Eye Structure

NAZMA SULTANA HUSSAIN

 Parts of the eye
• Human Eye is basically classified in three structures
• Fibrous Tissue – Sclera, Cornea, Limbus
• Vascular Tissue – Iris, Choroid, Ciliary Body
• Neural Tissue – Retina
• The eyeball axial length is 24mm
• The total power of the eye is +60D
• Refractive Components of the eye – Cornea, Tear Film,
Aqueous Humour, Crystalline Lens, Vitreous Humour
• Segment of the Eye – Anterior segment and Posterior
segment
• The eyeball is divided into two sections, each of which is filled
with fluid. The pressure generated by these fluids fills out the
eyeball and helps maintain its shape.
• The front section (anterior segment) extends from the inside of
the cornea to the front surface of the lens. It is filled with a fluid
called the aqueous humor, which nourishes the internal
structures. The anterior segment is divided into two chambers.
The front (anterior) chamber extends from the cornea to the iris.
The back (posterior) chamber extends from the iris to the lens.
Normally, the aqueous humor is produced in the posterior
chamber, flows slowly through the pupil into the anterior
chamber, and then drains out of the eyeball through outflow
channels located where the iris meets the cornea.
• The back section (posterior segment) extends from the back
surface of the lens to the retina. It contains a jellylike fluid called
the vitreous humor.
• The optic nerve (a cranial nerve), which carries
impulses from the retina to the brain, as well as
other cranial nerves, which transmit impulses to
each eye muscle, travel through the orbit (the
bony cavity that surrounds the eyeball).
• An ophthalmic artery and a central retinal
artery (an artery that branches off of the
ophthalmic artery) provide blood to each eye.
• Similarly, ophthalmic veins (vortex veins) and
a central retinal vein drain blood from the eye.
These blood vessels enter and leave through the
back of the eye.
 Fluid filled
spaces

• Aqueous
humor

• Vitreous
humor
 Iris
• Iris – Colored part of the eye
Controls Light entering the eye
• Functions- Controls the amount of the light
entering the eye
 Cornea
• Transparent Covering the of the front of the
eye
• Allows for the passage of light into the eye
and allows to focus the light
 Conjunctiva and Sclera
• The outer covering of the eyeball consists of a
relatively tough, white layer called
the sclera (or white of the eye).
• Near the front of the eye, in the area
protected by the eyelids, the sclera is covered
by a thin, transparent membrane
(conjunctiva), which runs to the edge of the
cornea. The conjunctiva also covers the moist
back surface of the eyelids and eyeballs.
 Pupil
• Black hole in the iris
• The region where light enters the eye
• Functions- Pupil size is changes according to the
requirement of lighting condition
• When the eye needs more light to enter, the pupil
gets larger , allowing to enter more light, it is
dilatation
• When the eye needs less light to enter (when it is
very bright) the pupil gets smaller; allowing less
light to enter the eye
 Eyelids
• A thin fold of skin that
covers the eye
• Protect eye from foreign
matters ( dust, dirt, debris)
• Protect against bright light
that might damage the eye
• Lubricate the eye surface
by distributing the tears
over the cornea
 Eyelash
• The hairs that grow at the edge of eyelids
• Protect the eye by filtering out foreign matters
 Aqueous Humor
• A clear, watery fluid in the anterior chamber
• Nourishes the lens and cornea and helps
refract light onto the retina
 Vitreous Humor
• A clear, gel-like fluid in the posterior chamber
• Supports the lens and retina and keeps the
eye from collapsing
• Aids the magnifying power of the eye
 Sclera
• A tough white skin(made of tissue) that covers
all of the eyeball except the cornea
• Function: Supports eyeball and provides
attachment for muscles
 Retina
• Internal membrane
• Contains Light –Receptive cells( rods and cones)
• Converts light to electrical signal
• The retina contains the cells that sense light (photoreceptors)
and the blood vessels that nourish them.
• The most sensitive part of the retina is a small area called
the macula, which has millions of tightly packed photoreceptors
(the type called cones).
• The high density of cones in the macula makes the visual image
detailed, just as a high-resolution digital camera has more
megapixels.
Function- Converts light waves to electrical signals
 Optic Nerve
• Transmits electrical impulses from retina to brain
• Each photoreceptor is linked to a nerve fiber. The nerve fibers from the
photoreceptors are bundled together to form the optic nerve. The optic
disk, the first part of the optic nerve, is at the back of the eye.
• The photoreceptors in the retina convert the image into electrical
signals, which are carried to the brain by the optic nerve. There are two
main types of photoreceptors: cones and rods.
• Cones are responsible for sharp, detailed central vision and color vision
and are clustered mainly in the macula.
• Rods are responsible for night and peripheral (side) vision. Rods are
more numerous than cones and much more sensitive to light, but they
do not register color or contribute to detailed central vision as the
cones do. Rods are grouped mainly in the peripheral areas of the retina.