ANATOMY OF THE

EYE
Cornea
 • Transparent, avascular, exposed to the
external environment
Anterior • Covered by tear film
• Shape : convex & aspheric covering iris &
pupil

Posterior • Bathed directly by the aqueous humor

 Meassurement of adult Human cornea :
Horizontal : 11 – 12 mm
Vertical : 9 – 11 mm
Thickness : 0.5 mm (centre)
Curvature surrface is not constant

 Refractive power : 40 – 44 D
The cornea consist of five layers :
- Epithelium  The continuation of the
conjungtiva over the cornea
- Bowman’s membrane
- Stroma or substantia propia
 90 % of the total corneal thickness
- Descemet’s membrane
 Thin elastic membrane
 Covered on its posterior by endothelium
 Controlling stromal hydration
- Endothelium
 Become less in number with age and
individual cell enlarge to compensate
Anterior Chamber
The anterior chamber :
 a space filled with fluid, the aqueous humor
 it is bordered anteriorly by the cornea,
posteriorly by the iris and the pupil
 Deeper in aphakia, pseudophakia, and myopia
 Shallower in hyperopia
Its peripheral recess is known as the angle of the
anterior chamber, bounded posteriorly by the root
of the iris and the ciliary body and anteriorly by the
corneosclera
AQUEOUS HUMOR
 Aqueous has an excess of hydrogen and chloride ions,
an excess of ascorbate
 Aqueous humor is essentially protein free  optical
clarity
 Aqueous humor pathway
1. Conventional Pathway
Ciliary epithelium of ciliary body  pupil aperture 
anterior chamber  trabecular meshwork  Schlemm
canal
2. Uveoscleral Pathway
Across ciliary body  supraciliary space
 In the inner layer of the sclera at this part there is a
circular venous sinus, called the canalis schlemm
 great important - in the drainage of the aqueous humor

 At the periphery of the angle between the canal

schlemm and the recess of the anterior chamber there
lies a loosely constructed meshwork of tissues, the
trabecular meshwork
AQUEOUS OUTFLOW

AH fills posterior chamber pupil

Trabecular route 90 % anterior chamber

Schlemm’s canal uveoscleral route (10%)

suprachoroidal space ciliary body

leaves the eye
through episcleral vein venous system in the ciliary
body

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3/19/2019
SHAFFER METHOD OF GRADING
ANTERIOR CHAMBER ANGLES
Grade IV The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is 450 (normal)
Grade III The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is greater than 200
but less than 450 (normal)
Grade II The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is 200. Angle closure
is possible.
Grade I The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is 100. Angle closure
is possible.
Slit The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is less than 100.
Angle cllosure very likely.
Grade 0 The iris is against the TM. Angle
closure is present.
LENS
 Bicovex
 Behind posterior camber and pupil
 Transparent
 Refractive Power 20 D
 Equatorial diameter is 6.5 mm at birth  9-10 mm
 Axis (anteroposterior) diameter 3 mm at birth  6 mm at 80 yo
 Suspended from the cilliary processes by Zonules
(Suspensory Ligament)
Layers :
- Capsule (Anterior & Posterior)
- Epithelium
- Cortex
- Nucleus
Capsule 
Anterior : product of lens epithelium
Posterior : product lens fibers cells
 SUSPENSION &
ACCOMODATION

Suspensory ligament of the lens or zonule

Anterior zonular sheet Posterior zonular sheet

Near vision :
Cilliary muscle contracts  cilliary body forward  relieve
tension of zonules fibers  elastic lens more convex
 DURING ACCOMODATION

THE CILIARY MUSCLES CONTRACTS

DRAWING TOWARD THE CHOROID

RELAXING THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT

DIMINISHES THE TENSION OF LENS

CAPSULE

INCREASE THE CONVEXITY OF THE LENS

 IRIS &
CILLIARY BODY
 Thin
 Heavily pigmented
 Contractil, circular disk
analog to diaphgram
of a camera
 Suspended in aquous
humour between
cornea and lens
 Separate anterior and
posterior chambers
 Diameter : 12 mm
 Regulates amount of
light entering the eye
Anterior surface:
1. Peripheral Cilliary zone
2. Central pupilary zone
3. Collarette

