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We simulate vitreous floaters in a model eye and apply a phase retrieval algorithm to recover the structure of the vitreous floaters. The algorithm requires modulating the object under study by a r...

Questionnaires have been used as research tools to provide a standardized approach to assess quality of life at various time periods and populations. However, literature shows only a few articles about self-reported color vision changes. Our aim was to evaluate the subjective patient feelings before and after cataract surgery and compare the results with a color vision test result. Our method was as follows: 80 cataract patients filled out a modified color vision questionnaire and performed the Farnsworth–Munsell 100 Hue Color Vision Test (FM100) before, two weeks, and six months after cataract surgery. We analyzed the correlations between these two types of results, which reveal that FM100 hue performance and subjective perception improved after surgery. Additionally, subjective patient questionnaire scores correlate well with the FM100 test results before and two weeks after the cataract surgery, but this effect decreased with longer follow-up times. We conclude that subjective color vision changes can only be noticed at longer periods after the cataract surgery. Health care professionals can use this questionnaire to better understand the subjective feelings of patients and monitor their color vision sensitivity changes.

Knowledge of the structure of vitreous floaters is crucial to evaluate the need for surgical removal of these floaters. We simulated the phase retrieval of microstructures simulating vitreous floaters by an algorithm PhaseLift and investigate the effects of various parameters on the retrieved phase. The object under test was modulated and the coded diffraction patterns were calculated. Next, PhaseLift was used to retrieve the phase. In the current study, we simulate the effect of Gaussian and Poison noise on the phase retrieval of pure phase objects. We apply an iterative algorithm PhaseLift for phase retrieval as this algorithm requires a very few modulating masks and is able to retrieve the phase of an object from very sparse data. Both types of noise are added to the intensity measurements and their effect on the retrieved phase is assessed in terms of the root-mean-square error. We conclude that Poisson noise compromises the accuracy of phase retrieval more compared to Gaussian noise given that the levels of both types of noise are equal. We also conclude that the thermal noise having nearly Gaussian distribution is of less importance compared to the shot noise having Poisson distribution and dominating at low-light levels.

Light scattering caused by Tiffen ProMist photographic filters of various grades at different laser radiation 640 nm, 532 nm and 405 nm was objectively studied and compared. The lack of removal of speckles from the scene of laser radiation scattering did not allow an accurate assessment of the effect of scattering on the decrease in image contrast. Subjective deterioration in visual acuity using various contrast optotypes and contrast sensitivity was assessed by scattering induction using filters up to grade #5. Vision contrast sensitivity diminishes within all studied spatial frequency range 0.5-18 cpd. The degradation of the impact factor to visual acuity without scattering filters when the contrast of the optotype was reduced from 100% to 12.5% for optotypes with black-white letters was up to 30%, which was similar to the level of degradation (25% for a #5 degree filter) from scattering caused by filters modeling cataracts.

We adapted virtual reality appliances to use them in scientific medical diagnostics and therapeutic aims by incorporated as part of appliance ocular system two electrically tunable Optotune liquid lenses, controllable by computer USB ports within 20D range. In present time we used the appliance to investigate the mono- and/or binocularly illusory perception dominances (Shapiro and al;2008), nonlinearities caused by controversial Gestalt recognition of motion. Back layer of stimuli elements contained internal motion sources - clockwise spinning disk on neutral background. Disk consisted of centrosymmetric radial rays which luminance was sinus mode modulated along the disc circumference. Spinning speed was 0.15 rps. Spatial frequencies of modulation were within the range 1.8-3.7 cpd. Frontal stimuli layer contained concentrically allocated six circular apertures in neutral background rotating with the same speed however counterclockwise. Apertures lied concentrically with symmetry center collocated with the hidden center of internal motion. Observers made judgements (Tobserv=2sec) at different viewing eccentricity: 1) movement of disks seemed jumbled; spinning perceived continuous, however 2) counter- or 3) clockwise. Illusory perception – clockwise perception of movement sets on when viewing peripherally. Favorable conditions of that are equality of the frontal stimuli layer luminance to mean luminance of modulations, increasing contrast of modulations and increasing viewing eccentricity. Increasing of modulation spatial frequency diminishes illusion onset probability. Virtual reality appliances completed with tunable liquid lenses electrically controlling defocus allow to perform such experiments and to check patients with unilateral eye cataract.

