QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN CORNEA AND SCLERA USING 2-D FOURIER METHODS

A two-dimensional (2-D) Fourier analysis was used to characterize the microstructure of the human cornea and sclera. The average centre-to-c entre spacing of collagen fibrils was found to be 59 nm for the cornea and 285 nm for the sclera. These results agreed with those obtained b y direct measurement using the electron micrographs, and those reporte d in the literature. The spatial order in the microstructure of the co rnea was much greater when compared with that of the sclera. The resul ts of the 2-D Fourier analysis were consistent with the theory of tran sparency of the eye. The 2-D Fourier analysis will be useful in quanti tative characterization and analysis of the complex microstructure of biological cells and tissues in normal development and abnormal pathog enesis.