Physiology
of the Eye
Dr. Silvestre A. Pascual Jr.
Department of Ophthalmology
Out li ne
1. THE GLOBE
2. THE OUTER COAT
• The Cornea
The Corneal Epithelium
The Corneal Stroma
The Descemet’s Membrane
The Endothelium
• The Sclera
• The Corneoscleral Limbus
Out li ne
1. THE MIDDLE COAT
• The Iris
• The Ciliary Body
• The Choroid
2. THE INNER COAT
• The Retina
• The Photoreceptor
• The Modulator Cells
• The Transmitter Cells
• The Supporting Cells
• Regions of the Retina
Out li ne
1. CHAMBERS OF THE EYE
• Aqueous Humor
• Vitreous Humor
2. LENS
3. ZONULES
THE GLOBE
Occupies the front half
of the orbit
Contains a crystalline
lens located immediately
behind the iris
THE GLOBE
AP length of 22-26 mm (ave.24mm)
Circumference 69-81mm (ave.75mm at the
equator)
Has 5 layers:
o Epithelium
o Bowman’s layer
o Stroma
o Descemet’s
membrane
o Endothelium
The Cor neal
Epit hel ium
Composed of
stratified squamous
epithelium, 5-6 layers
Contain regularly
shaped and sized
lamellae of collagen
fibers secreted by
interspersed
keratocytes
The Des cemet’s
Membr ane
The basement membrane of the endothelial
cells of the cornea
Terminates abruptly in the periphery of the
cornea forming SCHWALBE’S line, the anterior
border of the Trabecular Meshwork
The Endo the lium
Single layer of
mesothelium, the
apices of which are
in direct contact with
aqueous humor.
Responsible for
deturgesence of the
stroma
3 types of cells:
bipolar, horizontal
and amacrine cells
The M odu lator
Cell s
Bipolar cell dendrites
attach to
photoreceptors and
the axons synapse
with ganglion cells
The M odu lator
Cellcellsdendrites
Horizontal
attach to several adjacent
photoreceptors and the
axons synapse with several
photoreceptors in a distant
part of the retina and some
to bipolar cells. Horizontal
cells act as condensers
collecting impulses from
groups of photoreceptors,
integrate and trigger a visual
impulse
The M odu lator
Cell s
Amacrine cells
processes are oriented
in the opposite direction
in terms of light
transmission. Their
processes attach to
groups of ganglion cells
and bipolar cells. They
are believed to inhibit
integration of visual
impulse
The Tran smi tte r
Cell s:
Gan
Transmitgli on Cell s
the visual
impulses from bipolar and
amacrine cells to the
midbrain
Physiologically, they
transmit either visual
impulses to the midbrain
(LGB) or afferent impulses
of the light reflex (IC)
Axons of the ganglion cells
form the nerve fiber layer
The Tran smi tte r
Cell s:
Gan gli on Cell
The nerve fibers from the
s
ganglion cells converge to
exit the eye through the
lamina cribrosa as the optic
nerve
Intraocularly, it is viewed as
the vertically oval shaped
optic disc
At the center of the disc is a
depression known as the
optic cup
The Supp ort ing
Cell s:
Müll er C
Müller cells are large
ells
astrocytes that
mechanically support
the retina
Also known as retinal
“nurse cells” as they are
believed to provide the
retina enzymes used for
glycolysis
Regions of the
Retina
Ora serrata
Central retina (macular
lutea)
Fovea centralis
Peripheral retina
CHAMBERS OF
THE EYE
Anterior chamber
–aqueous humor
Posterior chamber
–aqueous humor
Vitreous chamber
– vitreous humor
Aqueous Humor
Fluid that fills the
anterior and posterior
chamber
Provides nutrients to the
avascular tissues
Secreted by the
nonpigmented
epithelium of the ciliary
body and drained
through the Trabecular
meshwork
Volume is about 0.2mL
Vitreous Humor
Fills the vitreous cavity
Attached firmly to the
periphery at the ora
serrata and posteriorly to
the rim of the optic nerve
and the central retina
Mainly composed of
salts, protein, hyaluronic
acid and 98% water
Act as a refracting
medium and a volume
filler of the eye
LENS
Crystalline lens is a
grossly transparent,
biconvex tissue
More curved posteriorly
(radius of curvature of
about 6mm) than
anteriorly
Refracting surface with
a refracting power of
about 1/2 of the cornea
LENS
Composed of: lens
capsule, cells or lens
fibers with their nuclei at
the lens equator and
those with their nuclei
under the anterior
capsule, lens cortex,
and lens nucleus
Held in place by zonules
of Zinn
LENS
Lens capsule – envelopes the entire lens;
composed of thick anterior capsule & thin
posterior capsule
Lens nucleus – innermost, central region
composed of lens fibers that are no longer
attached to the posterior capsule
Lens cortex – composed of lens fibers that
have lost their nuclei near the equator of the
lens & their posterior processes attached to the
posterior capsule
ZONULES
Suspensory ligament
of the lens
Supports the lens in
position and
connects the lens to
the ciliary muscle
Composed of fine
fibrils of modified
collagenous tissue
Thank You