Active eye modeling: a tool for estimating retinal image quality across the visual field in everyday life

Active eye modeling shows that simulated far work preserves peripheral retinal image quality via depth-tolerance, while near work in dim indoor lighting substantially increases peripheral blur and reduces contrast.

• Why it matters: Measuring retinal image statistics during everyday behavior is difficult, leaving uncertainty about how viewing distance, ambient light, and scene depth shape image quality across the retina.
• What they did: The platform combines optically validated wide-field accommodating eye models with realistic 3D environments and gaze behavior from human data, estimating retinal blur under controlled viewing distance, lighting, and depth structure.
• The result: Near work under dim indoor lighting increases peripheral blur and contrast loss at mid and high spatial frequencies, comparable to a Bangerter 0.4 diffusing filter, and a virtual driving check supports peripheral depth-tolerance during far work.

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