Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/9886.htm

Side view of the eye (cut section)

Internal eye anatomy

Overview

The cornea is the clear watch glass covering in the front of the eye. The cornea works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina. The retina is the internal layer of the eye that receives and transmits focused images. The retina is normally red due to its rich blood supply.

Review Date 2/12/2023

Updated by: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.