A new study published in Optica led by a group of European researchers evaluated the imaging properties of a standard single-vision lens and two spectacles lenses used to manage myopia progression.
Talk about the study.
Researchers assessed the light-focusing and scattering properties of spectacle lenses with defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) technology and diffusion-optical technology (DOT).
To measure the focusing properties of both myopia-correcting spectacle lenses, investigators developed an instrument based on spatial light modulation (SLM) technology that reproduces myopic eyes’ foveal and peripheral aberrations to mimic real-world viewing conditions.
Tell me more about this new instrument.
The instrument designed by the study authors employs an illumination source mounted on an arm that rotates around the lens.
After the light passes through the lens, a steering rotating mirror guides it toward a SLM, which is composed of crystal cells that adjust the propagating light with high spatial resolution.
Go on…
The SLM enabled researchers to ensure that the pupil shape and myopic optical aberrations were physically simulated for a variety of complex pupils while testing the lenses.
Additionally, the SLM allowed investigators to program specific amounts of defocus, making it possible for them to conduct a through-focus test.
Findings?
Researchers found images to have increased contrast and sharpness through the DIMS lens at the peripheral retina when inducing myopic defocus.
Conversely, the contrast reduction by the DOT lens strongly depended on the luminance of the pupil.
Limitations?
As with any new technology, researchers are still honing in on how to optimize the capabilities of this new instrument.
In this study, investigators only assessed the lenses using a single wavelength of light, and the results could not be generalized because only a single sample from each spectacle lens type was tested.
Significance?
This novel approach to measuring the optical response of spectacle lenses provides eye care practitioners with a deeper understanding of the imaging properties of the lenses as well as potentially help with optimizing future spectacle designs to manage myopia progression.