Modeling refractive error populations by Weibull distribution for the minimum visual correction diopter range in XR...

Area of Science:

• Optometry
• Human Factors Engineering
• Computer Science

Background:

• Extended Reality (XR) systems require precise optical design to accommodate user visual needs.
• Determining minimum diopter correction is crucial for XR accessibility and user experience.
• Existing optical design methods may not adequately address the diverse refractive error distributions within target populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish evidence-based recommendations for XR optical designers on diopter modulation.
• To model refractive error distributions for diverse user populations using the Weibull distribution.
• To determine minimum diopter requirements for XR systems to accommodate varying percentages of the population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Weibull distribution to model refractive error data for different demographic groups.
• Analyzed refractive error distributions for populations in the United States, Europe, and China.
• Assessed the feasibility of the Weibull distribution method for addressing high-order visual aberrations.

Main Results:

• Approximately 6 diopters are needed to cover 90% of the general population in the United States and Europe.
• An 8-diopter correction is required to cover 90% of the younger population in China.
• The Weibull distribution effectively models refractive errors and demonstrates the necessity of accommodating optics in XR.

Conclusions:

• The Weibull distribution is a viable tool for modeling population-specific refractive errors for XR optical design.
• Significant diopter accommodation is necessary for widespread XR adoption across diverse global populations.
• This research provides critical data for XR designers to optimize optical systems for visual comfort and performance.