Effect of induced anisometropia on binocular through-focus contrast sensitivity.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize binocular through-focus function in white light and to investigate the effect of induced anisometropia on binocular depth of focus. METHODS: The subjects viewed sine-wave gratings generated on a monitor through a modified Badal system that produced gradual changes in target vergence ranging from -4.00 to +2.00 D. Binocular through-focus contrast sensitivity curves were obtained at a spatial frequency of 11 cpd and for different levels of induced anisometropia. Subjective depths of focus were derived from the through-focus curves. RESULTS: An induced anisometropia lower than 1.00 D led to a monomodal through-focus curve involving a single depth of focus, whereas with higher anisometropia, the curves became bimodal indicating a lack of performance at intermediate distance. Binocular thresholds predicted by the quadratic summation model from our monocular measurements were well correlated to our binocular measurements. Predictions allowed us to estimate optimum levels of induced anisometropia.

Partition of perceived space within the fusional area on the basis of apparent fronto-parallel plane criterion.

The relationship between visual space and physical space was investigated by means of the apparent fronto-parallel plane percept. A set of curves in physical space, corresponding to fronto-parallel planes perceived in front or behind a given fixation point, was determined. The curvature at the apex of these curves follows a hyperbolic law that depends on the distance between the perceived plane and the fixation point. Our results are interpreted by distinguishing absolute disparity, which sets the position of the perceived plane, from relative disparity measured by adjusting in this plane eccentric vertical lines. We show that Foley's model, which interprets the shape of the apparent fronto-parallel planes on the mis-evaluation of egocentric distance, works for absolute disparity judgements, but seems to be inadequate for relative disparity judgements in our experimental conditions.

Errors in distance appreciation and binocular night vision.

Studying binocular vergence in relation to luminance levels, we isolated two types of behaviour which may explain differences in distance appreciation: 1. Underestimation of distances in subjects with overconvergence in darkness. 2. Overestimation of distances in subjects with underconvergence in darkness. Progression towards the limiting value of convergence varies from one individual to another for each mesopic and scotopic luminance level and for different experimental conditions: variable discrepancy between the observation distance and the tonic vergence distance; accommodative or fusional stimuli at varying degrees of eccentricity; mobile stimuli in the observer's peripheral field. The study of bipartition in depth of a given interval for different observation distances confirms the existence of two major categories of individuals. Over- or underestimation of the nearer subjective half correlates to the binocular dark convergence capacity of each individual. These findings may explain errors in distance appreciation for road users in night vision.

[Study of spatial function using the contrast sensitivity function. Cases of presbyopic subjects fitted with progressive glasses]. / Exploration fonctionnelle spatiale par la fonction de sensibilité au contraste. Cas de sujets presbytes équipés de verres progressifs.

The spatial properties of the global visual system were measured on the basis of the contrast sensitivity function, in three presbyopic observers. Shape alterations of the contrast sensitivity curves were found depending on the experimental conditions: foveal vision, in far, intermediary and near vision, along central, 13 degrees nasal and 13 degrees temporal meridians (according to three parallels and three meridians), peripheral vision, in far and near vision, at 13 degrees and 26 degrees retinal eccentricities using the central or nasal part of the lens. The central meridian was found to be the most efficient part of the progressive lenses. These results strengthen the observations reported by ophthalmologists and progressive lens wearers.