Study Questions: Optics and the Eye
1. What are the two ways to describe light?
2. Sketch a human eye and label important structures.
3. Give brief definitions for the following optical phenomena:
reflection, refraction, diffraction, and dispersion. Describe how each
phenomenon is involved in forming the retinal image.
4. What is "optical power"? Which parts of the eye have this
ability? Which one of them is able to change the optical power?
How? Draw a convex lens and then draw another one which has stronger
optical power then the previous one.
5. Name four surface boundaries (i.e., places where the medium
changes) in the eye which refract light. Which has the highest
refractive power? Why?
6. Define accomodation. Which part of the eye serves this
function? How does its shape change with the distance between you and
the object you are looking at?
7. Which part of the eye contributes to each of the following
phenomena: myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, cataract.
8. Briefly describe (e.g., with a diagram) focusing by the lens
and the optical aberrations of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. What
kinds of lens are used to correct myopia and hyperopia, respectively?
9. Discuss the function of the pupil. In other words, give
all the reasons, both optical and physiological, that it is wide open
at certain times and closed down at others.
10. What is depth of field?
What causes the depth of field to change? Which part of the eye has
this function?
11. Define "conjugate eye movements". Briefly describe two types
of conjugate eye movements.
12. Define "disjunctive eye movements". Briefly describe two
types of disjunctive eye movements.