cornea

views updated May 23 2018

cornea A transparent layer of tissue, continuous with the sclerotic, that forms the front part of the vertebrate eye, over the iris and lens. The cornea refracts light entering the eye onto the lens, thus assisting in the focusing of images onto the retina. See also astigmatism.

cornea

views updated May 18 2018

cor·ne·a / ˈkôrnēə/ • n. the transparent layer forming the front of the eye.DERIVATIVES: cor·ne·al adj.

cornea

views updated May 14 2018

cornea Transparent membrane at the front of the eye. It is curved and acts as a fixed lens, so that light entering the eye is to some extent focused before it reaches the lens.

cornea

views updated May 29 2018

cornea (anat.) horny covering of the eyeball. XIV. — modL., short for medL. cornea tēla or tunica horny tissue or coating; fem. of corneus (whence corneous XVII), f. L. cornū HORN.

cornea

views updated May 18 2018

cornea (korn-iă) n. the transparent circular part of the front of the eyeball. It refracts the light entering the eye onto the lens, which then focuses it onto the retina.
corneal (korn-iăl) adj.

cornea

views updated May 23 2018

cornea The layer of transparent tissue that forms the front of the eye of a vertebrate; it refracts light on to the lens.