We show, both theoretically and experimentally, that high-numerical-aperture (NA) optical microscopy is accompanied by strong spin-orbit interaction of light, which translates fine information about the specimen to the polarization degrees of freedom of light. An 80 nm gold nanoparticle scattering the light in the focus of a high-NA objective generates angular momentum conversion, which is seen as a nonuniform polarization distribution at the exit pupil. We demonstrate remarkable sensitivity of the effect to the position of the nanoparticle: Its subwavelength displacement produces the giant spin-Hall effect, i.e., macroseparation of spins in the outgoing light. This brings forth a far-field optical nanoprobing technique based on the spin-orbit interaction of light.

We present a general theory of spin-to-orbital angular momentum (AM) conversion of light in focusing, scattering, and imaging optical systems. Our theory employs universal geometric transformations of non-paraxial optical fields in such systems and allows for direct calculation and comparison of the AM conversion efficiency in different physical settings. Observations of the AM conversions using local intensity distributions and far-field polarimetric measurements are discussed.

We propose a wide-field schematic eye model, which provides a more realistic description of the optical system of the eye in relation to its anatomical structure. The wide-field model incorporates a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, which enables it to fulfill properties of two well-known schematic eye models, namely, Navarro's model for off-axis aberrations and Thibos's chromatic on-axis model (the Indiana eye). These two models are based on extensive experimental data, which makes the derived wide-field eye model also consistent with that data. A mathematical method to construct a GRIN lens with its iso-indicial contours following the optical surfaces of given asphericity is presented. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated with three variants related to different age groups. The role of the GRIN structure in relation to the lens paradox is analyzed. The wide-field model with a GRIN lens can be used as a starting design for the eye inverse problem, i.e., reconstructing the optical structure of the eye from off-axis wavefront measurements. Anatomically more accurate age-dependent optical models of the eye could ultimately help an optical designer to improve wide-field retinal imaging.

We have evaluated the ability of three commercially available deformable mirrors to compensate the aberrations of the eye using a model for aberrations developed by Thibos, Bradley and Hong. The mirrors evaluated were a 37 actuator membrane mirror and 19 actuator piezo mirror (OKO Technologies) and a 35 actuator bimorph mirror (AOptix Inc). For each mirror, Zernike polynomials and typical ocular aberrated wavefronts were fitted with the mirror modes measured using a Twyman-Green interferometer. The bimorph mirror showed the lowest root mean square error, although the 19 actuator piezo device showed promise if extended to more actuators. The methodology can be used to evaluate new deformable mirrors as they become available.

We present an ocular adaptive optics system with a wavefront sampling rate of 240 Hz and maximum recorded closed-loop bandwidth close to 25 Hz, but with typical performances around 10 Hz. The measured bandwidth depended on the specific system configuration and the particular subject tested. An analysis of the system performance as a function of achieved bandwidth showed consistently higher Strehl ratios for higher closed-loop bandwidths. This may be attributed to a combination of limitations on the available technology and the dynamics of ocular aberrations. We observed dynamic behaviour with a maximum frequency content around 30 Hz.