Shape visualization of the anterior and posterior human cornea in vivo.

A series of 60 reflected-light, rotating slit images of the human cornea in vivo are acquired with a rotating Scheimpflug camera. Each single acquired optical slice on a single meridian contains the shape of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea. These 60 images are mathematically transformed into a three-dimensional volume that can be visualized on any meridian, including those images on meridians that have not been selected during the image-acquisition process. The optical distortions and aberrations of both the camera system and the eye are not included in this study using a rotating slit camera to determine the shape of both anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. The method presents the view of the anterior and posterior cornea (out to the midperipheral region) and a reference plane of the iris reflection. Further development of this technique may find clinical applications in corneal refractive surgery.