Measured double-pass intensity point-spread function after adaptive optics correction of ocular aberrations

The double-pass intensity point-spread function was recorded in four subjects using a monochromatic source emitting at 543 nm, through a 6.7-mm diameter pupil i) at the fovea after adaptive optics correction of the ocular aberrations, ii) at the fovea without adaptive optics correction, and iii) at 2° of eccentricity with adaptive optics correction. The half-width at half-maximum of the double-pass point-spread function was narrower after correction of the ocular aberrations. At 2° of eccentricity this width was larger than at the fovea. The minimum widths were about 1.1 arcmin in dark pigmented eyes and 1.6 arcmin in light pigmented eyes. These values are 6 to 9 times larger than the width expected from diffraction alone.