Interesting Eye Facts

Until you have a problem with your vision, you may not even think about your eyes or vision. However, the human eye is a pretty fascinating organ. Without thinking about it, your eye and brain work together to rapidly transmit and decipher the images you see. 

Continuing reading to get an idea of how complex and special the eye is. 
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The eyes are the most complex part of the body after the brain. For example, your eyes have two million parts that work together to allow you to see and decipher images. The muscles in your eyes work faster than any other muscle in the body. This intricate process works amazingly and allows us to see without thinking about it. 

Babies are born color-blind. Infants cannot see color because their eye's photoreceptors and cones are not strong enough yet. A baby's color perception develops gradually. Babies usually develop the ability to tell green and red apart at about 2 months. A few months after that, they may be able to distinguish between yellow and blue. Full-color perception usually occurs at about 5 months old. 

Your iris has over 256 distinguishing characteristics. Scanning an eye as a security measure used to be science fiction. However, iris scanning for a biometric system is becoming increasingly common for security measures. It is likely because the iris has even more unique characteristics than a fingerprint, which has 40.

The average person blinks 15 to 20 times per minute, which means they probably blink more than 5 million times a year. Although that may seem like a lot of blinking, it is important for eye health. Blinking serves several functions. When you blink, a layer of tears is spread across your cornea. This helps keep your eyes moist and removes tiny particles of dirt or dust. Blinking also helps you process visual information.

Your retina does not have pain receptors. The retina in the back of the eye does not have pain receptors, which are sensory nerve fibers that transmit pain signals to your brain. This is why you will not feel pain if you have a damaged or detached retina. However, you may develop other symptoms, such as visual changes. 

When attracted to someone, your pupils may dilate about 40%. Finding someone attractive may activate your sympathetic nervous system. This leads to an increase in the hormones dopamine and oxytocin, which causes your pupils to dilate. But attraction is not the only reason why your pupils may dilate. Other things that stimulate your sympathetic nervous system and release these hormones, such as fear, can also cause pupil dilation. Your pupils can also dilate for reasons other than having a strong emotion. For example, when you enter a poorly lit room, your pupils dilate in an attempt to adjust. 

The older you get, the fewer tears you produce. Decreased tear production can increase your risk of developing dry eyes. According to the Mayo Clinic, being over the age of 50 is one of the risk factors for developing dry eyes. The reason for the decline in tear production as we age is likely multifaceted. For example, the lacrimal glands that produce tears become less efficient as we age. A decrease in certain hormones, such as estrogen, may also contribute to less tear production. 

The complex physiological process that allows us to see is amazing. Keep in mind, to maintain healthy eyes and good vision, it's vital to have regular eye exams to spot changes as soon as possible. If you have any questions about your vision or eye diseases or would like to ask whether an appointment would be appropriate at this time, please contact us at 508-746-8600.