Vision occurs when light is processed by the eye and interpreted by
the brain. Light passes through the transparent eye surface
(cornea). The pupil (the black opening in the front of the eye) is
an opening to the eye interior. It can get larger or smaller to
regulate the amount of light entering the eye. The colored portion
(iris) is really a muscle controlling the pupil size. The inside of
the eye is filled with a gel-like fluid. There is a flexible,
transparent lens that focuses light so it hits on the back of the
eye (the retina). The retina converts light energy into a nerve
impulse that is carried to the brain and then interpreted.
Review Date: 11/17/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)