What is the index of refraction of the cornea?

The index of refraction of the cornea is approximately 1.376. This value is essential for understanding light behavior as it passes through various media in the eye. The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that contributes significantly to the eye's total optical power. Its index of refraction indicates how much light bends when entering the cornea from air, which has an index of refraction of around 1.000.

Understanding the refractive index is crucial in fields such as optometry and ophthalmology, as it helps clinicians calculate how lenses will interact with the eye’s natural optics. The cornea's refractive index plays a major role in determining the focusing power of the eye, influencing how conditions like astigmatism or myopia are assessed and treated.

In contrast, the other values listed do not correspond to the cornea’s actual refractive index; they represent indices typical of other substances or tissues. For instance, the other indices are either too high or too low to be representative of the cornea, solidifying that 1.376 is the accurate figure necessary for clinical practice and contact lens fitting.