What is the average refractive power of the cornea?

The average refractive power of the cornea is typically around 43 diopters. This value represents the ability of the cornea to bend light as it enters the eye, which is crucial for focusing images onto the retina. The cornea is the most powerful optical component of the eye, accounting for a significant portion of the eye's total refractive power, which also includes the lens.

This figure of 43 diopters is derived from the average curvature and thickness of the cornea, which can vary among individuals, but generally falls within a range that averages out to this value in healthy adults. Understanding the refractive power of the cornea is essential in the fields of optometry and ophthalmology, especially when considering corrective lenses or surgical procedures like LASIK, which aim to reshape the cornea to improve vision.