Anatomy of the Eye

Overview

The eye is the organ of sight. It helps focus light and convert it into a signal that can be received by the brain. Let's take a closer look at the main parts of the eye.

Exterior

The sclera and the cornea compose the eye's exterior. The sclera is a protective layer of white tissue. The cornea is the clear window in the front of the eye. It helps focus incoming light.

Interior

When you look through the cornea you can see the iris. This is the colored muscle that contracts and relaxes to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye. The opening in the center of the iris is called the pupil. After light passes through the pupil, it reaches the lens.

The Lens

This flexible, disc-shaped structure allows the eye to focus light. Tiny strands called zonular fibers attach to the lens capsule. They connect to the ciliary muscle, which contracts and relaxes to control the shape of the lens.