Engineering the optics of the eye

The function of the optical system of the eye is to create a sharp image of the outside world on the retina. The image formed on the retina changes with age as the eye continuously grows throughout the entire lifespan from the time we are born all the way to old age. For instance, myopia develops during childhood when the growth of the eye produces a mismatch between the focus and the length of the eye. As we age, we also progressively lose our ability to focus on near objects because the lens of the eye becomes stiffer, leading to a condition known as presbyopia starting at around age 45 to 50 years. Finally, the lens of the eye progressively loses its transparency with age, resulting in a condition known as cataract later in life. In this lecture, we will review the basic optics of the eye and gives examples of how biomedical engineers have contributed to the field of vision correction through the development of technologies to measure, image and correct vision.