THEORETICAL-STUDY OF THE OPTIMAL SHAPE OF THE FRONT PROFILE OF THE LENS IN THE EYE OF THE SCALLOP, PECTEN

The optimal shape of the front profile of the thick lens in the eye of the scallop, Pecten is theoretically, geometric optically investigated as a function of the refractive index of the lens and the retina, as well as of the geometrical parameters of the eye. The shape of the theoretical front surfaces is compared with that of the real, experimentally determined front face of the lens. The degree of correction of the lens for spherical aberration of the reflecting spherical mirror in the Pecten eye is examined. The optimal shape of the front profile of the lens depends strongly on a set of parameters, such that a certain fine tuning is required among them to assure a full correction for spherical aberration. The extreme variability of the eye parameters and the shape of the front face of the lens in the scallop is inconsistent with this fine tuning requirement. The degree of correction of the Pecten lens for spherical aberration might not be as good as it could be, a possible biooptical reason for which is discussed.