Summarizing Physics of the Eye

Physics of the Eye Summary

  • Image formation by the eye is adequately described by the thin lens equations:

    \(P=\cfrac{1}{{d}_{\text{o}}}+\cfrac{1}{{d}_{\text{i}}}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{and}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\cfrac{{h}_{\text{i}}}{{h}_{\text{o}}}=-\cfrac{{d}_{\text{i}}}{{d}_{\text{o}}}=m.\)

  • The eye produces a real image on the retina by adjusting its focal length and power in a process called accommodation.
  • For close vision, the eye is fully accommodated and has its greatest power, whereas for distant vision, it is totally relaxed and has its smallest power.
  • The loss of the ability to accommodate with age is called presbyopia, which is corrected by the use of a converging lens to add power for close vision.

Glossary

accommodation

the ability of the eye to adjust its focal length is known as accommodation

presbyopia

a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively unable to focus on objects close to the viewer

This lesson is part of:

Vision and Optical Instruments

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