Anatomy & Physiology
Visual Pathway

The diagram above illustrates the index of refraction of the various transparent structures of the eye.

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Visual Cortex

Once the optic nerves leave the eye they cross at an X-like structure called the optic chiasm. At this point the fibers within the optic nerves undergo a rearrangement resulting in the right field of vision from each eye being represented in the left side of the brain and the field of vision from the left field of vision in each eye being represented in the right side of the brain. The optic nerve fibres end at the geniculate body. The information is then transmitted to the visual cortex of the occipital lobe (a portion of the brain) where the conscious recognition of visual impulses takes place.