Abstract: The device and method of the present invention are useful for determining the characteristics of an infrared wavefront. The present invention involves positioning a beam of light containing the infrared wavefront to be characterized onto a distorted grating, using the grating to produce a plurality of images, determining the infrared wavefront from the plurality of images and analyzing the infrared wavefront for features that characterize the infrared wavefront.

Abstract: The device and method of the present invention are useful for determining the characteristics of an infrared wavefront. The present invention involves positioning a beam of light containing the infrared wavefront to be characterized onto a distorted grating, using the grating to produce a plurality of images, determining the infrared wavefront from the plurality of images and analyzing the infrared wavefront for features that characterize the infrared wavefront.

Abstract: Optical instruments having, inter alia, optics to process wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to produce an interferogram. The instruments include an optical path and optical elements positioned along this path for splitting and recombining the wavelengths which interfere with each other to produce a plurality of different fringes of different wavelengths. The optics include matched gratings which are positioned along the optical path outside of the interferometer optics to produce first and second sets of spectrally dispersed beams. The interferometer optics includes a beam splitter and first and second mirrors. In two embodiments the beam splitter has an internal surface including three zones. The instruments can all include a detector for detecting the interferogram and means for processing the detected interferogram to produce spectral information that is spatially distributed.

Abstract: A ophthalmic aberrometer uses a wavefront sensor aligned with an eye under examination through an optical path and a light source for introducing a light beam into the eye via the optical path, wherein the optical path has a reference through which the light beam passes before passing to an eye retina to form a reference spot on the retina, a focus dynamic range extender, and an astigmatism dynamic range extender positioned in the optical path between the reference and an eye under examination. The wavefront sensor is positioned to receive a wavefront reflected from the eye retina via the optical path.

Abstract: The device and method of the present invention are useful for determining the characteristics of an infrared wavefront. The present invention involves positioning a beam of light containing the infrared wavefront to be characterized onto a distorted grating, using the grating to produce a plurality of images, determining the infrared wavefront from the plurality of images and analyzing the infrared wavefront for features that characterize the infrared wavefront.

Abstract: Optical instruments having, inter alia, optics to process wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to produce an interferogram. The instruments include at least one optical path and optical elements positioned along this path for splitting and recombining the wavelengths which interfere with each other to produce a plurality of different fringes of different wavelengths. In one group, the optics include matched gratings which are positioned along the optical path outside of the interferometer optics to produce first and second sets of spectrally dispersed beams. The interferometer optics also includes a beam splitter and first and second mirrors. The gratings may be positioned in a variety of locations along the optical path. In another group, the optics include a beam splitter having a plurality of surfaces, wherein each of the surfaces is either 100% reflective, 100% transmissive or 50% reflective and 50% transmissive.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.

Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument (for obtaining high resolution, wide field of area hyperspectral retinal images for various sized eyes) includes a fundus retinal imager, (which includes optics for illuminating and imaging the retina of the eye); apparatus for generating a real time image of the area being imaged and the location of the hyperspectral region of interest; a high efficiency spatially modulated common path Fourier transform hyperspectral imager, a high resolution detector optically coupled to the hyperspectral and fundus imager optics; and a computer (which is connected to the real time scene imager, the illumination source, and the high resolution camera) including an algorithm for recovery and calibration of the hyperspectral images.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.

Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument (for obtaining high resolution, wide field of area multi-spectral retinal images) including a fundus retinal imager, (which includes optics for illuminating and imaging the retina of the eye); apparatus for generating a reference beam coupled to the fundus optics to form a reference area on the retina; a wavefront sensor optically coupled to the fundus optics for measuring the wavefront produced by optical aberrations within the eye and the imager optics; wavefront compensation optics coupled to the fundus optics for correcting large, low order aberrations in the wavefront; a high resolution detector optically coupled to the imager optics and the wavefront compensation optics; and a computer (which is connected to the wavefront sensor, the wavefront compensation optics, and the high resolution camera) including an algorithm for correcting, small, high order aberrations on the wavefront and residual low order aberrations.