Cataract surgery, a transformative procedure to restore vision, has seen remarkable advancements in intraocular lens (IOL) technologies. This special issue presents a collection of research that explores the performance, design, and evaluation of IOLs. From established designs and the impact of key optical parameters to innovative approaches and preoperative simulations, these contributions offer a comprehensive view of current trends and future directions in IOL development. The special issue also honors the legacy of Prof. Jim Schwiegerling whose contributions to visual optics in general, and IOLs in particular, have had a tremendous impact in the field, both in the academic, clinical and industrial communities.

This study compares image quality on the peripheral retina for far and near vision in schoolchildren. Biometric data and simultaneous foveal and peripheral (±25^◦ horizontal field) wavefront data for two levels of accommodation (0.22 D and 5 D) were collected from 31 children aged 6 to 11 years. Relative peripheral refraction (RPR) was found to be larger and more negative in the nasal visual field than in the temporal. This difference increased with accommodation. Furthermore, correlations between image quality and biometric parameters were investigated. The results highlight the importance of peripheral image quality during near work for myopia research. The data presented also form the baseline measurements of the Stockholm Myopia Study, which is a longitudinal pilot study on ocular growth and peripheral image quality in schoolchildren in Stockholm, Sweden.

This feature issue presents a collection of articles from the 12th Visual and Physiological Optics Meeting (VPO 2024), held August 28–30, 2024, in Wrocław, Poland. Jointly published by Biomedical Optics Express and the Journal of the Optical Society of America A, this issue highlights the wide range of topics discussed at the meeting and showcases current advancements in the field.

This feature issue presents a collection of articles from the 12th Visual and Physiological Optics Meeting (VPO2024), held August 28-30, 2024, in Wroc & lstrok;aw, Poland. Jointly published byBiomedical Optics Expressand theJournal of the Optical Society of America A, this issue highlights the wide range of topics discussed at the meetingand showcases current advancements in the field.