Austin Roorda

Associate Professor of Vision Science

High resolution retinal imaging, adaptive optics, physiological optics, limits of human vision

The human eye has a complex and exquisitely designed optical system, yet when compared with modern optical systems, its image quality is surprisingly poor. Our lab investigates these earliest stages of vision, from the formation of the retinal image to its sampling by the photoreceptor mosaic.

In our research we develop novel instruments to measure and overcome the optical limits of the eye. For example, we employ adaptive optics - a technology originally developed for astronomical imaging from ground-based telescopes - to correct the eye’s aberrations and to image and/or present stimuli to the retina with unprecedented resolution. Overcoming optical limitations with adaptive optics has allowed us to make new discoveries in vision science, from mapping the trichromatic cone mosaic for the first time ever to learning how human visual acuity responds to an aberration correction.

Our most recent effort involves the development and use of the Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) for such clinical applications as blood flow, optical sectioning of the retina, microperimetry, precise measurements of fixation and eye-tracking. We are making instruments more robust, and we are making them more compact using state-of-the-art wavefront correcting technology such as MEMS deformable mirrors. Such non-invasive microscopic imaging techniques promise to improve diagnosis, understanding and even treatment of blinding retinal diseases.

Selected Publications

Romero-Borja, F., Venkateswaran, K., Hebert, T.J., Roorda, A. “Optical Slicing of Human Retinal Tissue in vivo with the Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope” Applied Optics (in press).

Christou, J.C., Roorda, A., Williams, D.R., “Deconvolution of Adaptive Optics Retinal Images” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 21(8) 1393-1401 (2004)

Kee, C., Hung, L., Qiao-Grider,Y., Roorda, A., Smith III, E.L. “Effects of Optically Imposed Astigmatism on Emmetropization in Monkeys” Invest.Ophthalmol.Vis.Sci. 45(6): 1647-1659 (2004)

Vilupuru, A., Roorda, A., Glasser, A. “Spatially Variant Changes in Lens Power During Ocular Accommodation in a Rhesus Monkey Eye” J.Vision 4(4), 299-309 www.journalofvision.org/4/4/6  (2004)

Cheng, H., Barnett, J.K., Vilupuru, A.S., Marsack, J.D., Kasthurirangan, S., Applegate, R.A., Roorda, A. “A Population Study on Changes in Wave Aberration with Accommodation” J.Vision 4(4), 272-280 www.journalofvision.org/4/4/3 (2004)

Roorda, A., Glasser, A. “Wave Aberrations of the Isolated Crystalline Lens” J.Vision 4(4), 250-261 www.journalofvision.org/4/4/1 (2004)

Venkateswaran, K., Romero-Borja, F., Roorda, A. “Theoretical Modeling and Evaluation of the Axial Resolution of the Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope” J. Biomed. Opt. 9(1): 132-138  (2004)

Martin, J.A., Roorda, A. “Predicting and Assessing Visual Performance with Multizone Contact Lenses” Optom. Vision Sci. 80(12): 812-819 (2003)

Donnelly III, W.J., Roorda, A. “The Optimal Pupil Size in the Eye for Axial Resolution” J. Opt. Soc Am. A. 20(11): 2010-2015 (2003)

Roorda, A., Williams, D.R. “Optical Fiber Properties of Individual Human Cones” Journal of Vision 2(5): 404-412 www.journalofvision.org/2/5/4/ (2002)

Roorda, A., Romero-Borja, F., Donnelly III, W.J., Queener, H., Hebert, T.J., Campbell, M.C.W. "Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy" Opt. Express 10(9) 405-412 (2002).

Wilson, B.J., Decker, K.E., Roorda, A. "Monochromatic Aberrations Provide and Odd-Error Cue to Focus Direction" J.Opt.Soc.Am.A. 19(5) 833-839 (2002)

Roorda, A., Metha, A., Lennie, P., Williams, D.R. “Packing Arrangement of the Three Cone Classes in the Primate Retina” Vision Research, 41(12) 1291-1306 (2001).

Brainard, D.H., Roorda, A., Yamauchi, Y., Calderone, J.B., Metha, A.B., Neitz, M., Neitz, J., Williams, D.R., Jacobs, G.H. "Functional consequences of individual variation in relative L and M cone numerosity".  J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 17: 607-614 (2000)

Roorda, A., Williams, D.R. “The Arrangement of the Three Cone Classes in the Living Human Eye” Nature 397: 520-522 (1999)

Roorda, A., Campbell, M.C.W., Bobier, W.R. “An Infrared Eccentric Photo-optometer”, Vision Research 38:1913-1924 (1998)

Roorda, A., Bobier, W.R., Campbell, M.C.W. “Slope-based Eccentric Photorefraction: Theoretical Analysis of Different Light Source Configurations and Effects of Ocular Aberrations”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A. 14: 2547-2556 (1997)

Roorda, A., Bobier,W.R. “Retinoscopic Reflexes: Theoretical Basis and Effects of Monochromatic Aberrations” J. Am. Opt. Ass. 67: 610-617 (1996)

Roorda, A., Bobier, W.R. “Geometrical Technique to Determine the Influence of Monochromatic Aberrations on Retinoscopy,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A. 13: 3-11 (1996)

Roorda, A., Campbell, M.C.W., Bobier, W.R. “Geometrical Theory to Predict Eccentric Photorefraction Intensity Profiles in the Human Eye,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A. 12:1647-1656 (1995) 

Campbell, M.C.W., Bobier, W.R., Roorda, A. “The Effect of Monochromatic Aberrations on Photorefractive Patterns,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A. 12:1637-1646 (1995)

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