Optical instrumentation for eye length measurement using a short coherence length laser‐based interferometer approach

An optical interferometric approach is described for the measurement of axial eye length. The technique uses the short coherence length characteristics of the light source to locate, interferometrically, the position of the front surface of the eye and the retina. Results are presented from studies on an idealized model eye and the precision of the measurement is discussed. The advantages of the technique and a comparison with previously used short coherence measurements are also reviewed.