Measurement of wide frequency range structural microvibrations with a pocket digital camera and sub-pixel techniques.

Analysis of vibrations and displacements is a hot topic in structural engineering. Although there is a wide variety of methods for vibration analysis, direct measurement of displacements in the mid and high frequency range is not well solved and accurate devices tend to be very expensive. Low-cost systems can be achieved by applying adequate image processing algorithms. In this paper, we propose the use of a commercial pocket digital camera, which is able to register more than 420 frames per second (fps) at low resolution, for accurate measuring of small vibrations and displacements. The method is based on tracking elliptical targets with sub-pixel accuracy. Our proposal is demonstrated at a 10 m distance with a spatial resolution of 0.15 mm. A practical application over a simple structure is given, and the main parameters of an attenuated movement of a steel column after an impulsive impact are determined with a spatial accuracy of 4 µm.

Noninvasive measurement of eye retraction during blinking.

We present a noninvasive technique for high-speed measuring of eye retraction and eyelid position during blinking. The anterior chamber of the eye is illuminated by the slit lamp of a biomicroscope and eye dynamics during a blinking sequence are captured with a high-speed camera working at 500 frames per second. Digital image processing allows quantitative analysis of cornea and eyelid positions during the closing and opening phases of the blinking process. Our method allows simultaneous measuring of corneal retraction, duration of down and up phases, total blinking duration, and average and peak speeds of the eyelids in both phases, thus providing a complete analysis of the blink's transversal motions.

Optical surface reconstruction technique through combination of zonal and modal fitting.

Videokeratometers and Scheimpflug cameras permit accurate estimation of corneal surfaces. From height data it is possible to adjust analytical surfaces that will be later used for aberration calculation. Zernike polynomials are often used as adjusting polynomials, but they have shown to be not precise when describing highly irregular surfaces. We propose a combined zonal and modal method that allows an accurate reconstruction of corneal surfaces from height data, diminishing the influence of smooth areas over irregular zones and vice versa. The surface fitting error is decreased in the considered cases, mainly in the central region, which is more important optically. Therefore, the method can be established as an accurate resampling technique.

Correlation between the dioptric power, astigmatism and surface shape of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces.

A knowledge of the shape of the cornea is of major importance for the planning and monitoring of surgery, and for the correct diagnosis of corneal diseases. Many authors have studied the geometry of the second corneal surface in the central region and it has been stated that there is a high correlation between the central radii of curvature and asphericities of the two corneal surfaces. In this work we extend this study to a larger, central, 6 mm diameter of the cornea. Surface height data, obtained with an Oculus Pentacam from 42 eyes of 21 subjects, were analysed to yield surface power vectors. Corneal heights of both surfaces were also decomposed into low-order Zernike polynomials and the correlations between each of the power vectors and low-order Zernike coefficients for the two surfaces were studied. There was not only a strong correlation between spherical powers and Zernike defocus coefficients, but also between the astigmatic components. The correspondence between the astigmatism in both surfaces found here can be of the utmost importance in planning optical surgery, since perfect spherical ablation of the first surface does not assure total correction of corneal astigmatism.

Adaptive sampling in convergent beams.

Numerical calculation of convergent Fresnel patterns through fast Fourier transform usually requires a large number of samples to fulfill the Nyquist sampling condition around the focus. From polynomial decomposition of the wavefront it is possible to determine which polynomial orders are the main contributors to the number of samples. This information can be used to properly modify the initial wavefront and relax the Nyquist condition thus giving a more efficient numerical algorithm.

Pseudoaccommodation and visual acuity with Technovision presbyLASIK and a theoretical simulated Array multifocal intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual results of presbyLASIK patients to the best theoretical pseudoaccommodation that could be achieved using a multifocal refractive intraocular lens (IOL) model based on the optical structure of a simulated AMO Array multifocal IOL. METHODS: The study included 10 hyperopic eyes that underwent central presbyLASIK surgery using a Technovision excimer laser platform. Mean patient age was 57 years, and mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was 1.28+/-0.87 diopters. The optical quality was evaluated by objective distance and near decimal visual acuities calculated using a Fresnel propagation algorithm based on a realistic eye model. Results of the presbyLASIK technique were compared with the theoretical results obtained for the same eye with an ideal, best-fit multifocal IOL (simulated Array multifocal IOL) substituted for the crystalline lens. RESULTS: For near objective visual acuity (from 25 cm to 1 m), the ideal, theoretical Array-like lens provided values of visual acuity above 0.5 for all object distances, whereas presbyLASIK also provided good visual responses for distances beyond 45 cm. For distance vision (from 1.5 to 6 m), both the IOL and presbyLASIK visual acuities were over 0.5, but the optical performance of the ideal Array-like lens was slightly worse than with presbyLASIK. CONCLUSIONS: Overall near to distance visual acuity obtained with the presbyLASIK technique is comparable to the best visual acuity that could be achieved with a simulated Array multifocal IOL. Near visual acuity with presbyLASIK falls off from the ideal.

Optical analysis of presbyLASIK treatment by a light propagation algorithm.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in the optical quality of corneas of hyperopic patients operated using central multifocal presbyLASIK treatment through the study of light patterns around the retinal plane. METHODS: This study included eight hyperopic eyes that underwent central presbyLASIK surgery with Presby-one software using an H. Eye Tech Technovision excimer laser platform. Mean patient age was 57 years. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was 1.28 +/- 0.87 diopters (D). Mean distance decimal visual acuity with correction was 1.02 +/- 0.13 and without correction was 0.37 +/- 0.15. The optical quality was characterized by the Strehl ratio, the spot size on the retina, and objective decimal visual acuity calculated based on measured corneal topography using Fresnel propagation algorithm based on a realistic eye model. RESULTS: The postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -0.55 +/- 0.48 D. The distance decimal visual acuity with correction was 0.94 and without correction was 0.70. The pseudoaccommodation range was 1.60 +/- 0.40 D. A good Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained (r2 = 0.86) for the linear fit between the real and calculated decimal visual acuity for the eight eyes. The Strehl ratio value on the retinal plane increased after the surgery by a mean factor of 4.7. CONCLUSIONS: With a complete characterization of the eye and a complete propagation algorithm (that takes into account all refractive surfaces in the eye at the same time), it is possible to evaluate the optical quality in eyes of patients who have undergone central presbyLASlK treatment.