Aberrometry & wavefront – Pr. Damien Gatinel

Zernike Synthesizer — Wavefront sonification

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:36 +0000

This experimental instrument converts Zernike polynomial coefficients into sound, offering an unprecedented way to listen to wavefront optics. Each of the 28 modes (up to the 6th radial order) drives an oscillator whose waveform is derived from the phase map evaluated over the pupil. Patterns that look similar on the phase map can sound very different, while seemingly unrelated aberrations reveal unexpected harmonic relationships: this is not a diagnostic tool, but a different, sensory perception.

Key features

28 Zernike modes (up to the 6th order) as real-time audio oscillators
4 synthesis engines: additive, waveshaper, FM and spiral pupil sweep
Zernike pyramid with phase-map previews and a 28-channel mixer
Stereo separation: sine-symmetric modes (m < 0) on the left, cosine-symmetric (m > 0) on the right
8 clinical presets (keratoconus, astigmatism, spherical aberration…) and 8 animated sequences
4-voice polyphony, audio/video recording and a bilingual interface (French/English)

Wavefront-to-radial-vergence power map converter

Damien Gatinel, MD, PhD — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:34 +0000

This tool bridges wavefront analysis and clinical refraction. It converts Zernike polynomial coefficients expressed in microns into refractive power maps expressed in dioptres. Instead of displaying the optical path difference like a conventional aberrometer, it generates radial-vergence maps that directly reveal the myopic and hyperopic zones across the whole pupil surface, making correlation with the manifest refraction easier.

Key features

Algorithms converting Zernike coefficients into dioptres
Radial-vergence power mapping
Identification of the myopic and hyperopic zones of the pupil
Direct correlation with the measured clinical refraction
Visualisation of the refractive impact of higher-order aberrations on vision

Corneal asphericity impact analyser

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:34 +0000

This tool lets you study how variations in corneal asphericity (Q factor) influence spherical aberration (Z4,0), the vergence distribution and the depth of field. Through interactive 3D visualisations and real-time computations, it connects theoretical optics to clinical practice by showing the link between corneal shape and visual quality. It is particularly useful for presbyopia-correction procedures and for choosing an aspheric IOL.

Key features

Interactive manipulation of the Q factor with real-time spherical-aberration analysis
Vergence mapping (radial and Laplacian) to assess the induced multifocality
Through-focus MTF analysis and depth-of-field optimisation
PSF visualisation and convolved-letter simulation
Conversion between the corneal plane and the spectacle plane
Inclusion of the eye’s native spherical aberration in the model

Retinal image simulator from wavefront aberrations

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:29 +0000

This tool translates complex wavefront data into clinically usable information. From Zernike polynomial coefficients and higher-order aberrations, it reconstructs a visual image of the predicted retinal quality. By modelling the effect of aberrations on the point spread function (PSF) and the modulation transfer function (MTF), it helps explain the expected visual outcome to the patient and refine correction strategies.

Key features

Analysis of Zernike polynomials up to the 6th order
Visualisation of the PSF and the MTF
Comparative before / after treatment modelling
Adaptation to each patient’s own pupil size

Pupil transformation analyser for Zernike coefficients

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:58:29 +0000

Pupil diameter and centring vary with lighting, accommodation and measurement conditions, which directly alters the Zernike coefficients and the refraction. This tool exactly recomputes the wavefront coefficients (OSA/ANSI standard, up to the 8th radial order) for a new pupil geometry, through an analytical polynomial re-expansion without interpolation or approximation. It derives the objective refraction before and after transformation, and simulates the retinal image quality by PSF convolution to visualise the optical consequences of a pupil change.

Key features

Exact analytical transformation of Zernike coefficients (up to the 8th radial order)
Pupil-diameter reduction and arbitrary decentration (polar or Cartesian coordinates)
Objective refraction (sphere, cylinder, axis) for the initial and transformed wavefront
Wavefront visualisation with RMS comparison (initial vs transformed)
Retinal image simulation by PSF convolution (monochromatic and polychromatic)
Bilingual interface (French/English), standalone, no server required