AIM: To explore the root mean square(RMS) value of the anterior corneal surface aberration on the modulation transfer function(MTF) values. METHODS: Four hundred eyes from 200 patients were examined under sirius 3D corneal topography system, MTF curve at 3,5,7mm corneal optical zone after correcting the low-order spherical aberration and the total aberration and total higher order aberration, coma, trefoil aberration, spherical aberration RMS values were taken . MTF values at the spatial frequency of 5,10,15,20,25,30 cpd and zernike coefficient of vertical and horizontal coma were recorded. RESULTS: Anterior corneal surface RMS in 3,5,7mm corneal optical zone were statistically related at different spatial frequency with the MTF value, higher-order RMS in 3mm corneal optical zone were related with the MTF both vertical and horizontal meridian. The larger optical zone (5,7mm) mainly affected the MTF of horizontal meridian.Coma and trefoil aberrations for the anterior corneal surface mainly affected the the MTF of horizontal meridian, and more evident in smaller optical zone (35mm). Spherical aberration in 3mm corneal optical zone was statistically related with the MTF of vertical and horizontal meridian.Clover and secondary astigmatism in 3mm and 7mm corneal optical zone and the MTF of vertical and horizontal meridian had a good correlation and they had correlation with the MTF of horizontal meridian in 5mm corneal optical zone. No correlation was between the corneal coma position and MTF of different orientation. CONCLUSION: The MTF of anterior corneal surface at horizontal meridian are greatly related with higher order aberrations.The MTF can objectively evaluate the optical quality of anterior cornea .