BEHIND THE EYES

Behind the lens of an eye is this network of vessels and cells. In orange is the DNA of retinal ganglion cells, responsible for transmitting image-forming information from the retina to the brain. In green are supportive nonneuronal cells called glial cells, which protect the ganglion cells. The long blue branches are the eyes’ blood vessels, delivering vital oxygen. This was taken using a laser scanning microscope. This form of microscopy uses a laser beam that’s focused by a lens onto the surface of a sample, in this case the retina of a mouse. An image is then constructed from the emitted photons of the fluorescent dye that’s added.