Visual defects and anatomy of the eye Flashcards
Is the retina considered part of the CNS?
Yes
What is refraction and what 2 structures in the eye enables refraction to occur?
Refraction is the bending of light rays
Happens as light passes through the cornea and the lens
Why is refraction important?
So that light rays that strike the curved surface of the cornea bend so they converge on the back of the eye, the lens also refracts light rays passing through it to produce a sharp image
What is the cornea?
The glassy, transparent external surface of the eye
How is the cornea nourished?
Lacks blood vessels and is nourished by the aqueous humour
What is the function of lens accommodation?
Closer images require greater refractive power by the lens to bring them into focus - this is brought about by the lens changing shape
What is lens accommodation?
Rounding of the lens to increase the curvature of the lens surface and increase the refractive power - the ability to accommodate the lens changes with age
Lens accommodation involves which muscle?
The ciliary muscle
How does contraction of the ciliary muscle allow rounding of the lens?
Contraction of the ciliary muscle relieves the tension on the zonule fibres, this allows the lens to become rounder due to its natural elasticity
What is an emmetropic eye?
A normal eye which doesn’t need glasses to aid focus
What is hyperopia?
Long sightedness
Why does hyperopia occur?
The eyeball is too short from front to back and light rays are focused at some point behind the retina, as a result the retina sees a blurry circle
Accommodation of the lens is needed for distant objects and near objects cannot be brought into focus
How is hyperopia corrected?
A convex lens is placed in front of the eye (glasses) which provides the necessary refraction to allow near objects to be brought into focus
What is myopia?
Nearsightedness
Why does myopia occur?
The eye ball is too long from front to back, parallel light rays converge at some point infront of the retina, as a result the retina sees an unfocused blurry circle.
How is myopia corrected?
A concave lens is placed in front of the eye (glasses) which provides the necessary refraction to allow distant objects to be brought into focus on the retinal surface
How does corrective laser surgery work?
(Also called photorefractive keractectomy) uses a lase to reshape the cornea and increase or decrease the amount of refraction possible
What fills cells in the retinal pigment epithelium and what is its function?
Melanin - absorbs any light not absorbed by the retina
What are the 5 differences between rods and cones?
Rods:
1) High sensitivity to light - specialised for night vision
2) More photopigment - capture more light
3) High amplification
4) Low temporal resolution - slower response
5) More sensitive to scattered light
Cones:
1) Lower sensitivity - specialised for day vision
2) Less photopigment
3) Lower amplification
4) High temporal resolution
5) More sensitive to direct light rays
Where does the process of absorption occur in the photoreceptors?
In the outer segments of the photoreceptors (bits closest to the RPE) which contain a stack of membranous discs which contain light sensitive photopigments
What is the main difference in morphology between cone cells and rod cells?
Rod cells - long cylindrical outer segment containing many discs
Cone cells - short, tapering out segments with few membranous discs
What is the function of photoreceptors?
Transduce light energy into changes in membrane potential
What are the 4 differences between the rod system and the cone system of vision?
Rod system: 1) Low acuity 2) Not present in fovea 3) Highly convergent pathway 4) Achromatic (one type of rod pigment) Cone system: 1) High acuity 2) Concentrated in fovea 3) Dispersed pathway 4) Trichromatic (3 types of cone pigment, each with a different wavelength preference)
What is scotopic lighting, which cells function in it?
Night time lighting - rods only
What is mesopic lighting, which cells function in it?
Twilight - both rods and cones
What is photopic lighting, which cells function in it?
Daytime lighting - cones only