1 Vision from starlight to sunlight The human visual system operates effectively over an enormously wide range of intensities, of at least a billion-fold, from around 10 −4 cd m −2…

Introduction The sensory innervation of the eye is provided by the peripheral axons of primary sensory neurons located in the trigeminal ganglion. The sensory nerves enter the eyeball mainly through…

Overview Phototransduction is the series of biochemical events that lead from photon capture by a photoreceptor cell to its hyperpolarization and slowing of neurotransmitter release at the synapse. This overall…

Introduction In ocular therapeutics, the current literature describes drug delivery limitations posed by outward directed transport mechanisms of the eye. Drug delivery to ocular tissues is restricted by various factors…

1 Tear film overview The tear film overlays the ocular surface, which is comprised of the corneal and conjunctival epithelia, and provides the interface between these epithelia and the external…

Introduction The cranium protects the brain and provides scaffolding for facial structures. During primate evolution, the orbits were enlarged and reoriented towards the front of the face. This, along with…

The lens is a remarkably specialized epithelial tissue that is responsible for fine-tuning the image that is projected on the retina. To perform this function it must be transparent, have…

Introduction The vasculature of both the retina and brain can autoregulate, meaning that blood flow is altered in response to neuronal activity. This tight coupling between neuronal activity and blood…

Introduction The ocular circulation is unique and complex due to the presence of two distinct vascular systems, namely the retinal and uveal systems. The part of this circulation, the one…

Introduction The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a monolayer of pigmented cells located between the light-sensitive photoreceptor outer segments and the fenestrated endothelium of the choriocapillaris. On both sides, specialized…