Vision Systems Lab
About the Visual Systems Lab
The Visual Systems Lab is a collection of 13 free, interactive vision science tools created by Dr Robert Burke, optometrist at Calgary Vision Centre in Calgary, Alberta. Each program was built from first principles to explore a question that lacked a satisfying explanation. Some are for patients; others are intentionally technical, for students and eye-care professionals.
In the lab, the programs live on the desktop of a 1990s computer: click an icon to open one. You can also open any of them directly from the list below.
Neuro and binocular vision
- Interactive Gaze Simulator: a 3D model of the six extraocular muscles and cranial nerves III, IV and VI. See sixth, fourth and third nerve palsy, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, thyroid eye disease and more in the nine positions of gaze, or chart a motility exam and see which conditions fit.
- BVD Diagnostic Screener: a short symptom questionnaire that screens for binocular vision dysfunction, such as headaches, dizziness and reading strain.
- Historical Ophthalmology Quiz: test yourself on the history of ophthalmology and optometry, from couching to the phoropter.
Optics and lens design
- Multifocal Contact Lens Simulator: a photon-accurate simulation of what the retina receives through a multifocal contact lens at different distances and pupil sizes.
- IOL Range Simulator: explore the range of clear vision offered by different intraocular lens designs after cataract surgery.
- Progressive Lens Comparator: compare progressive lens designs side by side, including corridor width, reading zone and peripheral blur.
- Spectacle Tolerance and Error Calculator: how far a spectacle prescription can be off, in power, axis or centration, before it actually matters.
Visual performance
- Contrast Sensitivity Explorer: explore the contrast sensitivity function: which spatial frequencies the visual system can detect at the lowest contrast.
- Fourier Transformation: break an image into its spatial frequencies and see what each band contributes to what you perceive.
- Blue Light Exposure Calculator: estimate your daily blue-light dose from screens and sunlight, and put it in perspective.
Risk and evidence
- Pediatric Myopia Risk Assessment: estimate a child's risk of developing myopia from age, refraction, family history and lifestyle.
- Clinical Trial Insight Engine: turn published clinical-trial results into plain-language numbers: absolute risk, relative risk and number needed to treat.
- Glaucoma Vision Simulator: calibrates to your own eye, then shows how glaucoma can quietly remove parts of the visual field without you noticing.
These tools are for education only. They are not a substitute for an eye exam. If you have a concern about your eyes or vision, book an appointment or call Calgary Vision Centre at 403-237-0505.