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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye: A Focus on Imaging Protocols and Interpretation

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in the Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye: A Focus on Imaging Protocols and Interpretation

Published on: November 11, 2025

Tear film interferometry and corneal surface roughness.

P Ewen King-Smith¹, Samuel H Kimball, Jason J Nichols

¹College of Optometry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science

|April 3, 2014

Summary

Optical interference from the precorneal tear film is clearer with indium-gallium-arsenide (InGaAs) sensors. This study confirms corneal surface roughness affects tear film optical properties, suggesting InGaAs cameras offer superior imaging contrast.

Keywords:

corneal epithelium corneal surface infrared spectroscopy interference tears

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Published on: October 21, 2022

Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Biomedical Optics
Surface Science

Background:

Optical interference patterns of the precorneal tear film are influenced by surface smoothness.
Previous studies reported lower contrast for whole-thickness tear film interference compared to pre-contact lens films.

Purpose of the Study:

To test the hypothesis that corneal surface roughness reduces tear film optical interference contrast.
To characterize the roughness of the corneal surface.

Main Methods:

Recorded reflectance spectra from 20 healthy individuals using silicon-based (562-1030 nm) and indium-gallium-arsenide (InGaAs) (912-1712 nm) sensors.
Analyzed spectral oscillations caused by interference from the whole tear film thickness.

Main Results:

Spectral oscillations decayed as a Gaussian function of wave number with the InGaAs sensor, consistent with Gaussian corneal surface roughness.
Corneal surface height standard deviation was calculated as 0.129 μm.
InGaAs sensor provided approximately four times greater contrast than the silicon sensor.

Conclusions:

Corneal surface roughness, modeled as Gaussian, impacts tear film interference contrast.
Silicon-based cameras may detect smoother surfaces than predicted by the Gaussian roughness model.
InGaAs cameras show potential for higher-contrast whole-thickness tear film interference imaging.