are 2 (N1 and N2) which correspond to the centre of a thin lens
- any ray directed towards the first nodal point, N1, leaves the lens as if from the second nodal point, N2, and parallel with its original direction i.e. undeviated
How are the nodal points and principal points of a thick lens related?
when the medium on both sides of the thick lens is the same, the nodal points coincide with the principal points. when the media on opposite sides are different, the nodal points do not coincide with he principal points
How are the focal length of a thick lens measured?
distance of focal lengths f1 and f2 is measured from the principal points to the principle foci
What is the definition of the principal foci?
light parallel to the principal axis is converged to or diverged from the principal foci
Wher ight the principal points of a thick lens lie?
do not lie on the surface of the lens - may lie within the lens, or outside the lens substance in meniscus form lenses
In practice, what measurement of lenses is given by instruments such as the focimeter instead of the focal length?
Anterior or posterior vertex focal length (AVFL or PVFL): the distance of the principal focus from the central surface or vertex of the lens (different from first/second focal length)
Are anterior and posterior vertex focal lengths equal to each other?
no
What calculation gives the posterior vertex power?
the reciprocal of the posterior vertex focal length, expressed in metres
What is an alternative term for the posterior vertex focal length?
back vertex power
Is the back vertex power equivalent to the focal power of the lens?
no, differs from the true focal power
Is the back vertex power equivalent to the focal power of the lens?
no, differs from the true focal power
How is the equivalent power of a thick lens calculated?
from the two surface powers plus a** correction for vergence change** due to lens thickness
What may the discrepency between equivalent and back vertex power be a cause of in thick lenses?
Cause of error in dispensing high-powered spectacle lenses, or highly curved contact lenses
What solution exists to avoid the discrepency between the equivalent and back vertex power for thick lenses?
Conversion tables
What must the second principal focus of a thick lens correspond with for a clear retinal image to be formed?
the far point of the eye
What are the 3 major refracting interfaces to be considered in the eye per the Gaussian theory of cardinal points?
Anterior corneal surface
Anterior surface of lens
Posterior surface of lens
Why is the effect of the posterior corneal surface very small?
the refractive index beween corneal stroma and aqueous is not large
What are the refractive indices of the following:
* air
* cornea
* aqueous humour
* lens (cortex-core)
* vitreous humour
- air: 1.000
- cornea: 1.376
- aqueous humour: 1.336
- lens (cortex-core): 1.386-1.406
- vitreous humour: 1.336
What is the name of the scientist who calculated the optical constants of the eye: radii of curvature, distances separating refracting surfaces and refractive indices?
What does this generate?
Gullstrand - the schematic and reduced eye calculations
How is the schematic eye, as described by Gullstrand, expressed?
in terms of its cardinal points (measured in mm behind the anterior corneal surface)
What are the nodal points of the schematic eye?
points via which rays of light pass undeviated
Why are the nodal points of the eye removed from the principal points?
because the refracting media on each side of the refracting system of the eye are different, namely air (n=1) and vitreous (n=1.336)
Where are the nodal points of the schematic eye located?
straddle the posterior pole of the crystalline lens
Why can even a small posterior polar cataract cause gross impairment of vision when the pupil is small?
the pupil only allos a small paraxial pencil of light to enter the eye, and the rays are refracted and concentrated through the nodal points and adjacent posterior lens substance
How does Listing’s schematic of the eye simplify it further than Gullstrand’s schematic?
has single principal point midway beween the two principal points of the schematic eye and same for nodal point
What is the single refracting surface power of the eye in Listing’s simplified model?
+58.6D
What is the distance of hte following in mm behind the anterior corneal surface in Listing’s simplified eye model?
* principal point
* nodal point
* first focal point
* second focal point
- principal point: 1.35
- nodal point: 7.08
- first focal point: -15.7
- second focal point: 24.13