This is a brief overview of the parts of the eye. With a little more attention paid to the retina and parts of the eye specific to RP.
Cornea
The clear, dome-shaped window at the front of the eye that focuses light. It’s purpose is the protect the eye from any foreign material (dirt, dust etc) as well as maintaining the shape of the eye so that light may be properly focused on the retina.
Iris
The colored part of the eye that controls how much light enters the pupil. The iris can shrink or expand depending on the light conditions.
Pupil
The opening in the middle of the iris that lets light pass through. It is the iris that controls the size of the pupil and thus regulates the amount of light that is sent to the retina.
Lens
The transparent structure behind the iris that focuses light onto the retina. It is the lens that focuses the image onto your retina. Also it is the lens that is affected when you develop a cataract.
Optic Nerve
The bundle of nerve fibers that carries visual messages from the retina to the brain
Retina
The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into electrical impulses. The retina is made up for specialized cells called photoreceptors. There are two kinds of photoreceptors, rods and cones. Rods are the cells primarily affected by RP. They are very sensitive to light and work primarily in low light situations. The Rods are located primarily in the periphery of the retina. It is the damage to these cells that causes night blindness and loss of peripheral vision. Cones are located primarily in the center of the retina and are responsible for color vision and seeing in fine detail.
Macula
The small, sensitive area of the retina that provides central vision. This is where the cones are in your retina. It is also the part of the retina affected by diseases such as Macular Degneration and Stargardts.
Fovea
The center of the macula where your vision is sharpest
Choroid
The thin, blood-rich membrane that supplies blood to the outer retina
Vitreous Body
The clear, jelly-like substance that fills the back part of the eye. It is the largest structure in the eye and acts like a cushion for the eye structure. This is also where flashes and floaters can occur.
