The Miracle of Eyesight: Here’s How It Works

Many of us take our eyesight for granted, even though we rely on it to process and navigate the world around us. It seems so simple, yet the truth is, our vision is produced by a complex process that when examined closely, is rather remarkable. Our optometrist at Paul Thompson, OD has spent years studying about and examining the eyes of countless patients, and still marvels at the delicate, intricate gift of sight.

If you’ve ever wondered about how your eyes work, here’s a simple breakdown of the process, which requires all facets to be working together to achieve the goal of allowing you to process thousands of images each day.

• The first step in the process occurs when light passes through the clear front layer of the eye known as the cornea. The domed-shaped cornea helps the eye focus by bending light.

• Some of the light enters the eye through an opening called the pupil. How much light is allowed in by the pupil is controlled by the iris, which is the colored portion of your eyes.

• The next step occurs when the light passes through the clear inner part of the eye known as the lens, which works with the cornea to focus light on the retina, which is a light-sensitive layer of tissue near the back of the eye. 

• Photoreceptor cells turn this light into electrical signals that are transmitted by the optic nerve to the brain, which converts those signals into the images you see. 

Now that you understand just a bit about all the steps involved in producing your eyesight, it’s time to protect this precious gift by visiting our optometrist at Paul Thompson, OD for a comprehensive examination. We have the state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate your vision, prescribe corrective lenses if necessary, and check for potential conditions that could affect your eyesight. Please contact our office today for an appointment.

By Paul Thompson, OD

April 25, 2023