PHYSIOLOGY OF SIGHT

 Light waves travel at a speed of 300000 kilometers per second. Light is reflected into the
eyes by objects within the field of vision.
 White light is a combination of all the colours of the visual spectrum, i.e., red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
 A specific colour is perceived when only one wavelength is reflected by the object and all
the others are absorbed, e.g., an object appears red when it only reflects red light.
 Objects appear white when all wavelengths are reflected, and black when they are all
absorbed.
 In order to achieve clear vision, light reflected from objects within the visual field is
focused on to the retina of each eye.
 The processes involved in producing a clear image are: -
 Refraction of the light rays,
 Changing the size of the pupils and
 Accommodation (adjustment of the lens for near vision).
Refraction of the light rays: -
 When light rays pass from a medium of one density to a medium of a different density
they are bent.
 In the eye, the biconvex lens bends and
focuses light rays. This bending of light
is called refraction.
 This principle is used to focus light on
the retina.
 Before reaching the retina, light rays pass
successively through the conjunctiva,
cornea, aqueous fluid, lens and vitreous
body.
Changing the size of the pupils: -
 Pupil size contributes to clear vision by controlling the amount of light entering the eye.
In bright light the pupils are constricted. In dim light they are dilated.
 The iris consists of one layer of circular and one of radiating smooth muscle fibres.
Contraction of the circular fibres constricts the pupil, and contraction of the radiating
fibres dilates it.
 The size of the pupil is controlled by the autonomic nervous system; sympathetic
stimulation dilates the pupils and parasympathetic stimulation constricts them.

Human Anatomy & Physiology – I, Special Senses (Eye),

DEVENDRA KUMAR RAWAT
Assistant Professor, BMSCP, Amethi
Accommodation: -
Near vision
 In order to focus on near objects, i.e., within about 6 meters, accommodation is
required and the eye must make the following adjustments:
o Constriction of the pupils
o Convergence (movement of the eyeballs)
o Changing the refractory power of the lens.
Distant vision
 Objects more than 6 metres away from the eyes are focused on the retina without
adjustment of the lens or convergence of the eyes.
Functions of the retina: -
 The retina is the light-sensitive (photosensitive) part of the eye. The light-
sensitive nerve cells are the photoreceptors.
 Two types of photoreceptor cells are:
o Rods: 120 millions
o Cones: 6 millions
 Light rays cause chemical changes in lightsensitive pigments in these cells and
they generate nerve impulses which are conducted to the occipital lobes of the
cerebrum via the optic nerves.
 The rods are much more light sensitive than the cones.
 Visual purple (rhodopsin) is a light-sensitive pigment present only in the rods.
 The cones are sensitive to light and colour; bright light is required to activate
them and give sharp, clear colour vision.
 Loss of rods: night blindness.
 Loss of cones: permanent blindness.
Accessory organs of the eye
 The eye is a delicate organ which is protected by
several structures:
o Eyebrows
o Eyelids and eyelashes
o Lacrimal apparatus:
 For each eye this consists of the
structures that secrete tears and drain
them from the front of the eyeball:

Human Anatomy & Physiology – I, Special Senses (Eye),

DEVENDRA KUMAR RAWAT
Assistant Professor, BMSCP, Amethi
  1 lacrimal gland and its ducts
 2 lacrimal canaliculi
 1 lacrimal sac
 1 nasolacrimal duct.

Disorders of the eye

1. Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva may be caused by irritants, such as
smoke, dust, wind, cold or dry air, microbes or antigens and may be acute or chronic
(Fig. 8.26). Corneal ulceration. This is highly contagious and in adults is usually caused
by strains of staphylococci, streptococci or haemophilus.

2. Cataract: This is opacity of the lens which impairs vision especially in poor light and
darkness when weak light rays can no longer pass through the cloudy lens to the retina.
Although most commonly age-related this condition also be congenital or secondary to
other conditions e.g., ocular trauma, uveitis, diabetes mellitus.

3. Myopia: In myopia, or nearsightedness, the eyeball is too long and distant objects are
focused in front of the retina. Close objects are focused normally, but distant vision is
blurred. Correction is achieved using a biconcave lens.

Human Anatomy & Physiology – I, Special Senses (Eye),

DEVENDRA KUMAR RAWAT
Assistant Professor, BMSCP, Amethi