Visual optics

Visual optics studies the optical properties of the eye and their contribution to vision. It deals with image formation on the retina, light transmission and the factors that affect vision. This field of research is not only useful for developing new tools to improve medical diagnose of eye diseases such as refractive error assessment, cataracts or glaucoma, but also to develop instruments or hardware equipment where vision is required, like advanced virtual or augmented reality devices.

Regarding technology, researchers in this field have significantly contributed to the development of several metrology strategies that have turned into valuable tools for other research fields or for the development of commercial products. An example is Adaptive optics, a technology that uses deformable mirrors to compensate the optical aberrations of the eye. This allows sharper images to be formed on the retina, which can improve vision in people with refractive errors, cataracts, and other eye diseases. It is also widely use in astronomy. Another example is Wavefront sensing that uses a wavefront sensor to measure the optical aberrations of the eye. This information can be used to improve the performance of adaptive optics systems or to develop new treatments for eye diseases. This technique is also used in the field of high-precision metrology of surfaces.

CD6 combines the research in this field with its capabilities in optical design and prototyping. This combination leads to a high capacity of developing new instruments to help ophthalmologists improve the diagnosis of vision diseases. Also, close contact with local medium and large hospitals, allows establishing close collaboration for clinical trials.