[The current status and prospects for using the method of photoelasticity in ophthalmology]

The paper analyses results after a study of a complex of questions connected with the method of photoresiliency in ophthalmology. The notion about the nature of a strained-deformed state of the cornea, regularities in formation of a photoresilient picture are discussed on the grounds of experiments on eye biomechanics, a study of optic transformation of polarized light, calculations and mathematic simulation. The paper describes a calculation-experimental method for measuring the tensions acting in the cornea, deciphering of isochrome and isocuneiform fields, data on the usage of computers for automatic treatment and analysis of images. On a great group of clinical observations the practical value of the method is shown and perspectives of its further study conformably to the tasks of research studies and practical ophthalmology are determined.