Eye anatomy

Eye anatomy

The eye is a complex organ with various components working together to provide vision.

Here are the key parts of the eye:

  • Cornea: This is the clear front surface of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber and provides most of the eye’s optical power. It allows light to enter the eye and helps with focus.
  • Iris: The colored part of the eye. It controls the diameter and size of the pupil and thus the amount of light that reaches the retina.
  • Pupil: A hole located in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the retina. Its size adjusts automatically in response to varying light conditions.
  • Lens: A clear structure behind the iris that further focuses light onto the retina. It changes shape to help the eye adjust focus to different distances (a process known as accommodation).
  • Retina: The innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. It translates light into electrical signals which are sent to the brain.
  • Macula: The part of the retina responsible for central vision. It contains a high concentration of cones, the photoreceptors responsible for color vision.
  • Optic Nerve: A bundle of more than a million nerve fibers that transmit visual signals from the retina to the brain.
  • Vitreous Humor: The clear, gel-like substance inside the eye that helps maintain its round shape and transmits light from the lens to the retina.
  • Sclera: The white part of the eye. It provides structure and safety for the eye’s inner workings.
  • Choroid: A layer between the retina and sclera that contains blood vessels to supply the retina with nutrients and oxygen.

Eye health is of the utmost importance because our eyes not only allow us to see but also interpret the shapes, colors, and dimensions of objects by processing the light they reflect or emit. Vision also helps us navigate the world around us. Without healthy eyes, these capabilities may be compromised.

Although people with visual impairments or blindness can still lead fulfilling and successful lives with the right support and tools.

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