visual cycle

The visual cycle refers to the process by which our eyes convert light into images that our brains can understand. When light hits the retina at the back of the eye, it stimulates photoreceptor cells called rods and cones. These cells contain a light-sensitive molecule called rhodopsin. Upon exposure to light, rhodopsin undergoes a chemical change, sending signals through the optic nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as images. The cycle then resets, allowing the photoreceptors to be ready for the next light stimulus, enabling continuous vision under varying light conditions.