Wavefront Analyzer

An optical instrument that measures how light waves are distorted as they pass through the eye's optical system, producing a detailed map of the eye's refractive characteristics called a wavefront aberration function. Unlike standard eye exams that measure only basic refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism), wavefront analyzers can detect complex high-order aberrations that cannot be corrected with conventional lenses. In accessibility research, wavefront analyzer data has been used to generate personalized pre-compensated computer displays that counteract a user's specific visual aberration, potentially allowing people with conditions like keratoconus to read standard-sized text on screen without magnification.