Patent ID: 7388676

Claim:
An image processing apparatus which uses a first transmitted wavefront image measured by applying light to an object in each of a plurality of directions to produce output refractive index distribution data showing a refractive index distribution within the object, the apparatus comprising: a simulating section which simulates a transmitted wavefront in each of the directions to produce a second transmitted wavefront image based on first refractive index distribution data; a comparing section which compares the second transmitted wavefront image with the first transmitted wavefront image to produce first information indicating the comparison result; and a changing section which changes the first refractive index distribution data based on the first information to produce second refractive index distribution data, wherein the image processing apparatus repeats each of the sections using the second refractive index distribution data as the first refractive index distribution data and produces the resulting second refractive index distribution data as the output refractive index distribution data.