Vergence-accommodation conflict in optical see-through display: review and prospect

• Published in: Results in optics Vol. 5; p. 100160
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yao, Zhang, Jufan, Fang, Fengzhou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3D geometrical waveguide; Focal plane; Optical see-through display; Vergence-accommodation conflict; 3D geometrical waveguide; Vergence-accommodation conflict; Focal plane; Optical see-through display
• ISSN: 2666-9501; 2666-9501
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rio.2021.100160

•The human perception based on light field is described.•The causes of vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC) are discussed.•Principle and performance parameters of typical VAC solving technologies are presented.•Identify potential problems and future opportunities based on the comparison and classification of current VAC solving technologies.•A prospect is also given for the future development from the users’ perspective. The optical see-through near-eye display finds wide applications in various areas such as medical treatment, education, tourism and entertainment. However, the vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC) is an obstacle in developing the optical performance of high quality. Conventional stereoscopic displays provide the virtual images in single focal plane, which cannot satisfy the accommodative perception of human eyes. In this review, we elaborate the causes of VAC, discuss various methodologies to solve the VAC problem and compare the advantages and shortfalls of typical designs. It is concluded that the mandatory software and hardware combining methods for the system is developing trend. A prospect is also given for the future development from the users’ perspective.