The Eyeball

By: Amir Madadi DDM-1

Eyeball
- organ of sight - spherical in shape - diameter is about 2.5cm -made up of three concentric coats *fibrous coat comprises sclera & cornea *vascular coat - middle part
- also called uveal tract - consists of the choroid, ciliary body, and the iris

*nervous coat inner part, is the retina

OUTER COAT

SCLERA CORNEA

SCLERA
O sklera = hard O opaque and forms the posterior five-sixths of the

eyeball O composed of dense fibrous tissue w/c is firm and maintains the shape of the eyeball O thickest behind, near the entrance of the optic nerve and the thinnest about 6mm behind the sclerocorneal jucntion where the recti muscles are inserted O weakest at the entrance of the optic nerve *lamina cribrosa seive-like apperance region; numerous perforations for passage of the fibers of the optic nerve

SCLERA
Outer surface
O O O

white and smooth covered by Tenons capsule anterior part is covered by conjunctiva

SCLERA
Inner surface
O brown and grooved for the ciliary nerves and vessels O separated from the choroid by the perichoroidal space

which contains a delicate cellular tissue, termed the suprachoroidal lamina or lamina fusca of the sclera

SCLERA
O continuous anteriorly with the cornea at

the sclerocorneal junction or limbus

*Sinus venosus sclerae or Canal of Schlemm circular canal located at the deep part of the limbus

Lens

SCLERA
O fused posteriorly with the dura sheath of the optic nerve
O provides insertion to the extrinsic muscles of the eyeball

**Extrinsic muscles : - Recti in front of the equator - Oblique muscles behind the equator

SCLERA
O pierced by a number of structures:

a. Optic nerve pierces it a little inferomedial to the posterior pole of the eyeball b. Ciliary nerves and arteries pierces it around the entrance of the optic nerve c. Anterior ciliary nerves pierce it near the limbus d. Four venae vorticosae or the choroid veins pass out through the sclera just behind the equator

SCLERA
O almost avascular

*episclera loose connective tissue between the conjunctiva and sclera that is vascular

CORNEA
O transparent
O replaces the sclera over the anterior one sixth of the

eyeball *Sclerocorneal junction or limbus its junction with the sclera - more convex than the sclera, but the curvature diminishes with age - separated from the iris by a space called the anterior chamber of the eye

CORNEA
O avascular
O nourished by lymph which circulates in the numerous

corneal spaces O supplied by branches of the ophthalmic nerve (through the ciliary ganglion) and the short ciliary nerves *Pain is the only sensation aroused from the cornea

CORNEA
O structurally, consists of layers from before backwards:

a. Corneal epithelium stratified squamous nonkeratinized type - continuous with that of the conjunctiva b. Bowmans membrane anterior elastic lamina - structureless homogenous layer

c. Substantia propria consists of bundles of dense collagen fibers separated by corneal spaces

CORNEA
d. Descemets membrane or posterior elastic lamina - also structureless and homogenous but contains elastic fibers -at the peripheral margin its fibers divided into 3 groups *Inner fibers turn medially on to the iris and constitute the ligamentum pectinatum *Middle fibers give origin to the ciliary muscles *Outer fibers are continuous with the sclera

CORNEA
e. Simple squamous mesothelium lines the posterior surface of the cornea

MIDDLE COAT

CHOROID CILIARY BODY IRIS

CHOROID
O thin pigmented layer which separates the posterior

part of the sclera of the retina O anteriorly, it ends at the ora serrata by merging with the ciliary body O posteriorly, perforated by the optic nerve to which it is firmly attached

CHOROID
*Outer surface: is separated from the sclera by the suprachoroidal lamina which is traversed by the ciliary vessels and nerves - loose attachment to the sclera, so it is easily stripped
*Innes surface: firmly united to the retina

