Eyes and Brain Have Much in Common
The relationship between brain tissue and eye tissue is an area of intense interest for ophthalmologists and neurologists. The brain has a critical role in taking the visual information your eye gathers and putting it together into a picture that you can understand. And the optic nerve directly connects the brain to the back of the eye.
Research shows that diseases and conditions of the brain can also affect the eyes because the optic nerve and retina are actually brain tissue that extends outside the brain case. Alzheimer's disease and dementia, which are caused by damage to brain cells, both appear to have effects on the retina.
We don't yet have eye tests that can help us diagnose or understand dementia, but current research shows exciting potential. Studies show a clear relationship between brain tissue and eye tissue and point toward future areas of research.
