The Eye Structure and Functions

Before going to do eye exercises it is good idea to try to understand the parts of the eye and the way they function together to create vision.

This is the basic picture of the eye with its parts.
The light rays reflecting from the object being seen are passing thru cornea, pupil, lens is further refracting the light under additional angle depending on its thickness. The light ray then travels thru the gelatinous clear mass inside the eye and falling onto the retina. The picture created here is
Then retina’s cells are passing the information to the optical nerve that is then connecting with the vision centre in the brain. It is located at the back of our head. The information in the brain is turned upside-down again so we know the right image of the object being seen.

This is I think what most of us have learned in primary/secondary school, it is basic knowledge of the eye that you could not missed in case you haven pursued further medical / biological or similar studies to learn more.

In addition to this basic knowledge, there are a few functions of the eye that are important for everyone to know if one is willing to help her/him self to maintain or improve good eyesight.

First, I will describe how is eye managing to see objects on different distances.
I learned this from Dr. Bates, who did foundation for this Natural Eye Training that I am following. I also understand that this is main difference in official optometry and Dr Bates’ teaching. And I felt it true in doing recommended exercises that are addressing this.

So, what is it about: The eye enables seeing objects on different distances by changing it’s form.
The official optometry holds thinking that the only part of the eye that enables distances is lens, and that the lens is being thickening or flattening.
In general this function of the eye is called accommodation. The natural vision practice follows Dr Bates’ views that the whole eye ball changes shape to enable accommodation. And it is done in this manner:
o In order to see close objects it elongates
o In order to see distant objects it shortens

Dr Bates has done a lot of experiments on animals to prove this. And also exercises addressing this function have proved by improving patients’ vision.
That means when you have poor vision the eyeball is not changing it’s shape in natural vision to enable clear seeing of objects.
§ Near-sightedness (myopia)
The objects close are seeing clear – the eye can elongate
The objects in distance are blurry – the eye can not shorten
§ Long-sightedness (hyperopia)
The objects close are blurry – the eye can not elongate
The objects in distance are clear – the eye can shorten