Don’t remember the lessons on eye anatomy from your highschool biology class?  That’s OK—we have provided the following eyeball illustration and terms just to give you a refresher course.  And we won’t give you a pop quiz afterwards…

eye anatomy original

IRIS Pigmented tissue lying behind cornea that (1) gives color to the eye, and (2) controls amount of light entering the eye by varying size of black pupillary opening; separates the anterior chamber from the posterior chamber.
CORNEA Transparent front segment of the eye that covers iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, and provides most of an eye's optical power.
PUPIL Variable-sized, circular opening in center of iris; it appears as a black circle and it regulates the amount of light that enters the eye.
LENS Natural lens of eye; transparent intraocular tissue that helps bring rays of light to focus on the retina.
SCLERA The white of the eye; a protective fibrous outer layer covers all of the eyeball except for the part covered by the cornea
CILIARY BODY a muscular ring under the surface of the eyeball; helps the eye focus by changing the len’s shape and also produces aqueous humor
CHOROID The vascular layer between the sclera and the retina; the blood vessels in the choroid help provide oxygen and nutrients to the eye
OPTIC NERVE Largest sensory nerve of the eye; carries impulses for sight from retina to brain
MACULA Small, specialized central area of the retina responsible for acute central vision
RETINA Part of the eye that converts images into electrical impulses sent along the optic nerve for transmission back to the brain. Consists of many named layers that include rods and cones
VITREOUS Transparent, colorless, gelatinous mass; fills rear two-thirds of the interior of the eyeball, between the lens and the retina