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On the surface, eyes seem like a physically small part of the body. They are, however, very complex organs that constantly perform a variety of tasks including detecting light, focusing and transmitting information to the brain. Through research, eye doctors know a lot about eyes, including how they function and how to treat problems that may arise. While physicians may have a wealth of knowledge about the ins and outs of your eyes, there are a host of things that many people do not know!
1. The average blink lasts for about 1/10th of a second.
Blinking is a vital aspect to well-functioning eyes. The average person blinks about 12 times per minute or more than about 17,000 times each day. Why the need to blink so much? Each blink helps keep the eyes moisturized so they can continue to detect light, communicate with the brain and allow you to see the objects that are in front of you.
2. Newborns don’t produce tears until they are about 4-13 weeks old.
Although newborns are known for their cries, they are only sounds and not tears. Once a baby reaches 4-13 weeks old, they develop the ability to cry and releasing tears can be added to their repertoire.
3. Eyeballs grow as you age.
When a baby is born, each eye measures about 16 millimeters wide. Once a child turns three, the size grows to about 23 millimeters wide, approaching the full-grown size of 24 millimeters. The maximum eye size typically occurs when a person reaches puberty and stays that size for the rest of their lives.
4. The length of your eyeball determines what kind of eyesight you have.
While the width of the eye is uniform for most people, the length of the eye is a key variable to determine the kind of eyesight you have. People with longer-than-normal eyeballs tend to be nearsighted, while those with shorter-than-normal eyeballs are typically farsighted. A change as small as one millimeter can change your vision and eyeglasses prescription.
5. There are about 39 million people who are blind around the world.
Blindness is a condition that can occur from birth, but it can also stem from an event later in life such as an accident or another eye disorder. In fact, one of the leading causes of blindness is the presence of cataracts in one or both eyes. While 39 million may seem like an overwhelming number, approximately 6 times that many people are living with some kind of vision impairment.
6. The muscles that control your eyes are the most active ones in your body.
While many other muscles in the body require a warm-up in order to function at their highest level, eyes are ready to go 24/7. This is because they are constantly working by blinking, receiving information and sending that information to the brain. Under optimal conditions, eyes can see and perceive up to 25 frames per second.
7. Even your eyes can get sunburned.
In the same way you get sunburns on your skin, the UV rays from the sun can be equally damaging to the tissues of the eye. Sunburn on the eye can cause damage to the membrane and/or the lens of the eye, eventually leading to permanent vision loss. It is true that blindness will eventually occur if you stare directly into the sun’s rays without eye protection.
To learn more fascinating facts about your eyes and the services that Dr. Silverman and the eye care professionals at OCLI provide, check out the website here!
