Use of liquid-crystal adaptive-optics to alter the refractive state of the eye

We evaluated the potential of wavefront shaping with liquid-crystals for modulating the eye's refractive state. A spatial light modulator with 127 liquid crystal cells was imaged in the entrance pupil of the eye and programmed to induce prismatic, spherical, and astigmatic refractive changes. Psychophysical evaluation of these optical effects was in agreement with expectations for prisms up to approximately 0.08 D and for lenses up to approximately 1.5 D. These maximum dioptric values represent wavefront retardation of about 3 to 4 wavelengths of 584 nm light across a 3-mm diameter pupil. Optical aliasing of high-power prisms was traced to spatial undersampling of the wavefront retardation function by the discrete array of liquid crystal cells. Undersampling may also be the factor which limits the useful dioptric range of the technique.