Purpose:
People with central visual field loss (CFL) use their remaining peripheral vision in order to see better when performing various visual related tasks. At large off-axis angles, the eccentric vision can be limited both by the low resolution capacity of the peripheral retina and by the optical aberrations caused due to oblique angles. Previous work has shown that eccentric correction of induced off-axis astigmatism can improve vision in a preferred retinal location (PRL) for people with CFL. However, the eccentric refraction is often difficult to determine with traditional refractive methods. This work therefore shows the use of a commercially available wavefront sensor to measure fast and reliable off-axis refraction. Data on off-axis refraction is also of interest in the field of myopia research.
Methods:
We used the new open-field high-definition complete ophthalmic analysis system, COAS HD -VR, to evaluate off-axis refraction. Using the special Vision Research tool in this system stimulus (fixation objects) can be presented in a large part of the visual field. The instrument can measure out to 40 degrees in the horizontal visual field and 20 degrees in the vertical visual field with a range from sphere +7 D to − 17 D. It measures astigmatism up to 10 D. This instrument also allows natural binocular viewing without obstacles. Aberrations of the right eye of 30 emmetropes (24 ± 4 years) were studied. Off-axis refraction and higher order (HO) aberrations were measured in steps of 10° out to ± 30° in the horizontal visual field
Results:
The first data on young emmetropic eyes with this new instrument showed promising results for low (LO) and higher order (HO) aberrations in the peripheral visual field. Of the LO aberrations, astigmatism increased significantly with the off–axis angle, from 0.25 D at 10° Nasal to 1.65 D at 30° Nasal. In the HO aberrations, coma (C13) showed a linear increase across the horizontal visual field (p < 0.05)
Conclusions:
The COAS HD-VR shows promising results and good usability for future research in evaluation of off-axis refraction. In future we believe the aberrometer can be used clinically to measure off-axis refractions in low vision patients.