The eyes are one of the most powerful, complex, and amazing organs in the entire body, so we’ve created a list of interesting facts you may not know. At Clearly Eye Care, LLC, we provide access to quality vision care and expert vision service in Round Rock. We perform comprehensive eye examinations to evaluate your vision and eye health.
Here are ten things you probably didn’t know about your vision!
1. Almost 50% of Our Brain Is Used for Sight
Researchers at the University of Rochester discovered that we use 50% of our brains to see. Our eyes function similarly to a camera. The brain can instantly recognize what the eyes see with nearly 100 billion neurons that help process visual information.
The cones and rods in the eye convert visual information into electric information. Then, the optic nerve transmits this information to the visual cortex, which decodes the information to form a clear image. The brain is capable of processing an image in just 13 milliseconds.
2. Humans Blink More Than 14,000 Times a Day
As with breathing, we constantly blink without even noticing. Most people blink 15 to 20 times per minute. That means an average person blinks about 14,000 times daily.
Research shows that gender or age does not significantly impact how frequently one blinks. A normal blinking period ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 seconds. Based on a typical blink pattern, most people have a blinking frequency similar to the following:
Blinks per hour: 900 to 1,200
Blinks a day: 14,400 to 19,200
Blinks a week: 100,800 to 134,400
Blinks a year: 5.2 and 7.1 million
3. Color Blindness Is More Common in Men
People with color blindness cannot perceive different colors due to a genetic disorder or health condition. Color blindness affects nearly one in 12 men but only one in 200 women. The X chromosome is responsible for the majority of color blindness in men.
Men are more susceptible as only one X chromosome must be defective to develop the condition. However, women must have both X chromosomes mutated to develop color blindness.
4. Eye Exams Can Detect Other Health Problems
The first clue that someone has a serious health problem usually comes from an eye doctor since people are more likely to schedule an eye exam than a routine physical. An eye doctor can detect other health conditions by examining your eye’s blood vessels, nerves, and connecting tissues. Common conditions include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer.
Most diseases caught early can receive treatment to prevent other health complications. As such, scheduling regular vision service in Round Rock is essential to ensure your eyes are as healthy as possible.
5. Some People Can See 100 Million Colors
The human eye contains three types of cones that help you see colors. Each cone can detect 100 different shades of color, resulting in an estimated million color combinations. While most humans can see one million colors, those with a condition known as tetrachromacy can see 100 million.
A tetrachromat’s eye contains a fourth type of cone, enabling them to see 100 times more colors than the average person. However, only 1% of people have this rare condition.
6. All Blue-Eyed People Descend From a Single Common Ancestor
Researchers at The University of Copenhagen have found that blue-eyed people share a common ancestor. All blue-eyed humans are the descendants of a mutation that occurred six to ten thousand years ago. These mutations occurred in a gene known as HERC2.
The HERC2 gene deactivates the OCA2 gene, which causes brown color pigment in the eyes. The mutation probably happened during the African-European migration. That’s why people of European descent tend to have blue eyes.
7. A Day at the Beach Can Cause Eye Sunburn
Did you know that your eyes can have a sunburn? Damage to the eye’s surface, caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, can result in a sunburn, known as photokeratitis. Using a tanning bed or going to the beach without proper eye protection can cause eye sunburn.
The cornea can become inflamed as a result of UV exposure. It usually takes one to two days to recover from photokeratitis. If you enjoy the outdoors, wear sunglasses to prevent eye sunburn.
8. Our Eyes See More Shades of Green
Evolution plays a significant role in how we perceive colors. The eye has a wavelength that corresponds to each primary color. Red color corresponds to the upper wavelength, while blue occupies the lower, and green sits in the middle.
Our perception is best at the center of our visual range, so it’s easy for us to see shades of green. We have evolved into seeing green colors because our ancestors lived in regions full of luscious green forests.
9. Emotions Can Shape What We See
Behavioral studies have shown that our emotional state may affect what we see. During the experiments, participants created perceptions based on their feelings or what they saw. Positive images lead to a more pleasant experience, while negative pictures cause sadness.
The researchers concluded that our mood determines our experience. The idiom that some people “see the world through rose-tinted glasses” is true because they focus on positive events and are generally optimistic.
10. The Cornea Is the Fastest Healing Tissue
The cornea is a transparent layer covering the eye’s front portion. Unlike other parts of the human body, the cornea does not have any blood supply as it receives oxygen via the air. The cornea is a fast-healing tissue, and most corneal abrasions heal quickly within one to two days.
Experience the Clearly Eye Care Difference Today
At Clearly Eye Care, LLC, we provide professional care to individuals that protects their eyes and vision. Our team offers quality vision care, including eye exams, contact lens fittings, LASIK consultations, and dry eye treatments. We continuously update our technology to ensure you receive comprehensive vision care benefits and the best vision service in Round Rock.
Contact our team at Clearly Eye Care, LLC, in Round Rock, TX, today for expert eye care and superior vision services. Call us at 512-243-7519.