In recent years, phase retrieval methods recovering the phase of an object from coded diffraction patterns have gained popularity. A numerical phase retrieval method called PhaseLift that recovers the phase of an object from a very limited number of coded diffraction patterns was recently proposed. Performance of PhaseLift has been analyzed for different types and the number of masks modulating an object. We present a unique application of PhaseLift that uses four rotations of a single mask, modulating only the amplitude of an object. In simulations, a phase screen with the root-mean-square (RMS) value 0.294 μm was used as the test object. The RMS value of the retrieved phase screen after smoothing was 0.257 μm. In experiments, the RMS value of a wavefront measured with a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor was 0.094 while that of the retrieved wavefront after smoothing was 0.054 μm. While PhaseLift is able to recover a wavefront using this kind of modulation, a serious limitation to applicability of this method is its high computational cost and time.

Visual stimuli were demonstrated on a 4.3’’ mobile phone screen inside a “Virtual Reality” adapter that allowed separation of the left and right eye visual fields. Contrast of the retina image thus can be controlled by the image on the phone screen and parallel to that at appropriate geometry by the AC voltage applied to scattering PDLC cell inside the adapter. Such optical pathway separation allows to demonstrate to both eyes spatially variant images, that after visual binocular fusion acquire their characteristic indications. As visual stimuli we used grey and different color (two opponent components to vision – red-green in L*a*b* color space) spatially periodical stimuli for left and right eyes; and with spatial content that by addition or subtraction resulted as clockwise or counter clockwise slanted Gabor gratings. We performed computer modeling with numerical addition or subtraction of signals similar to processing in brain via stimuli input decomposition in luminance and color opponency components. It revealed the dependence of the perception psychophysical equilibrium point between clockwise or counter clockwise perception of summation on one eye image contrast and color saturation, and on the strength of the retinal aftereffects. Existence of a psychophysical equilibrium point in perception of summation is only in the presence of a prior adaptation to a slanted periodical grating and at the appropriate slant orientation of adaptation grating and/or at appropriate spatial grating pattern phase according to grating nods. Actual observer perception experiments when one eye images were deteriorated by simulated cataract approved the shift of mentioned psychophysical equilibrium point on the degree of artificial cataract. We analyzed also the mobile devices stimuli emission spectra paying attention to areas sensitive to macula pigments absorption spectral maxima and blue areas where the intense irradiation can cause in abnormalities in periodic melatonin regeneration and deviations in regular circadian rhythms. Therefore participants in vision studies using “Virtual Reality” appliances with fixed vision fields and emitting a spike liked spectral bands (on basis of OLED and AMOLED diodes) different from spectra of ambient illuminators should be accordingly warned about potential health risks.

Chromostereopsis can be sight and feel in “Virtual Reality” adapters, that induces the appearance of color dependant depth sense and, finally, combines this sense with the source conceived depth scenario. Present studies are devoted to investigation the induced chromastereopsis when using adapted “Virtual Reality” frame together with mobile devices as smartphones. We did observation of composite visual stimuli presented on the high spatial resolution screen of the mobile phone placed inside a portable “Virtual Reality” adapter. Separated for the left and right eyes stimuli consisted of two areas: a) identical for both eyes color chromostereopsis part, and b) additional conventional color neutral random-dot stereopsis part with a stereodisparity based on the horizontal shift of a random-dot segment in images for the left and right eyes, correspondingly. The observer task was to equalize the depth sense for neutral and colored stimuli areas. Such scheme allows to determine actual observed chromostereopsis disparity value versus eye stimuli color difference. At standard observation conditions for adapter with +2D ocular lenses for mobile red-blue stimuli, the perceptual chromostereopsis depth sensitivity on color difference was linearly approximated with a slope S ChS ≈ 2.1[arcmin/(Labcolor difference)] for red-blue pairs. Additional to standard application in adapter the tuneable “Varioptic” liquid lens oculars were incorporated, that allowed stimuli eye magnification, vergence and disparity values control electrically.

Lower-order and higher-order ocular aberrations influence not only visual perception but also appearance of retinal images. We suggest that the diameter of blood vessels may differ for various patterns of aberrations based on how the maps of point spread functions are orientated to these vessels. We tested our hypothesis by a star chart simulation method and by using simulating aberrations in a real image of a living retina. We observed that broadening of the blood vessels due to ocular aberrations depends not only on the relative orientation of the wavefront but also on their actual width. The change in the diameter ratio is clinically significant and is comparable to changes in the arteriovenous ratio due to various retinal and systemic pathologies. We hypothesise that an ophthalmologist when examining the fundus of an eye must pay attention to a patient's aberrations.

