New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eye

An eye is an organ of vision that detects light. Different kinds of light-sensitive organs are found in a variety of organisms. The simplest eyes do nothing but detect whether the surroundings are light or dark, while more complex eyes can distinguish shapes and colors. Many animals, including some mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, have two eyes which may be placed on the same plane to be interpreted as a single three-dimensional "image" (binocular vision), as in humans; or on different planes producing two separate "images" (monocular vision), such as in rabbits and chameleons. In most vertebrates and some mollusks, the eye works by allowing light to enter it and project onto a light-sensitive panel of cells known as the retina at the rear of the eye, where the light is detected and converted into electrical signals. These are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. Such eyes are typically roughly spherical, filled with a transparent gel-like substance called the vitreous humour, with a focusing lens and often an iris which regulates the intensity of the light that enters the eye. The eyes of cephalopods, fish, amphibians, and snakes usually have fixed lens shapes, and focusing vision is achieved by telescoping the lens - similar to how a camera focuses.

Related Stories
 


Health & Medicine News

November 11, 2026

A new study found that energy drinks and stimulant supplements were linked to disproportionately frequent reports of serious heart problems, including 11 times more reports of cardiac arrest and 4.5 times more reports of heart attacks. Young adults ...
A surprising study of more than 4,500 older adults found that people who were overweight or obese when diagnosed with dementia had a 16% to 27% lower risk of death than those at a normal weight. Researchers suspect that extra energy and muscle ...
Ancient manuscripts, including the 1,000-year-old York Gospels, have revealed traces of a deadly sheep virus whose history stretches back more than 3,700 years. Scientists discovered that the virus has remained remarkably unchanged for millennia, ...
A surprising new weapon against microbes linked to head and neck cancer could be as simple as chewing gum. Scientists developed a bioengineered gum that reduced HPV levels by up to 93% in oral samples from cancer patients and nearly eliminated two ...
New research involving more than 440,000 Americans links cannabis use to increased cardiovascular risk, with occasional users showing 40% higher odds of reporting a history of stroke. The findings suggest that even infrequent marijuana use may ...
A major review of more than 350 studies suggests that eating less protein could slow aging, improve metabolic health, and potentially extend lifespan, challenging the widespread belief that more protein is always better. Researchers warn that many ...
Even when bad cholesterol is brought down to healthy levels, some people remain at risk of heart attacks, and scientists may have discovered why. Researchers identified two types of fat-carrying particles that appear to promote inflammation and ...
Scientists have discovered that tumors release natural antioxidants to shut down the immune cells responsible for destroying cancer, exploiting a surprising weakness in the body's defenses. Blocking this mechanism in mice restored immune activity ...
A surprising discovery suggests that some early signs of Alzheimer’s disease may begin outside the brain. Using miniature laboratory systems made from human cells, scientists found that genetic mutations associated with inherited Alzheimer’s can ...
Scientists have discovered that pantethine, a readily available vitamin B5 derivative, can calm overactive immune cells and may help fight psoriasis. The supplement prevented psoriasis in mice and showed promising results in a small human trial, ...
Scientists have discovered that gut bacteria can feed on the protective mucus lining your intestines, producing potentially harmful compounds, but fiber helps keep this activity in check. Overlooked ...
After more than 35 years of research, scientists have uncovered surprising clues about what really drives Lyme disease risk. Contrary to longstanding assumptions, deer populations appear less important than mice, which can fuel a 40% increase in ...

Latest Headlines

updated 12:56 pm ET