Corneal studies by photoelasticity

Freshly enucleated andin vivo eyes of cats were analyzed to determine the detailed distribution of birefringence across the cornea and through its thickness, and to determine the change of birefringence with intraocular pressure. Scattered light and oblique-incidence photoelasticity were used. The experiments are summarized and special considerations are discussed. These include the necessity for a laser-light source; diffraction limitation in producing a narrow ribbon of light; rotation of the plane of polarization; inequalities in reflected components of polarized light.