Chromatic dispersion of the ocular media

Measurements of chromatic dispersion of aqueous and vitreous humors, cornea and lens of the eye are sparse and incomplete. The wavelength variation in refractive index of the ocular media of cow, pig, frog (Rana pipiens), chicken, rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), albino rat and cat as well as human lenses was determined by means of Abbe and Pulfrich refractometry. While the humors are somewhat less dispersive than water, the cornea is more dispersive at short wavelengths. In general, the lens is significantly more dispersive than water with dispersion increasing asymptotically at the blue end of the spectrum. The exaggerated dispersion taking place at short wavelengths should be taken into account in calculations of chromatic aberration.