Eye Structure and Function

Sclera tough white outer coat of eye

Cornea allows light to enter the pupil (Transparent)
Iris coloured ring of tissue containing pupil
Pupil hole in centre of iris. Black so no light escapes out from inside of eye
Choroid contains pigment cells to stop light being reflected inside of eye
Retina Light sensitive layer which contains receptor cells called rods and cones/
light energy transduce into electrical energy of nerve impulses.
Rods work in dim light to produce black and white images /in sensory neurones
Cones three types which work in bright light to allow to see colour. Red, green
and blue
Optic Nerve sensory neurone which takes information from eye receptors to
brain
Fovea part of retina which has high conc. if cone cells. When light focused here
we see clear image
Blind Spot - area of retina where no image can be formed (optic nerve leaves
eye)

To form an image, light needs to be refracted. Refraction at the cornea and lens,
image is turned upside down, inverted. Brain interprets image right way up.
Bright Light

Circular Muscles contract

Radial Muscles relax
Pupil Constricts

Dim Light

Circular muscles relax

Radial muscles contract
Pupil dilates

Blind spot not a problem because brain puts images of both eyes together,
cancelling out both blind spots. Also, optic nerves leaves eye towards edge of
retina, where vision is not very sharp anyway.
Accommodation changes that take place in eye which allow us to see object at
different distances
Lens can change shape cells containing elastic crystalline protein
Distant Object

Ciliary Muscles Relax

Suspensory Ligament Pulled tight

Lens Flat

Nearby Objects

Ciliary Muscles Contract

Suspensory slack
Lens more rounded