The eye
Structure and how it works
What is the eye?
Parts of the eye and Structure of the eye
Cornea
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye and is primarily responsible for focusing the light that comes into our eyes. There are 5 layers to the cornea. The outer layer acts as a kind of shield to the elements and can usually repair itself within a few days of suffering a minor injury. The deeper layers exist mainly to strengthen the eye.
Pupil
The pupil is the black circle in the center of the eye, and its primary function is to monitor the amount of light that comes into the eye. When there is a lot of light, the pupil contracts to keep the light from overwhelming the eye. When there is very little light, the pupil expands so it can soak up as much as possible.
Iris
The iris is the colored part of the eye. Although it might seem purely fake, the iris actually functions to adjust the size of the pupil. It has muscles that contract or expand depending on the amount of light the pupil needs to process images.
Lens
The lens exists behind the pupil and is responsible for allowing your eyes to focus on small details like words in a book. The lens is in a constant state of adjustment as it becomes thinner or thicker to accommodate the detailed input it receives. With age, the lens loses a lot of its elasticity which often results in cataracts and presbyopia because the lens cannot adjust as well to its surroundings as it used to.
Vitreous Humour
The vitreous humour is a gel-like substance that helps to keep the eyeball in its proper, circular shape. This is the area in the eye where floaters develop as pieces of the vitreous humor clump together and cast shadows onto the retina. With age, the vitreous humor begins to shrink and can cause problems like posterior retinal detachment or retinal tears.
Retina
The retina is the area at the back of the eye that receives the refined, visual message from the front of the eye, and it transmits that visual message to the brain using electrical signals.
Sclera
The sclera is the white part of the eye, and its main function is to provide strength, structure, and protection for the eye. The sclera contains blood vessels that can tell an eye doctor a lot about the state of your overall health.
Optic Nerve
The optic nerve is located in the back of the eye. The job of the optic nerve is to transfer visual information from the eye to the vision centers of the brain via electrical impulses.
Macula
The Macula is a small,sensitive area in the middle of the retina, it is responsible for central vision.It is used for all detailed visual tasks.
Suspensory Ligament
The suspensory Ligaments in the eye are ligaments, which support the lens to hold it in place. They are attached to the ciliary body and the lens.
Aqueous Humour
The aqueous humour is a clear watery fluid, which is found in the space between the cornea and the lens. It supplies nutrients to the front section of the eye and provides the presssure to maintain the convex shape of the cornea.