Body Systems

The Eyes

By Shae Brackett, LMT Customer Service & Social Media

The Eyes
01

Meet The Eyes

The eyes are key sensory organs that feed the brain information about the outside world. They do the physical part of seeing, and their signals allow the brain to build a picture of what we see. Eyes are complex and take many parts working together to function. The eye is a slightly asymmetrical globe about an inch in diameter. It sits in a protective bony socket in the skull called the orbit. Six extraocular muscles in the orbit attach the eye to the skull.

02

Anatomy & Function

Parts of The Eye:  

The eye is made up of many layers of tissues, fluids, and other structures. 

External Structures: this includes eyelashes, lids, muscles, accessory glands, and conjunctiva. 

  • The conjunctiva is the thin membrane covering the eye
  • The sclera is the whites of the eye, and is a tough, fibroid layer of collagen fibers that surrounds the eyeball and attaches to the cornea
  • The cornea is the transparent front surface, which is a fixed-focus lens

Middle Layer: this is vascular and includes the uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The choroid contains blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the inside of the eye. 

The iris is the colored part of the eye, which is a muscular ring

The pupil is the hole inside the ring of the iris

The ciliary body is the structure of the eye that secretes transparent liquid within the front of the eye 

The choroid is the layer of blood vessels between the sclera and retina

  • Innermost Layer: this is made up of nervous tissue called the retina. 

The retina is the curved back layer of the eye, which is covered in light-sensitive cells called rods and cones. They can see shape, color, and pattern

  • The macula is a small, oval-shaped, pigmented area in the center of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for central vision, color vision, and fine details
  • The fovea is the depression in the very center of the macula, where eyesight is the sharpest

Fluids: the eye is filled with fluids that are called humors.

The aqueous humor is the fluid that fills a small chamber just behind the cornea 

The vitreous humor is a thick, jelly-like fluid that fills the eyeball and keeps it firm

Tears lubricate the eye and make up three layers called the tear film

  • The lens is a fine-focus lens made of a highly concentrated protein solution that gives it refractive power
  • The optic nerve sends information or signals from the retina to the brain to be interpreted
  • Eye color is determined by multiple genes inherited from each parent and is created by the amount and type of pigment in the iris. 

Vision 

We have binocular vision, and the right and left eyes each have slightly different views. The brain then combines the two views, resulting in a three-dimensional image. The cornea has a fixed focus, and adjustments in focus are made by the lens that sits just behind the iris. The cornea has tiny muscles that can change shape to adjust for how far or near the focus needs to be. 

The colored part of the eye, or the iris, is a muscular ring that controls the amount of light that enters the eyes. It causes the pupil to dilate in darkness or constrict in bright light. 

No rods or cones are at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters. This is a tiny patch of blindness or a blind spot. The brain compensates for this blind spot by processing the surrounding image and filling in the blank spots accordingly. 

The macula is about 5.5 millimeters in diameter and is the most sensitive part of the retina. We use this when we are looking directly at objects, such as when we are reading. At the center of the macula is the fovea, which contains high concentrations of cone photoreceptors, or light-sensing cells 
01

Meet The Eyes

The eyes are key sensory organs that feed the brain information about the outside world. They do the physical part of seeing, and their signals allow the brain to build a picture of what we see. Eyes are complex and take many parts working together to function. The eye is a slightly asymmetrical globe about an inch in diameter. It sits in a protective bony socket in the skull called the orbit. Six extraocular muscles in the orbit attach the eye to the skull.

02

Anatomy & Function

Parts of The Eye:  

The eye is made up of many layers of tissues, fluids, and other structures. 

External Structures: this includes eyelashes, lids, muscles, accessory glands, and conjunctiva. 

  • The conjunctiva is the thin membrane covering the eye
  • The sclera is the whites of the eye, and is a tough, fibroid layer of collagen fibers that surrounds the eyeball and attaches to the cornea
  • The cornea is the transparent front surface, which is a fixed-focus lens

Middle Layer: this is vascular and includes the uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The choroid contains blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the inside of the eye. 

The iris is the colored part of the eye, which is a muscular ring

The pupil is the hole inside the ring of the iris

The ciliary body is the structure of the eye that secretes transparent liquid within the front of the eye 

The choroid is the layer of blood vessels between the sclera and retina

  • Innermost Layer: this is made up of nervous tissue called the retina. 

The retina is the curved back layer of the eye, which is covered in light-sensitive cells called rods and cones. They can see shape, color, and pattern

  • The macula is a small, oval-shaped, pigmented area in the center of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for central vision, color vision, and fine details
  • The fovea is the depression in the very center of the macula, where eyesight is the sharpest

Fluids: the eye is filled with fluids that are called humors.

