Anterior Eye Anatomy
My favorite part of each eye exam is getting the slit lamp (microscope) out and studying the various structures of a patient's eyes. The eye is a structure with many beautiful features. Each component of the eye plays a role in capturing images from the external environment and preparing that visual information for its journey through the brain. The first structures examined are the eyelids and eyelashes. These structures work to protect the eye from debris in the air and reset the tear film with each blink. A major contributor to our natural tears, the meibomian glands, are located just behind the eyelashes. Our major concern when looking at the eyelid are various skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma). Past the eyelids the tear film is observed. The tear film lubricates and protects the front surface of the eye, the cornea, and plays a vital role in keeping images clear on the way to the retina. The tear film is composed of thr...