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SUMMARY The finite element method with linear elastic assumption for predicting the intraocular pressure (IOP) readings after reshaping of the corneal structure is demonstrated in the present study. Twelve effective eye measurements in seven subjects were examined using the TOPCON LX-10, a noncontact intraocular pressure measurement technique, before and after laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis surgery. A linear elastic model was introduced to reduce possible errors from a complicated anisotropic model with uncertain tissue parameters. Linear relationship between the simplified removal depth of laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis and predicted IOP was expected, and the comparisons between measurements and the predicted model were made. The results indicated that the expected IOP readings are close to the measurement IOP values, while larger errors occur at smaller IOP conditions. In conclusion, the linear elastic finite element approach can already reveal parameters that influence measurement data the most, and the interaction between parameters was higher than we had expected. This helps us to build the confidence on implementing the anisotropic model.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.