In order to understand vision, one must have a basic understanding of the structures of the eye.  

The front surface of the eyeball is known as the Cornea.  It is a clear dome that serves as the window into the eye.  The major functions of the cornea are to allow light to pass into the eye and to help focus that light.  

The iris is the colored part of the eye and it lies just beneath the clear cornea.  It works like the shutter of a camera.  It has a central hole in it known as the pupil, and by changing the size of the pupil, the iris can regulate the amount of light that passes into the eye.

Just behind the iris is another structure that assists the cornea in focusing light.  It is known as the crystalline lens or just simply the lens of the eye.  In tandem with the cornea, the lens is responsible for helping to focus the light that enters the eye.  Just like a camera lens, the natural lens of the eye must be perfectly clear in order to transmit a clear image into the eye.

The vitreous gel is the substance that makes up the majority of the volume of the eyeball. Its main purpose is to provide structural support and to help transmit light to the back of the eye.

The retina is a very thin tissue that lines the inside surface of the back eye wall, much like wallpaper lines the inside wall of a room.  Its function is quite similar to that of camera film.  In other words, the retina is responsible for sensing the light that enters the eye.  Whereas the cornea and lens help to focus the light from a distant object, the retina senses this light and converts it into a tiny electrical impulse.  

After the retina has detected the light and turned it into an impulse, this impulse is then transferred to the optic nerve.  Much like a telephone cable carries information as an electrical impulse, the optic nerve transmits visual information to the brain where the visual images are processed and ultimately “seen”.  

Any impairment along this pathway from the cornea, through the pupil, lens and vitreous, to the retina and ultimately optic nerve and into the brain, can result in an impairment in vision.  

Through detailed examinations combined with the latest in diagnostic and treatment modalities, the doctors of the East West Eye Institute can successfully identify and treat problems that can occur anywhere along the visual pathway, thereby improving the functioning of the eye and ultimately the quality of the visual experience.