By simultaneously detecting contrast while also capturing faint details, the human eye exhibits superiority over the most sophisticated camera today.
The retina, the innermost, light-sensitive layer of eye tissue, can be thought of as equivalent to the film in a camera, or as a sensor with cells that act like individual pixels in a digital display.
The primary light-sensors in the retina are the photoreceptor cells. These are of two types: rods and cones.
The retina, the innermost, light-sensitive layer of eye tissue, can be thought of as equivalent to the film in a camera, or as a sensor with cells that act like individual pixels in a digital display.
The primary light-sensors in the retina are the photoreceptor cells. These are of two types: rods and cones.
--The rod cells are highly sensitive and are optimized for low-light,
black-and-white vision. There are approximately 90 million rod cells in the human eye spread across the retina.
--Cone cells, on the other hand, are less sensitive and require bright light to function; they provide color vision.
There are approximately six to seven million cone cells.
There are approximately six to seven million cone cells.
All of them are concentrated near the macula, the oval-shaped pigmented area in the center of the retina.
Additionally, there are three varieties of cone cells that are sensitive to different colors of light. Between them, they span the visual range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum (400–700 nm):
L-cones (long-wavelength) are sensitive primarily to red in the visible spectrum.
M-cones (medium- ) are sensitive to green.
S-cones (short- ) are sensitive to blue.
The retinal photoreceptor cells translate the light impressions they receive to electric pulses. These are sent to the brain via the optic nerve.
M-cones (medium- ) are sensitive to green.
S-cones (short- ) are sensitive to blue.
The retinal photoreceptor cells translate the light impressions they receive to electric pulses. These are sent to the brain via the optic nerve.
--The visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes visual information, interprets the pulses as color, contrast, depth, and other information. (There is also a lot of data processing in the retina itself.) This allows us to make sense of all the data, and ‘see’. We can discern about 10 million colors.
The eye, optic nerve, and visual cortex are separate and distinct subsystems. Together, though, they capture, deliver, and interpret up to 1.5 million pulse messages per millisecond. To even approach the performance of this incredible task would take dozens of supercomputers, programmed perfectly and operating flawlessly and concurrently.
Richard Dawkins has complained for decades about a “forest of
wires” between the light coming into the human eye and the photoreceptors. In reality, the forest comprises optical fibers that collect maximal light, and transmit it to the receptors while sharpening the image.
Optimization means “the act, process, or methodology of making something (such as a design, system, or decision) as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.” Undoubtedly, the design of the human eye satisfies this definition.
The eye, optic nerve, and visual cortex are separate and distinct subsystems. Together, though, they capture, deliver, and interpret up to 1.5 million pulse messages per millisecond. To even approach the performance of this incredible task would take dozens of supercomputers, programmed perfectly and operating flawlessly and concurrently.
Richard Dawkins has complained for decades about a “forest of
Optimization means “the act, process, or methodology of making something (such as a design, system, or decision) as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible.” Undoubtedly, the design of the human eye satisfies this definition.
As Psalm 111:2–3 ESV declares,
Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever."
CMI