WAVELENGTH-DEPENDENT MAGNIFICATION AND POLYCHROMATIC IMAGE QUALITY INEYES CORRECTED FOR LONGITUDINAL CHROMATIC ABERRATION

Theoretical calculations using a simple model eye in combination with achromatizing lenses or artificial pupils show that correcting wavelen gth-dependent refractive error or its effects can exaggerate wavelengt h-dependent magnification by up to a factor of 7. These calculations a re confirmed experimentally, and their effects on retinal image qualit y are modeled. Because of the increased wavelength-dependent magnifica tion, gains in polychromatic image quality produced by correcting wave length-dependent refractive error (or minimizing its effects with smal l pupils) are generally restricted to a small region of the retina.