Method and apparatus for detecting natural modes of vibration of an eye by laser interferometry, and an application thereof to measuring intraocular pressure

A method of detecting at least one natural mode of vibration of an eye by laser interferometry, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the eye relative to a detection device so as to co-operate with the device to form a Fabry-Perot cavity having a main optical axis and comprising two opposite reflecting faces on the main optical axis, one of these two faces being constituted by a stationary reflecting element and the other being formed by the cornea of the eye;
• injecting an incident laser beam injected into said cavity, the beam being centered on the main optical axis of the Fabry-Perot cavity, the cornea being aligned laterally and longitudinally relative to the main optical axis in such a manner as to obtain longitudinal interference between the go and the return laser beams reflected between the two reflecting faces of the cavity;
• and
• using an optoelectronic detector used to detect the intensity I of said interference as a function of time.