Posterior surface:
Radial contraction fold
prominent in pupillary
region
 MUSCLE

Dilator:
1. Thin layer of myoepithelium
2. contract in respons to sympathetic α1-adrenergic and
inhibitory role by cholinergic parasympathetic.
Spincter :
1. Circular band of smooth muscle
2. At pupillary zone of iris
3. Primary innervation from parasympatetic nerve fiber from
CN III
Snell,Richad, Clinical Anatomy of the eye, second edition
American Academy of Opthalmology, Fundamentals and Principal of Opthalmology,
2011
CILLIARY BODY
 5-6 mm wide ring of tissue that extands from sclera spur
anteriorly ora serrata posteriorly

 At temporal: 5.6-6.3 mm. at nasal: 4.6-5.2 mm

 Triangular in cross-section; its base face anterior chamber and

the apex blends posteriorly with vascular coroid.

Forrester,Johny, The Eye Basic science in practice, third edition.

Pars plicata : ridged, plicated, 2 mm wide and consist of 70
radialy arranged fold (cilliary processes), each of which 0.5-
0.8 mm high and 0.5 mm wide, richly vascular.

Pars plana: smooth and flat, 4 mm wide zone stretching from

posterior limit cilliary process to ora serata. Avascular
CHOROID
Consists of 3 layers of vessels :
Choriocapillaris
(the innermost layer)
Layer of medium blood vessels
The outermost layer of large
vessels

Fusion of the basal lamina of the RPE

and the choriocapillaris of the choroid
 Bruch’s membrane

Between sclera and choroid 

perichoroidal space
RETINA
Macula is the
sensitive part of
the retina.

5 region :
1. Macula
2. Parafovea
3. Perifovea
4. Fovea
5. Foveola
Fibers of the nerve
fibers layer pass into
the optic nerve along
with central retinal
artery and vein
 5-6 in diameter
foveola

1.5 in diameter

0.5 in diameter

1.5 in diameter
 Neurosensory
layer

Pigmented
layer
Retina consist of 10 layers
Blood Supply
SCLERA & LIMBUS
 The sclera :
- Covers the
posterior four fifths
of the surface of the
globe
- An anterior opening
for the cornea
- Posterior opening
for the optic nerve

 The Tenon capsule covers the sclera and rectus

anteriorly, and both are overlain by the bulbar
conjunctiva
 The tendons of the rectus muscles insert into the
superficial scleral collagen
 Area measuring about 1.5 – 2.0 mm wide
 The transition zone between the peripheral cornea and the
anterior sclera
 Included in the limbus :
 conjunctiva and limbal palisades
 Tenon capsule
 Episclera
 Corneoscleral stroma
 Aquous outflow apparatus
 Volume < 30 cm3 (adult)
 Pear shaped, optic nerve representing the stem
 Orbital entrance: height ± 35 mm, width : ± 45 mm
 Depth: 40-45mm
Bony Orbit
& Orbital
Margin

1. Frontal
2. Zygomatic
3. Maxilla
4. Ethmoid
5. Sphenoid
6. Lacrimal
7. Palatine
EXTRAOCULAR
MUSCLE
1. Medial rectus
2. Lateral rectus
3. Superior rectus
4. Inferior rectus
5. Superior oblique
6. Inferior oblique
7. Levator palpebra
superioris
 Lateral rectus : CN VI (abducens)
 Superior oblique : CN IV ( trochlear)
 Medial rectus, Inferior rectus, Superior rectus, Inferior
oblique & Levator Palpebra superior : CN III
(oculomotor)
 Levator palpebrae superioris : CN III (oculomotor)
 ACTIONS OF EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES
Muscle Primary Action Secondary Action Tertiary Action
Superior Elevation ( Medial rotation or Intorsion or
rectus transverse axis) adduction incycloduction
Inferior Depression Medial rotation or Extorsion or
rectus (transverse axis) adduction (vertical axis) excycloduction

