Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods and results of modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements on the human crystalline lens. To better understand the optical qualities of the crystalline lens we applied similar MTF measuring techniques on both human and animal lenses. Freshly excised crystalline lenses were suspended in a balanced salt solution cell, and the lenses were held in position only by their intact zonulae and ciliary body. An annulus of sclera was the only contact between the holder and the tissue. The holder was placed in an optical bench MTF measuring apparatus. A 5-μm slit was used as an object in a collimated system, and the aerial image produced by the crystalline lens was examined by a scanning microscope photometer. The spread function was Fourier transformed to obtain the MTF of human crystalline lenses (age 1 month and 55 yr) and animal (six cow and seven dog) lenses.

© 1987 Optical Society of America