Anatomy of the Eye
Sclera – white outer covering of the eye
Cornea – clear covering that allows light to enter the eye
Pupil – dark opening through which light passes into the eye
Iris – colored part of the eye that makes the pupil larger or smaller in reaction to the amount of light present
Lens – clear organ in the eye that changes shape to focus on objects in the distance or close up
Retina – covering on the back of the eye that the lens focuses on; contains receptors for light rays and tissues that distinguish color
Optic Nerve – transfers information to the brain, where the nerve impulses are translated into images
Light enters the eye through the cornea and is focused by the lens onto the retina. Nerve impulses from the receptors on the retina are transmitted by the optic nerve to the brain where they are “seen” as images. A malfunction of any of these eye structures can cause varying conditions of diseases.
