The Cornea

This section leans heavily on Wyszecki and Stiles (1982) an excellent book.

• The outermost layer of the eye through which light passes.
• No blood vessels.
• It is comprised of several layers and, therefore, the optical properties are measured for the whole cornea rather than generalizing from a tissue sample. (Le Grand, 1967)
• convexity of a radius of about 8 mm
• LeGrand's Full Theoretical Eye (from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982, pg 99) Note that these values are for light of wavelength 589.3mu. For values which change as a function of wavelength see Le Grand, 1967 page 9.
  • Refractive Index: 1.3771
  • Posterior (back) Surface
    • Distance along axis from corneal pole: .55 mm
    • Radius of curvature: 6.5 mm
  • Anterior (front) Surface
    • Radius of curvature: 7.8 mm
• LeGrand's Simplified Eye (from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982, pg 99)
  • Refractive Index: 1.336
  • Posterior (back) Surface is absent
  • Anterior (front) Surface
    • Radius of curvature: 8 mm

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  Lance Hahn(lance@retina.anatomy.upenn.edu)