Human Eye -Anatomy, functions & Related Disease

Human Eye -Anatomy, functions & Related Disease

Human eyes are complex organs responsible for vision. They are part of the sensory system and provide the primary means through which humans perceive the world around them. Here are some key points about human eyes:

1. Anatomy of Human Eyes:

The human eye consists of several components including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, and optic nerve. Light enters the eye through the cornea and passes through the pupil, which adjusts in size to control the amount of light entering. The lens focuses light onto the retina, a layer of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye.

2. Vision of Human Eyes:

Vision occurs when light entering the eye stimulates the retina. The retina contains photoreceptor cells called rods and cones, which convert light into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as visual images.

3. Color Vision of Human Eyes: Cones in the retina are responsible for color vision. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light corresponding to the colors red, green, and blue. By combining signals from these cones, the brain can perceive a wide range of colors.
4. Visual Acuity of Human Eyes:

Visual acuity refers to the sharpness of vision. It is typically measured by the ability to discern details at a certain distance. The Snellen chart is commonly used to test visual acuity, with 20/20 vision considered normal.

5. Binocular Vision:

Humans have binocular vision, meaning they use both eyes simultaneously to perceive depth and distance. This depth perception is possible because each eye views the world from a slightly different angle, allowing the brain to calculate distances based on the disparity between the images received by each eye.

6. Eye Movements:

Human eyes are capable of various movements, including saccades (rapid movements to shift gaze between points of interest), smooth pursuit (tracking moving objects), and vergence (converging or diverging to maintain single vision when objects are at different distances).

7. Protective Mechanisms:

The eyes are protected by several mechanisms, including the eyelids, eyelashes, and tear film. Blinking helps keep the eyes moist and removes debris, while tears provide lubrication and contain enzymes to protect against infection.

Overall, human eyes play a crucial role in everyday life, allowing individuals to navigate their surroundings, appreciate the beauty of the world, and engage in activities ranging from reading to driving.

 

Parts of the Eye and Their Functions

To understand how the human eye works, you need to know the names and functions of its structures.

• Aqueous Humor: The aqueous humor is the fluid layer below the cornea. It has a composition similar to human plasma. The aqueous human shapes the cornea and nourishes the cells of the eye.
• Brain: The visual cortex of the brain receives nerve impulses from both eyes and compares them to construct a three-dimensional image. Because the eye is like a camera, the true image formed on the retina is inverted (upside down). The brain automatically rights the image.
• Cornea: The cornea is the transparent outer surface of the eye. Because the eyeball is round, the cornea acts as a lens that bends or refracts light. Corneal cells regenerate quickly, because the cornea is exposed to the environment. But, the layer is thin enough to allow oxygen into the deeper structures.
• Fovea: The fovea is the circle of cells on the retina responsible for clear focus. This region is rich with cones, so it allows sharp color vision. Rods outside the fovea are largely responsible for peripheral vision.
• Iris and Pupil: Light passes through the cornea and aqueous humor through a hole called the pupil. The iris is a contractile ring that determines eye color and controls the size of the pupil. The iris dilates (opens) the pupil in low light so more light enters the eye and constricts in bright light.
• Lens: While the cornea initially focuses light, the lens makes it so you can change focus between near and distant objects. Ciliary muscles around the lens contract to thicken the lens to focus on near objects. The muscles relax to flatten the lens to focus on distant objects.
• Optic Nerve: Light striking a rod or cone produces an electrochemical signal. The cells transmit this signal through the optic nerve to the brain.
• Retina: The retina is the coating on the inside of the back of the eye. It contains two types of cells. Rods detect light and help form images in dim light. Cones detect colors. There are three types of cones. They are called red, green, and blue cones, but they actually detect a range of wavelengths of light and not just the colors for which they are named.
• Vitreous Humor: The vitreous humor is a transparent gel that fills the eye. It supports the shape of the eye and provides enough distance so that the lens can focus.

How the Human Eye Works

Now that you know the names of the parts of the eye, it’s easy to follow the steps leading to vision.

1. Aqueous Humor/Pupil: From the cornea, light passes through the aqueous humor and through the pupil.
2. Brain: The brain compares left/right vision to add depth and make the image three-dimensional. It also flips the image so it appears right-side up.
3. Cornea: Light enters the eye through the cornea. Because of the shape of the cornea, it exits pre-focused.
4. Lens: From here, light strikes the lens. The lens further focuses light, depending on whether you’re looking at a near or distant object. Light exits the lens and passes through the vitreous humor.
5. Optic Nerve: Signals from the rods and cones travel through the optic nerve to the brain.
6. Retina: Light reaches the retina, activating rods and cones to generate electrical impulses that code for an inverted image.
7. Vitreous Humor: Ideally, the vitreous humor is clear and allows light to travel unimpeded to the retina.

Common Eye Problems

Common Disorders: Various disorders can affect the eyes, including refractive errors (such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism), cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Regular eye exams are essential for detecting and managing these conditions.

• Astigmatism: Astigmatism occurs when the eye curvature isn’t perfectly spherical. This makes light focus unevenly from one part of the eye to another.
• Hyperopia: Farsightedness occurs when the focal point of the eye is past the retina. In other words, the eye is slightly flattened rather than spherical.
• Myopia: Nearsightedness occurs when the focal point of the eye is in front of the retina. In other words, the eye is narrow rather than spherical.
• Presbyopia: Presbyopia is age-related farsightedness. It’s caused by stiffening of the eye’s lens over time. Presbyopia often improves myopia.

Other common eye problems include glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. These conditions can lead to blindness.

• Cataracts: Cataracts are clouding and hardening of the lens.
• Macular Degeneration: Macular degeneration is progressive degeneration of the retina.
• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is increased fluid pressure within the eye. This can damage the optic nerve.

Interesting Facts About Eyes 

• The reason total eye transplants aren’t possible is because it’s presently too difficult to make the million-plus connections in the optic nerve.
• Humans don’t ordinarily see ultraviolet light, but the retina can detect it. The lens absorbs UV light before it reaches the retina, presumably to protect it from the high energy light capable of damaging rods and cones. However, people with artificial lenses report seeing ultraviolet.
• Eye color can change over time. Usually, color change occurs from hormonal changes or chemical reactions from medications.
• Each eye has a blind spot where the eye attaches to the optic nerve. If you close one eye, you can find the blind spot. Normally, the second eye compensates and fills in the hole in your vision.
• Blue eyes don’t contain any blue pigment. Instead, they lack pigment found in other eye colors. Rayleigh scattering of light causes the blue color in the same way as it makes the sky appear blue.
• Blind people with eyes may still be able to sense light and dark. This is because there are cells in the eyes that detect light, but aren’t involved in image formation.
• Babies are born with full-sized eyes. Eye size remains the same from birth until death.