USE OF LIQUID-CRYSTAL ADAPTIVE-OPTICS TO ALTER THE REFRACTIVE STATE OF THE EYE

We evaluated the potential of wavefront shaping with liquid-crystals f or modulating the eye's refractive state. A spatial light modulator wi th 127 liquid crystal cells was imaged in the entrance pupil of the ey e and programmed to induce prismatic, spherical, and astigmatic refrac tive changes. Psychophysical evaluation of these optical effects was i n agreement with expectations for prisms up to approximately 0.08 D an d for lenses up to approximately 1.5 D. These maximum dioptric values represent wavefront retardation of about 3 to 4 wavelengths of 584 nm light across a 3-mm diameter pupil. Optical aliasing of high-power pri sms was traced to spatial undersampling of the wavefront retardation f unction by the discrete array of liquid crystal cells. Undersampling m ay also be the factor which limits the useful dioptric range of the te chnique.