EYE ANATOMY

SCLERA
Important Function:
 Vision depends on a complex coordination
of ocular structures that mediate passage of  White, opaque, fibrous connective tissue
light rays reflected from an external object  Commonly referred to as the “whites” of the
to the retina and transmit visual images to eye
the brain for interpretation  A smooth, white layer on the outside, but
Consists of layers/coats: the inside is brown and contains grooves
 Outer, protective layer that help the tendons of the eye attach
 Middle, vascular layer properly
 Inner, neural layer
 Provides structure and safety for the inner
workings of the eye, but is also flexible so
Refractive Media
that the eye can move to seek out objects
as necessary

CORNEA

 Anterior continuation of the sclera, which is

transparent and avascular
 The outer covering of the ye
 This dome-shaped layer protects the eye
from elements that could cause damage to
OUTER, PROTECTIVE LAYER the inner parts of the
 There are several layers of the cornea,
creating a tough layer that provides
additional protection
 These layers regenerate very quickly,
helping the eye to eliminate damage more
easily
 The cornea also allows the eye to properly
focus on light more effectively
 Those who are having trouble focusing their
eyes properly can have their corneas
surgically reshaped to eliminate this
problem
CONJUNCTIVA

MIDDLE, VASCULAR LAYER

 These are layers of mucus which help keep
the outside of the eye moist
 If the eye dries out it can become itchy and
painful
 It can also become more susceptible to
damage or infection
 If the conjunctiva glands become infected
the patient will develop “pink eye”

CHOROID
 Thin, pigmented membrane containing
blood vessels that supply eye tissues
CILIARY BODY
 Anterior continuation of the choroid
containing muscles that change the shape
of the lens to focus vision
 The ciliary body is a part of the eye that
includes the ciliary muscle, which controls
the shape of the lens, and the ciliary
epithelium, which produces the aqueous
humor
 It is a ring-shaped tissue which holds and
controls the movement of the eye lens, and
thus, it helps to control the shape of the lens
IRIS
 Is the central extension of the ciliary body,
consisting of two muscles and a central
opening: pupil which constricts and dilates
to regulate the amount of light entering the
eye’s interior
 The area of the eye that contains the
pigment which gives the eye its color
 This area surrounds the pupil and uses the
dilator pupillae muscles to widen or close
the pupil
 Allows the eye to take in more or less light
depending on how bright it is around you
 If its too ring, the iris will shrink the pupil so
that the eye can focus effectively
PUPIL
 Appears as a black dot in the middle of the
eye
 This black area is a hole that takes in light
so the eye can focus on the objects in front
of it
INNER, NEURAL LAYER
RETINA
 Contains layers of nerve cells, including
rods and cones, that translate light waves
into neural impulses for transmission to the
brain.
 The light focused by the lens will be
transmitted onto the retina
 This is made of rods and cones arranged in
layers, which will transmit light into
chemicals and electrical pulses
 The retina is located in the back of the eye,
and is connected to the optic nerve that will
transmits the images the eyes see to the
brain so they can be interpreted
 Macula: the posterior part of the retina will
help interpret the details of the object the
eye is working to interpret
 Fova: center of macula will increase the
detail of these images to a perceivable point
OPTIC NERVES
 Relay messages from the eye to the brain to
create visual images
 Plays a crucial role in seeing or sight
 Optic nerve is the second of 12 cranial
nerves.
 Starts in the optic disk, a group of cells in
retinal tissue at the back of the eye, travels
through the optic canal (a bony opening)
and enters the skull
 Crosses paths with the opposite optic nerve
to form an X-shaped structure called optic
chiasm
 Creates upper and lower pathways called
the optic radiations (ORs)—carries nerve
messages to a part of the brain called the
visual cortex and then process sensory
information for sight
RETINAL BLOOD VESSELS
 Provide blood to the inner retinal neurons.
 The retina has two sources of oxygen and
nutrients: the retinal blood vessels and the
choroid which lies under the retinal pigment
epithelium
 The blood vessels within the retina itself that
carry oxygen and nutrients are called
arteries.
 The main one, the central retinal artery,
enters the eye through the optic nerve and
splits into the superior and inferior branches
and keep branching out until they form a
very fine network of very thin blood vessels
called capillaries
REFRACTIVE MEDIA
Elicited description of the present illness and chief
complaint.
Explore the client’s health history for risk factors
 are the structures that help in focusing the
ray of light onto the retina where it can be
detected by the photoreceptors.
AQEOUS HUMOR
 Watery fluid filling the eye’s anterior
chamber that serves as refracting medium
and maintains hydrostatic intraocular
pressure (IOP)
LENS
 Biconvex crystalline body located behind
the pupil that changes shape for
accommodation.
 Sits directly behind the pupil
 This is a clear layer that focuses the light
the pupil takes in
 Held in place by the ciliary muscles, which
allow the lens to change shape depending
on the amount of light that hits it so it can be
properly focused
VITREOUS HUMOR
 Jelly-like substance filling the posterior
cavity behind the lens, maintaining the
shape of the eye
 The vitreous humor is the gel located in the
back of the eye which helps it hold its shape
 The gel takes in nutrients from the ciliary
body, aqueous humor and the retinal blood
vessels so the eye can remain healthy
 When debris finds its way into the vitreous
humor, it causes the eye to perceive
“floaters” or spots that move across the
vision area that cannot be attributed to
objects in the environment
OCULAR HISTORY
Assessment
Ocular External
Visual acuity
history examination
 What does the patient perceive to be the
problem?
 Is visual acuity diminished?
 Does the patient experience blurred,
double, or distorted vision?
 Is there pain? Is it sharp or dull? Is it worse
when blinking?
 Are both eyes affected?
 Is there a history of discharge? If so, inquire
about color, consistency and odor.
 Describe the onset of the problem. Is it
worsening?