Lens

The transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina (the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates impulses that go through the optic nerve to the brain).

The lens was named after the lentil bean because it resembled it in shape and size.

Aside from the lens, the eye has a number of other components.

These include the cornea, iris, pupil, retina, macula, optic nerve and vitreous.

<IMG height=251 alt='diagram of the eye' hspace=5 src='http://images.medicinenet.com/images/eyestruc.gif' width=267 align=right> The cornea is the clear front window of the eye that transmits and focuses light into the eye.

The iris is the colored part of the eye that helps regulate the amount of light that enters the eye.

The pupil is the dark aperture in the iris that determines how much light is let into the eye.

The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain.

The macula is a small area in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells and allows us to see fine details clearly.

The optic nerve is the nerve that connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina to the visual cortex of the brain.

The vitreous humor is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye.