What is the index of refraction of the cornea?

The index of refraction of the cornea is approximately 1.37. This value indicates how much light slows down as it passes through the cornea when compared to its speed in a vacuum. The specific refractive index of 1.37 is crucial for understanding how light is refracted as it enters the eye, ultimately contributing to focused vision.

In the eye, the cornea provides a significant amount of the total refractive power, which is vital for bending light rays in such a way that they focus properly on the retina. Knowing the refractive index of the cornea helps in designing contact lenses, surgical procedures like LASIK, and understanding various optical phenomena related to vision.

The other values listed do not correspond to the cornea's refractive index, with the others being indicative of materials or structures with different optical properties. For instance, common materials such as water have higher indices, while air has a significantly lower index than the cornea. This difference helps clarify the role of the cornea in focusing mechanisms within the human eye.