TY - JOUR T1 - The Optical Design of the Human Eye: a Critical Review JO - Journal of Optometry T2 - AU - Navarro,Rafael SN - 18884296 M3 - 10.3921/joptom.2009.3 DO - 10.3921/joptom.2009.3 UR - https://www.journalofoptometry.org/en-the-optical-design-human-eye-articulo-S1888429609700184 AB - Cornea, lens and eye models are analyzed and compared to experimental findings to assess properties and eventually unveil optical design principles involved in the structure and function of the optical system of the eye. Models and data often show good match but also some paradoxes. The optical design seems to correspond to a wide angle lens. Compared to conventional optical systems, the eye presents a poor optical quality on axis, but a relatively good quality off-axis, thus yielding higher homogeneity for a wide visual field. This seems the result of an intriguing combination of the symmetry design principle with a total lack of rotational symmetry, decentrations and misalignments of the optical surfaces. ER -