Spectral and switching characteristics of two manufacturer liquid crystal goggles are tested. Experimentally the human stereovision acuity and threshold were studied for the case, when one eye random dot stereo stimulus simulated on the display is continuously blurred or the stimulus contrast is decreased. In order to determine the artefacts of two eye channel crosstalk on the stereostimuli separation the contrast ratio limits for the computer display phosphors wavelengths are determined.

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (FLC) filters offer the speed of electronic light shutters and the vibration free operation. These characteristics make them ideal for applications requiring short exposure times and minimal blur, offering switching times of 0.0002 of a second. FLC filters can be used as the optical shutters for machine vision purposes, also in vision research. On the basis of FLC filters we have developed ferroelectric glasses, allowing temporal separation of optical information for both eyes. In the case of amblyopia (“lazy eye”) the only way to oblige the “lazy” eye to work is to close the other better-seeing eye. We advice an appliance for dynamic visual system training to promote the functionality of the worse-seeing eye. For fast switching the filters are powered by a bipolar minus to plus control voltage power supply separate for two left and right channels, with optical isolation for higher safety reasons. The duration of the shutters open-close state are controlled through th...

An imaging polarimeter in transmission has been used to explore the effects of scatter and depolarization induced by a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell. The experiment was carried out for three visible wavelengths. Both a directional and a scattered component can be distinguished in the light transmitted by this material. Whereas the directional component increased with voltage, the scattered portion decreased. This was a common behaviour for all three wavelengths. The polarimetric analysis revealed that the degree of polarization was also affected by changes in the voltage applied to the cell. Depolarization effects in the scattered component were usually high and decreased with voltage. However those associated with the directional part were low for high voltages and increased when reducing the voltage.

The study of chromostereopsis has gained attention in the backdrop of the use of computer displays in daily life. In this context, we analyze the illusory depth sense using planar color images presented on a computer screen. We determine the color difference threshold required to induce an illusory sense of depth psychometrically using a constant stimuli paradigm. Isoluminant stimuli are presented on a computer screen, which stimuli are aligned along the blue–red line in the computer display CIE xyY color space. Stereo disparity is generated by increasing the color difference between the central and surrounding areas of the stimuli with both areas consisting of random dots on a black background. The observed altering of illusory depth sense, thus also stereo disparity is validated using the “center-of-gravity” model. The induced illusory sense of the depth effect undergoes color reversal upon varying the binocular lateral eye pupil covering conditions (lateral or medial). Analysis of the retinal image point spread function for the display red and blue pixel radiation validates the altering of chromostereopsis retinal disparity achieved by increasing the color difference, and also the chromostereopsis color reversal caused by varying the eye pupil covering conditions.

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals with electrically induced variations of light scattering extent similar to that of transparent PLZT ceramics are used for simulation of different development stages of eye cataract. Wavelength dependencies of scattering are determined in the visible spectral range, and human visual response looking through the scattering obstacle to the onset of various spatial frequency stimuli is determined psychophysically and electrophysiologically in order to find correlation between the scattering extent, visual acuity and visual evoked potential VEP chromatic characteristics.

An experimental setup allowing the modeling of conditions in optical devices and in the eye at various degrees of scattering such as cataract pathology in human eyes is presented. The scattering in cells of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) and 'Smart Glass' windows is used in the modeling experiments. Both applications are used as optical obstacles placed in different positions of the optical information flow pathway either directly on the stimuli demonstration computer screen or mounted directly after the image-formation lens of a digital camera. The degree of scattering is changed continuously by applying an AC voltage of up to 30–80 V to the PDLC cell. The setup uses a camera with 14 bit depth and a 24 mm focal length lens. Light-emitting diodes and diode-pumped solid-state lasers emitting radiation of different wavelengths are used as portable small-divergence light sources in the experiments. Image formation, optical system point spread function, modulation transfer functions, and system resolution limits are determined for such sample optical systems in student optics and optometry experimental exercises.

