Although small in size, the eye is one of the most delicate and complex parts of our body. Eye experts at Bausch & Lomb have developed a simplified way to explain the human eye and how it works, including the anatomy of the eye and an explanation of the inner workings that give us sight.

Eye diagram used with permission of i-care.net .

The Anatomy

• Cornea: A clear window that transmits and focuses light into the eye
• Iris: A colored disc that helps regulate the amount of light entering the eye
• Pupil: The dark center that changes size to accommodate the available light
• Lens: A transparent structure that focuses light rays onto the retina
• Retina: The nerve layer that reads light rays and sends images through the optic nerve to the brain
• Macula: The small area of the retina that uses special light-sensitive cells to clarify fine details
• Optic nerve: The nerve that connects the eye to the brain
• Vitreous humor: The clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye

The Inner Workings

Light reflected off an object passes through the cornea. Muscles around the eye contract or relax to adjust the shape of the lens, focusing the light rays. The rays then reach the retina, where over 100 million light-sensitive cells read them and transmit the image through the optic nerve to the brain.