Vision, our window to the world! What exactly is it?

Vision is much more than just opening our eyes. It's our ability to receive all the fascinating information that reaches us through them. It's our main connection to the outside world!

But when we talk about the visual system , we're not just referring to our eyes. It's an entire team working together. There are the eyes, but also the visual pathways (like highways that carry information) and, the boss of it all!, the brain . It's in charge of processing, interpreting, and storing everything we see in our memory! It's like a supercomputer analyzing millions of visual data points every second!

It's estimated that 85% of all the information we receive from the world is visual! Incredible! So, how do you see? Have you ever stopped to think about how that marvelous thing called your eyes works?

The "super abilities" of our eyes! What are they?

To help us see the world clearly and comfortably, our eyes have a host of "super abilities" working tirelessly:

• Visual acuity: Seeing clearly! This is what we normally mean by "seeing well." It's the ability to distinguish fine details of objects, both far and near (or at any distance we need). It's like having a built-in high-resolution camera.
• Refraction: Perfect focus! Sometimes, the eye has a "small difference" that causes the light to not focus exactly on the retina , and then we see blurry. There are three main types of these "focus differences":

Hyperopia: Trouble seeing up close! In this case, the eye doesn't focus well on close objects when it's completely relaxed. It's as if the zoom doesn't work as well for close-up vision! This can cause more discomfort when reading or doing close-up tasks.
Myopia: The distant world looks blurry! It's the other way around here. The eyes focus well up close, but distant objects look a bit "blurred"! Interestingly, myopia from birth isn't that common; it usually appears during school age, sometimes due to the strain our eyes put on when reading or using screens up close!
o Astigmatism: A general blur! In this case, the eye doesn't focus sharply at any distance because images appear slightly distorted, as if they were "stretched" or "warped."

• Ocular motility: Eyes that move precisely! It's our incredible ability to move our eyes smoothly and accurately. This is very important for reading fluently, following moving objects, and exploring our surroundings. Imagine reading if your eyes couldn't move properly—it would be chaotic!
• Accommodation: Focus! It's our eyes' ability to focus on objects at any distance, whether near or far! If this ability doesn't work well, we can experience blurred vision, eye strain, or even headaches. It's like having a camera lens that automatically adjusts.
• Binocularity: Seeing with two coordinated eyes! It's the ability of our two eyes to work together at the same time, accurately and in a coordinated manner! This gives us comfortable vision and allows us to see the world in three dimensions (stereopsis) , mentally calculate distances, and know where objects are located in space. It's the ability to perceive depth.

But beware! Sometimes this coordination between the two eyes is lost, and the most extreme condition of this loss is STRABISMUS . What is that? Well, it's when one of the two eyes involuntarily deviates in a different direction than the other! This deviation can be constant or appear from time to time!

Good vision is learned from a young age!

Vision isn't something we have fully developed at birth. It's a whole process of learning and skill development that occurs from the first day of a child's life! Therefore, it's essential that we try to provide the best conditions for our little ones' vision to develop fully and healthily. Eyes that work well together and see clearly are a solid foundation for all their learning and exploration of the world!

________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Vision

1. What is vision in simple terms? Vision is our ability to receive information from the outside world through our eyes.
2. What parts make up our visual system? Our visual system includes the eyes, the visual pathways (nerves that connect the eyes to the brain), and the cerebrum, which is responsible for processing visual information.
3. What is visual acuity? It is the ability to see fine details of objects clearly, both near and far.
4. What are the most common refractive errors? The most common are hyperopia (difficulty seeing up close), myopia (difficulty seeing far away), and astigmatism (blurred or distorted vision at all distances).
5. What is ocular motility and why is it important? It's the ability to move the eyes precisely and smoothly, essential for fluent reading and object tracking.
6. What is accommodation and how does it affect us? It is the ability to focus at different distances. An accommodation problem can cause blurred vision, eye strain, or headaches.
7. What is binocularity and what does it allow us to do? It is the ability of both eyes to work together in a coordinated manner, providing us with comfortable vision and depth perception (3D vision).
8. What is strabismus? Strabismus is the involuntary deviation of one eye in a different direction than the other, which can be constant or intermittent.
9. Why is it important to take care of vision from childhood? Vision develops during the first years of life, and ensuring good visual development is crucial for a child's learning and overall development.
10. What can I do to take care of my vision? Regular eye exams, protecting your eyes from injury, and following the recommendations of an eye care professional are key to maintaining good eye health.