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The Eyes – Our Window To The World

Sep 11, 2026 | Insights & Articles

We get the most knowledge of our surroundings through our eyes, which convey more information than any of our other senses. Every second the eyes absorb 10 million pieces of information and pass it on to the brain. Our vision adapts to different light conditions at cyber speed, refocusing within fractions of a second and distinguishing colors of several million shades.

Structure of the Eye

The eyes work much like a camera. Light passes through several parts of the eye—the cornea, anterior chamber, pupil, lens, and vitreous body before reaching the retina. The retina detects the light and converts it into signals. These signals travel through the optic nerve to the visual center at the back of the brain, where the brain processes them and creates the images we see.

Cornea

The cornea is the eye’s clear outer window. Light enters the eye through it before reaching the retina. It is made of tightly woven collagen fibers that form a transparent, dome-shaped surface. The cornea is just over half a millimeter thick and is covered by a thin layer of tear fluid.  It also helps focus incoming light so that a clear image can form on the retina.

Pupil

The pupil is the opening in the center of the iris, the colored part of the eye. It adjusts its size to control how much light enters the eye. In bright light, it becomes smaller to protect the eye from excess light. In darkness, it widens to let in as much light as possible. The pupil can also change size in response to emotions such as fear, excitement, or joy.

Iris

When you look into someone’s eyes, you can see the iris as a colored ring surrounding the black pupil. The iris blocks light and contains two muscles that control the pupil’s size. These muscles make the pupil smaller or larger depending on the amount of light.  The color of the iris is determined by pigments and inherited genes. Its tiny spots, lines, and patterns begin forming before birth. Every iris pattern is unique, even identical twins have different patterns.

Lens

The eye’s lens (lens crystallina) is a transparent, converging lens. It focuses the light entering through the pupil to form a sharp image on the retina.  The lens is flexible and can change its shape to focus on objects at different distances. A small muscle, called the ciliary muscle, controls these changes. This adjustment is known as accommodation.  As people age, the lens gradually becomes less flexible. This makes it harder to focus on nearby objects, a condition commonly known as presbyopia.

The Retina

The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It contains about 127 million light receptors, which detect light after it passes through the cornea, lens, and vitreous body. These receptors convert light into nerve signals that can be sent to the brain.  There are two main types of light receptors: cones, which allow us to see colors, and rods, which help us see differences between light and dark, especially in dim conditions.

The Optic Nerve

The optic nerve carries information from the retina to the brain. It is a thick bundle of nerve fibers, about half a centimeter wide.  The optic nerve leaves the eye through a point on the retina called the optic disc. This area is also known as the blind spot because it contains no light receptors. As a result, a tiny part of each image is not detected. We usually do not notice this because the brain fills in the missing information.

Why is this relevant for stroke survivors with visual field deficits?

Approximately 30% of stroke survivors experience a visual field deficit and for 20% this deficit is permanent. Understanding the eye is important as damage to the visual pathway (often following a stroke or head trauma) and the consequent vision disorders and visual field deficits may result in a substantial difference to one’s daily life.

Visual field loss in the central visual field is of particular importance. Depending on the severity of the disorder, all aspects of everyday life, for example reading, eating, dressing or watching television may become difficult. It is imperative that anyone who experiences a neurologically induced visual field deficit reach out to seek dedicated specialist care to address these visual impairments as soon as practicable.

If you want to know more about vision problems after stroke or brain injury and available treatments, you can visit our informative website here.

Patient Testimonials

David, United Kingdom

“I am most happy with what NovaVision did for me, after suffering an Occipital Lobe Stroke in December 2017 that caused eyesight loss and also cognitive problems.

I was looking for answers , after ruling out Peli prism glasses I couldn’t get on with, my Wife found NovaVision on the internet.

Whilst I still have Homonymous hemianopia to my left side vision field in both eyes, NovaVision did help me learn how to use my remaining eye sight to the full, helping me gain my driving licence back too.

Without doubt having Homonymous hemianopia is such a terrible condition to live with on a daily basis.

I thought my life was over, but it wasn’t and Nova Vision was a key factor in helping me rebuild my life back to some normality.

I highly recommend this therapy and can’t believe the Health Service in the United Kingdom don’t use it.

Thank you for everything you did for me.”

Fiona, United Kingdom

“I am very impressed with NovaVision. There was little to help after my stroke when my peripheral vision was affected, either from the National Health Service here in the UK, or privately. NovaVision seemed comprehensive, evidence based, effective and professional so I thought I would try. You need perseverance as it is a commitment to do two sessions a day 6 days a week for 6 months but it is workable, flexible, and the team is incredibly supportive. My aim in doing this course was to drive again. When I went for a vision test for driving, the optician was very impressed with the health of my eyes, the improvement in my general vision and I passed 100%. Due to NovaVision, I have strengthened my eyes generally and my prescription has gone down! My eyes are stronger. I would not be independent, driving, and on my way back to work as a Community Specialist Nurse without NovaVision. I wonder what I can achieve at the end of 6 months. This is only my third month! Thank you to the team and the programme.”

