Pupil shape as viewed along the horizontal visual field

Abstract

Changes in pupil size and shape are relevant for peripheral imagery by affecting aberrations and how much light enters and/or exits the eye. The purpose of this study is to model the pattern of pupil shape across the complete horizontal visual field and to show how the pattern is influenced by refractive error. Right eyes of 30 participants were dilated with 1% cyclopentolate, and images were captured using a modified COAS-HD aberrometer alignment camera along the horizontal visual field to ±90°. A two-lens relay system enabled fixation at targets mounted on the wall 3 m from the eye. Participants placed their heads on a rotatable chin rest, and eye rotations were kept to less than 30°. Best-fit elliptical dimensions of pupils were determined. Ratios of minimum to maximum axis diameters were plotted against visual field angle. Participants' data were well fitted by cosine functions with maxima at (-)1° to (-)9° in the temporal visual field and widths 9% to 15% greater than predicted by the cosine of the field angle . Mean functions were 0.99 cos([ + 5.3]/1.121), R(2) 0.99 for the whole group and 0.99 cos([ + 6.2]/1.126), R(2) 0.99 for the 13 emmetropes. The function peak became less temporal and the width became smaller with increase in myopia. Off-axis pupil shape changes are well described by a cosine function that is both decentered by a few degrees and flatter by about 12% than the cosine of the viewing angle, with minor influences of refraction.