Learn about the basics of eyes and eye exams, the anatomy and function of the eyes, the purpose of two eyes and depth perception, correcting strabismus and testing depth perception, and measuring glasses prescription and the benefits of glasses and contact lenses.
The eyes consist of various specialized components and tissues, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, and vitreous humor, all of which play crucial roles in vision.
Having two eyes allows for depth perception as each eye captures a slightly different image, which the brain combines to form a 3D view of the world.
Deep dives
The Function and Composition of the Eyes
The podcast explores the complex structure of the eyes and how they are made up of various tissues and specialized components. The eyes are optical devices responsible for delivering images to the brain. They consist of the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, retina, and vitreous humor. Each of these parts plays a crucial role in vision, from allowing light to enter the eye to converting light into neural signals that the brain can interpret. The eyes also have tear production, which helps keep the cornea lubricated, removes foreign objects, and enhances vision. Tears are made up of water, electrolytes, proteins, oils, and hormones.
The Eye Exam Process
The podcast delves into the eye exam process and provides a step-by-step walkthrough. The exam starts with visual acuity testing, which measures how well someone sees, usually using charts with letters, symbols, or pictures. The pediatric ophthalmologist may also use matching cards for children who are still learning letters. The exam then checks the alignment of the eyes and measures peripheral vision. To test depth perception, 3D images are used with special glasses that create two slightly different pictures for each eye, requiring the brain to fuse them to perceive depth. The exam also involves checking the size and reaction of the pupils, which control the amount of light entering the eyes.
Why We Have Two Eyes and Blinking
The podcast addresses the purpose of having two eyes and explains how they work together to provide depth perception. Each eye captures a slightly different image due to their positions, and the brain combines these images to form a 3D view of the world. The eyes usually move simultaneously to focus on the same thing. Blinking is an involuntary reflex that not only keeps the eyes moisturized and smooth but also helps clear dust and foreign objects. Tear production plays a role in lubricating the eyes and maintaining their health. Tears contain water, electrolytes, proteins, oils, and hormones. Additionally, the podcast explains that tears taste salty because they contain salt, which is present in various bodily fluids.
What shape are our eyes? What are they made of? How do they work? What’s the point of having two eyes if we only see one image? Why do we blink? What’s the point of tears and why are they salty? We answer your questions about eyes in the first of two episodes with Dr. Sujata Singh, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the University of Vermont Medical Center.