Integrated Science Handout No 13 The Eye

Integrated Science Handout No.
13 Grade 10
Topic: The Eye- The internal structure of the eye, Images being formed in the eye, Sight defects,
causes and correction/treatment.
Objectives to be established by the end of this handout:
-state the role of the eye.
-explain how a person is able to perceive an image.
-explain how accommodation occurs.
-state the function of the rods and cones.
-describe sight defects, causes and correction/treatment.
What is the role of the eye?
The eye detects light reflected from objects and converts it to nerve impulses which are
transmitted to the brain where a precise image of the object is perceived.
How do we see?
In order to see, light enters our eyes through a transparent, curved surface called the cornea.
Light passes through a convex (converging) lens which focuses the light to form an image on the
receptor cells in the retina. The image formed on the retina is upside-down. The retina sends
impulses to the brain through the optic nerve. Our brain then interprets the image and we ‘see’ it
the right way up.
Accommodation
When we look at objects close up or far away, the lens in the eye changes shape to keep the
object in focus. The adjustment of the lens shape to focus light coming from different distances
is called accommodation. The ciliary muscles alter the thickness of the eye lens. These muscles
run around the eye lens and are attached to the lens by suspensory ligaments. The tension in the
suspensory ligaments, and therefore the shape of the eye lens, is altered by the contraction and
relaxation of the ciliary muscles.
When the muscle fibres contract, the suspensory ligaments are loosened and the eye lens become
fatter. When the muscles relax, the suspensory ligaments tighten, pulling the eye lens and
making it thinner.
Diagram showing accommodation
In humans, two eyes are positioned so that one gives a slightly different view of the
surroundings. This means that humans have binocular vision. Each eye makes an image or
picture of what you are looking at. Information about both images is sent to the brain. The brain
combines the images from each eye and we see things in three-dimensions. You can see how this
works by closing your right eye and looking at something.
Bright light vs dim light!
The sensory cells in the eye are very sensitive to light. After the light passes through the cornea it
enters the pupil. The muscles in the iris control the pupil and open and close to control the
amount of light entering the eye.
In very bright light, the iris muscle work to make the pupil constrict (get smaller) to limit the
amount of light entering the eye. In dim light, the muscles of the iris allow the pupil to dilate
(open wider) so that more light can enter the eye.
The action of the pupil is an example of a reflex action.
Diagram showing the action of the pupil in dim light and bright light
Rods and Cones

The retina consists of two types of cells- rods and cones. Rods occur mostly near the edges of the
retina, and are not sensitive to colour. They only respond to the brightness of light. Cones are
packed most densely at the middle of the retina (an area called fovea. Each cone is sensitive to
red or blue or green light. For, example, when red light falls on the retina, it activates the red-
sensitive cones, so you see red. Other colours activate more than one type of cone. For example,
yellow activates red and green sensitive cones so they send messages to the brain. When the
brain receives signals from the two cones it knows that yellow light is on that part of the retina.
Diagram showing cone cell and rod cell
Sight defects, causes and correction/treatment
Human eyes do not always work perfectly and many people cannot see properly. We say they
have sight defects. Most sight defects can be corrected by spectacles (glasses) that contain lenses.
1.) Short-sightedness (myopia)- if you are short-sighted you can see objects that are close to you,
but not objects that are far away. This happens when the whole eyeball is too long, or when the
lens is thickened. Refraction of the light through the lens causes the light from distant objects to
come into focus in front of the retina (rather than on it) and the images seem blurry. Diverging
(concave) lenses are used to correct short-sightedness. They work by diverging the rays of light
from objects far away, so that they appear to com from a point close to the eye. The image then
falls directly onto the retina.
Diagram showing where images are formed when a person suffers from short sightedness vs
when a concave lens is used to correct the defect
2.) Long-sightedness (hypermetropia)- if you are long-sighted you can see objects that are far
away clearly, but objects that are close up seem blurred because you cannot focus on them. This
happens when the eyeball is too short or the lens is a bit thin. The rays of light from close objects
are refracted and they cannot focus before they reach the retina. Converging (convex) lenses are
used to correct long-sightedness. They work by making the light from close objects appear to
have come from a point further away. The eye can then focus the rays so that they fall directly
onto the retina.
Diagram showing where images are formed when a person suffers from long sightedness vs
when a convex lens is used to correct the defect
Protecting and cleaning the eye
Your eyelids and eyelashes help to keep the dust and sweat from entering the eye. You may
notice that you blink automatically when something passes close to your eye. This is an
involuntary action to protect your eye.
The surface of the eye is kept moist by fluid produced in the tear glands. This fluid contains
lysosome which kills germs. When you blink, the eyelid moves across the eye and spreads this
fluid. Excess fluid drains away through the tear ducts into the nasal cavity.
Reference:
Nelson Thornes. Biology for CSEC 2nd Edition. Karen Morrison, Peta-Gay Kirby, Lucy
Madhosingh. Page 199-203

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Rods and Cones

Sight defects, causes and correction/treatment

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