Anatomy of the Eye

Clinical Eye Exams by Licensed Professionals

You'll better understand eye care from I'll Be Seeing You when you know the parts of the eye and how they work together to create vision.

Far more sensitive than most cameras, the eye converts light into electrochemical signals that are transmitted to the brain, which then reads these signals as images.

Let's follow the path that light takes along the way.

From the Cornea to the Optic Nerve

Cornea - The moist outer surface of the eye contains the cornea, the crystal-clear window to the eye and, behind that, the anterior chamber, which contains the aqueous fluid. Tears keep the eye moist while the aqueous helps maintain eye pressure.

Iris - The irises give your eyes color but, more importantly, dilate and contract the pupil to control the amount of light getting in.

Lens - The crystalline lens focuses light onto your retina at the back of the eye. It is the lens that becomes cloudy when you have a cataract or that can become less flexible and hamper your focusing ability as you age.

Vitreous - Vitreous is a jelly-like substance inside the eye and lies between the lens and the retina. As we age, the vitreous can become weaker and tear away the retina. It also may develop shadows called floaters.

Retina - At the back of the eye, the retina is where light focuses. It converts the light into signals that are then passed to the optic nerve and the brain. The outer part of the retina is responsible for peripheral vision, while the central area, called the macula, is used for finely focused vision and the apprehension of color.

Optic nerve - From the two retinas, the optic nerve takes the information and guides it to the brain, where it's interpreted as vision. A disease like glaucoma can damage the optic nerve because of high pressure inside the eye.