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Table of Contents
The eyes are the organs of vision that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptor cells in conscious vision connect light to movement.
See the fact file below for more information on Eyes or alternatively download our comprehensive worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Facts & Information
The Exquisite Eye
- The eye is an extraordinary and complex sense organ for seeing/vision.
- It is located in a bony cavity in the skull.
- The healthy human eye has a 200-degree viewing angle and can see 10 million colors.
- The human eye is also able to distinguish between different shapes.
- The eyes of vertebrates differ from the eyes of invertebrates.
- In vertebrates, the eye is a photoreceptive sense organ.
- Invertebrates have a “simple eye” composed of a single lens without the specialized, elaborate retina that most vertebrates have.
- The eye is the second most complex body organ after your brain.
Eye Anatomy
- Vision forms during embryonic development involving the growth of several different eye tissues.
- In vertebrates, the eye is a round organ filled with a jelly-like material.
- The eye is made up of different parts.
- The cornea, which is the front layer of the eye
- The pupil is the black dot in the center of the eye that acts as a gateway for light. The black pupils may be small, but they have an important job as they shrink or grow to allow just the right amount of light to enter the eyes to let you see
- The iris, which is usually referred to as your eye color
- The lens, which is the segment behind the iris and pupil
- The eye is connected to the brain by the optic nerve and is dependent upon the brain to interpret what we see.
- There is an optic nerve at the back of each eye that connects directly to the brain.
- The optic nerve is made up of millions of nerve fibers that send visual messages to the brain to help one see.
- The color of the iris ranges from very light blue to dark brown.
- Eye color is usually described as blue, green/hazel, or brown.
- As many as 16 genes play a part in determining someone’s eye color.
- Brown is the most common eye color in the world, with nearly 80% of people having brown eyes.
- Green is the least common eye color.
- Eye shape varies considerably. The main difference in eye shape is caused by the way the upper eyelid meets the inner corner of the eye. In many ethnic groups (ethnicities), including Polynesians, Native Americans, and Asians, there is a slight fold called an ‘epicanthic fold’ making a distinct eye shape.
- Sight is incredibly important, and the body has ways of protecting the eyes. Each eye is surrounded by protective bone and sits on a cushion of fat. The eye is also protected by an eyelid and eyelashes.
How Does the Eye Work?
- Your eyes are actively working from the moment you open them in the morning up until you close them at night.
- They relay hundreds of thousands of messages to your brain throughout the day.
- The human eye has better depth perception than many other animals.
- When the eye looks at an object, light rays come through the transparent cornea, enter the pupil, and are focused on the retina by the lens.
- The light rays are bent when they enter the eye, and the lens’ job is to make sure the rays come to a sharp focus on the retina.
- Light-sensitive nerve cells called rods (for brightness) and cones (for color) react to the light and send messages to the brain that indicate brightness, color, and shape.
- The image that lands on the retina when it first enters the eye is upside-down. The light rays on the retina are converted to electrical impulses, which are then transmitted through the optic nerve to the brain, where the image is decoded and turned right side up.
Eye Problems, Treatments, and Specialists
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Sadly, not everyone has perfect vision. Some common eye issues are:
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Short-sightedness (myopia). This is a very common eye condition where one cannot see objects that are far away clearly. In people with short-sightedness, the clear front surface of the eye (the cornea) curves too steeply or the eyeball is too long. This can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses specifically prescribed for you.
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Long-sightedness/far-sightedness (hyperopia). This is when the eye does not focus light on the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) properly. Sometimes the eyeball is too short, the cornea (transparent layer at the front of the eye) is too flat, or the lens inside the eye is unable to focus properly. Long-sightedness can often be corrected by wearing glasses with lenses that have been prescribed specifically for you.
- Color blindness (color vision deficiency). This is the decreased ability to see color or differences in color. Glasses can not fix color blindness, but they can make it easier for people to tell colors apart.
- Glaucoma. This is a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It is usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases the pressure inside the eye. If not diagnosed and treated early, glaucoma can lead to loss of vision.
- Cataracts. This is when the lens inside the eye develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches can become bigger, causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness.
- Diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the retina (the back of the eye).
- Age affects vision just as it does all parts of the body and organs. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s. It does not cause blindness, but it can make everyday activities like reading difficult.
- An optometrist is a healthcare professional who gives eye examinations to ensure eyes are healthy and prescribes glasses and/or treatments when necessary.
- An ophthalmologist is a specialist doctor who deals with diseases of the eye and of the visual pathways using medical and surgical skills.
Kids’ Eye Experiment
- Close your eyes and gently cover them with your hands.
- Slowly count to ten.
- Then, keeping your eyes closed, gradually lower your hands and sense the light penetrating your eyelids. Isn’t that interesting?
- Now slowly open your eyes and, without moving your head, see how many things you can see around you and what colors those things are. Isn’t that amazing?
Eyes Worksheets
This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Eyes Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about one of man’s basic senses. Our sense of sight helps us through our everyday life. Find out more about them using these worksheets.
Download includes the following worksheets
- Eye Facts
Basics of your Eyes
- Anatomy of the Eye
- Describing the Parts
- How it Works
Super-Visions
- Human Eye vs.
- Looking Better
Taking care of the Eye
- Visual Threats
- Vitamin Eye
- Do’s and Dont’s
Eye of the Beholder
- Color Me
Frequently Asked Questions
How many things can the eye see at once?
The eye is amazing. It focuses on 50 different objects every second, so we see complete and complex images.
Is it true you can’t sneeze with your eyes open?
The world seems divided on this, and there are two opposing theories. One says it is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open, while the other says it is quite possible to sneeze with your eyes open, but it is very difficult, and you have to make a concerted effort to keep your eyes open.
Can one person have two different colored eyes?
Yes, occasionally, a person will have eyes that are of different colors. Different colored eyes in the same person is called heterochromia.
Can babies see as soon as they are born?
Newborn babies can see, but they do not focus well for the first few weeks. Their eyes are also very sensitive to bright light. Some animals, like puppies, are born with their eyes closed because their eyes are not fully developed at birth, and they only open after ten to fourteen days.
Why do we blink our eyes?
We blink to moisten and cleanse the eye. Each time the eyelid closes, salty secretions from tear glands are swept over the surface of the eye. These flush away small dust particles and lubricate the exposed portion of the eyeball. Did you know that we blink more than 10,000 times a day!
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Link will appear as Eye Facts and Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 29, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.