LED light sources are used to design experimental setup for university courses teaching human color vision. The setup allows to demonstrate various vision characteristics and to apply for student practical exercises to study eye spectral sensitivity in different spectral range using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Technique can be used in laboratory works for students to acquire knowledge in visual perception, basics of electronics and measuring, or it can be applied as fully computer control experiment. Besides studies of the eye spectral sensitivity students can practice in trichromatic color matching and other visual perception tasks

Phenomena characteristic for thermo-optically and electro-optically tunable PLZT ceramics Fabry-Perot interferometers are analyzed, when these devices are used with Ar+ ion and solid state erbium lasers. A new original technique of Q-switching of mid-infrared solid state pulse lasers using a Fabry-Perot output coupler with integrated Q-switch function is reported.

The structure-properties relationships and phase transitions in perovskite ceramics, and films of PLZT, PLZST, PST, PSN, PMNT compounds are discussed with regard to ordering, relaxor behaviour, pronounced ferroelectric, electromechanical and electrocaloric properties. The theoretical approach is extended to the time dependent Ginsburg-Landau model. The evolution of dielectric properties in relaxors after the change of temperature and electric field creating an increase of dielectric permittivity is found to follow a logarithmic law of decay. A strong electromechanical response is observed in a number of thin films of different compositions.

Optical bistability in PLZT ceramics due to the Ar+ laser induced heating and changes of the optical thickness of a plane parallel PLZT plate (behaving as the Fabry-Perot cavity) is observed. Such PLZT ceramics plate is used also as an extracavity laser mirror. Thermooptical tuning of the mirror causes a non-liner behaviour of such system. A negative feedback brought by the thermooptic mirror can be used to stabilise the laser output. On the contrary, the competitive action of the PLZT plate as the coupled mirror, on one hand, and as the non-linear Fabry-Perot cavity, on the other hand, can cause periodical fluctuations in the output of the laser.

Color of objects is a spectral composition of incident light source, reflection properties of the object itself, and spectral tuning of the eye. Light sources with different spectral characteristics can produce metameric representation of color; however most variable in this regard is vision. Pigments of color vision are continuously bleached by different stimuli and optical density of the pigment is changed, while continuous conditions provide an adaptation and perception of white. Special cases are color vision deficiencies which cover almost 8 % of male population in Europe. Hyperspectral imaging allows obtaining the spectra of the environment and modelling the performance of the dichromatic, anomalous trichromatic, as also normal trichromatic adapted behavior. First, CRI Nuance hyperspectral imaging system was spectrally calibrated for natural continuous spectral illumination of high color rendering index and narrow band fluorescent light sources. Full-scale images of color deficiency tests were acquired in the range of 420 to 720 nm to evaluate the modelling capacity for dichromatic and anomalous trichromatic vision. Hyperspectral images were turned to cone excitation images according to Stockman and Sharpe (2000) 1 . Further, model was extended for anomalous trichromacy conditions. Cone sensitivity spectra were shifted by 4 nm according to each anomaly type. LWS and SWS cone signals were balanced in each condition to provide the appropriate appearance of colors in CIE system.

The decrease of density and consequentially optical density of macular pigment serves as a diagnostic mean for a number of ophthalmological pathologies, particularly as a risk factor for age related macular degeneration. Macular pigment absorbs light in short wavelength blue spectral range. Thus the optical density of macular pigment can be detected by various optical – both objective and subjective psychophysical techniques. Latter techniques use eye and brain visual pathways as spectral sensitive optical detector and decision maker, and exploit perception facility to process information flow in a unique manner to create various perception illusions. The psychophysical methods of detection of optical density of macular pigment include heterochromatic flicker photometry and minimum illusory motion photometry. We develop and employ a heterochromatic flicker photometry method where LEDs are used as visual stimuli. LED emission maximum wavelengths in blue spectrum region are chosen in range 445-460 nm, that corresponds to spectrally resolved maxima of light absorption for two types of macula pigments – lutein and zeaxanthin or in spectral range 500-510 nm, where lutein and zeaxanthin absorption have decay, that for both type of pigments have a detectable shift. Statistical dispersion of the results allows to use the difference between results of psychophysical measurements obtained for different LEDs to estimate the concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin in human retina.

The article focuses on the process of water warming from 0 °C in a glass. An experiment is performed that analyses the temperature in the top and bottom layers of water during warming. The experimental equipment is very simple and can be easily set up using devices available in schools. The temperature curves obtained from the experiment help us to understand the process of convection in the glass and to determine the temperature at which the density of water is maximum. In addition, computational fluid dynamics—CFD modeling is carried out to facilitate better comprehension of the phenomenon observed in the experiment.

