S. Joseph Antony
University of Leeds, UK

Human eye is made of a number of structural components to deliver vision, and cornea is the front window of the eye. Human cornea is made of soft biological materials. It is unfriendly for exposures to the common energy levels of X-ray scans for repeated probing of its structural architecture. Here we study an alternative imaging methodology by using a normal white-light source. By exploiting the natural birefringent property of cornea, the shear stress distribution pattern and its directional characteristics on the surface of cornea is recognized in vivo. Digital image processing of corneal retardation helps us to locate the stress concentration zones on its surface and to study their features along preferential directions. Such digital image outputs could be used in future to bench mark the health standard of cornea as well as a potential identity signature of people’s eyes.

Digital imaging, pattern recognition, cornea stress, eye strain