Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Eyes

5-minute read

What are eyes?

Your eyes allow you to see the shapes and colours of the world around you. They are sometimes described as your windows to the world.

What do my eyes do?

Your eyes gather light into electrical signals that your brain converts into what you see (your sight).

Along with your ears, muscles and joints, your eyes also help coordinate your balance.

Parts of my eye

Your eye is ball shaped and about 2.5 cm wide. It is not perfectly round.

Your eye contains special structures, which help to capture light.

If you look at one of your eyes in the mirror, you can see:

  • the iris, which is the coloured part of your eye
  • the cornea, which is the clear dome over your iris
  • the pupil, which is the black hole in the centre of your iris
  • the sclera, which is the white part of your eye
  • the conjunctiva, which is a thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of your eyelids and the whites of your eyes (sclera)

Other parts of your eye that you can't see are:

  • the lens, which sits behind your pupil
  • the retina, which is the inside of the back of your eye
  • the optic nerve, which is at the back of your eye

How does my eye work?

Light enters your eye through your cornea. It then travels through your pupil and lens.

The cornea and lens focus the light onto your retina.

The retina is a layer of nerve tissue that includes:

  • rods, which identify shapes and movement
  • cones, which detect detail and colours

Rods and cones absorb light signals and change them into nerve impulses. These nerve impulses, or messages, travel along your optic nerve to your brain.

Your brain then recognises these nerve impulses, or messages, as a visual image.

Eye problems

It is important to take care of your eyes, to prevent problems such as poor vision, blindness, and eye infection.

These problems can impact your education, employment, social life and mental health.

Vision Impairments

Your vision can be damaged by:

This may lead to blindness or vision impairments such as:

Some eye conditions can cause damage to your vision, such as:

Some people have genetic vision impairment. This can be present when they're born, or soon after birth.

Eye infections

Eye infections such as conjunctivitis, trachoma , keratitis and stye can be caused by:

Eye infections can cause red, itchy, painful eyes, and can sometimes cause vision loss if not treated quickly.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

Tips for healthy eyes

Most eye problems can be prevented. To keep your eyes healthy:

  • have your eyes checked regularly
  • protect your eyes from sunlight — wear a hat and sunglasses with UV protection
  • protect your eyes from injury at home and work
  • clean your hands and avoid touching your eyes to prevent infection
  • limit your use of devices (computer or phone) to prevent eye strain and dryness
  • eat healthily — green leafy vegetables, fish, linseeds, and some vitamins and minerals can help prevent macular degeneration
  • avoid smoking

Getting your eyes checked

Optometrists can help diagnose any vision problems through eye tests. They can also help treat and manage any vision problems. You can book an eye test directly with an optometrist (eye doctor). You don't need a referral from your GP to see an optometrist.

Medicare will pay for your eye test if your optometrist bulk bills.

Eye tests are paid for:

  • once every three years for people under 65 years
  • every year for people aged 65 years and over

People with diabetes and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, should have eye tests every two years.

Even if you aren't worried about your vision, it is important to have your eyes checked regularly to:

  • monitor your eye health
  • identify any problems you may not notice

You should see an optometrist (eye doctor) if you're worried about changes in your vision. For many people with blurry vision, glasses or contact lenses will help.

If you have children, you should have their eyes checked regularly.

Resources and support

You can find out more about eye conditions through Vision Australia or read more about taking care of your eyes.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: June 2022


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Your Eye Health and Diabetes | Diabetes Australia

It is important to understand the relationship between eye health and diabetes. Many Australians lose part or all of their sight as a result of diabetes.

Read more on Diabetes Australia website

Eye health and vision | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Illness, injury and ageing can affect your eyesight, so it’s important to keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Find out what we’re doing to help improve eye health in Australia and prevent vision loss.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

More than meets the eye: The link between eye health and nutrition | Nutrition Australia

Ever wondered how our nutritional habits have an impact on eye health? Well, there’s more than meets the eye – with a myriad of nutrients…

Read more on Nutrition Australia website

Eye health in remote communities | NT.GOV.AU

The opthalmology outreach team can visit your community to check the health of your eyes.

Read more on NT Health website

Eyes and vision (Ophthalmology) | Tasmanian Department of Health

Find information about eye health services in Tasmania, eye health professionals, and common eye disorders.

Read more on Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services website

News & Media releases | Glaucoma Australia

Exercise is good for our overall health, including eye health

Read more on Glaucoma Australia website

Maintaining eye health | Vision Australia. Blindness and low vision services

Taking care of your eyes can be a daunting proposition, and it’s important that you take the time to do it properly. These basic tips will get you on your way to protecting your vision.

Read more on Vision Australia website

What We Do | Indigenous Australia | Fred Hollows Foundation

Many factors contribute to Indigenous & Aboriginal Health, including social determinants and cultural reasons. Fred Hollows is an eye health charity dedicated to Indigenous health outcomes.

Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website

Floaters: tiny particles in the eye - MyDr.com.au

Floaters are tiny clumps of debris suspended in the eyeball. They cause visual disturbances, such as specks or tiny threads that float across your vision.

Read more on myDr website

Astigmatism - MyDr.com.au

Astigmatism is type of refractive error where the front surface of the eye (the cornea) or the lens inside the eye has an irregular curvature which causes the vision to be distorted and blurred.

Read more on myDr website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.