This article is about the organ. For the human eye, see Human eye.

For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation) and Oculus.

"Ocular" redirects here. For other uses, see Ocular (disambiguation).
"Eyeball" redirects here. For other uses, see Eyeball (disambiguation).
"Eyes" redirects here. For other uses, see Eyes (disambiguation).
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Eye
Schematic diagram of the human eye en.svg
Eye
Krilleyekils.jpg
Compound eye of Antarctic krill
Details
Latin oculus
Identifiers
TA
A15.2.00.001
A01.1.00.007
FMA
75665
Anatomical terminology
Eyes are the organs of vision. They detect light and convert it into electro-che
mical impulses in neurons. In higher organisms the eye is a complex optical syst
em which collects light from the surrounding environment, regulates its intensit
y through a diaphragm, focuses it through an adjustable assembly of lenses to fo
rm an image, converts this image into a set of electrical signals, and transmits
these signals to the brain through complex neural pathways that connect the eye
via the optic nerve to the visual cortex and other areas of the brain. Eyes wit
h resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of ani
mal species possess a complex optical system.[1] Image-resolving eyes are presen
t in molluscs, chordates and arthropods.[2]
The simplest "eyes", such as those in microorganisms, do nothing but detect whet
her the surroundings are light or dark, which is sufficient for the entrainment
of circadian rhythms.[citation needed] From more complex eyes, retinal photosens
itive ganglion cells send signals along the retinohypothalamic tract to the supr
achiasmatic nuclei to effect circadian adjustment.