Closed-loop adaptive optics in the human eye

We have developed a prototype apparatus for real-time closed-loop measurement and correction of aberrations in the human eye. The apparatus uses infrared light to measure the wave-front aberration at 25 Hz with a Hartmann-Shack sensor. Defocus is removed by a motorized optometer, and higher-order aberrations are corrected by a membrane deformable mirror. The device was first tested with an artificial eye. Correction of static aberrations takes approximately five iterations, making the system capable of following aberration changes at 5 Hz. This capability allows one to track most of the aberration dynamics in the eye. Results in living eyes showed effective closed-loop correction of aberrations, with a residual uncorrected wave front of 0.1 mum for a 4.3-mm pupil diameter. Retinal images of a point source in different subjects with and without adaptive correction of aberrations were estimated in real time. The results demonstrate real-time closed-loop correction of aberration in the living eye. An application of this device is as electro-optic "spectacles" to improve vision. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.