Guide to How the Eye Works from Our Sylvania,
OH Ophthalmologist
The eye is an intricate network that detects and focuses light to help you see the objects in front of you. You can learn more about how this incredible organ works with the short guide below.
Parts of the Eye
To understand how the eye works, it’s important to know the different parts involved.
Cornea
Your cornea is the dome-shaped section of your eyeball that is at the very front of the eye. Light first enters the eye through the cornea. The cornea is responsible for refracting light to send it to the rest of the eye.
Pupil
The pupil is an opening in the middle of the eyeball. It acts like a tunnel that helps light travel to its proper place.
When it’s dark, the pupil grows to take in more light. When it’s bright, it shrinks to control the amount of light that comes in.
Iris
The iris surrounds the pupil. The iris is a muscle that expands or shrinks the pupil when needed.
Crystalline Lens
The lens is located behind the iris and pupil. Its purpose is to bring the image you are looking at into focus by further refracting light that enters the eye.
Imagine you are trying to take a picture of a tree, but it is too blurry. You would adjust your camera lens to bring it into sharper focus. This is what the lens of your eye does to help you see more clearly.
Retina
The retina is a layer of tissue at the back of the eye. It captures light rays that come into the eye. The retina has special cells called rods and cones that help you determine the color and shape of an object. The retina then transforms this information into electrochemical impulses that go to the optic nerve.
Optic Nerve
Your optic nerve is the bridge between your retina and your brain. It sends what you see to the image center of the brain, so your brain can understand the objects you see.
How It All Works Together
Now that you understand the basics, here is a summary of how the different parts of the eye help you see.
- Light rays reflect off of an object and enter the cornea.
- The iris causes the pupil to expand or shrink, according to the amount of light entering the eye.
- The pupil then transports the light to the lens, which refracts the light to bring the object into focus.
- The retina then captures the light and transmits this sensory information to the optic nerve.
- The optic nerve then transmits the information to the brain.
When any part of the eye experiences damage or age-related challenges, light cannot travel through the eye properly. Our ophthalmologist can help to keep your eyes functioning for optimal vision or provide tools, such as eyeglasses, to help correct vision problems.
Get Your Vision Checked by Our Sylvania, OH Ophthalmologist
You only get two eyes, so you must take good care of them. Get started with that today by giving us a call at Romanoff Vision to schedule an appointment.
