Astigmatism

Astigmatism

An optical system with astigmatism is one where rays that propagate in two perpendicular planes have different foci. If an optical system with astigmatism is used to form an image of a cross, the vertical and horizontal lines will be in sharp focus at two different distances. The term comes from the Greek α- ("a-") meaning "without" and στίγμα ("stigma"), "a mark, spot, puncture". [cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=astigmatism |title=Online Etymology Dictionary |year=2001 |first=Douglas |last=Harper |accessdate=2007-12-29]

Forms of astigmatism

. This terminology may be misleading, however, as the "amount" of aberration can vary strongly with wavelength in an optical system.

The second form of astigmatism occurs when the optical system is not symmetric about the optical axis. This may be by design (as in the case of a cylindrical lens), or due to manufacturing error in the surfaces of the components or misalignment of the components. In this case, astigmatism is observed even for rays from on-axis object points. This form of astigmatism is extremely important in ophthalmology, since the human eye often exhibits this aberration due to imperfections in the shape of the cornea or the lens.

Third-order astigmatism

In the analysis of this form of astigmatism, it is most common to consider rays from a given point on the object, which propagate in two special planes. The first plane is the "tangential plane". This is the plane which includes both the object point being considered and the axis of symmetry. Rays that propagate in this plane are called tangential rays. Planes that include the optical axis are "meridional" planes. It is common to simplify problems in radially-symmetric optical systems by choosing object points in the vertical ("y") plane only. This plane is then sometimes referred to as "the" meridional plane.

The second special plane is the "sagittal plane". This is defined as the plane, orthogonal to the tangential plane, which contains the object point being considered and intersects the optical axis at the entrance pupil of the optical system. This plane contains the chief ray, but does not contain the optic axis. It is therefore a "skew" plane, in other words not a meridional plane. Rays propagating in this plane are called sagittal rays.

In third-order astigmatism, the sagittal and transverse rays form foci at different distances along the optic axis. These foci are called the "sagittal focus" and the "transverse focus", respectively. In the presence of astigmatism, an off-axis point on the object is not sharply imaged by the optical system. Instead, sharp "lines" are formed at the sagittal and transverse foci. The image at the transverse focus is a short line, oriented in the direction of the "sagittal" plane; images of circles centered on the optic axis, or lines tangential to such circles, will be sharp in this plane. The image at the sagittal focus is a short line, oriented in the "tangential" direction; images of spokes radiating from the center are sharp at this focus. In between these two foci, a round but "blurry" image is formed. This is called the "medial focus" or "circle of least confusion". This plane often represents the best compromise image location in a system with astigmatism. The amount of aberration due to astigmatism is proportional to the square of the angle between the rays from the object and the optical axis of the system. With care, an optical system can be designed to reduce or eliminate astigmatism. Such systems are called anastigmats.

Astigmatism in systems that are not rotationally symmetric

If an optical system is not axisymmetric, either due to an error in the shape of the optical surfaces or due to misalignment of the components, astigmatism can occur even for on-axis object points. This effect is often used deliberately in complex optical systems, especially certain types of telescope.

In the analysis of these systems, it is common to consider tangential rays (as defined above), and rays in a meridional plane (a plane containing the optic axis) perpendicular to the tangential plane. This plane is called either the "sagittal meridional plane" or, confusingly, just the "sagittal plane".

Ophthalmic astigmatism

In ophthalmology, the vertical and horizontal planes are identified as "tangential" and "sagittal" meridians, respectively. Ophthalmic astigmatism is a refraction error of the eye in which there is a difference in degree of refraction in different meridians. It is typically characterized by an aspherical, non-figure of revolution cornea in which the corneal profile slope and refractive power in one meridian is greater than that of the perpendicular axis.

Astigmatism causes difficulties in seeing fine detail. In some cases vertical lines and objects such as walls may appear to the patient to be leaning over like the Tower of Pisa. Astigmatism can be often corrected by glasses with a lens that has different radii of curvature in different planes (a "cylindrical" lens), contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

Astigmatism is quite common. Studies have shown that about one in three people suffers from it. [http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/121/8/1141] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16059562&query_hl=7] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15177965&query_hl=20] The prevalence of astigmatism increases with age. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15838729&query_hl=26] Although a person may not notice mild astigmatism, higher amounts of astigmatism may cause blurry vision, , asthenopia, fatigue, or headaches. [http://www.eyetopics.com/articles/45/1/Astigmatism] [http://www.medicinenet.com/astigmatism/article.htm] [http://www.hipusa.com/eTools/webmd/A-Z_Encyclopedia/astigmatism%20symptoms.htm]