Background and Objective. The purpose of sensory adaptation of the visual system is to adjust sensitivity of the photoreceptors to optimize the dynamic range of response of the visual system. It has been shown in numerous research papers that chromatic adaptation influences both color appearance and color discrimination. However, there are almost no studies in which the influence of chromatic adaptation on perceived purity has been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how chromatic adaptation to stimuli with certain saturation influences perceived purity of test stimuli with the same hue but different saturation. Material and Methods. As the stimuli were modulated in saturation only, we refer to the type of chromatic adaptation used in our study as saturation adaptation. Two types of psychophysical methods – the method of adjustment and the method of constant stimuli – were used. Results. The results obtained with the method of constant stimuli reveal that saturation adaptation seems to be nonlinear much the same way as the Bezold-Brücke and the Abney effect. In addition, hysteresis of saturation adaptation can be observed in the method of adjustment. Conclusions. Pronounced hysteresis of perceived color purity was observed when approaching to the point of subjective equality from the side of low saturation of the matching stimulus compared with the side of high saturation of the matching stimulus. There was a time course of mechanisms of saturation adaptation similar to those of chromatic adaptation previously quoted in literature.

Perception of different color contrast stimuli was studied in the presence of light scattering in a fog chamber in Clermont-Ferrand and in laboratory conditions where light scattering of similar levels was obtained. Blue (shortest wavelength) light is scattered in fog to the greatest extent, causing deterioration of vision quality especially for the monochromatic blue stimuli. We have done spectral measurements of the light source in different density fog conditions and no spectral changes were found produced by the fog. Psychophysical measurements of the acuity in fog were done for two subjects with optotypes analyzed for red and blue stimuli.

Multispectral color analysis was used for spectral scanning of Ishihara and Rabkin color deficiency test book images. It was done using tunable liquid-crystal LC filters built in the Nuance II analyzer. Multispectral analysis keeps both, information on spatial content of tests and on spectral content. Images were taken in the range of 420-720nm with a 10nm step. We calculated retina neural activity charts taking into account cone sensitivity functions, and processed charts in order to find the visibility of latent symbols in color deficiency plates using cross-correlation technique. In such way the quantitative measure is found for each of diagnostics plate for three different color deficiency carrier types - protanopes, deutanopes and tritanopes. Multispectral color analysis allows to determine the CIE xyz color coordinates of pseudoisochromatic plate design elements and to perform statistical analysis of these data to compare the color quality of available color deficiency test books.

Laser beam modulator on transparent electrooptic PLZT ceramics are developed for the use in teaching process in schools and universities. Characteristics of the modulator and its electronic control unit are given.

Disability glare, affecting e.g. road safety at night, may result either from intraocular light scattering or from external conditions such as fog. Measurements were made of light scattering in fog and compared with intraocular straylight data for normal eyes and eyes with simulated cataract. All measurements were made with a direct compensation flicker method. To estimate light scattering levels in fog, straylight measurements were carried in a fog chamber for different densities of fog. Density was characterized by the meteorological term visibility V and ranged from 7 to 25. Test distance for measurements in the fog was constant at 5 m. Cataract eye conditions were simulated by placing a light scattering polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) filter with scatterers of submicron size in front of the normal eye. All measurements were made using each of three broad-band color stimuli - red, green and blue (produced either with LEDs or a color CRT monitor). Differences were found in both the level and the spectral characteristics of scattering under the different conditions. The measured values of the straylight parameter, s, in artificial fog showed no noticeable spectral dependence at any visibility range. Increasing the visibility range caused an exponential decrease in the straylight. Intraocular straylight measured with the clear eye showed an increase at the red and blue ends of the spectrum as compared to the green. Straylight measured using PDLC plates with different transparency levels showed a spectral dependence which decreased with wavelength. The scattering introduced by the PDLC plate therefore failed to give a valid simulation of cataract and fog conditions for polychromatic stimuli, due to its erroneous spectral dependence.

This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 7142, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, and the Conference Committee listing.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Amorphous chalcogenide thin films are excellent materials for holographic recordings. AsSeS thin film coating is a useful optical material for it's thickness to be easily corrected with the use of exposure to light and consecutive chemical etching. Following properties allow to treat the surface of AsSeS chalcogenide films and to use them in adaptive optics systems for correction of the optical wavefront. Hereby, we characterize AsSeS film properties to be used for correction of optical aberrations of the human eye. The thickness of the film is characterized with the method of spectrodensitometry and the surface profile depth with a Hartman- Shack waveform analyzator.

