角膜又称黑睛，是眼睛最前面的透明部分，覆盖虹膜、瞳孔及前房，并为眼睛提供大部分屈光力。加上晶状体的屈光力，光线便可准确地聚焦在视网膜上构成影像。在人眼的折光系统中，角膜的折光能力是最强的，因为它直接和空气接触。

角膜有十分敏感的神经末梢，如有外物接触角膜，眼睑便会不由自主地合上以保护眼睛。为了保持透明，角膜并没有血管，透过泪液及房水获取养份及氧气。

人类角膜直径约11.5毫米，中心厚度约有0.5至0.6毫米，边缘厚度则约0.6至0.8毫米。

角膜过凸是真性近视的一个重要特征，因此也是角膜塑形镜与激光手术（LASIK等）防治真性[近视]方法作用的部位。

The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. The cornea, with the anterior chamber and lens, refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is approximately 43 dioptres. While the cornea contributes most of the eye's focusing power, its focus is fixed. The curvature of the lens, on the other hand, can be adjusted to "tune" the focus depending upon the object's distance. Medical terms related to the cornea often start with the prefix "kerat-" from the Greek word κέρας, horn.