PHYSICS
DEFECTS OF VISION
S.No Content Page Number
1 Structure of Human Eye 3
2 Human Eye 4
3 Parts of Human Eye 4
4 How vision works? 4
5 Defects of vision 6
6 Myopia 7
7 Hypermetropia 8
8 Presbyopia 9
9 Astigmatism 11
10 Colour Blindness 12
11 Protecting eye health 13
12 Calculation 15
13 Bibliography 16
STRUCTURE OF HUMAN EYE
AIM: To understand the working of the complex human eye and to configure
and treat the defects with lenses
HUMAN EYE
The human eye is a sensory organ in the visual system that reacts to visible
light allowing eyesight. Other functions include maintaining the circadian rhythm,
and keeping balance.
The human eye is a highly sophisticated organ responsible for vision. The eye can be
considered as a living optical device
Parts of human eye:
➢ Cornea
➢ Iris
➢ Pupil
➢ Lens
➢ Retina
➢ Sclera
➢ Optic Nerve
➢ Vitreous humour
➢ Aqueous humour
Cornea:
o The transparent dome-shaped front layer of the eye.
o Focuses light onto the retina.
o It is responsible for refracting light.
Iris:
o The coloured part of the eye.
o Controls the size of the pupil and thus the amount of light entering the eye.
Pupil:
o The opening in the centre of the iris.
o Regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
Lens:
o A clear, flexible structure behind the iris.
o Focuses light onto the retina by changing its shape (accommodation).
Retina:
o The innermost layer of the eye, containing light-sensitive cells .
o Contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that convert light into electrical signals.
Sclera:
The white, tough outer layer of the eye, providing protection.
Optic nerve:
The nerve carrying electrical signals from the retina to the brain, interpreting vision.
Vitreous humour:
o A gel-like substance filling the eye cavity between the lens and retina.
o Helps maintain the eye's shape and allows light to pass through to the retina.
Aqueous humour:
o A clear fluid between the cornea and the lens.
o Provides nutrients and maintains intraocular pressure.
How Vision works?
1. Light Entry:
Light enters the eye through the cornea and passes through the aqueous humor.
2. Pupil Regulation:
o The iris adjusts the size of the pupil to control the amount of light entering the
eye.
3. Focusing:
o Light is focused by the lens onto the retina. The lens changes shape to focus on
objects at different distances.
4. Photoreception:
o Light-sensitive cells in the retina (rods and cones) convert light into electrical
signals.
o Rods: Responsible for low-light vision and peripheral vision.
o Cones: Responsible for color vision and detailed central vision.
o
5. Signal Transmission:
o Electrical signals from the retina are sent to the brain via the optic nerve.
6. Visual Processing:
o The brain processes the signals to create a visual representation of the
environment.
Defects of Vision:
Defects of vision, or visual impairments, are conditions where the eyes do not function
optimally, affecting how a person sees. These defects can vary in severity and can impact
daily life. Here’s a common vision defects:
1. Myopia (short sightedness)
2. Hypermetropia (far sightedness)
3. Presbyopia:
4. Astigmatism
5. Colour Blindness
1.Myopia (short sightedness/near sightedness)
Myopia, also known as near sightedness or short sightedness, is an eye condition that
causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects appear normal.
This happens when the shape of the eye causes light to focus in front of the retina instead
of on it.
Defects:
In a myopic eye, parallel rays from an illuminated object at infinity are focused in front of
the retina.
Myopia is normally caused if the distance between the eye lens and the retina is longer
or the focal length of the eye-lens is smaller than that of a normal eye.
Correction:
This problem, (an image is not formed on the retina due to near sightedness) can be
corrected using a diverging lens of suitable focal length. The rays coming from infinity appear
to come from the point F. However angular size of the image is not altered.
Correction to a myopic eye using a diverging lens .Let the far point be at a distance x from
the eye. The focal length of the correcting lens (which is a diverging lens),f=(-)x.
2. Hypermetropia (far sightedness)
Hypermetropia, also known as far-sightedness, is a condition where the image
of a nearby object is formed behind the retina.
This can happen when the eye is too short or the cornea and crystalline lens
don't refract light enough.
Defects:
The near point of a normal eye is about 25 cm which is called as least distance of distinct
vision (D).For a person with hypermetropia (long sight) the near point will be at a distance
more than 25 cm.
This may be due to the distance between the eye lens and the retina being shorter or the
focal length of the eye lens is larger than that of a normal eye.
This defect can be corrected by using a converging lens of suitable focal length.
The focal length of the correcting lens (which is a converging lens) is given by
f=Dx/x-D,
where D = near point of a normal eye,
x = far point of the hypermetropic eye.