In routine eye examination the visual acuity usually is determined using standard charts with black letters on a white background, however contrast and colour are important characteristics of visual perception. The purpose of research was to study the perception of isoluminant coloured stimuli in the cases of true and simulated amlyopia. We estimated difference in visual acuity with isoluminant coloured stimuli comparing to that for high contrast black-white stimuli for true amblyopia and simulated amblyopia. Tests were generated on computer screen. Visual acuity was detected using different charts in two ways: standard achromatic stimuli (black symbols on a white background) and isoluminant coloured stimuli (white symbols on a yellow background, grey symbols on blue, green or red background). Thus isoluminant tests had colour contrast only but had no luminance contrast. Visual acuity evaluated with the standard method and colour tests were studied for subjects with good visual acuity, if necessary using the best vision correction. The same was performed for subjects with defocused eye and with true amblyopia. Defocus was realized with optical lenses placed in front of the normal eye. The obtained results applying the isoluminant colour charts revealed worsening of the visual acuity comparing with the visual acuity estimated with a standard high contrast method (black symbols on a white background).

Important optical parameter of the eye is intraocular light scattering. Straylight can reduce visual acuity, contrast sensitivity. It is one of the main factors for glare, especially for drivers at night, when there is light source some distance away from the fixation point. There are many factors, which can affect amount of light scattering in the eye. To assess the effect of the color of the straylight source on retinal image quality at different light scattering levels, retinal straylight was measured with and without light scattering occluder. Red, green and blue colors were choosed for straylight source. Psychophysical and electrophysiological methods were used to evaluate light scattering effect on perception on different color stimuli. Results show that straylight values are the greatest for blue color with and without light scattering occluder. In measurements without light scattering occluder ratio of straylight values for red and green color are different between subjects. Using light scattering occluder straylight values for green color are greater than for red color. Optical and anatomical factors which can induce these spectral variations are discussed. Psychophysical and electrophysiological methods showed the similar changes in results with straylight values when light scattering were increased.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

One of the factors which influences visual functions is intraocular light scattering. To assess the effect of light scattering and stimulus color on visual functions, visual acuity and retinal straylight were measured with and without light scattering occluder. For visual acuity measurements black Landolt optotypes on red, green and blue background were used. Retinal straylight was measured with a direct compensation method using the same colors stimuli. For one subject straylight was measured with 5 different light scattering levels of eye occluder.

Perception of different color contrast stimuli was studied in the presence of light scattering: in a fog chamber in Clermont-Ferrand and in laboratory conditions where light scattering of similar levels was obtained, using different light scattering eye occluders. Blue (shortest wavelength) light is scattered in fog to the greatest extent, causing deterioration of vision quality especially for the monochromatic blue stimuli. However, for the color stimuli presented on a white background, visual acuity in fog for blue Landolt-C optotypes was higher than for red and green optotypes on the white background. The luminance of color Landolt-C optotypes presented on a LCD screen was chosen corresponding to the blue, green, and red color contributions in achromatic white stimuli (computer digital R, G, or B values for chromatic stimuli equal to RGB values in the achromatic white background) that results in the greatest luminance contrast for the white–blue stimuli, thus advancing the visual acuity for the white-blue stimuli. Besides such blue stimuli on the white background are displayed with a uniform, spatially unmodulated distribution of the screen blue phosphor emission over the entire area of the screen including the stimulus C optotype area. It follows that scattering, which has the greatest effect on the blue component of screen luminance, has the least effect on the perception of white–blue stimuli.

Following aspects related to human colour vision are included in experimental lessons for optometry students of University of Latvia. Characteristics of coloured stimuli (emitting and reflective), determination their coordinates in different colour spaces. Objective characteristics of transmitting of colour stimuli through the optical system of eye together with various types of appliances (lenses, prisms, Fresnel prisms). Psychophysical determination of mono- and polychromatic stimuli perception taking into account physiology of eye, retinal colour photoreceptor topography and spectral sensitivity, spatial and temporal characteristics of retinal receptive fields. Ergonomics of visual perception, influence of illumination and glare effects, testing of colour vision deficiencies.

