Abstract
Zernike polynomials are useful for 2-dimensional for evaluation of optical function. They are ideal tools for evaluating optics of the eye because eye optics are not rotationally symmetrical. Zernike polynomials are often used by software programs of modern equipment to evaluate corneal aberrations, such as corneal topography and wavefront aberrometers. Clinicians may understand how Zernike polynomials are used to analyze optical measurements. However, to understand the mechanism by which aberrations are generated, one must understand the basics of mathematics that are used and how the optical measurements are used in the equations. To do this, one should be able to manipulate Zernike polynomials.