CHOROID
*Structurally, consists of: a. Suprachoroidal lamina made of collagen fibers, elastic fibers and pigment cells b. Vascular lamina composed of arteries and short posterior ciliary veins, the latter being arranged in the form of whorls which converge to form 4 to 5 venae vorticosae, loose areolar tissue and pigment cells c. Choriocapillary lamina forms the most prominent feature of the choroid - nourishes the rods and cones of the retina by diffusion d. Membrane of Bruch inner basal lamina or lamina vitrea - thin structureless transparent membrane which is firmly adherent to the outer, pigmented layer of the retina

CILIARY BODY
O thickened part of the uveal tract lying just posterior

to the corneal limbus O continuous anteriorly with the iris, and posteriorly with the choroid O suspends the lens and helps in accommodation for near vision

CILIARY BODY
1. Ciliary body
O triangular in cross-section
O Thick in front & thin behind O Scleral surface of this body contains ciliary muscles

*PARS PLANA
O Smooth & black posterior part of the vitreous surface

*PARS PLICATA
O Ridged anteriorly to form about 70 ciliary processes at

the anterior part

CILIARY BODY
2. Ciliary zonule - thickened vitreous membrane fitted to the posterior surfaces of the ciliary processes - posterior layer lines hyaloid fossa - anterior thick layer forms the suspensory ligament of the lens

CILIARY BODY
3. Ciliary muscle - ring of unstripped muscle which are longitudinal or meridional, radial and circular *Longitudinal or meridional fibers - arise from a projection of sclera or scleral spur near the limbus - radiate backwards to the suprachoroidal lamina *Radial fibers - obliquely placed and get continuous with the circular fibers *Circular fibers - lie within the anterior part of the ciliary body & are nearest to the lens **all parts of the muscle are supplied by parasympathetic nerves **pathway involves the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, oculomotor nerve & ciliary ganglion

IRIS
O Anterior part of the uveal tract
O Forms a circular curtain with an opening in the center,

called the Pupil O By adjusting the size of the pupil it controls the amount of light entering the eye

IRIS
O Placed vertically between the cornea and the lens,

thus divides the anterior segment of the eye into anterior & posterior chambers, both containing aqueous humour O Peripheral margin
O attached to the middle of the anterior surface of the

ciliary body O Separated from the cornea by the iridocorneal angle or angle of the anterior chamber
O Central free margin
O Forming the boundary of the pupil rests against the lens

IRIS
O Anterior surface of the iris: covered by a single layer of

mesothelium O Posterior surface: double layer of deeply pigmented cells which are continuous with those of the ciliary body O Main bulk of the iris: formed by the stroma made up of blood vessels and loose connective tissue in which there are pigmented cells *Major arterial surface joined long posterior & anterior ciliary nerves at the periphery of the iris * Minor arterial surface joined arterial circle vessels that converge towards the free margin of the iris

IRIS
O Its color: determined by the number of pigmented

cells in its connective tissue *if pigment cells are absent, the iris is blue in color due to the diffusion of light in front of the black posterior surface

IRIS
O Contains a well-developed ring of muscle called

sphincter pupillae which lies near the margin of the pupil O Dilator pupillae
O Ill-defined sheet of radial muscle fibers placed near the

posterior surface of the iris

INNER COAT
RETINA

RETINA
O Thin, delicate inner layer of the eyeball
O Continuous posteriorly with the optic nerve O Outer surface: attached to the choroid O Inner surface: in contact with the hyaloid membrane (of

the vitreous) *Optic disc

O Circular area opposite the entrance of the optic nerve

inferomedial to the posterior pole O 1.5mm in diameter

RETINA
O Diminishes in thickness from behind forwards
O Divided into optic, ciliary & iridial parts

*Optic part
O Contains nervous tissue & is sensitive to light O Extends from the optic disc to the posterior end of the

ciliary body

*Ora serrata
O Wavy line at the anterior margin of the optic part of the

retina

RETINA
*Ciliary & Iridial parts
O thin, non-nervous insensitive layer that covers the ciliary

body and the iris, continued forwards beyond the ora serrata O Made up of two layers of epithelial cells

*Physiological cup
O O O

Depressed area of the optic disc Contains no rods or cones and is therefore insensitive to light It is the physiological blind spot

