Inspiration for building the foremost camera was derived by people endeavouring to explore the precise manner how does the eye work in humans.
Here a reversed approach is being adopted for accurately deciphering how does the eye work via correlation of camera functioning. Undoubtedly the eye far surpasses a camera due to its capability of advanced perception of colour, deepness or 3D vision, it’s adaptive visual system and the manner in which the brain construes the images input which is received. But, at a fundamental level of working, eyes and camera are intrinsically analogous.
How does the eye work alike a camera?
The manner in which the eye works similar to a camera is elucidated herewith by taking into consideration the entire process of eyesight being perceived, from the time light reflection, refraction and emission by varied items located around occurs and would reach surface of the eyes. Pathway of the light ray is tracked further within.
Cornea – Adjustable Lens Cover
Cornea is the exterior most component of the eye and functioning similar to a lens shutter. Cornea is the main focusing part that plays the role of focusing deviating light to meet on to the interiors of the eye. Epithelium is the outer layer of cornea that functions by protecting interiors of the eye and comprises of translucent cells capable of regeneration which facilitate light passage via them. Light on passage via the camera bends and would then fall on to the pupil.
Iris, Pupil – Ocular aperture system
Pupil is the mid black round part and iris is the homocentric coloured sphere situated around it which in unison makes up the ocular aperture system. Pupil dilatation or contraction occurs in accordance to the amount of light being incident. In less or dim light conditions, pupil dilatation occurs for gathering greater amount of light, whereas pupil contraction occurs in intense light for preventing any harm to the eyes due to over-exposure. Light would pass via the pupil and fall on the eye lens.
Eye Lens
Eye lens is the chief focusing method which curves light and making it land on the retina portion of the eye. At times, with aging, cloudiness and opacity of the lens occurs – a condition known as cataract and which requires replacement via surgical procedure. Eye lens is connected to the ciliary muscles and controlling it’s curving and thus controls the lens’s focal length.
Retina – Film of a camera
The eye lens causes bending of the light ray which would then fall on the retina forming the photo receptor method of the eye analogous to film of a camera. Retinal nerve cells are one of the most extraordinary cells in the body and produce electrical signals in reaction to when light falls on these cells. Exceptional cells known as rod cells are present in the retina which assists in colour perception.
Optic nerve, Brain – The Picture Conveyance and visual processing means
Retinal nerve cells produce electrical signals which are then conveyed toward the brain’s visual processing mechanism known as optic chiasma with assistance of the optic nerve. There are no optic nerve cells present at the spot where the optic nerve is attached to the retina. Due to this reason, light when falls on this spot, no processing occurs and is hence known as the blind spot. True real pictures created by lenses are forever upturned. This does not occur in human eye as the brain once again overturns the image.
