Which Purkinje image produces the brightest visual image?

The first Purkinje image, also known as the first Purkinje-Sanson image, is the brightest of the four images produced by a light source reflecting off the surface of the cornea. This image appears at the apex of the cornea and is a result of the reflection of light from a convex surface. Due to the unique curvature and properties of the cornea, the first Purkinje image reflects a significant amount of light and thus appears much brighter compared to the others.

In contrast, the subsequent Purkinje images are generated from reflections at different surfaces, such as the anterior chamber, the lens, and the vitreous body, which do not provide the same level of brightness due to various factors such as increased distance from the light source and absorption properties of the different surfaces. As a result, the first Purkinje image stands out as the most luminous, contributing to its importance in optical studies and visual perception tasks.