Concept in Definition ABC

The term optics has several uses in our language that we will review next

From the perspective of physics

The word optics designates that branch of Physics that is in charge of the study of behavior that light presents, as well as the characteristics and main manifestations of the aforementioned.

Topics studied by the subject

Among the main study topics covered by this discipline reflection, refraction, interferences, diffraction, interaction of light with matter and the formation of images. Let's review some of these ...

By reflection it is designated to the change of direction that a ray will have or, failing that, a wave and that occurs in the separation surface between two media, in such a way that it will end up returning to the medium initial. For its part, refraction will be the change of direction that a wave experiences when it passes from one material medium to another, while it only will be effected if the wave is incident obliquely on the separation surface of the two media and the refractive indices of the media turn out to be different. The clearest example to see and understand what I am telling you can be observed by dipping a pencil in a glass of water, it will appear as broken before our eyes, when its reality outside the glass of water tells us that it is not So. This phenomenon of refraction can also occur when light passes through several layers of

air of different temperature.

And for its part, diffraction, is a very characteristic phenomenon of waves, which consists of dispersion and apparent curving when they meet an obstacle.

Branches of optics: what they study

According to the model used for light, we will find the following sub-branches of optics... Geometric optics treats light as a set of rays which fulfills Fermat's principle, which maintains that the path followed by light when propagating from one point to another is such that the time to travel it will be minimum. For its part, physical optics, which considers light an electromagnetic wave and from this situation explains the aforementioned phenomena and quantum optics, which deals with the interaction between electromagnetic waves and matter.

Optics and vision

But undoubtedly the most common uses of the term are those that allow us to refer, on the one hand, to that professional that after graduating in the subject can work on those issues associated with optics, the most popular being that of attending a business that sells all those instruments or elements related to optics, or those associated with vision, such is the case of lenses with special magnifications for people who do not have good vision, or also sunglasses.

And also, the word optics extends to the name of the Commerce that sells optical instruments or glasses of the aforementioned characteristics.

For the general public, the optician is the place to go when after consulting an ophthalmologist, he prescribes the use of magnifying glasses.
Complications such as myopia and astigmatism always demand the treatment of the problem and therefore, professionals indicate glasses as the main way to solve the issue. Although there are advanced surgeries, it is common for people to first opt ​​for the use of glasses.
Those who do not feel comfortable with glasses usually use contact lenses, which are also purchased at the optician's, as well as all the products that are needed for their maintenance and placement.

For his part, the optician will be in charge of regulating the glasses that have been prepared for the patient to the needs and demands of the patient.

Currently, opticians offer customers and consumers a huge variety of eyeglass frame designs, a fact that is why people are no longer so reluctant to use them, when they are magnified due to vision problems, because they can be very fashionable and feel attractive even wearing glasses, thanks to lens frames that have a design current.

Topics in Optics