Modern Optical Design Assessment and Spectacle Lenses

Abstract

This paper investigates whether or not the application of modern methods of optical design assessment to the field of spectacle lens design will recommend new designs and/or new principles for design of single vision spectacle lenses. The aspects of the assumption of conventional spectacle lens design techniques, which is that the finite size of the stop can be ignored, are discussed. The tools for the investigation, raytracing and polychromatic optical transfer function schemas, are also discussed. Using examples, it is shown that the assumption of conventional spectacle lens design techniques is generally valid. In general, the application of modern methods of optical lens design assessment to the field of spectacle lens design does not recommend designs or principles for design other than those already recommended by conventional spectacle lens design techniques. However, it is possible that the use of complex aspheric surfaces, particularly for high powered lenses, may produce considerable lens coma w...