Dragon fly eye, lens very precise?

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The discussion centers on whether the shape of the lens in a dragonfly's ommatidium is genetically encoded. It is suggested that the radius of curvature for the lens surfaces (referred to as r_f and f_b) is indeed genetically determined, allowing for potential variations that could lead to a range of lens shapes. The conversation acknowledges the impressive design of dragonfly lenses, although they are not perfect, as evidenced by provided images. Each ommatidium functions as a point detector rather than an image-forming unit, emphasizing the importance of light collection efficiency. The arrangement of ommatidia is noted to follow principles of basic physics, with hexagonal packing being the most efficient configuration for maximizing light capture.
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Is the exact shape of the lens of a dragon fly ommatidium genetically encoded?

I guess that the radius of curvature for both the front and back surfaces of the lens is somehow genetically encoded, call them r_f and f_b? I guess nature has come up with an optimal design for the dragonfly lens, in principle could genetic variations give rise to an infinite combination of values for r_f and f_b?

How nature forms those seemingly perfect lenses seems quite some trick, see,

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/517/justeyevj5.jpg/sr=1

Thanks for any help!
 
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http://cronodon.com/BioTech/Insect_Vision.html

AFAIK, each omnatidium can be considered a point detector, not an image-forming system- what matters more is the efficiency of light collection, and isolated non-functional cells do not materially degrade the overall image-forming ability of the compound eye. The spatial arrangement of omnatidiums (?) can be explained by basic physics- hexagonal packing is the most efficient (AFAIK).
 

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