Eyes


The eye is an organ, which allows us to interpret shapes, see colour and see the dimensions of objects so that they appear 3D.  It lies within the eye socket where it is able to move and is protected.  Vision is made possible by information being sent via electric signals from the eye to the brain, which then interprets that information and enables us to see.  The optic nerve is used to carry this information.  The eye can be broken down into the following parts:

Cornea

This is the front of the eye and is clear and dome shaped.  It functions as the outer lens of the eye and helps focus most of the information visible.  The cornea itself is made up of several parts.  The epithelium is the outer layer and helps protect the eye.  In laser eye surgery a flap is often made on the surface of the epithelium.  If it is damaged, the epithelium can heal itself and grow back within 48 hours.  The other main parts of the cornea include; Bowman's membrane, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and the endothelium.

Vision problems usually occur when the cornea is not perfectly shaped and light is not reflected on the retina as would be necessary for clear vision.  This problem can be corrected by eye glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, INTACS, new lens implants and lens replacement surgery.

Conjunctiva

It is essential that the eye remains lubricated so that it can move as required and does not become dry and uncomfortable.  This lubrication is provided by the conjunctiva, which is a clear mucous membrane that covers the outer surface of the eyeball, and also lines the inside of the eyelids.

Lens

The crystalline lens of your eye sits behind the pupil and functions to focus images to enable clear vision.  With age, the elasticity of the lens lessens and most people suffer from presbyopia where it becomes difficult to see nearby objects.  Glasses or contact lenses can be worn to do the job of the lens but laser eye surgery is not a treatment option unless monovision is to be achieved.  With age, may people develop cataract, which is essentially the clouding of the eye lens and can be treated by removing and replacing the eyes natural lens by an artificial lens.  

Iris & Pupil

People have different coloured eyes because of a difference in the iris colour.  The function of the iris is to expand and contract depending on the amount of light entering the eye.  The pupil (black circle in the middle of the eye) gets larger in low light so that the maximum amount of light enters the eye and smaller when there is bright light so that too much light is not allowed to enter the eye.

Optic Nerve

This is the nerve at the back of the eye, which carries the electrical signals from the retina to the brain so that they can be processed and objects can be seen.  In glaucoma, the optic nerve can become damaged and this can lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Retina

This is nerve tissue found at the back of the eye.  It is sensitive to light and receives information from the cornea, pupil and the crystalline lens.  Rods and cone cells convert this information to electric pulses and then transfer this information to the optic nerve.

Sclera

This is the white part of the eye, which gives the eye structure and protects it from the environment.

Vitreous body

The eye is filled with a clear, gel-like substance, which helps the eye maintain its shape.  Many people suffer from floaters, which are small bits of protein which have become trapped in the vitreous.

 

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