The Eye: physics, anatomy, and common patholgies

The Eye in the scope of Division B Optics.

What is the more scientific term for the ‘eye socket’?

The orbit of the eye.

What kind of image does the eye create?

A real and inverted image projected on the retina.

What components of the eye form its thin lens?

The lens and cornea.

What is the sclera?

The tough, white outer layer of the eyeball that protects and maintains the shape of the eye.

What is the retina?

The inner lining of the eye that has photoreceptor cells and ‘sees’ the image.

What is the cornea?

The first component of the thin lens that light passes through where most refraction occurs.

What is the lens?

The second part of the thin lens that light passes through in order to form a projected image on the retina.

What is attunation?

The process by which the eye changes the shape of the thin lens in order to view near vs far objects.

How does the eye attunate for near objects?

It requires a more powerful lens.

How does the eye attunate for far objects?

It requires a less powerful lens.

What are the ciliary muscles?

Muscles used to change the shape of the thin lens in the eye.

What are rods?

Photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to low light, and don’t concern themselves with color.

What is the fovea? The macula?

1). Center of the retina. 2). Center of the fovea.

How many rods are in the eye?

120 million.

What are cones?

Photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to color.

How many cones are in the eye?

6 million.

Where are the cones concentrated?

The macula.

What are the primary colors of light (additive primaries)?

Red, green, and blue.

What are the primary colors of pigment (subtractive primaries)?

Magenta, yellow, and cyan.

What do red and blue make?

Magenta.

What do blue and green make?

Cyan.

What do red and green make?

Yellow.

What do red, green, and blue make?

White.

What is black?

No colors.