How Do Eyes Work

Your eyes are very important parts of your body that allow you to see the world around you. If you've ever wondered how your eyes work, this article is for you.

Light enters the eye

Light from the sun and from artificial light sources is bouncing around everywhere. Some of this light goes through your pupils and enters your eyes. There is clear fluid in your eye through which the light passes.

Light touches the back of your eye

After entering your eyes, the light passes through the lenses in your eyes, which focuses the light from outside onto the back of your eye. On the back of your eyes on the inside, there is the retina, which consists of small structures called rods and cones.

The rods and cones convert the light signals into electrical signals

Rods and cones each have a distinct shape. Each one detects different aspects of the light that comes in. The rods and cones react to the light, then convert the light into an electrical signal. The electrical signal gets sent down the optic nerve.

The optic nerves send the signals to the brain

Each eye has an optic nerve. The optic nerve from the left eye goes to the right side of the brain, and the right eye's nerve goes to the left side. The electrical signals that travel down these nerves go to the rear area of the brain where the visual cortex is located.