The basic anatomy of the optic nerve and visual system (or, why Thoreau was wrong)

Abstract

Although Thoreau admonishes us that it is not what you look at that is important, I hope it is clear from the discussion above that what you look at directly affects what you see, making the two aspects of vision inseparable. As a result of this intertwined nature, healthy functioning of all of the system's representative parts is necessary for the visual system to work properly. But vision does not reside only in the eyes. I hope it is clear fromthe previous discussion that the human visual system is a very complicated network of afferent and efferent connections spread through several regions of the head, neck and upper thorax. It also follows that, because of the complexity of the visual system, it is very subject to trauma. As a result, it is very common for victims of motor vehicle accidents, accidental trauma, sportsrelated injuries, and domestic altercations to present with a visual complaint. © 2010 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.