Simulation of vision pathologies and adverse viewing conditions in laboratory conditions requires optical phantoms with different level of light scattering. Such obstacles are designed as passive or active elements applying several technologies. We used for studies two kinds of solid state smart materials with electrically controllable light scattering - electrooptic PLZT ceramics, polymer dispersed liquid crystals PDLC and obstacles with fixed light scattering - composite of polymer methylmethaacrilat PMM together with grinded glass microparticles. Report analyzes optical characteristics of such obstacles - attenuation, scattering, depolarization of different wavelength light at various scattering levels and changes of visual performance applying obstacles in vision science studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the simulation of eye pathologies, such as amblyopia and cataracts, to estimate the stereovision in artificial conditions, and to compare the results on the stereothreshold obtained in artificial and real- pathologic conditions. Characteristic of the above-mentioned real-life forms of a reduced vision is a blurred image in one of the eyes. The blurring was simulated by (i) defocusing, (ii) blurred stimuli on the screen, and (iii) occluding of an eye with PLZT or PDLC plates. When comparing the methods, two parameters were used: the subject's visual acuity and the modulation depth of the image. The eye occluder method appeared to systematically provide higher stereothreshold values than the rest of the methods. The PLZT and PDLC plates scattered more in the blue and decreased the contrast of the stimuli when the blurring degree was increased. In the eye occluder method, the stereothreshold increased faster than in the defocusation and monitor stimuli methods when the visual acuity difference was higher than 0.4. It has been shown that the PLZT and PDLC plates are good optical phantoms for the simulation of a cataract, while the defocusation and monitor stimuli methods are more suitable for amblyopia.

The paper reports on the development of the equipment for studies of the eye dominance and ocular stereoprevalence by using black-and-white and color stereostimuli. The stereostimuli are separated either by color-filter goggles or phase separating liquid-crystal-shutter goggles. The stability of the stereoprevalence is studied by artificial step-by-step deterioration of the retinal image quality, particularly in the dominant eye. The stimuli are blurred using spatial Gaussian filtering. The polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal cell placed in front of the dominant eye induces a controllable light scattering. The stimuli-blurring and light-scattering methods exhibit different influence on the eye ocular prevalence. Blurring causes a smooth change of the prevalence towards the nonblurred stimuli eye. The influence of moderate scattering depends heavily on stimuli color. At a sufficiently high scattering level the instable switching from the prevalence of one eye to the prevalence of the other occurs.

A new method of determining objectively the amount of scattered light in an optical system has been developed. It is based on measuring the degree of polarization of the light in images formed after a double pass through the system. A dual apparatus composed of a modified double-pass imaging polarimeter and a wave-front sensor was used to measure polarization properties and aberrations of the system under test. We studied the accuracy of the procedure in a system that included a lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramic plate able to generate variable amounts of scattered light as a function of the applied voltage. Changes in the voltage applied to the ceramics plate modified significantly the scattering contribution while hardly altering the wave-front aberration. The degree of polarization was well correlated with the level of scattering in the system as determined by direct-intensity measurements at the tails of the double-pass images. This indicates that this polarimetric parameter provides accurate relative estimates of the amount of scattering generated in a system. The technique can be used in a number of applications, for example, to determine objectively the amount of scattered light in the human eye.

Spectral and switching characteristics of two manufacturer liquid crystal goggles are tested, and a contrast ratio for the computer display phosphors wavelengths is determined. Goggles are used in vision science experiments for random dot stereo stimuli phase separation. The human stereovision acuity and threshold was studied for case, when one eye random dot stereo stimulus simulated on the display is cotinuously blurred or the stimulus contrast is decreased.

PLZT ceramics electrooptic (EO) modulator was designed for demonstrations and student's laboratory works to study photorefraction using Ar+ laser (λ = 514 nm). PLZT element had an aperture of 1.5 x 8 mm2 and thickness of 1.5 mm. Reading of recorded patterns was realized by applying to the element the biasing electric field. The most efficient writing took place for ceramics composition PLZT 8.75/65/35. The total intensity of two writing beams was up to 300 mW, the applied electric field during writing -- up to 20 kV/cm. The diffraction efficiency depended on the applied biasing reading electric field EBR . For the reading He-Ne laser the diffraction efficiency η ≈ 0.48 was obtained at the bias field values EBR = 13 kV/cm. The simplicity of the modulator alignment and writing and reading processes promote the use of such modulators in the teaching process.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Studies are focused on design and appraisal of an objective test for assessment of the stereovision quality in unfavorable conditions. Stereostimuli of different colors are used while the contrast of one of the stimulus being varied. Tests are based on principles of black-and-white and two primary color random dot stereotests. Experiments are divided by the method of stimuli display and separation: 1) stereoeffect is obtained haploscopically - by use of spectacles with color filters (blue and red) or prisms, 2) stimuli separation is obtained by liquid crystal shutters when both eye stimuli are demonstrated with a different delay. The stereovision threshold is determiend at different stimuli disparities simulating the random dot stereotests on a computer monitor with a variable contrasts of one-color stimuli. The applied test differ by stimuli geometry, separation of vision channels, and by data processing. Tests have been appraised and may be used in stereovision studies.

