Abstract

Phase information loss due to the double-pass process in optics is a well-known problem [1, 2]. It is present when trying to estimate the optical quality of the eye, and this case has been described by Artal et.al. [3, 4]. The scattering nature of the surface that marks the end of the first-pass and beginning of the second-pass will determine if the propagating wavefront emerging from the complete process retains the phase delay of the first and second passes or only that of the second one. This becomes crucial when trying to measure the single-pass optical quality in a double-pass configuration. If the information of both passes is kept, then an incorrect estimate of the singlepass wavefront is obtained; on the other hand, if the phase of the first pass is lost, the estimated wavefront is that of the second-pass.

© 2000 Optical Society of America