*Macula Lutea
O Depression at the posterior pole of the eye 3mm lateral to the

optic disc O Avascular & yellow in color

*Fovea Centralis
O Further depression at the center of the macula
O Thinnest part of the retina O Contains cones only O Site of maximum acuity of vision

Optic Disc

Macula and Fovea centralis

RETINA
-rods & cones are the light receptors of the eye *Rods
O Contain a pigment called Visual purple O Respond to dim light (scotopic vision) O Only at the periphery of the retina

*Cones
O Respond to bright light (Photopic vision) O Sensitive to color O Only at fovea centralis O Number diminishes towards the periphery of the retina

RETINA
O Composed of ten layers:

Outer pigmented layer 2. Layer of rods & cones 3. External limiting membrane 4. Outer nuclear layer 5. Outer plexiform layer 6. Inner nuclear layer (bipolar cells) 7. Inner plexiform layer 8. Ganglion cell layer 9. Nerve fiber layer 10. Internal limiting membrane
1.

RETINA
O Supplied by the central artery (an end artery)
O In the optic disc, it divides into an upper & lower branch,

each giving off nasal & temporal branches O Supplies the deeper layers of the retina up to the bipolar cells

*rods & cones : supplied by diffusion from the capillaries of the choroid *retinal veins run with the arteries

AQUEOUS HUMOUR

Aqueous Humour
O Clear fluid which fills the space between the

cornea in front & the lens behind the anterior segment O Divided by iris into anterior & posterior chambers which freely communicate which freely communicate with each other through the pupil

Aqueous Humour
O Secreted into the posterior chamber from the

capillaries in the ciliary processes O Passes into the anterior chamber through the pupil O From anterior chamber, it is draines into the anterior ciliary veins through the spaces of the iridocorneal angle or angle of anterior chamber & the canal of Schlemm

Aqueous Humour
O Glaucoma
O Increase of intraocular pressure due to

interference with the drainage of the aqueous humour into the canal of Schlemm O Produces cupping of the optic disc and pressure atrophy of the retina causing blindness *intraocular pressure is due chiefly to the aqueous humour which maintains the constancy of the optical dimensions of the eyeball

Aqueous Humour
O Rich in ascorbic acid, glucose & amino acids
O Nourishes the avascular tissues of the cornea

& lens

the LENS

The Lens
O Transparent biconvex structure
O Placed between the anterior & posterior

segments of the eye O Circular in outline & has a diameter of 1cm **Anterior and Posterior poles
O Central points of the anterior & posterior

surfaces

The Lens
O Axis of the lens
O Line connecting the poles

O Equator
O Marginal circumference

O Posterior surface of the lens is more convex than the

anterior O Anterior surface kept flattened by the tension of the suspensory ligament
*When the ligament is relaxed by contraction of the ciliary muscle, the anterior surface becomes more convex due to elasticity of the lens substance

The Lens
O Enclosed in a transparent, structureless,

elastic capsule which is thickened anteriorly near the circumference O Capsular epithelium
O Covers the anterior surface of the lens, deep to

capsule O Made up of a single layer of cuboidal cells, at the center of the anterior surface O Cells elongate to produce fibers of the lens, at the periphery

The Lens
O Fibers are concentrically arranged to form the

lens substance O Center of the lens

O Firm & consists of the oldest fibers

O Periphery or cortex of the lens

O Soft & made up of more recently formed fibers

The Lens
O Suspensory Ligament of the Lens or the

Zonule of Zinn
O Retains the lens in position & its tension keeps

the anterior surface of the lens flattened O Made up of a series of fibers which are attached peripherally to the ciliary processes, to the furrows between ciliry processes and to the ora serrata

VITREOUS BODY

Vitreous Body
O Colorless, jellylike transparent mass
O Fills the posterior segment (posterior 4/5) of the

eyeball O Enclosed in a delicate homogenous hyaloid membrane

O Behind: attached to the optic disc O Front: Ora serrata O Between: free & lies in contact with the retina O Anterior surface: indented by the lens & ciliary processes