Lateral Lateral rotation or - -

rectus abduction
Medial Medial rotation or - -
rectus adduction (vertical
axis)
Superior Depression Lateral rotation or Intorsion or
oblique (transverse axis) abduction (vertical axis) incycloduction

Inferior Elevation (transverse Lateral rotation or Extorsion or

oblique axis) abduction (vertical axis) excycloduction
(sagittal axis)
Summary diagram showing the actions
of the extraocular muscles
LACRIMAL DRAINAGE
SYSTEM
1. PUNCTA
 Located at Posterior Edge of Lid margin
 At Junction of Lash bearing Lateral 5/6
(Pars ciliaris) & medial non ciliated 1/6
(Pars Lacrimalis)

2. CANALICULI
 Pass vertically from Lid Margin (the
ampullae) for about 2mm. (turn
medially & run horizontally 8mm to
Lacrimal Sac)
 Sup & Inf Canaliculi unite to form
Common Canaliculus

3. LACRIMAL SAC
 L = 10 mm
 Lies @ Lacrimal Fossa b/w Ant & Post
Lacrimal Crest

4. NASOLACRIMAL DUCT
 L = 12mm & the continuation of
lacrimal Sac
Glands of Krause
& Wolfring are
Located Proximal
Lid Border or in
the fornices

Cytologically
identic w/ main
Lacrimal gland

Receiving similar
innervation
A : Tears flow along Upper & Lower Marginal Strips & enter Upper &
Lower (70%) canaliculi
B : with Each Blink, Pretarsal orbicularis oculi compress ampuulae –
shortened the horizontal canaliculli & move puncta medially-
Negative Pressure which sucks tears from canaliculli into sac
C : Eyes Open-Muscle relax-the sac collapses- (+)Pressure and
Gravity forced tears down into nose
EYELID
EYELID MARGIN
Punctum of the canaliculus
lacrimalis
Gray line
Cilia /eyelashes
Opening of the
tarsal/meibomian glands
Glands of zeiss
Glands of moll
 ANATOMY
• Skin
• Subcutaneus tissue
• Muscle of protraction :
• M.orbicularis oculi
• Orbital septum, orbital fat
• Muscle of retraction :
• M. Levator palpebra
• M. muller
• Tarsus
• Conjunctiva
SKIN
•The thinnest in the body
•Fine hairs
•Sebaceous glands
•Sweat glands
•Eyelashes/cilia
•Glands of zeiss
•Glands of moll
•Aponeurosis levator
palpebrae superioris muscle
 ORBICULARIS OCCULI MUSCLE
 Circular
 Innervation by CN VII
 Subdivided into :
- Orbital part
- Palpebral part
Preseptal
Pretarsal
- M. riolan

The orbital portion : like a sphincter, as a voluntary

muscle
The palpebral portion : closes the eyelids, blinking reflex,
drainage the tears (horner muscle)
ORBITAL SEPTUM
A thin sheet of connective tissue encircles the orbit as an
extension of the periosteum of the roof and the floor of the
orbit
Separates the eyelids from the contents of the orbit
Provide a barrier to anterior or posterior extravasation of
blood or the spread of inflammation
TARSUS
The tarsal plate consist of dense connective tissue, not
cartilage
Attached to the orbital margin by the medial and lateral
palpebral ligaments
29 mm long, 1 mm thickness, 11 mm (upper tarsus), 4 mm
(lower tarsus)
CONJUNGTIVA
Is a thin mucous membran that lines the eyelids and is
reflected at the superior and inferior fornices onto the
anterior surface of the eyeball

Divided into 3 geographic zones :

 palpebral,
 Fornical
 bulbar