Nulux EP: The perfection of natural vision in all directions

NULUX EP

Optical accuracy in all sight directions

With the introduction of Nulux EP Hoya has made sharp vision in all directions of sight a reality. A new evaluation parameter and new calculation methods for this unique bi-aspheric, atoric lens design that has set a new standard in unrestricted natural vision.

Looking beyond principal meridians

Until now, the most important factor in calculating lens designs was on issues such as the materials refractive index, the curvature and the thickness, taking the prescribed correction value as the basis. To achieve the best optical correction meant relying on the evaluation results of two primary evaluation parameters related to Visual Acuity. Power Error and Astigmatism.

These two calculation factors were, however, insufficient for cylindrical correction lenses when it came to achieving an equal and exact calculation of the total field of vision in all directions of sight in areas in which the eyeball moves outside the two main axes (principal meridians), such as when looking in oblique direction. The physiological properties of the eye, the measured visual sharpness (Visual Acuity) and the movements made by the eye in all directions were left out of the equation. Put simply, the available techniques and insights made it impossible to take them into account.

(A) Power Error (B) Astigmatism

Nulux EP: The perfection of natural vision in all

Meanwhile, calculation techniques have started taking the human eye as the starting point and Calculated Visual Acuity plays a central role herein. The key issue is to optimise a persons visual sharpness, not only in theory, but achieved by the prescribed lens and taking into account directions beyond the rotation in the two primary meridians. If for example a person has a visual sharpness of V 1.0 or 6/6, this is the level at visual sharpness (Visual Acuity) at which we want to achieve an unrestricted field of vision in all directions, regardless of the correction value of the lens.

The relationship between lens power and measured Visual Acuity

The relationship between lens power and measured Visual Acuity (visual sharpness) was the subject of a research project by Dr. Henry B. Peter. He also investigated the relationship between Visual Acuity on the one hand and age and the influence of spheric aberration and astigmatism on the other. The results of this work provided Hoya with the input it required to start designing lenses with minimal, peripheral aberrations, and to optimise Visual Acuity in all directions of sight. Put another way, Hoya was able to embark on a quest to enhance visual performance and quality, while also creating the largest possible unrestricted field of vision.

The measured Visual Acuity as a basis parameter for optical accuracy in all sight directions.

Three evaluation factors for optimising lens design properties

Visual Acuity means the eyes ability to discriminate or resolve spatially organised details in images. A number of factors affect Visual Acuity, such as health, age, refractive error, illumination, contrast and the location of the retina being stimulated. Astigmatic error and power error aberrations, produced by the limitations (aberrations) of spectacle lenses, can also influence Visual Acuity.
As a first step, Hoya incorporated the relationship between spheric and cylindrical prescription powers with the associated aberrations and the measured Visual Acuity. This applies also to the effects of the optical design on the Visual Acuity due to the way in which rays of light are bent at different transmitted ray incidence heights. Finally, the Hoya designers used data related to eye movements, no longer basing their efforts on vision through the optical centre of the lens alone but in all directions. Until now it was possible to overcome optical aberrations using aspheric lens designs, applying flatter curves with plus powers and less with minus powers. The disadvantage of this solution was that the eventual calculations were only based upon two coordinates: the principal meridians. The human eye of course looks in all directions, outside the optical centre of the lens.

C (A) primary direction (B) secondary direction (C) tertiary direction

The goal: optimal aspherisation in all directions of sight

Cylindrical correction lens are a particular problem. Major differences occur with astigmatic lenses between vision through the optical centre and vision through the peripheral areas of the lens. A solution therefore had to be found to avoid peripheral residual astigmatism. Achieving a balanced distribution of the different aberrations in the two primary meridians is already a complex matter.

The aim is to find the highest clear vision for myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, where the focused image is on the retina (measured Visual Acuity). It requires spectacle lens corrections retaining the same vision at all directions (Calculated Visual Acuity).

NULUX EP

directions
The theory of Listings Law give us more coordinates to adjust the calculation for all directions of sight. The evaluation function is used in optimising the calculations used in designing a bi-aspherical lens, in addition to the visual acuity evaluation function, derived from a visual acuity measured value of V The Calculated . Visual Acuity should be based on the coordinates of eyeball movements that rotates according to Listings Law.

Image clear visual field spheric design

But the formation of astigmatism by slanting beams of light increases this complexity still further when looking outside the cylindrical axes. Oblique astigmatic error and mean oblique error occurs when looking at an object outside the optical centre in an oblique direction through a cylindrical lens. The existing calculation techniques could only offer corrections in two directions: principal meridians respectively. But the goal was to achieve Visual Acuity (visual sharpness and unrestricted visual field) by means of optimal aspherisation in all sight directions. In fact, therefore, we needed new coordinates in order to have a balanced distribution and to minimise aberrations, even when looking obliquely.

