The eye is one of the most emotive and interesting parts of the human body. This bodily feature has almost become synonymous with humanity itself – the eyes are the seat of the soul, as it is said. Below, we look at what is unique about the human eye.
The human eye is unique physiologically as well as metaphorically. There are several unique characteristics that differentiate our eyes from the eyes of other primates.
What Is Unique About the Human Eye?
If you’re interested in learning more about the human eye, here’s a brief summary of some of the qualities that make it a unique piece of physiology.
Summarizing the Eyes
The eyes are the most visible piece of a complex set of neurocircuitry that constitutes a human’s vision. All mammals, and most other types of animals on earth, have eyes.
The purpose of an eye is to detect frequencies of light and turn those stimuli into visual information. Eyes have a great range of complexity, shapes, and forms in the animal kingdom. Some eyes are very simple, while complex compound eyes have the ability to distinguish colors and shapes.
The human eye falls into the latter category. However, human eyes are not the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom. Many other animals, such as the mantis shrimp, or most predatory birds, have eyes that are more complex than a human’s.
Clear Distinctions Between Eye Outlines and Iris
Human eyes have a clear distinction between the outlines of their eyes and the iris within. This remains of the primary differences between the human eye and those of other primates. Still, many other primates have blurrier distinctions between these areas of their eyes.
The Iris is the part of the eye that controls the general dilation of the pupil. The pupil controls how much light gets into the rest of the eye’s complex system. It works almost like a light-adjustable lens. Irises stay considered by many people to be the most “beautiful” part of the eyes. Additionally, they can come in many different colors and shades.
In the human eye, the iris and the rest of the eye are clearly distinguished in a way that is more pronounced than in other closely related mammals. Scientists suspect that this may play a part in a human’s ability to transmit subtle signals via subtle movements of the eye.
Horizontal Elongation
Another thing that distinguishes the human eye: the general horizontal elongation of our eyes. Our eyes generally measure longer and slimmer than those of many other primates.
Why this development has come to pass isn’t entirely certain by the experts. What is certain is that slight variations in the shape and color of the eyes can have big impacts in terms of how the eyes process visual information.
Uniform Whiteness in the Sclera
Human eyes are also distinctive because of the uniform distribution of whiteness in the sclera of their eyes. The sclera is the scientific name given to the part of the eye that’s commonly called “the white of the eye.”
Scientists speculate that this development occurred in order to make visual communication more apparent between individuals. If the direction in which one’s iris is pointed is clearly apparent at all times, it becomes easier to interpret subtle visual communications. White scleras harshly contrast with the brightly colored irises of the human eye.
Approaching Problems of the Eye
The eyes are extremely delicate and sophisticated parts of our bodies. Their care should only be trusted in the hands of a consummate professional who is a specialist in their field. If you do have some kind of issue with your eye, you’ll undergo some kind of pre-surgical consultation to determine the exact issue that is transpiring with your visual system.
You will have a pre-operative appointment with your doctor to go over all the details of your impending procedure. You should feel free to ask as many questions as necessary during this consultation in order to ensure that you will feel secure and at ease receiving the treatment during your session.
Additionally, you should feel free to talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have so that you may both enter the operating room feeling as prepared and comfortable as possible.
The Eye Specialists of Orange County
Dr. Ghosheh and the rest of the team at Advanced Eye Medical are the top visual specialists in Orange County. If you have an eye issue, don’t hesitate to contact Advanced Eye Medical and set up an appointment to discuss your vision.