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-centre 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 by direct measurement using the electron micrographs, and those reported in the literature. The spatial order in the microstructure of the cornea was much greater when compared with that of the sclera. The results of the 2-D Fourier analysis were consistent with the theory of transparency of the eye. The 2-D Fourier analysis will be useful in quantitative characterization and analysis of the complex microstructure of biological cells and tissues in normal development and abnormal pathogenesis.