Studies are focused on design and appraisal of an objective test of the quality of stereovision depending on optical stimuli blurring and detecting of the stereovision threshold at various stimuli blur degree. The method is based on the principles of grayscale and color random dot stereotests. Experiments may be divided with respect to the principle of demonstration: 1) the blur is modeled by defocusing an optical lens - the strength of the optical system is varied at a constant quality of the stimulus, or 2) the blur is simulated on the computer screen - here the quality of the stimulus varies. To obtain an independent description and to measure blurring the experimentally demonstrated images are analyzed with regard to modulation depth, Fourier frequencies and by cross-correlation.

Summary form only given. The present paper presents a new technique devoted to studies of the sensitivity of the binocular visual system to luminance and contrast distributions of two monocular half-images. The spatial sensitivity of the binocular disparity and stereopsis were detected maintaining stable monocular background features but under dynamic modulation of the target contrast. Studies using this technique investigated the detectability of the binocular disparity and perceived depth.

Three possibilities of mid-infrared Er:YAG lasers Q-switching were investigated: mechanical and two electro-optical ones. The mechanical method of Q-switching was proved by using of a rotating mirror placed inside the resonator; Pockels or Kerr cells were used for the electro-optical Q-switching. The Pockels cell was constructed on the basis of the Brewster angle cut LiNb03 crystal; the Kerr cell used a ceramic PLZT material. In all the three cases the Er:YAG laser resonator was plan parallel and it consisted of the rear copper mirror and output coupler with 50-70% reflectivity. The Er:YAG crystal was pumped by one xenon flashlamp in a single elliptical silver coated cavity. The generated giant pulse output parameters were the following: the length was measured in the range of 200-400 ns; the output energy was from 10 mJ up to 30 rnJ. With the rotating mirror the output was stable in a wide range ofthe switching interval. All the three cases can be used in applications. The particular Q-switch can be chosen from the point of view of output parameters and construction requirements.

A model of human eye for experiments in vision research has been developed using PLZT ceramics. This ``artificial eye{''} allows to simulate light scattering caused by cataract in the eye lens. Light scattering of a composite eye lens of the model depends on the electric field applied to a transparent electrooptic PLZT ceramics plate that is attached directly to the lens. The image degradation in such a model eye at various degrees of scattering is studied observing and recording the contrast of images on the ``retinal plane{''} created by standard test objects with different spatial frequency or by a He-Ne laser source passing a diffractive transparent placed before the eye.

We report a technique to estimate eye aberrations, based mainly on the subjective crossed-cylinder method. In order to obtain accurate coordinates of cross sections of the aberration distorted grid image on the retinal plane, needed in subjective methods, fusion of two images is used. The image seen by the eye under investigation is fused by the patient with a similar grid generated and reshaped in the appropriate way on the computer screen. The computer simulated image is viewed either by the second eye (in order to avoid eye rivalry and suppression processes, that are typical for such conditions, stimuli for both eyes are discontinuous and are displayed sequentially with a frequency of 50 Hz) or by the eye under investigation using an optical prism bypass.

We report a technique to estimate eye aberrations, based mainly on the subjective crossed-cylinder method. In order to obtain accurate coordinates of cross sections of the aberration distorted grid image on the retinal plane, needed in subjective methods, fusion of two images is used. The image seen by the eye under investigation is fused by the patient with a similar grid generated and reshaped in the appropriate way on the computer screen. The computer simulated image is viewed either by the second eye (in order to avoid eye rivalry and suppression processes, that are typical for such conditions, stimuli for both eyes are discontinuous and are displayed sequentially with a frequency of 50 Hz) or by the eye under investigation using an optical prism bypass.