There are a number of tests used by ophthalmologists and optometrists during eye examinations to determine the presence of astigmatism and to quantify the amount and axis of the astigmatism. [http://www.hipusa.com/eTools/webmd/A-Z_Encyclopedia/astigmatism%20treatment.htm] A Snellen chart or other eye chart may initially reveal reduced visual acuity. A keratometer may be used to measure the curvature of the steepest and flattest meridians in the cornea's front surface. [http://www.stlukeseye.com/eyeq/Keratometry.asp] A corneal topographer may also be used to obtain a more accurate representation of the cornea's shape. [http://www.emedicine.com/OPH/topic711.htm] An autorefractor or retinoscopy may provide an objective estimate of the eye's refractive error and the use of Jackson cross cylinders in a phoropter may be used to subjectively refine those measurements. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=13900989&dopt=Abstract] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3808608&dopt=Abstract] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8320415&dopt=Abstract] An alternative technique with the phoropter requires the use of a "clock dial" or "sunburst" chart to determine the astigmatic axis and power. [http://www.quantumoptical.com/onlinecourses/nysso/brp/slide1.asp?courses=19] [http://www.nova.edu/hpd/otm/nbeo/refract1.htm]

Astigmatism due to misaligned or malformed lenses and mirrors

Grinding and polishing of precision optical parts, either by hand or machine, typically employs significant downward pressure, which in turn creates significant frictional side pressures during polishing strokes that can combine to locally flex and distort the parts. These distortions generally do not possess figure-of-revolution symmetry and are thus astigmatic, and slowly become permanently polished into the surface if the problems causing the distortion are not corrected. Astigmatic, distorted surfaces potentially introduce serious degradations in optical system performance.

Surface distortion due to grinding or polishing increases with the aspect ratio of the part (diameter to thickness ratio). To a first order, glass strength increases as the cube of the thickness. Thick lenses at 4:1 to 6:1 aspect ratios will flex much less than high aspect ratio parts, such as optical windows, which can have aspect ratios of 15:1 or higher. The combination of surface or wavefront error precision requirements and part aspect ratio drives the degree of back support uniformity required, especially during the higher down pressures and side forces during polishing. Optical working typically involves a degree of randomness that helps greatly in preserving figure-of-revolution surfaces, provided the part is not flexing during the grind/polish process.

Deliberate astigmatism in optical systems

Compact disc players use an astigmatic lens for focusing. When one axis is more in focus than the other, dot-like features on the disc project to oval shapes. The orientation of the oval indicates which axis is more in focus, and thus which direction the lens needs to move. A square arrangement of only four sensors can observe this bias and use it to bring the read lens to best focus, without being fooled by oblong pits or other features on the disc surface.

Some telescopes use deliberately astigmatic optics.Fact|date=December 2007

ee also

* Anastigmat (lens type)

References

*cite book | first=John E. | last=Greivenkamp | year=2004 | title=Field Guide to Geometrical Optics | publisher=SPIE | others=SPIE Field Guides vol. FG01 | id=ISBN 0-8194-5294-7
*cite book | first=Eugene|last=Hecht|year=1987|title=Optics|edition=2nd ed.|publisher=Addison Wesley|id=ISBN 0-201-11609-X

External links

* [http://www.hfhut.com/category/eye-care/astigmatism/ Astigmatism Articles]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • astigmatism — ASTIGMATÍSM s.n. Aberaţie a unui sistem optic, care formează o imagine întinsă pentru un obiect. ♦ Defect al lentilelor sau al corneei şi cristalinului ochiului omenesc, care constă într o abatere de la forma sferică, ele având razele de curbură… …   Dicționar Român

  • Astigmatism — A*stig ma*tism, n. [Gr. a priv. + ?, ?, a prick of a pointed instrument, a spot, fr. ? to prick: cf. F. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.) A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astigmatism — 1849, coined by the Rev. William Whewell (1794 1866), English polymath, from Gk. a without + stigmatos gen. of stigma a mark, spot, puncture (see STICK (Cf. stick) (v.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • astigmatism — ► NOUN ▪ a defect of the eye or a lens, resulting in distorted images. DERIVATIVES astigmatic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek stigma point …   English terms dictionary

  • astigmatism — [ə stig′mə tiz΄əm] n. [< Gr a , without + stigma (gen. stigmatos) a mark, puncture (see STICK) + ISM] 1. an irregularity in the curvature of a lens, including the lens of the eye, so that light rays from an object do not meet in a single focal …   English World dictionary

  • Astigmatism — A common form of visual impairment in which part of an image is blurred, due to an irregularity in the curvature of the front surface of the eye, the cornea. The curve of the cornea is shaped more like an American football or a rugby ball rather… …   Medical dictionary

  • astigmatism — /euh stig meuh tiz euhm/, n. 1. Also called astigmia /euh stig mee euh/. Ophthalm. a refractive error of the eye in which parallel rays of light from an external source do not converge on a single focal point on the retina. 2. Optics. an… …   Universalium

  • astigmatism — Ametropia Am e*tro pi*a, n. [Gr. ? irregular + ?, ?, eye.] (Med.) a visual impairment resulting from faulty refraction of light rays in the eye. Subtypes include {myopia} {astigmatism} and {hyperopia}. {Am e*trop ic}, a. [1913 Webster +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astigmatism — noun Date: 1846 1. a defect of an optical system (as a lens) causing rays from a point to fail to meet in a focal point resulting in a blurred and imperfect image 2. a defect of vision due to astigmatism of the refractive system of the eye and… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • astigmatism — [[t]əstɪ̱gmətɪzəm[/t]] N UNCOUNT If someone has astigmatism, the front of their eye has a slightly irregular shape, so they cannot see properly …   English dictionary

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