[The optical power of the corneal epithelium. In vivo evaluation].

Abstract

The curvature of the Bowman membrane is steeper than the cornea with epithelium. A change in the thickness of the epithelium is related to a modification of the optical power of the cornea. The optical role of the epithelium is to compensate surface irregularities of the Bowman membrane and could explained in part the hyperopia in the first months after excimer laser.