A Closer Look at How Your Eyes Work (And What Can Go Wrong)

Your vision is one of the most important senses you have, and it’s probably very difficult to imagine life without it. However, many people don’t know exactly how their eyes work. In addition, many may not know what types of things can go wrong with their eyesight.

Here at Eye Q Optique, we explain the intricacies of your eyes and how they work.

How you see

Vision is a simple yet complex process. When light enters your eyes, it’s refracted off of your corneas. This dome-shaped part of your eye bends the light to allow your eyes to focus.

Some of this light also enters the pupil of your eye (the center part of your eye) and some of it also enters the iris (the colored part of your eyes.)

Light passes through the lens of your eye, which is a clear inner part of your eyes. The lens works with the cornea to focus light correctly on the retina.

When light hits the retina — a light-sensitive layer of tissues at the back of the eye — it’s turned by cells called photoreceptors, which turn light into electrical signals.

Finally, the optic nerve sends these electrical signals to your brain for interpretation and processing.

What can go wrong

Although most people have perfect vision, a report by the National Institute of Health shows that 11% of people have vision problems that can be corrected. This means that getting an eye exam can reveal issues with seeing things far away (a condition called myopia), seeing things close up (a condition called hyperopia), or astigmatism.

These conditions are correctable by wearing glasses or contacts to help you properly see. Some people may choose to get a more permanent correction by undergoing surgeries, such as LASIK.

Eye injuries can also damage your vision.

Keeping your eyes healthy

Sometimes, you can’t tell whether your eyes need corrective lenses to assist your vision. These conditions are often hereditary, and if one or both of your parents need to wear glasses or contact lenses, you may need to do the same.

Other times, vision problems result from lifestyle habits and diseases, such as diabetes. Either way, making an appointment for an eye exam at our practice is essential to keep track of your vision and watch for changes over time. 

If you currently wear glasses or contacts (or are about to), make an eye appointment with us at least once a year to see if your prescription has changed. It’s common for corrective lenses to require stronger correction over time.

If you haven’t recently had an eye exam, there’s no better time to do so than right now. Contact us at Eye Q Optique or request an appointment online.