Correction:
1. Using convex lens
2. LASIK Surgery
3. Orthokertaology
4. Conductive keratoplasty
5. Corneal reshapping
Presbyopia:
Presbyopia is a refractive error that makes it difficult for people to see things up close as
they age. It's also known as age-related farsightedness.
Causes:
1. Loss of lens flexibility (reduced accommodation)
2. Decreased corneal curvature
3. Weakened ciliary muscles
4. Age-related decline in lens power
5. Genetics
6. Prolonged near work (e.g., reading, screen time)
Correction options:
1. Reading glasses or magnifying lenses
2. Bifocal or multifocal glasses
3. Contact lenses:
- Bifocal or multifocal lenses
- Monovision (one eye for distance, one for near)
4. Refractive surgery:
- LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis)
- PRK (photorefractive keratectomy)
- LASEK (laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis)
5. Presbyopia-correcting procedures:
- Conductive keratoplasty (CK)
- PresbyLASIK
- Refractive lens exchange
6. Corneal inlays (e.g., Kamra, Raindrop)
7. Implantable lenses (e.g., multifocal IOLs)
It's essential to consult an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) to determine the best
correction option based on individual needs, eye health, and lifestyle.
4.Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common eye problem that occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has
an irregular shape, causing light to bend differently as it enters the eye. This results in
blurred or distorted vision at any distance, and can also cause eyestrain, headaches, and
trouble driving at night.
Defect:
An astigmatic eye cannot focus on horizontal lines and vertical lines at a given distance
simultaneously. This is due to the non-uniform curvature of the cornea in different
directions. Astigmatism is due to a situation in which lines in one direction cannot be well
focused while those in a perpendicular direction cannot be focussed, properly
Correction:
Astigmatism can be corrected by using a cylindrical lens of desired radius of curvature,
with an appropriately directed axis. This defect can occur along with myopia and/or
hypermetropia.
4.Colour Blindness
Colour blindness, also known as colour vision deficiency, is a condition where a person
has difficulty perceiving certain colours.
This is usually due to a genetic defect in the retina, affecting the light-sensitive cells
(photoreceptors) responsible for colour vision.
Types of colour blindness:
1. Red-green colour blindness (most common):
- Protanopia (red-blindness)
- Deuteranopia (green-blindness)
2. Blue-yellow colour blindness (less common):
- Tritanopia (blue-blindness)
3. Total colour blindness (rare) - Achromatopsia (seeing only in shades of gray)
Causes:
1. Genetics (inherited from parents)
2. Age-related colour vision loss
3. Eye diseases (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma)
4. Brain damage (e.g., stroke, trauma)
5. Certain medications
Symptoms:
1. Difficulty distinguishing between red and green colors
2. Seeing colours as less vibrant or washed out
3. Trouble with colour-based tasks (e.g., selecting ripe fruit)
Diagnosis:
1. Ishihara test (dot-based colour vision test)
2. Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test (colour arrangement test)
3. Anomaloscope (device measuring colour perception)
Treatment:
1. No cure, but colour correction glasses or lenses can help
2. Technology assistance (e.g., colour-correcting software)
3. Compensatory strategies (e.g., using brightness and saturation cues)
Protecting Eye Health
• Regular Eye Exams: To detect and correct vision problems early.
• UV Protection: Wearing sunglasses to protect against harmful UV rays.
• Healthy Diet: Consuming nutrients that support eye health, such as vitamin A, C, E,
and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Avoiding Strain: Taking breaks during prolonged screen use to prevent digital eye
strain.The human eye is a complex and intricate organ that plays a crucial role in how
we perceive the world around us. Understanding its anatomy and function can help in
appreciating the delicate nature of vision and the importance of eye care
•
CALCULATION:
The eye defects include Myopia , Presbyopia , Hypermetropia and
Astigmatism.
Investigation:
PERSON Defect Focal length Power Remedy
PERSON 1 Myopia -20cm -5D Concave lens
PERSON 2 Hypermetropia 20cm 5D Convex lens
PERSON 3 Presbyopia -12cm -8.3 Bifocal lens
EXAMPLE: Calculate the power of the eye - lens of the normal eye when it is focused at its
(a) far point, infinity and (b) near point, 25 cm from the eye. Assume the distance of the
retina from the eye - lens to be 2.5 cm.
Bibliography
1. Class 10 Science NCERT book
2. Class 12 Physics Volume 2 NCERT Book
3. Fundamentals of physics
4. A Bibliography Of Hereditary Eye Defects
-Lucien Howe
5. Eye diseases and disorders
-Rachael Gray