The aqueous humor is the fluid that fills a small chamber just behind the cornea 

The vitreous humor is a thick, jelly-like fluid that fills the eyeball and keeps it firm

Tears lubricate the eye and make up three layers called the tear film

  • The lens is a fine-focus lens made of a highly concentrated protein solution that gives it refractive power
  • The optic nerve sends information or signals from the retina to the brain to be interpreted
  • Eye color is determined by multiple genes inherited from each parent and is created by the amount and type of pigment in the iris. 

Vision 

We have binocular vision, and the right and left eyes each have slightly different views. The brain then combines the two views, resulting in a three-dimensional image. The cornea has a fixed focus, and adjustments in focus are made by the lens that sits just behind the iris. The cornea has tiny muscles that can change shape to adjust for how far or near the focus needs to be. 

The colored part of the eye, or the iris, is a muscular ring that controls the amount of light that enters the eyes. It causes the pupil to dilate in darkness or constrict in bright light. 

No rods or cones are at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters. This is a tiny patch of blindness or a blind spot. The brain compensates for this blind spot by processing the surrounding image and filling in the blank spots accordingly. 

The macula is about 5.5 millimeters in diameter and is the most sensitive part of the retina. We use this when we are looking directly at objects, such as when we are reading. At the center of the macula is the fovea, which contains high concentrations of cone photoreceptors, or light-sensing cells 

Supporting Systems and Interactions

The human body is a marvel of interconnected systems, each playing a vital role in maintaining balance, health, and vitality. While we often think of the body's organs and processes in isolation, the truth is that no part functions alone. Every system relies on and influences others in a delicate dance of cooperation.

When one system is compromised, others often compensate or respond, illustrating how deeply intertwined all functions are. The body, then, is not just a collection of parts, but an integrated whole, where every aspect plays a crucial role in maintaining the flow of life, energy, and healing. Understanding this interconnectedness allows us to approach health holistically, nurturing not just individual parts, but the whole person.

I See Clearly

Fun & Interesting Facts

  • The eyes have more than 100 million light-sensitive cells. 
  • The eyes function like cameras capturing light and sending data back to the brain. Eyes see things upside down, and our brains turn the image the right way up.
  • We can blink as many as five times in one second.
  • The eye is the fastest muscle in the body.  
  • If the eye were a camera, it would have 576 megapixels.
  • Brown is the most common eye color. Green eyes are one of the rarest eye colors. Some conditions can make it so that eyes are gray, red, or violet. 

What is necessary for the optimal health of this system? 

Achieving and maintaining a balanced, healthy life requires a holistic approach that recognizes the complex interplay between nutrition, lifestyle, the use of herbs and supplements. Each of these elements plays a unique yet interconnected role in supporting the body's intricate systems.

Together, nutrition, lifestyle, and herbal support create a synergistic approach to health. They nurture the body as a whole, and support the body’s natural ability to heal, adapt, and flourish. Understanding the role each of these elements plays allows us to make more informed choices that contribute to lasting well-being.

Supporting Recipe

Bright Eyes Smoothie

Eye nutrition can be as easy as a delicious smoothie! This smoothie is full of fiber, potassium, antioxidants, vitamins, carotenoids, beta-carotene, omega-3s, lutein, and zeaxanthin, making it a powerhouse for eye health! 

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We subject our eyes to task all day long, often spending many hours looking at screens.

Electronic Eye Health

An average adult will spend about 44 years watching screens

Blue Light and Circadian Rhythms

Our bodies are controlled by a daily cycle, called the circadian rhythm

The Third Eye

It is believed to be linked to unexplained competence

Blueberry Pie for Eye Health

Here's a delicious and eye-friendly blueberry pie recipe that uses natural sugar to help support your vision

The Sleep Cycle

We spend about 1/3rd of our lives sleeping

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About The Author

Shae Brackett, our Customer Service Director and Social Media Manager, has been with RidgeCrest since 2016. Shae is a licensed massage therapist, and guides the customer care team, is our culture caretaker, and serves as our creative oracle across social media, blogs, and meditations. She describes herself as creative, thoughtful, nature-loving, compassionate, and nurturing. Her favorite herbs are Ginger and Lavender, and she proudly recommends SereniZen® (formerly Anxiety Free), PhysiQOL™, SinusClear®, and Belly Be Happy®.

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We acknowledge that we operate on the ancestral lands of the Shoshone, Goshute, and Ute peoples. We recognize their deep connection to this land and honor their history, culture, and ongoing presence. We are committed to learning from and respecting the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations.