Structure of the Eye
Eye Conditions & Care | Structure of the Eye
Sclera - the eye's white outer protective coat, normally seen as the "white of the eye".
Cornea - the transparent, curved structure at the front of the eye.
Iris - the coloured part of the eye - blue, brown, green, grey etc. - that can be seen through the cornea.
Pupil - the black part of the eye in the middle of the iris. It constricts or dilates according to the amount of light passing through it.
Lens - the transparent disc (with both sides being convex) immediately behind the iris and pupil.
Macula - the small centre of the retina, responsible for reading vision.
Retinal Pigment Epithelium - This is a dark coloured layer of cells at the back of the retina responsible for providing oxygen and other nutrients to the rods and cones.
Choroid - a large network of blood vessels (behind the retina) that transport oxygen and other nutrients to the retinal pigment cells.
Optic Disc - a small yellow oval structure in the retina, to which nerve cell connections travel from all the rods and cones.
Optic nerve and beyond - the "cord" of nerve cell connections that passes from the eyeball to destinations throughout the brain.
Retina - This is the light sensitive layer of millions of nerve cells that line the back of the eyeball. One of the layers of cells in the retina is made up of photoreceptor (light responding) cells.