1. A method of corneal analysis using a checkered placido comprising the following steps: a) projecting the image of said checkered placido onto a patient's cornea; b) detecting an image of said checkered placido reflected off of said cornea; c) detecting a plurality of nodal points from said reflected image of said checkered placido; d) determining mean curvature of said cornea at a plurality of said nodal points; and e) analyzing said mean curvature at said plurality of said nodal points to produce a graphic display of the estimated actual curvature of said cornea.