Biometric investigation of changes in the anterior eye segment during accommodation

Non-invasive biometry of the anterior structures of the human eye can be performed with unprecedented precision of 8-10 mu m and a resolution of similar to 9 mu m by partial coherence interferometry, which has the potential to assess the effect of cycloplegia on the ocular components of the anterior eye segment, to further improve the precision to 1-2 mu m by the use of these agents and to quantify the amount of residual accommodations in different states of cycloplegia. In addition, the anterior chamber depth, the thickness of the crystalline lens, their changes during accommodation, as well as the movement of the anterior and posterior lens pole during accommodation can be quantified objectively and accurately to investigate the mechanism of accommodation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.