The Eye (AQA GCSE Biology)

• The eye is a sense organ containing receptors sensitive to light intensity and colour
• Receptors are groups of specialised cells that can generate an electrical impulse in a sensory neurone
• The eye contains two types of receptor cell: rod cells which are sensitive to light intensity and cone cells which are sensitive to different wavelengths of visible light (colour)

• The purpose the eye is to receive light and focus it onto the retina at the back of the eye
• The retina is where the rod and cone cells are located

The eye is an organ made from several different types of tissue. All of the structures function together to allow light to hit the retina, which sends signals to the brain

Eye structure & function table

The pupil reflex

• This is a reflex action carried out to protect the retina from damage in bright light and protect us from not seeing objects in dim light
  • It's a reflex action so it happens automatically

• The reflex action is controlled by two groups of muscle; the radial muscle and the circular muscles
• In dim light, the pupil dilates (widens) in order to allow as much light into the eye as possible
• In bright light, the pupil constricts (narrows) in order to prevent too much light entering the eye and damaging the retina

Very bright light can damage the receptor cells of the retina, the pupil reflex protects the eye by altering the diameter of the pupil

The pupil reflex in dim light

The pupil reflex in bright light

Pupil reflex table

Accomodation

• Accommodation is the process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant objects
• The lens is elastic and its shape can be changed when the suspensory ligaments attached to it become tight or loose
• Changing the shape of the lens alters how much light is refracted 
  • This is important in making sure that light is focused on the retina of the eye rather than in front or behind it
• The changes are brought about by the contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscles
• To focus on a near object:
  • The ciliary muscles contract
  • The suspensory ligaments loosen
  • The lens is then thicker and refracts light rays more strongly

Diagram showing the eye when an object is close up

• To focus on a distant object:
  • The ciliary muscles relax
  • The suspensory ligaments are pulled tight
  • The lens is then pulled thin and only slightly refracts light rays

Diagram showing the eye when an object is far away

Eye Accommodation Table

• Two common defects of the eyes are myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (long-sightedness) in which rays of light do not focus on the retina
• Generally, these defects are treated with spectacle lenses (glasses) which refract the light rays so that they do focus on the retina

Myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (long-sightedness)

• New technologies are now available which can treat both of these defects rather than using spectacle lenses
• Treatments include:
  • Hard and soft contact lenses: these sit on the surface of the eye and are almost invisible, making them ideal for activities like sports. Soft lenses are more comfortable but carry a higher infection risk
  • Laser surgery: lasers can be used to change the shape of the cornea (changing how it refracts light onto the retina) although like all surgical procedures there is risk of unexpected damage occurring during the procedure which could lead to worse vision or an infection
    • For myopia: the cornea is slimmed down, reducing the refractive power
    • For hyperopia: the cornea shape is changed so the refractive power is increased

  • Lens replacement surgery completely replaces the lens of the eye with a plastic artificial lens (rather than changing the shape of the cornea during laser eye surgery) but this procedure is more invasive than laser surgery and carries a risk of damage occurring to the retina leading to complete sight loss