Vision - Ira

Human Eye - Mariana

Correcting Visual Defects - Kyla

Vision
-refers to how the brain processes the information coming from the eyes.
- Vision also allows you to judge how close or far an object is, as well as use existing objects as
reference points to where they are. If you have poor eyesight, prescription eyeglasses or
contact lenses can help them produce clearer images, which in turn gives you better vision.

How do we see?

The eyes collect and focus visible light. The lens and other structures of the eye work together
to focus an image on the retina. The image is upside-down and reduced in size, as you can see
on the image. Cells in the retina change the image to electrical signals that travel to the brain
through the optic nerve. The brain interprets the electrical signals as shape, color, and
brightness. It also interprets the image as though it were right-side up. The brain does this
automatically, so what we see always appears right-side up. The brain also interprets what we
are seeing.

The importance of the Human Vision

Vision is a vital tool for functioning in daily activities, for perceiving beauty, and for achieving
personal fulfillment. Our vision allows us to be aware of our surroundings. Eighty percent of
everything we learn is through our sight.

Only part of the eye is visible in a person's face. The whole eye — the eyeball — is about the
size and shape of a ping-pong ball.
Correcting Vision Defects

The eye lens is composed of fibrous, jelly-type material. The curvature of the eye lens can be
adjusted to a certain level with the aid of ciliary muscles. A change in the curvature of the eye
lens can change its focal length. The eye lens becomes thin, and the focal length increases
when the muscles of the eyes are relaxed. The objects at a distance can be viewed clearly
when the focal length increases. To see the objects that are close by, the ciliary muscles
contract and increase the curvature of the lens and hence decrease the focal length. The ability
of the eye lens to adjust its focal length is called accommodation.

Defects in the eye happen due to many reasons. Due to growing age, the vision also decreases,
and when the focal length alters, the vision also alters. We know that cataract is a common
defect seen in the eye. Cataracts cause partial or sometimes complete vision loss when not
treated properly. When the crystalline lens at old age becomes milky and cloudy, it is known as
a cataract. When a person undergoes cataract surgery, the vision can be restored.
When the eye loses its ability to adjust its focal length, problems appear like a person cannot
see the image correctly (blurring of vision), unable to view nearby objects or far away objects.
When the defect in the refractive index occurs, the person cannot see the objects comfortably
and distinctly. If not taken timely care of, the eyes might completely lose the power of
accommodation. Let us learn about various vision defects and their correction.

The shape of the eye is very important in keeping the things we see in focus. If the shape of the
eye changes, it affects a person’s vision.

What Causes Vision Problems?

Vision is a fine-tuned process. All the parts of the eye — and the brain — need to work together
so a person can see correctly. Because the eye's structure is so complex, though, a lot of things
can go wrong.

Some of the most common eye problems are refractive errors. These are the problems that eye
doctors check for routinely in a vision test. Refraction means bending of light rays to focus the
light coming from an image. Refractive errors are problems with the focusing of the eye,
because of the way the eye is shaped, which causes the image you see to be blurred.

Refractive Defects of Vision

Some of the common defects of vision are:

(i) Myopia or near-sightedness

(ii) Hypermetropia or far-sightedness

(iii) Astigmatism

(iv) Presbyopia

Normally, light is precisely focused onto the retina at a location called the focal point. A
nearsighted eye is longer from front to back than a normal eye causing light to be focused in
front of the retina instead of directly onto it. This makes it difficult to see objects that are far
away. Glasses with concave lenses are used to correct nearsightedness. The concave lens
focuses light back onto the focal point of the retina.

Myopia or Near-Sightedness

Myopia is commonly known as near-sightedness. In this

condition, the person can see the objects nearby but
cannot see distant objects clearly. Faraway objects appear
blurry, and a person will not be comfortable seeing them.
Myopia condition takes place when the shape of the eyes leads the light rays to bend in a wrong
way, focusing images in front of the retina rather than focusing on the retina.

Myopia is explained in the figure below.

Symptoms:
● Blurry vision
● Difficulty in seeing while driving, particularly during night times
● Headaches due to eyestrain

Correction: When a concave lens of suitable power is used, it assists in focusing the image
onto the retina

Farsightedness occurs when the length of the eye is too short. Light is focused at a point behind
the retina, making it difficult to see objects that are up close. A convex lens is used to correct
farsightedness because it directs the focal point back onto the retina.

Hypermetropia or Far-Sightedness

Hypermetropia is commonly known as far-sightedness. In this

condition, the person can see objects at a distance but cannot
see nearby objects clearly. Usually, the person with this disorder
squints to see nearby objects. Hypermetropia is caused when
the light rays from a closeby object are focussed at a point
behind the retina.

Hypermetropia is clearly explained in the figure below.

Correction: Using spectacles with a converging lens imparts additional focusing power and
thus helps form the image on the retina.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common eye problem that can make your

vision blurry or distorted. It happens when your cornea (the
clear front layer of your eye) or lens (an inner part of your eye
that helps the eye focus) has a different shape than normal.

In astigmatism, there's a problem with the curve of the cornea.

This causes part of the eye's image to be blurry. If you have
astigmatism it means that your eye is not round, and instead is
shaped like a football. This causes some of the light rays to
focus on the retina and some to focus in front or behind the retina. This visual distortion can
produce shadows, double images, or ghosting. This causes blurred vision at all distances.

Symptoms:
● Blurred or distorted vision
● Eyestrain or discomfort
● Headaches
● Difficulty with night vision
● Squinting

Correction: This condition can be corrected by glasses, contacts, lens implants or in many
cases LASIK.

Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes' ability to focus on nearby objects. It's a natural,
often annoying part of aging.

We know that along with age, the power of the accommodation factor to adjust the focal length
also decreases. People have difficulties viewing nearby objects clearly without the assistance of
corrective eyeglasses. This condition is referred to as presbyopia. Presbyopia happens when
the ciliary muscles weaken and diminish the elasticity of the eye lens. Presbyopia can be seen
in people above the age of 40 years.

Symptoms:
● Blurred vision due to aging
● Headaches due to eyestrain

Correction: This condition can be corrected by using proper eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Minor surgery also helps in restoring the vision with better clarity. Lens implants and in some
cases LASIK. Advancement in technology has made it easy to correct the refractive defects with
contact lenses or through surgical interventions.

References:
https://completeeyecare.com/types-of-vision/
https://byjus.com/physics/defects-of-vision-and-their-correction/#:~:text=Correction%20%3A%20
This%20condition%20can%20be,lenses%20or%20through%20surgical%20interventions.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/eyes.html
https://youtu.be/YcedXDN6a88
https://www.essilor.com.au/vision/how-eyes-work
https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-S0161642087335535/first-page-pdf
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/eyes.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcedXDN6a88