Eyecare Business October, 2017 by Stephanie K. De Long: Vision neophyte? Here, we break down the eye and its incredible functions so you have the backstory in sight. For complte article click here.

CORNEA: Like a window, this clear, transparent front covering admits light, begins the refractive process, and keeps foreign particles out.

IRIS: Picture this! This flat, colored part of the eye divides the eye’s anterior chamber (front) from its posterior chamber (back) and controls light levels much like the aperture on a camera.

PUPIL: The black circular opening in the center of the iris that lets in light, the pupil has an adjustable opening. Light projects through the pupil, controlling the intensity of light allowed to strike the lens.

LENS: Right behind the iris and pupil, the lens helps focus light on the back of the eye. In a constant state of adjustment, it allows you to see small details. Any presbyope can tell you what happens when it loses elasticity.

RETINA: The area at the back of the eye, the retina receives the refined, visual message from the front of the eye and uses electrical signals to transmit it along the optic nerve to the brain.

FOVEA: A small depression in the retina where visual acuity is highest.

OPTIC DISC + NERVE: The optic disc is called the blind spot, because there are no receptors in this part of the retina. This is where all axons of the ganglion cells leave the retina to form the optic nerve. The eye’s carrier pigeon, the optic nerve carries impulses converted in the retina to the brain.