Cristian B., Australia

“Having a stroke at a young age of 35 was initially a very challenging experience. I was diagnosed with quadrantanopia (quarter of my peripheral vision loss) and I was unable to drive or read properly and, worst of all, doctors were telling me to get used to this condition, as it is unlikely to make a full recovery.

I insisted I wanted to try to regain as much of my vision as possible and I was introduced to NovaVision. From the initial conversation with Sigrid, I knew that there is hope as the narrative was different than from my doctors – NovaVision’s goal was restoration, not compensation.

I am currently on an extension and completing month 8 of VRT and still seeing improvement, documented in monthly reports and tests, which also help with Income Protection insurance benefits. I was able to resume driving and my reading skills have improved significantly. I continued improving well beyond the initial 6 months and I am very grateful! Thank you NovaVison!”

Randy, PA, USA

“May 2019 I had a stroke affecting my occipital lobe and leaving me with a left peripheral vision deficient. The OT that came into my room gave me no hope that it would ever return. The first neurologist ophthalmologist also gave me the same diagnosis even though I had by that time had some vision return. The visual field test then showed I would lose my driver’s license. My wife wasn’t satisfied with that being all that could be done and found another doctor that said NovaVision could be an option since I was getting some vision return. It was also showing on my visual field test that vision was returning but still not enough to drive. I started the NovaVision VRT in October. Twice a day for 6 days a week. It was grueling and required schedule changes in my day but as the months passed my vision steadily improved. At six months I took the visual field test with my doctor and still was not able to pass because of the state’s guidelines for peripheral vision. My doctor and I decided that another 3 months of NovaVision would be beneficial. I still showed improvements and to give up seemed like a bad idea. August 2020 was my last visual field test with my doctor and I am happy to say that with the therapy NovaVision and my consistency with completing the therapy daily, I passed and will now keep my driver’s license, my job, and my independence. I am thankful to my doctor, NovaVision, and my wife for believing in me and supporting me during this 9 month journey. I think we figured out that over the past 9 months I clicked on over 216,000 stimulus all well worth it.

Thank you for your support and Kindness over these past 9 months.”

TK – Ohio, USA, 50 (19.6% Improvement)

“In March 2005, I had a major stroke on the right side of the brain, rendering the left side of my body weak and paralyzed. The stroke really impacted my vision. Reading became very difficult because I could not easily see where the line of text began on the left. I would misread price tags when shopping because I couldn’t see the numbers on the left. $29.95 would look like $9.95. I became startled when people would approach me from the left side because they seemed to suddenly jump out at me.

I learned about VRT from someone who suffered from a stroke and benefited greatly from NovaVision. The doctor who had recommended that therapy to that patient was tentative about the treatment. I settled into a routine of doing VRT twice a day, half an hour at a time. It was psychologically good for me to be working on something at home. It helped to get monthly results from NovaVision to check my progress. I also listened to music to make the time go by faster.

After VRT, my reading is much better and scanning a computer screen is much easier. I can ride a bicycle now with confidence and now I don’t have to concentrate as hard to see on the left. I still have to scan the environment a little, but I am more comfortable getting around. Because of VRT, I do not feel startled so often.

I am enthusiastic about my results from VRT. I know VRT is responsible for the improvements I’ve had in my vision.”

CM – Canada, 48 (18.1% Improvement)

“I had a surgery 6 years ago that caused my vision loss. After three months of doing VRT, I have seen big improvements in my vision. VRT has helped my vision in numerous ways; my reading ability improved, I can scan much better, read at ease, walk with confidence, turn corners much easier, and rarely do I run into anything. I give credit to VRT which has strengthened my vision and helped me drive again. I live a normal and active life now.”

LF – Missouri, 39 (33.1% Improvement)

“My vision began coming back after the first month of NovaVision VRT, which really surprised me. With each month of therapy, I kept getting better. Now, after several months of therapy, my general vision seems to be back to normal. I passed a driving test, and now I am able to drive safely and without difficulty. My grandchildren are allowed to ride with me again. I feel really lucky to have regained so much vision, particularly since I was told I had lost it for good. I feel so much better than I felt a year ago when I felt I was at my worst, and my vision is still improving. It is amazing how much VRT has helped me.

After VRT, I am more comfortable going places and I can read normally now and enjoy the newspaper. I have returned to my favorite hobby of rebuilding my three cars, including a 1940 Ford, and driving my boat at the lake. I feel like I’m back to normal.”

Annette – Michigan

“6 years ago I lost vision in my right eye. It was black optic nerve stroke. Doctors said I’d never see again out of that eye. But unwilling to give up I discovered NovaVision on the internet. And asked to be put in a trial case study. With the help of NovaVision I restored my eyesight in my right eye from pitch black to 20/15 in six months. I was amazed. Then suddenly this year June 14th 2015 I woke up with massive blurred vision in both eyes. Unknown cause, eye health normal, suspected optic nerve problem. Unable to work put on medical leave but after two months completed NeuroEyeCoach and one month of VRT therapy. I’m happy to say I can drive again and read street signs. And even information on products that small lettering. I am so thankful without NovaVision in my life. I’d been half blind. But amazingly enough I’m completely getting my vision back once again. Every day it’s clearer and I will be returning to work soon. Thank you to NovaVision. You have saved my eyesight twice in my life.”