Your Eye is a Camera, Treat it Like One

When you look at a camera, do you see it as a whole device or many intricate parts working together to produce great pictures and videos? Your eye is very similar in that it’s not just an organ that works independently. Many pieces of the eye work in tandem to give you proper eyesight, and one of the most important pieces of it is the retina.

What is the function of the retina?

Your cornea is similar to a camera’s lens by taking in light and images. As Dr. Duncan Berry, a CEENTA ophthalmologist from our Concord, Salisbury, and University offices, describes it, “The retina is like the film of the camera where the picture is made.” The primary role of the retina is to receive these images through two photoreceptor cells: rods and cones. That information is then sent it to the brain via the optic nerve and further processed.

What are common conditions that affect the retina?

Much like film, your retina can degrade over time through a process called macular degeneration. This condition can cause blurry or reduced central vision, similar to how a video may lose clarity. Other issues that can affect the eye include retina tears with accompanying floaters and diabetic complications like retinopathy.

How can you improve your retina care?

A healthy lifestyle can keep your retina in good shape as you age. Good habits to consider include:

• Avoiding smoking
• Drinking plenty of water
• Wear sunglasses even on a cloudy day
• Eat leafy greens and eggs for essential nutrients like zeaxanthin and lutein

Taking precautions for your retina can go a long way. Dr. Berry goes into more detail about retina care and eye care options. “We have made a lot of advances when it comes to replacing or enhancing the lens and other focusing parts of the eye such as cataract surgery, LASIK and even contact lenses and glasses. Unfortunately, because the retina is very delicate nerve tissue as an extension of the brain, it is much harder to fix and repair.”

When you have a great camera, you treat it well by taking care of it and keeping it away from elements that can harm it. Your eyes, especially your retina, are no exception. That’s why it’s important to have routine eye exams to make sure that your retinas are working as well as a new roll of film. Schedule your next eye and retina care appointment with Dr. Duncan at our Concord, Salisbury, and University locations today for a picture perfect experience.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with our eye doctors in North and South Carolina. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.