Julián Espinosa

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.

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.

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.

Resolution limits to object tracking with subpixel accuracy

Subpixel methods increase the accuracy and efficiency of image detectors, processing units, and algorithms and provide very cost-effective systems for object tracking. Published methods achieve resolution increases up to three orders of magnitude. In this Letter, we demonstrate that this limit can be theoretically improved by several orders of magnitude, permitting micropixel and submicropixel accuracies. The necessary condition for movement detection is that one single pixel changes its status. We show that an appropriate target design increases the probability of a pixel change for arbitrarily small shifts, thus increasing the detection accuracy of a tracking system. The proposal does not impose severe restriction on the target nor on the sensor, thus allowing easy experimental implementation.

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 blinks transversal motions.

Vibration frequency measurement using a local multithreshold technique

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of a video camera for measuring the frequency of small-amplitude vibration movements. The method is based on image acquisition and multilevel thresholding and it only requires a video camera with high enough acquisition rate, not being necessary the use of targets or auxiliary laser beams. Our proposal is accurate and robust. We demonstrate the technique with a pocket camera recording low-resolution videos with AVI-JPEG compression and measuring different objects that vibrate in parallel or perpendicular direction to the optical sensor. Despite the low resolution and the noise, we are able to measure the main vibration modes of a tuning fork, a loudspeaker and a bridge. Results are successfully compared with design parameters and measurements with alternative devices.

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.

Optical Scanning for Structural Vibration Measurement

High-speed cameras (HSCs) are often used for monitoring impacts and fast dynamic processes on structures. However, quantitative information about these processes is usually obtained through other means like accelerometers or Doppler vibrometers. In this article, we show that a proper arrangement of the experiment and the camera allows noncontact measurement of the characteristics of the main displacement mode (amplitude, frequency, and attenuation). An application is given for the analysis of structure damages after low-speed car impacts. The method is low cost, fast, and accurate, and it permits direct visualization and measurement of the movement of the vibrating body.

Corneal primary aberrations compensation by oblique light incidence

The eye is not a centered system. The line of sight connects the fovea with the center of the pupil and is usually tilted in the temporal direction. Thus, off-axis optical aberrations, mainly coma and oblique astigmatism, are introduced at the fovea. Tabernero et al. [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 24(10), 3274-3283 (2007)] showed that a horizontal tilt of the crystalline lens generates a horizontal coma aberration that is compensated by the oblique light incidence on the eye. Here we suggest that corneal astigmatism may also play a role in compensation of oblique aberrations, and we propose a simple model to analyze such a possibility. A theoretical Kooijman eye model with a slight ( approximately 0.6 D) with-the-rule astigmatism is analyzed. Light rays at different incidence angles to the optical axis are considered, and the corresponding point spread functions (PSFs) at the retina are calculated. A quality criterion is used to determine the incidence angle that provides the narrowest and highest PSF energy peak. We show that the best image is obtained for a tilted incidence angle compatible with mean values of the angle kappa. This suggests that angle kappa, lens tilt, and corneal astigmatism may combine to provide a passive compensation mechanism to minimize aberrations on the fovea.

Custom designed dynamic videokeratometer

The human eye is a complex dynamic system that undergoes fine rotations and deformations. Usually information about the eye globe deformation and micromovements are averaged and lost when using commercial measuring devices, although they provide important information about the eyes physiology and the visual process. We have constructed a dynamic topographer from an existing Placido projection head and a video camera. The algorithms of calibration, data processing and topographic reconstruction are also explained in this paper. With our system, the CCD parameters and the algorithms can be controlled offering many possibilities for eye researchers. Obtained results show that the system is reliable for measuring eye dynamics. Some applications of the device are also outlined.