Image improved clear visual field standard aspheric design

Listings Law
This next step was achieved by taking into account the movements of the human eye according to Listings Law when calculating the aspherisation of the lens design. Listing studied the movement made by the eye in all directions not just horizontally and vertically but also on the tertiary axes (looking obliquely). When the line of sight moves from the primary position to another position, it is as if the eye rotates about a fixed axis, which is perpendicular to the line of sight in the two positions. As Listings plane is fixed in the X-Z plane (horizontal and vertical respectively), it is perpendicular to the Y plane (visual axes) and carries on through the rotation axes of the eye. The X-Z reference planes determine the erect head position. The head is erect when two planes are vertical.

Integrating Listings Law when designing the nextgeneration Nulux EP bi-aspheric lens. Listings plane is a frontal plane passing through the centre of rotation of the eye.

The human eyes ability to evaluate the performance of a lens in all sight directions forms the basis to define the requested optical performance and calculation parameters for designing Nulux EP.

Rotational movements of the eye in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary positions of gaze, rotating about a fixed point, the centre of rotation, according to Listings Law.

Ideal correction becomes reality: Nulux EP from Hoya

NULUX EP
Traditional Best Form lens terminology and Oblique Astigmatic Error (OAE) and Mean Oblique Error (MOE)
The next drawing illustrates the traditional Best Form lens terminology for distance vision in which oblique transmitted rays are shown and in which the tangential and sagittal focal lines give rise to Oblique Astigmatic Error and Mean Oblique Error from the deviation (D) and Far Point Sphere (FPS). Two important references are shown in this figure: the Vertex Sphere (VS) and the Far Point Sphere. These are formed by rotating point S around the eyes centre of rotation R and the far point focus MR respectively. The object is a distant point on the main (meridian) ray (Mr), so the tangential and sagittal line foci are labelled FT and FS respectively. The Disc of least confusion is marked D. Note that the focal lengths Ft en Fs are measured from the Vertex Sphere. The Vertex Sphere is constructed by describing an arc of radius s with its centre at the eyes centre of rotation R. The Vertex Sphere has a radius s and vergences are measured at the point Q so that they can be compared with back vertex power (in ophthalmic practice a lens power is specified by its back vertex power). The Far Point Sphere is constructed by rotating the far point around the eyes centre of rotation. The Far Point Sphere indicates the position of the eyes far point in an oblique gaze. Ideally, when looking at a distant offaxes object, we would like the lens to focus on the pencil of rays on the far point sphere so that, after refraction by the eye, a focus point MR) at the centre of the fovea (centre of the retina) is achieved. Actually, those ideal lens design will be hard to realize in spectacle lenses.

Incorrect result without (A) and correct result with (B) concideration to human eye movement for spectacle lenses, based on Listings Law.
Integrating Listings Law theory calculation provides for correct aspherisation in all directions of sight. Mapping B and illustration 3 show the results - a stable and clear vision area, which is the same in all directions of sight and according to our new definition for improving uncompromised visual field based on calculated Visual Acuity and Listings Law.

New Best Form lens by Hoya

By integrating a flat, aspheric convex curve with an aspheric and atoric concave curve, Nulux EP is a biaspheric lens that is designed according to the principles of Calculated Visual Acuity and Listings Law. We have introduced the Calculated Visual Acuity as a new evaluation function, optimising calculation in order to obtain maximum visual acuity on each of the evaluation points of the surface. In addition to the spherical and astigmatic surfaces, an atoric surface expresses optimisation in all directions of sight, including outside the spectacle principal meridians.

OAE = FT - FS. MOP (Mean Oblique Power) = 1/2 (FT+FS). MOE (the amount by which MOP differs from Back Vertex Power FV) = MOP - FV.

3
In summary, the material used is no longer the starting point when designing a lens. Now Hoya takes the human eye and in particular the Visual Acuity and movements made by the eyeball as the key reference points in creating a lens that offers an unprecedentedly sharp image field. Nulux EP is the perfection of dynamic vision, an aspheric spectacle lens which takes the measured visual sharpness as the crucial starting point for optimal vision.

Illustration of ideal best form lens. OAE=0, MOE=0. 2

Illustration Oblique Astigmatic error and Mean Oblique error from oblique transmitted rays and oblique vertex sphere focal length Ft and Fs and Disk of least confusion (D)