Zernike polynomials
The Zernike polynomials
This page will focus on the use of Zernike polynomials for describing optical wavefronts. Before focusing on the Zernike polynomials, it is important to understand the basics of wavefront sensing.
In ophthalmology and visual sciences, Zernike polynomials are mainly used to analyse the wavefront error of the human eye. It is also sometimes used to describe the shape of the cornea.
Although the shape of the cornea dictates most of its optical properties, the Zernike polynomials cannot be interpreted interchangeably, when it relates to the shape of an optical wavefront versus the shape of an optical surface.
Basically, Zernike polynomials can fit any surface defined on a circular domain.
The Zernike polynomials correspond to a kind of « taxonomy » for the optical aberration components that explain a wavefront error.
A wavefront error can be plotted with a color scale (micron step units), on a domain which is the exit pupil disk.
NB : Zernike polynomials have some limitations in ophthalmic applications: they fail to segregate between low and higher order aberrations. This reduces the clinical pertinence of the ocular wavefront decomposition in certain circumstances. We have proposed a new series of function to overcome this limitation.
The Zernike pyramid
The Zernike modes are usually presented as a pyramid:
If you are inclined to more abstract thinking, you can think of each mode as a unit vector. In a two-dimensional (2D) Cartesian domain, you could plot two unit vectors along the X and Y axis, which would be orthogonal (perpendicular and discrete) and with a Norm (function assigning positive length) equal to one.
In a 3D domain, you could add a third unit vector along the Z-axis, which is orthogonal to the X and Y axis. In such 3D space, any vector can be decomposed on a weighted sum of the X, Y, and Z axis unit vectors.
In the « Zernike polynomial domain », you can extend such concept to more than 3 « dimensions ». Each of these dimensions has its own unit vector, represented by a particular Zernike mode (each Zernike mode is normalized). Each of these dimensions would be perpendicular (orthogonal) to all the other ones.
In such multi-dimensional space, a wavefront error would correspond to a particular vector, which could be « broken down » into a sum of weighted unit vectors (i.e Zernike mode). The weight of each mode corresponds to the RMS coefficient of a Zernike wavefront decomposition. The orthogonality of the Zernike modes ensures that RMS computation is possible for a specified group of aberration modes.
You can try to relate the spatial shape of some Zernike modes to some ocular abnormalities:
1. Keratoconus: Characterized by some corneal vertical asymmetry, will easily induce vertical coma Z 3+/-1, in which the wavefront error is displayed vertically and introduce asymmetry between the superior and inferior half of the pupil domain. The coefficient of the coma term would be negative in most cases, as the wavefront error would show relative inferior delay (due to the inferiorly decentered apex) and a relative superior advance.
2. Radial Keratotomy: It may not be surprising to find high levels of trefoil Z 3+/-3 or tetrafoil Z 4+/-4 or any « higher-foils » Z n+/-n=m in eyes which have been operated with these techniques.
3. Pterygium: Horizontal coma Z 31 and trefoil Z 33 are frequently seen in advanced pterygia, due to the nasal corneal tear film distortion.
The Zernike polynomials analytical expression
The analytical expression of the Zernike polynomials may seems complex, and it is but there are ways to break it down, so that as a clinician you can understand its application.
Each Zernike mode, Znm is in fact a mathematical function with:
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A normalizing constant (so that the square root of the sum of the squared residuals (errors) – RMS – of each function is equal to 1 on a pupil of radius = 1),
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a polynomial in r,
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and for some of the modes, a trigonometric function in t.
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n is a positive integer called the « radial degree » or « order »,
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m is a negative or positive integer called the « azimuthal » or « angular frequency ».
n corresponds to the « degree » of a given mode. When n ≤ 2, the mode is said to be of a « lower » degree or LOA (Lower order aberrations).
Conversely, modes in which n ≥ 3 are said to be of a « higher » degree or HOA (Higher order aberrations).
Classically, spectacle corrected aberrations (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) correspond to Zernike polynomials of radial degree n=2.
Let us focus on a Zernike mode named trefoil: Z 3-3. It may help the reader to mentally connect the equation with the shape of the mode.
This is another Zernike mode called « secondary astigmatism« :
The primary spherical aberration Z 40 is a « famous » Zernike mode:
The structure of the Zernike pyramid is based on the values of n and m:
In the central column, the modes are rotationally symmetrical (m=0), or unaffected by rotation. This central column can be seen as an axial symmetry axis.
On each line (same n value), the Zernike modes of opposite azimuthal frequency value have the same overall shape, but a different orientation.
These « pairs » are required to enable any mode resulting from the combination of the paired mode to be freely oriented around 360°. This is achieved by the respective weights (coefficients) of each mode of the pair to obtain the desired orientation.
For astigmatism, a purely « with a rule (WTR)» or « against the rule (ATR)» orientation would result in a null value of the « oblique » astigmatism component Z(2,-2) and some positive (ATR) or negative (WTR) RMS coefficient value of the Z(2,2) mode.
The first 6 Zernike polynomials correspond to « low order » aberrations (the highest radial term degree value is equal to 2). These aberrations can be corrected by spectacles.
From n=3 and beyond, the remaining modes correspond to « high order » aberrations. They cannot be fully corrected by spectacles.
However, contrary to popular belief, some modes such as spherical aberration (Z40) are containing some defocus (because of its term in r^2), and this component can be corrected by spectacles. The remainder wavefront distortion in r^4, however, cannot. This may cause confusion in some clinical situations.
Here follows the analytical expression of the first Zernike modes in radial coordinates:
Sampling the wavefront error into Zernike modes
A wavefront error can be sampled, or decomposed, into Zernike modes; each RMS coefficient corresponds to the weight of the mode.
The values of the coefficients are the direct consequence of the « shape » of the wavefront, and of the diameter of the domain where it is measured. The larger the pupil diameter, the higher the absolute values of the Zernike coefficients. This increase is exponential, therefore the higher the radial degree, the larger the amplitude of the variation with the pupil diameter.
Example:
This is an example of a wavefront reconstruction obtained with the wavefront sensor OPDscan III (Nidek)
See other relevant examples and material :
Novel wavefront decomposition method
Pre and Post LASIK aberrations
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