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How the Human Eye Focus Light
The functioning of the human eye is similar to that of the camera. Its function is to detect

and process light. The cornea bends most of light by about seventy percent. The remaining thirty

percent of the light is refracted by the crystalline lens that is found in the aqueous humor. To

understand better how the human eye focuses light, take an example of the magnifying lens that

can be used to burn paper. The magnifying lens collects light rays and concentrates them on the

piece of paper, hence burning the paper. Likewise, the focal length refers to the distance between

the magnifying lenses to where the light rays meet as a focal point. In this case, the distance

between the magnifying lens and the paper is the focal length. The human eye has a focal length

of about 2.5 cm (Sciencelearn Hub N.p).

In the human eye, the aqueous fluid found behind the cornea has a different refractive

index of 1.33 with air that has a refractive index of 1.00. The difference in refractive index

makes the light bend, and, in this case, light bends to focus on the retina where an image is

formed. When in water, focus on the human eye is distracted because the refractive index of

water is 1.34. The human eye was designed to focus light that travels through the air. The

swimming goggles have air captured within and that is why swimmers can see through water

(Sciencelearn Hub N.p).

For a distant object, the light rays travel from the object and hit on the cornea at the first

time. The cornea bends the light, and the crystalline lens completes the bending, focusing the

rays on the retina. Moreover, the size of the image that is formed on the retina is smaller than the

actual size of the object. The human brain takes part in interpreting the actual size of the object

by communicating with the eye through the optic nerve (Sciencelearn Hub N.p).
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At the retina of the human eye, there are photoreceptor cells. They are responsible for

color vision. These cells are cones and rods. The cones are responsible for color vision hence

very sensitive to bright light. The rods are very sensitive to dim light, and it is due to an active

substance called rhodopsin that combines with photons in low light intensities. This will trigger a

chemical reaction that in turn triggers the optic nerve to produce a response. For example, when

a person is in a dark room, the cones become inactive. The rods take action by first acting on the

iris. The iris will in turn enlarge the size of the pupil allowing more light to enter the eye. This

can be noted after being in the room for around 30 minutes. Objects become clear, but color

vision is inhibited as compared to in bright light. This is because the cones are less sensitive to

dim light (Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer N.p).

There are debates whether the human eye can detect a single photon. The answer to this is

"no". This is because if a human eye can detect a single photon, it will be too much sensitive to

light. Moreover, the human eye filters the amount of light that reach the brain. This is not a

weakness but an adaptation of the human eye. Also, the kind of radiation from the sun that

causes sunburns is called the ultraviolet radiation. As mentioned, the human eye can detect only

visible light. Sometimes a person can get sunburns even on a cloudy day. That means the

ultraviolet radiation is invisible. Ultraviolet radiation is not visible to the human eye because it

has a wavelength that ranges from 10-8 to 10-10 meters. This wavelength does not lie between

390-750nm, which is the wavelength detectable by the human eye.

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Fig 1: Focusing an object by the human eye.

Source: www.wordpress.com
The ciliary muscle responds to various light levels through contraction or relaxation.

When somebody is in a dark room, the light is dim. Hence, the pupil of the eye must enlarge to

allow more light to travel to enhance clear sight. In the dim light, the ciliary muscle contracts

pulling the iris leading to enlargement of the pupil. On the other hand, in a bright day, the

ancillary muscles relax making the pupil smaller. Therefore, this regulates the amount of light

entering the eye. A large amount of light can destroy the retina; hence, regulation of the size of

the pupil is an adaptation to protect the retina.

Cataracts
According to Bailey, then the lens of the eyes develops cloudy patches, that eventually

can lead to blurred or sometimes misty vision, the condition is scientifically referred as cataracts.

As the eye lens ages with time, it loses its flexibility and its natural ability to focus and

concentrate light, this situation eventually causes visions problems and finally grounds cataracts.

