title: A bio-inspired polymeric gradient refractive index (GRIN) human eye lens.
abstract: A synthetic polymeric lens was designed and fabricated based on a bio-inspired, "Age=5" human eye lens design by utilizing a nanolayered polymer film-based technique. The internal refractive index distribution of an anterior and posterior GRIN lens were characterized and confirmed against design by µATR-FTIR. 3D surface topography of the fabricated aspheric anterior and posterior lenses was measured by placido-cone topography and exhibited confirmation of the desired aspheric surface shape. Furthermore, the wavefronts of aspheric posterior GRIN and PMMA lenses were measured and simulated by interferometry and Zemax software, respectively. Their results show that the gradient index distribution reduces the overall wavefront error as compared a homogenous PMMA lens of an identical geometry. Finally, the anterior and posterior GRIN lenses were assembled into a bio-inspired GRIN human eye lens through which a clear imaging was possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: Shanzuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ponting
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lepkowicz
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beadie
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baer
mesh_terms: D005139:Eyeglasses; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers