Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Symbols, signs and other conventions
- Part I General theory
- Part II Geometrical optical instruments or systems
- Part III Physical optics and physical optical instruments
- Part IV Ophthalmic instruments
- Part V Aberrations and image quality
- Part VI Visual ergonomics
- Appendices
- Index
Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Symbols, signs and other conventions
- Part I General theory
- Part II Geometrical optical instruments or systems
- Part III Physical optics and physical optical instruments
- Part IV Ophthalmic instruments
- Part V Aberrations and image quality
- Part VI Visual ergonomics
- Appendices
- Index
Summary
The purpose of this book is to present a thorough description of the construction and image formation of visual optical instruments, ranging from simple magnifiers, through microscopes and telescopes, to the more sophisticated instruments based upon interference and diffraction. There are many other types of optical instruments, such as spectrophotometers and laser systems, but these are not visual optical instruments; that is, they are not used with the eye as an essential component in the imaging process. The only instrument that we include in this book that may not be regarded as a visual optical instrument is the camera. However, we have included the camera, because while one can take a photograph without any “eye” input, the eye is often used to aim the camera and the final image is usually viewed by the eye, either directly or with a projection system.
There are many other textbooks on optics but most of these only briefly discuss visual optical instruments and even more briefly discuss any visual ergonomic aspects of these instruments. We believe that the major strength of this book is its emphasis on the detail of the construction and image formation and most importantly the visual ergonomic aspects. Visual ergonomics is the study or application of the properties of the eye to human performance. In this context, visual ergonomics involves the following factors that may affect vision through an optical instrument: the aberrations of the eye, depth-of-field of the eye, the role of the pupil of the eye, the amplitude of accommodation, refractive errors, visual acuity and the coordination of the two eyes in binocular vision.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Eye and Visual Optical Instruments , pp. vii - ixPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997