Eye Eye!

article & images by Daniel Knop

Not all eyes are equal. Among the

inhabitants of a marine aquarium we

find eyes at all stages of developm e nt.

In humans and fishes, the eye is one of the most complex

organs in the body. It captures light radiation, focuses it

on the retina, and transmits the resulting stimulus in the

form of electrical signals to the brain. First the retina pro-

cesses the data, and these signals then travel to the brain

via the optic nerve, creating a virtual image. This is basi-

cally the same process used by a digital camera.

Eyes also arouse emotions. When we see eyes, we are aware

that we are also seen and perceived. Eye contact is also con-

tact between two brains. To look at an eyeless invertebrate