Eye Refraction

Nobian Andre and Fadhil

What is Refraction ?
The bending of a light ray is known
as refraction. With a curved surface
such as a lens, the greater the
curvature the greater the degree
of bending and the stronger the
lens.

Eye as a lens
Eye has several systems--similar to a
camera--lens system, aperture
system (pupil), and a retina which
corresponds to the film.

The lens system has 4

refractive interfaces :
The interface between air and the anterior
surface of the cornea
The interface between the posterior
surface of the cornea and the aqueous
humor
The interface between the aqueous humor
and the anterior surface of the lens
The interface of the posterior surface of
the lens and the vitreous humor.

 If all the refractive surfaces are added

together, it can be considered as one
single lens.
The refractive power (measured in diopter)
of the lens can be increased voluntarily.
Mostly the power is contributed from the
1st refractive surface because the
significant difference of the refractive
indexes.
To do this, there is a change to the shape
of the lens from flat to more convex shape.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation increases the strength of
the lens for near vision.
The strength of the lens depends on its
shape, regulated by the ciliary muscle.

 The shape of the lens determines to

what degree the light rays are bent
and how they project onto the retina.
Near distance image produced
diverging light rays, thus the lens
should be more convex to bend it
great enough for a clear image on
the retina.

The lens is composed of a strong elastic

capsule. It is filled with proteinaceous but
transparent fluid.
There are 70 suspensory ligaments attach
radially around the lens.
When at the relax state (no tension on its
capsule) it assumes an almost spherical

The shape of
the
lens
is
controlled
by
the
ciliary
muscle and the
tension
it
applies to the
zonular
fibers,
which
form
ligaments.

 The tension on the ligaments causes

the lens to be relatively flat.
The tension on the ligaments are
regulated by the ciliary muscle,
located laterally to the lens.
This muscle has two smooth muscle
fiber meridional fibers and circular
fibers.

 Contraction of either set of smooth

muscle fibers relaxes the zonular
fibers of the ligaments to the lens
capsule and the lens assumes a more
spherical shape because of the
elasticity of the lens capsule.
The ciliary muscle is controlled
almost entirely by parasympathetic
nerve signals transmitted to the eye
through the third cranial nerve.

 The movement of the muscle is circular,

like a sphincter, so that it draws nearer to
the central lens as it contracts. Thus
theres no tension on the ligament.

 When meridional muscle fibers

contract, the peripheral insertions of
the ligaments are pulled medially
toward the edges of the cornea,
thereby releasing the ligaments
tension on the lens.
When the circular fibers contract, the
diameter of the circle of ligament
attachments decrease.

 Stimulation of the parasympathetic

nerves contracts both fibers, relaxes the
ligament, lens become thicker and
increase its refractive power.
With the refractive power increased, the
eye is able to focus on nearer objects.
Consequently, as an objects moves
toward the eye, the number of
parasympathetic impulses progressively
increase to keep the object constantly in
focus.

What if theres no
accommodation ?

Choroids role
Choroid is the second layer in the
eye, its function is to absorb some
light that comes through the eyeball
so the receptor in the retina layer
wont get double stimulation from the
photon that reflected.
Albino people dont have
pigmentation so they easily got hurt
in the eye.

Pupil
Rays of light from a far away object are
almost perfectly parallel and by the time
they reach your eye, the pupils dilate to
let as much light in from the object as
possible.
Rays of light from a close up object are
diverging and the rays are very strong, so
the pupil constricts, restricting the amount
of light entering your eyes to prevent
damage.

 The constriction is also directing the

rays from near objects to the flattest
part of the eye lens so it produces
clear sharp image on the retina.
If not, the diverging rays will reach
the more curve part of the lens and it
is not bent perfectly right to the
retina. The result is blur image.

References
Guyton : Textbook of Medical
Physiology 11th ed.
Campbell : Biology 9th ed.
Vander et al : Human Physiology 9th
ed.
Lauralee Sherwood : Fundamentals of
Physiology 3rd ed.