Fact of The Day – The Cornea Doesn’t Have Blood Vessels

The cornea, the part of the eye which covers the pupils and the iris doesn’t have any blood vessels. The cornea is the transparent and outer part of the eye which is at the front. It’s purpose is to bend and refract light as it hits the eye. It doesn’t have any blood vessels because if it did, it would obstruct vision. It would also stop it from properly refracting light as it hits the eyes.

While the rest of the body relies on the blood cells to receive nutrients and oxygen, the cornea gets these in another way. The cornea receives nutrients through tears and the aqueous humour, which is the fluid in the anterior chamber. The tears and fluid also stop things such as dust getting to the eye. The cornea gets oxygen from the air, as it is diffused into this part of the eye through the tears and aqueous humour.