A cornea imaging apparatus (10) comprising: an illumination optical system (14, 18) having an illumination source (14) an imaging optical system (20) having a photoelectric element (28) for receiving a reflected light beam from a cornea of an eye under examination actuating means (112, 114, 116) for moving the illumination optical system and the imaging optical system in a direction nearer to or further from the eye to bring about focusing imaging process retracting control means for controlling the actuating means during an imaging operation by the imaging optical system continuous imaging means (S6, 112) for taking multiple images of the cornea at different times and positions by the photoelectric element of the imaging optical system during a retracting operation and imaging operation control means (117) for controlling imaging operation status of the cornea by the continuous imaging means with reference to a photoreception signal of reflected light from the cornea.
