A Picture of the Eye

 Medically Reviewed by Whitney Seltman, OD on

September 11, 2020

ARTICLES ONEYE BASICS

 Picture of the Eye
 How Your Eye Works
 Myths About Your Eyes
 Eye Exercises
 Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
 Eye Health Resources
 Video: An Up-Close Look at Your Eye
Your eye is a slightly asymmetrical globe, about an inch in
diameter. The front part (what you see in the mirror)
includes:

 Iris: the colored part

 Cornea: a clear dome over the iris
 Pupil: the black circular opening in the iris that lets
light in
 Sclera: the white of your eye
 Conjunctiva: a thin layer of tissue that covers the
entire front of your eye, except for the cornea

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Just behind the iris and pupil lies the lens, which helps
focus light on the back of your eye. Most of the eye is filled
with a clear gel called the vitreous. Light projects through
your pupil and lens to the back of the eye. The inside lining
of the eye is covered by special light-sensing cells that are
 collectively called the retina. It converts light into electrical
impulses. Behind the eye, your optic nerve carries these
impulses to the brain. The macula is a small extra-
sensitive area in the retina that gives you central vision.
Eye color is created by the amount and type of pigment in
your iris. Multiple genes inherited from each parent
determine a person’s eye color.

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Eye Conditions
 Age-related macular degeneration: Causes loss of
central vision as you get older.
 Amblyopia: Often called lazy eye, this condition starts
in childhood. One eye sees better than the other, so
your brain favors that eye. The weaker eye, which
may or may not wander, is called the "lazy eye."
 Astigmatism: A problem with the curve of your
cornea. If you have it, your eye can’t focus light onto
the retina the way it should. Glasses, contact lenses,
or surgery can correct the blurry vision it causes.
 Black eye: Swelling and discoloration (bruise) around
your eye caused by an injury to the face.
 Blepharitis: Inflammation of your eyelids near
the eyelashes. It can make your eyes feel itchy or
gritty.
 Cataract: A clouding of your eye’s internal lens. It can
cause blurred vision.
 Chalazion: An oil-making gland gets blocked and
swells into a bump.
 Conjunctivitis: Also known as pinkeye, it’s an infection
or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear layer
that covers the front of your eye. Allergies, viruses, or
a bacterial infection can all cause it.
 Corneal abrasion: A scratch on the clear part of the
front of your eye (called the cornea). Pain, light
sensitivity, or a feeling of grit in the eye are the usual
symptoms.
 Diabetic retinopathy: High blood
sugar damages blood vessels in the eye. Eventually,
they start to leak or overgrow in your retina,
threatening your vision.
 Diplopia (double vision): Seeing double can be caused
by many serious conditions. It requires immediate
medical attention.
 Dry eye: Either your eyes don’t produce enough tears,
or the tears are of poor quality. Most commonly due
to aging but medical problems
like lupus, scleroderma, and Sjogren's syndrome can
be to blame.
 Glaucoma: This progressive loss of vision comes from
increased pressure inside the eye. Your peripheral
vision (side vision) will go first, then your central
vision will follow. It can go undetected for years.
 Hyperopia (farsightedness): You can’t see near
objects clearly. It can happen when your eye is “too
short” for the lens to focus light the way it should.
Distance vision may or may not be blurred too.
 Hyphema: Bleeding into the front of the eye, between
the cornea and the iris. Hyphema is usually caused by
trauma.
 Keratitis: Inflammation or infection of the cornea. It
typically occurs after germs get into a scratch on your
cornea.
 Myopia (nearsightedness): You can’t see clearly at a
distance. Your eye is “too long” for the lens, so light
won’t focus properly on your retina.
 Optic neuritis: The optic nerve becomes inflamed,
usually due to an overactive immune system. The
result: Pain and vision loss, typically in one eye.
 Pterygium: A thickened mass usually on the inner part
of the white part of your eyeball. It can cover a part of
the cornea and lead to vision problems.
 Retinal detachment: The retina comes loose from the
back of your eye. Trauma and diabetes are the most
common causes of this problem, which often requires
urgent surgical repair.
 Retinitis: An inflammation or infection of the retina. It
may be a long-term genetic condition (retinitis
pigmentosa) or come from an infection.
 Scotoma: A blind or dark spot in your visual field.
 Strabismus: When the eyes don’t point in the same
direction. Your brain may favor one eye. If it happens
 to a kid, it can decrease vision in the other eye. This
condition is called amblyopia.
 Stye: A red, painful lump on the edge of your eyelid.
Bacteria cause it.
 Uveitis (iritis): The colored part of your eye gets
inflamed or infected. An overactive immune system,
bacteria, or viruses can cause it.