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| What makes up the eye? |
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Light enters through the cornea, passes through the opening in the iris, called
the pupil, and then to the lens which focuses light on the retina—the inner lining
of the back of the eye.
Click one of the links below to learn about the retina or the uvea:
The retina's role
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| The Retina |
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The retina is lined with light-sensitive cells, or photoreceptors, called rods and
cones. The macula is the center of the retina, and it is responsible for sharp central
vision.
The fovea is a small depression in the macula that provides the sharpest vision
of all. When light reaches the retina, the photoreceptors send impulses along the
optic nerve to the brain, which interprets them as vision.
Click here to learn about retinal vein
occlusion
(RVO).
The uvea's role
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| The uvea |
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The uvea, or uveal tract, is the middle layer of the eye. The 3 parts of the uvea—the
iris, ciliary body, and choroid—have important functions:
- The iris, which is the colored part of the eye, contracts and dilates to
control how much light enters the eye. By adjusting, it allows you to see under
a variety of lighting conditions
- The ciliary body releases aqueous humor, which nourishes the front part of
the eye. It also contains the ciliary muscle, which changes the shape of the lens
to help you focus
- The choroid is a layer of connective tissue and blood vessels, located between
the sclera (white of the eye) and the retina. The choroid nourishes the inner parts
of the eye
Click one of the buttons below to learn about RVO or uveitis: