Diseases of

Optic
Apparatus,
Cornea, and
Lens
Created by
Khushi Mawa
 Optic Apparatus
Overview

Understanding the Components

The optic apparatus includes the eye structures essential

for vision. Key parts are the cornea, lens, retina, and optic
nerve. They work together to focus light and transmit
visual information.

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Common Corneal Diseases
This table summarizes major diseases of the cornea. Early diagnosis
and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent complications.

Disease Symptoms Treatment

Keratitis Redness, pain Antibiotics

Corneal Ulcer Cloudiness, vision loss Surgery, medication

Keratonus Distortion, difficulty seeing Corrective lenses

Pterygium Growth on surface Surgical removal

Chalazion Swelling, tenderness Drainage, corticosteroids

Human Visual System

Exposure
Image formation Detection Processing
Control

•Cornea •Iris/pupil •Retina •Brain

•Lens •Photoreceptor •Rods
sensitivity •Cones
Human Eye
Ciliary Muscle
Sclera Ear side (Temporal)
Iris Vitreous Humor

Fovea
Pupil Eyelens
Retina

Optic Nerve
Cornea
Nose side (Nasal)
Aqueous Humor

Suspensory ligament Choroid

• Human eye is a complete imaging system.
Image Formation
Object
Image

• The curved surfaces of the eye focus the image

onto the back surface of the eye.
Cornea
• The outer wall of the
eye is formed by the
hard, white sclera.
Sclera
• Cornea is the clear
Cornea portion of the sclera.
• 2/3 of the refraction
takes place at the
cornea.
Iris and Pupil
Iris • Colored iris controls
the size of the opening
(pupil) where the light
enters.
Pupil
• Pupil determines the
amount of light, like
the aperture of a
camera.

Iris open Iris closed

Dilated pupil Constricted pupil
Lens
Ciliary muscle
• Eye lens is made of
transparent fibers in a clear
Lens membrane.
• Suspended by suspensory
ligament.
Suspensory
Ligament
• Used as a fine focusing
mechanism by the eye;
Transparent provides 1/3 of eye’s total
Fibers refracting power.
• Non-uniform index of
refraction.

Cross section of the eye lens

Accommodation
Distant object • The suspensory ligaments
attach the lens to the ciliary
muscle.
• When the muscle contracts,
the lens bulges out in the back,
Relaxed muscle
decreasing its focal length.
Near object
Taut ligaments • The process by which the lens
changes shape to focus is
called accommodation.

Contracted muscle
Slack ligaments
Aqueous Humor and Vitreous
Humor
• Transparent gelatinous
Vitreous Humor liquid filling the eye.
• Provides nutrients to
the cornea and eye
lens.
• Also helps maintain the
eyeball shape with its
Aqueous Humor pressure.
Retina
• Retina is the photosensitive
“detector” for the eye.
• Two types of receptors in the
Retina
retina: rods for low light level,
and cones for color.
Fovea • Located at the center of the
retina, fovea contains a greater
concentration of cones.
Optic Nerve • Signals from the receptors leave
through the optic nerve to the
brain.
Plexiform Layer
• The retina is made of three
layers:
• Plexiform layer is a network of
Fovea nerves which carry the signals
from the photo receptors.
• Photo receptors.
Photo receptors
• Choroid provides nourishment
Light to the receptors, as well as
Plexiform Layer absorb any light that didn’t get
absorbed by the photo
receptors, like a antihalation
backing in film.

Optic Nerve Choroid

Rods and Cones
Synaptic endings
Cell nucleus
Inner segments

Outer segments

Rod Cone
• Highly sensitive to low light level  Sensitive to high light
or scotopic conditions. level or photopic
• Black and white. conditions.
• Dispersed in the periphery of
 Three types of cones
the retina. responsible for color
vision.
 Concentrated in the
Adaptation
• Why can’t you see
Photopic (cones) immediately after you enter a
movie theater from daylight?
Threshold of detection

• The threshold of detection

(log scale)

Scotopic (rods) changes with overall light level.

• The switch is quite gradual,
until the sensitivities of cones
and rods cross over at about 7
minutes in the dark.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time in dark (minutes)
Distribution of Photoreceptors
Visual Axis
Temporal Nasal • Cones are concentrated in
the fovea.
80 º 80º
60 º 60 º • Rods predominate the
40 º 40 º periphery.
20 º
Number of receptors per mm2

20 º Blind spot
0º • There is a blind spot
160 where there are no
140
120
Rods photoreceptors, at the
100 point where the nerves
80 exit the eye (optic nerve).
60
40 Cones
20
60 º 40 º 20 º 0 º 20 º 40 º 60 º 80 º
Angle
Human Vision
• Human Cone Response to Color
• three cone types (S,I,L) correspond to B,G,R

S I L

Relative response

400 460 490 500 530 600 650 700

Wavelength (nm)

Blue Cyan Green Red

Retina
Light Cones

Rods

To optic nerve Bipolar

cells
Amicrine
cells
Ganglion
cells
Horizontal
• The retina is made of network of nerve cells. cells
• The network works together to reduce the amount of information
in a process called lateral inhibition.
Mach Bands

Actual
brightness

Perceived
by you
Eye Defects
Object at infinity
• Image focuses on the retina
for a normal eye.

Normal
• Distant objects look blurry
for a myopic (near sighted)
eye.
Myopic

• Near objects look blurry for

a hyperopic (far sighted)
eye.
Hyperopic

Eyes at relax state.

Myopia - Near sightedness
Far object • Distant objects look blurry
because the eye cannot
Myopic eye relaxed relax any farther so that the
Blurry image is focused before the
retina.
Near object
Myopic eye relaxed • Near object in focus
In focus without accommodation.
• Corrected with a negative
Far object lens.
Myopia corrected
with a negative lens

The virtual image from the diverging lens appears to be closer.

Hyperopia - Far sightedness
Far object
• Near objects look blurry
because the eye cannot
Hyperopic eye
Partially accommodated accommodate enough for
In focus near objects.
Near object
• Far object in focus.
Hyperopic eye
Fully accommodated
• Corrected with a positive
Blurry lens.
Near object

Hyperopia
corrected with a
positive lens

Light from the converging lens looks as though it is coming from the distance.
Contact Lens
Contact lens • Contact lens is an
Cornea alternative to
corrective lenses.
• Changes the curvature
of the cornea by
adhering to the surface
with some fluid.

Fluid
Presbyopia - “Old eye”
Concave for distance • Lens hardens with age.
correction (if needed)
• Eye cannot adequately
Convex for near object accommodate near
correction
objects.
Far objects • Bifocals (lens with two
focal lengths) contains a
concave lens for distance
(if needed) and a convex
lens for near objects.
Near objects magnified
Astigmatism
• The cornea is not spherical;
Cornea Focal length different from
one plane to a
perpendicular plane.
Object

F’ horizontal

F’ Vertical
Direction of blur

Image at F’ Horizontal

Image at F’ Vertical
Astigmatism
• Correction of astigmatism is
Cylindrical lens done through the use of a
cylindrical lens.
• Cylindrical lens converge rays
in one plane but not the
perpendicular plane.

Rays in the Rays in the vertical

horizontal plane are plane are undeviated
focused
Common Eye Diseases
• Cataract - Clouding of the lens.
• Symptom: Loss of vision
• Cure: Lens replacement

• Glaucoma - Pressure buildup in

the eye, damaging the retina.
• Symptom: Loss of vision first in
the periphery.
• Cure: Surgery to drain fluid from
the eye.
• Loss of vision is usually
permanent
Common Eye Diseases
• Detached retina - portion
of the retina detaches from
Ow! the back of the eye.
• Symptom: Perception of
flashes, Loss of vision
• Cure: Laser surgery to
reattach retina
• Pink eye - Infection of the
surface of the eye.
• Symptom: Irritation
• Cure: Antibiotics
Lens Disorders

Presbyopia Cataracts

Presbyopia, a prevalent Cataracts result in blurred vision

condition associated with aging, and heightened sensitivity to
impairs the eye's capability to glare. They progress gradually,
focus on nearby objects. often associated with aging or
Corrective measures typically UV exposure. Surgical
include reading glasses or intervention may restore vision
multifocal lenses. by removing the cataract.

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Effects of Diseases

Vision Loss Increased Sensitivity Color Perception Issues

Many optic apparatus diseases Conditions like corneal diseases Certain lens disorders can distort
result in varying degrees of can lead to light sensitivity, color perception, complicating
vision loss, affecting everyday making it uncomfortable to be in the ability to distinguish colors
activities and quality of life. bright environments. accurately.
 Treatment Options

Options for Management

Treatment varies by disease and may include prescription

eyeglasses, medications, and surgical interventions.
Regular eye exams remain essential for early detection and
management.

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Preventive Measures

50% 30% 15% 5%

Schedule Regular Eat Nutrient-rich

Visits Wear Sunglasses Foods Avoid Tobacco Use
Frequent eye exams help Protect your eyes from A diet high in vitamins and Smoking is linked to
in early detection of harmful UV rays which can antioxidants supports eye greater risks of developing
disorders, allowing for lead to cataracts and other health and may prevent cataracts and other eye
timely action. eye conditions. diseases. diseases.
Preventive Measures

50% 30% 15% 5%

Schedule Regular Eat Nutrient-rich

Visits Wear Sunglasses Foods Avoid Tobacco Use
Frequent eye exams help Protect your eyes from A diet high in vitamins and Smoking is linked to
in early detection of harmful UV rays which can antioxidants supports eye greater risks of developing
disorders, allowing for lead to cataracts and other health and may prevent cataracts and other eye
timely action. eye conditions. diseases. diseases.