The main cause of cataracts is aging; other causes can include diseases affecting the eyes lens,

birth defects, and hereditary disorders, chronic diseases that comprise the overuse of steroid
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medication, diabetes, and certain eye injuries. Common symptoms of cataracts include poor

night vision, cloudy or blurred vision, and double vision in a single eye.
Cataracts cannot be prevented from its occurrence; the only solution to curb cataracts is

to slow down its progression and treatment that involves surgery. In this case, to slow down

cataracts' progression, the amounts of alcohol intake and smoking should be reduced. They are

the major causes of cataracts apart from aging. Moreover, avoiding direct sunlight by use of

sunglasses and sometimes medical glasses can work. As cataracts progress, immediate treatment

is required. The treatment will require surgery to replace the ineffective lens with a more

effective lens (intraocular lens) in the eye. The surgery has shown to be more effective since its

implementation in the treatment of cataracts. The intraocular lens comes in a variety of types,

which includes multifocal (IOL), toric IOL, and a standard mono focal intraocular lens IOL.
A standard mono-focal lens is normally fixed and is immobilized. Its aim is to improve

vision for short sighted people. A standard mono-focal lens can force someone to wear glasses to

be able to see things that are near. A toric IOL regulates for person astigmatism and can increase

good vision for far distances. The accommodating lens is developed to use the natural muscles of

the eye to focus light and correct vision to normality. The multifocal lens uses a variety of vision

zones to focus light behind the eye and hence improve vision.
Comparison between Human Eye and Insect Eye
Both human and insect eyes have eye lens and cells that are sensitive to light, and hence

enabling them to see objects. However, they differ a lot regarding structure, function and acuity.

Insects have compound eyes, which have many little eyes that look at different direction at the

same time but does not see more clear as compared to the human eye. The human eyes are

complex and see one object at a moment with higher vision than that of an insect. Regarding

structure, insects have a lot of small lens with only one lens per eye subunit. On the other hand,

the human has one lens that is bigger. Insects have few light sensitive cells, and each lens of
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subunit focus light on them without undergoing any adjustments. In the human eye, the iris

controls the amount of light entering the eye; the soft muscles focus the lens to the object of the

eye and many cells that are sensitive to light work together to form the image (Science -

Opposing Views).
The number of ommatidia and their sizes determines the actual visual acuity of the

compound eyes in insects. In humans, the concentration of the light-sensitive cells in the retina

determines the visual acuity. Light-sensitive cells in the eye determine which color the eye can

detect. Insects ability to see colors is very low, some insects only manage to see light and dark.

Bees can see a variety of colors than humans but have no shadings and vividness. The

complexity of the human eye enables it to have the high quality of vividness, and shadings and to

see different hues. Identifying prey to hunt and predators are the main functions of the eyes.

Also, insects have compound eyes that are sensitive to the movement of larger objects and can

see different directions at a time, hence enabling it to escape predators. Human eyes have high

visual acuity, hence well for hunting (Science - Opposing Views).

Can any other animals detect other parts of the EM spectrum?
Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the basis for all the light a human eye can see. The

human eye can be described as a light detector. This is because it can see the white light that

contains all the colors of a rainbow. But some other EM spectrum cannot be detected by the

human eye. This is because light, like any other wave, has different wavelengths. The strength of

a wave can be determined by its wavelength. Light with the shortest wavelength can be described

as strong. On the other hand, light with the longest wavelength can be described as weak

(Cmb.physics.wisc.edu N.p).
Some animals eyes can detect light more as compared to the human eye. However, the

human eye detects light with more vividness. Though, the wavelength of light determines most

the degree of vividness an eye, either human or any other animal can detect. The human eye can
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only detect light whose wavelength ranges between 390-750nm. Other animals such as the birds

can detect light of wavelength below 350nm. This explains why most animals are described as

being color blind. Also, the human eye has photoreceptor cells, which is cones and rods that

enable it to detect light with a higher degree of vividness.

Work Cited
Bailey, Gretchyn. 'Complete Guide To Cataracts: Types, Symptoms, Signs And Treatments -

From Allaboutvision.Com'. All About Vision. N.p., 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Berg, Jeremy, John Tymoczko, and Lubert Stryer. 'Photoreceptor Molecules In The Eye Detect

Visible Light.' W H Freeman (2002): n. pag. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

Cmb.physics.wisc.edu,. 'Electromagnetic Spectrum'. N.p., 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Science - Opposing Views,. 'Insect Compound Eye Vs. Human Eye'. N.p., 2012. Web. 28 Nov.

2015.
Sciencelearn Hub, 'How The Eye Focuses Light'. N.p., 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2015