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The effect of chromatic aberration on visual acuity
Author(s) -
Campbell F. W.,
Gubisch R. W.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008304
Subject(s) - monochromatic color , contrast (vision) , optics , visual acuity , chromatic aberration , chromatic scale , vernier acuity , physics , grating , optometry , ophthalmology , mathematics , medicine
1. Differences of threshold contrast are predicted from optical theory for a grating acuity target in monochromatic and white light. The greatest differences, up to 65%, are predicted for gratings of lower contrast and pitch than those normally used in measurements of visual acuity. 2. Using three subjects, we measured contrast thresholds with 1·5 and 2·5 mm diameter artificial pupils for natural and paralysed accommodation, using a tungsten lamp and wave‐lengths of 546 and 578 mm. 3. Excellent agreement is obtained between predicted and measured differences. 4. Results confirm that observed acuity and sensitivity differences between white and monochromatic lights are largely optical in origin, but involve at least two independent colour mechanisms as spectral weighting functions. Stiles's π 4 and π 5 sensitivities afford a much better fit to observed differences than the C.I.E. visibility curve.