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The Normal Eye
The human eye possesses focusing elements in the front, the cornea and lens, and a light-sensing element in the back, the retina. Light falls on the photoreceptors that are part of the retina, called rods and cones, and is converted into electrical energy, which travels via the optic nerve to the brain. The central most portion of the retina is the macula, which is the region responsible for seeing color and the acute central vision necessary for activities such as reading, face recognition, watching television and driving. The brain processes the complex signals sent from the retina into vision. The following diagram illustrates the principal elements of the anatomy of a healthy eye, including a detailed cross-section of the back of the eye.
Eye disease can be caused by many factors and can affect both the front and back of the eye. In its most extreme cases, eye disease can result in either partial or total blindness. In the developed world, the major diseases that result in blindness are those affecting the retina, including AMD, diabetic retinopathy, of which DME is a manifestation, and glaucoma. These diseases deny patients of their sight, and, as a result, their ability to live independently and perform daily activities.
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