Mathematical modelling of light propagation in the human eye

Abstract

This review paper surveys the application of Maxwell’s equations to simulate light propagation in the human eye, using discontinuous Galerkin methods for spatial discretisation. Understanding this process is crucial for medical imaging and the early diagnosis of eye diseases. Case studies involving corneal opacity, diabetic macular edema, and retinal elasticity demonstrate the importance of simulating this phenomenon considering realistic geometries and material properties. Specifically, these simulations provide valuable insight into how structural changes in the cornea and retina affect light scattering and transparency, offering a useful tool for non-invasive diagnosis. Curved anatomical features, such as structures of the eye, require accurate boundary representation to avoid loss of order of convergence of the numerical schemes. Highorder discontinuous Galerkin method combined with a polynomial reconstruction technique enable an appropriate enforcement of boundary conditions without relying on curved meshes.