The NES/OSA won a SPIE Education and Outreach Grant to support our efforts. The grant will support equipment updates for the Optics Suitcases and a proposed event at Blue Hills Observatory.

Note: New Meeting Location
Rebeccas Cafe in Newton with access to MBTA Green Line

Correcting Higher Order Aberrations In The Human Eye

The human cornea accounts for approximately two-thirds of the total refractive power of the human eye.  Disorders that distort its shape and smoothness induce irregular astigmatism and higher order aberrations that are uncorrectable with spectacles. Because the refractive index of tear and cornea are similar, a rigid contact lens masks most (9/10) of the refractive power of the corneal surface, including irregular astigmatism. Yet, significant residual HOAs that degrade visual performance remain a significant issue in eyes with certain common corneal disease. The 501(3) nonprofit Boston Foundation for Sight fits these eyes with a unique hard contact lens that is rotationally stable and immobile on blinking. These features make it an excellent vehicle for correcting eye-specific residual higher order aberrations.  The Foundation in collaboration with Geunyoung Yoon, Associate Professor at the Institute of Optics and Center for Visual Science at the Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, is working to customize the optics of the BOS-P to correct eye-specific residual higher order aberrations based on mapping Zernike polynomials and generating correcting front surface optics perturbations.

We are a group of industry professionals and interested individuals promoting the knowledge of Optics including applications and phenomena.

Monthly Meeting

The NES/OSA meets monthly from September to May, generally excluding December, on the third Thursday of each month. Our meetings include a social hour, dinner and talk. These meetings are open to all individuals while members receive the benefits of a monthly mailing, reduced meeting dinner price and voting privileges during council elections. Please sign up online.

Activities

The NES/OSA is active in the support of optics education in area schools. The organization sponsors symposia and invited speakers for teachers, teaching grants for optics projects and science fairs.

Information

For information please contact a member of our Executive Council.

Membership

If you are interested in becoming a member please see the PDF (10Kbytes) application form.