The Visual Axis is
one of the axes through the eye that is a useful construct for
optical equipment designers and those working with the physics / optics
rather
than the biology / physiology of human vision.
Note that this is not a physical feature of the eye and so cannot be identified by dissection
or by any physical imaging techniques.
A simple definition of the visual axis is:
"
A straight
line that passes through both the centre of the pupil and the centre
of the fovea".
There is also a stricter definition
(in terms of nodal points) which is important for specialists
in optics and related subjects.
Other axes through the eye include the Geometrical
Axis.
The subject of visual (also known as "physiological")
optics is a key component of many courses within the fields of
both biology and physics. It is also an essential consideration
in the design of displays and control units used in many applications
from
televisions
and mobile telephones to advanced aircraft. In the context of engineering
"visual optics" is one of several medical and psychological topics in
the important area of "Human Factors".
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