AVIXA Recognized AV Technologist Test

Which structure does light enter the eye through first?

1. Cornea

2. Retina

3. Rods

4. Iris

The correct answer is: Cornea

Light enters the eye first through the cornea. The cornea is the transparent front layer of the eye that plays a crucial role in the eye's optical system. It refracts, or bends, the incoming light rays to help focus them onto the retina at the back of the eye. This initial step of light entry is essential for vision, as the cornea provides a significant portion of the eye's total focusing power due to its curvature. The other structures, such as the retina, rods, and iris, play distinct roles in the visual process but are not the initial point where light enters the eye. The retina is located at the back of the eye and is responsible for converting light into neural signals. Rods are photoreceptor cells within the retina that are sensitive to low light levels but do not contribute to the initial process of light entry. The iris is the colored part of the eye that regulates the amount of light entering through the pupil but does so after the light has passed through the cornea. Hence, the cornea is unequivocally the first structure that light enters in the eye.