ENGLISH 2

2023-I
 UNIT V
CRYSTALLINE LENS
DEFINITION
FUNCTION
STRUCTURE
ACCOMMODATION
PRESBYOPIA
CATARACTS
 THE CRYSTALLINE LENS
You may be familiar with
contact lenses, but did you
know that we are born with a
similar structure inside our
eyes?
 WHAT IS THE CRYSTALLINE
DEFINITION LENS?
Is the natural lens located behind the iris,
or the coloured part of the eye. Similar to a
contact lens, this clear structure helps
focus light rays onto the retina.

Muscles attached to the lens contract or

expand the lens to help us see at near and
far distances.
 THE LENS FUNCTION
What does the crystalline lens do?

The crystalline lens provides approximately one-

third of the focusing power of the eye. The lens is
flexible and its curvature can change by
influence of the ciliary body.

The lens changes curvature so that the eye can

focus on images at different distances. This
change in focusing is called ACCOMMODATION.
 THE LENS FUNCTION
The main functions of the crystalline lens are:

REFRACTION

ACCOMMODATION

PROTECTION
 THE LENS AND REFRACTION
REFRACTION:

Refraction, or the bending of light inside the

eye, occurs when light travels through lens.
The lens focuses images on the retina.

The lens has a refractive power of about 22

diopters, and together with the cornea, whose
refractive power is about +43 diopters, makes
the total refractive power of about 65 diopters
 ACCOMMODATION
ACCOMMODATION:

During the process of accommodation or

adjustment to contractions of the muscle, the
lens changes the curvature of the anterior and
the posterior segment, and it becomes stronger
when young. Over the years the
accommodation is getting lost so that about
the age of 45 it decreases.
 THE LENS AND
PROTECTION
PROTECTION:

The lens absorbs the UV rays and thus it

prevents them to penetrate further and
damage the retina, especially its most sensitive
part – the macula.
 LOCATION
WHERE IS THE CRYSTALLINE LENS LOCATED?
The lens is situated between the Iris and the vitreous body. It has a shape of a
magnifying glass and it’s bulging from both the sides.
 THE STRUCTURE
WHAT IS THE CRYSTALLINE LENS MADE OF?

The lens is made of specialized cells that

are stacked like layers. The cells are
densely packed with crystalline proteins
—about 60% of the lens is protein, a
higher concentration than any other
tissue in the body.
 THE STRUCTURE
WHAT IS THE CRYSTALLINE LENS’ STRUCTURE?

The crystalline lens is made by several

layers:

External membrane (capsula)

Crust (cortex)
Core (nucleus).
LENS AGING AND PROBLEMS
Many adults will start to notice changes in their
vision in their early to mid-40s, and these
changes can vary drastically from person to
person. As the lenses in our eyes age over
time, they can gradually lose their function.
Two common conditions that occur as a result
of this are presbyopia and cataracts
 PRESBYOPIA
Aging causes the lens to become less flexible
and elastic. As a result, the eye loses some of its
ability to focus on near objects. This condition is
known as presbyopia. At around the age of 40,
most people require reading glasses.

People who have presbyopia may complain of

needing more light to read. Presbyopic eyes also
feel fatigued and seem to tire more easily.
 CATARACTS

A cataract is a clouding of the lens. Cataracts

often develop as we age. Fortunately,
cataracts grow slowly and may not affect
vision for several years. By age 65, over 90% of
people have a cataract.
 THE CRYSTALLINE LENS IS A SMALL BUT
POWERFUL STRUCTURE THAT IS VITAL TO
YOUR ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY.

LIKE ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY,

THESE LENSES AGE OVER TIME AND CAN
GRADUALLY LOSE FUNCTION.
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE READING
OR SEEING IN LOW LIGHT, CONNECT
WITH AN EYE DOCTOR TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE CORRECTIVE OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO YOU.