Growth and Ageing Effects on the Refractive Index in the Equatorial Plane of the Bovine Lens

The refractive index profile in the equatorial plane of bovine lenses from over a wide age range is presented. The form of the profile is parabolic and the shape, already apparent in lenses from early prenatal age, is maintained throughout the span investigated. With age the magnitude of the refractive index increases at all points. An empirical formula which relates the value of the refractive index to any point along a radial distance from the centre is derived. This is applicable to lenses of all sizes in the range studied.