On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger, an ophthalmic surgeon at the COP9 clinic, appeared on the TV show E=M6 on M6. On this occasion, she shared her expertise on the secrets of our vision and explained the fascinating mechanics of our visual system in accessible terms.
Iris color, pupil, retina: how do eyes work?
The human eye acts like a remarkably precise camera.
To understand how do eyes work, you have to look at the complementary role of each anatomical structure:
The iris and the pupil: The iris, which gives our eyes their unique color, houses a natural diaphragm: the pupil. It constricts or dilates to adjust the amount of light entering the eye.
The lens: This transparent lens focuses light (accommodation) so that images remain sharp, both near and far.
The retina: Located at the back of the eye, it receives light rays and converts them into electrical signals sent directly to the brain via the optic nerve.
Understanding how do eyes work makes it easier to spot visual disorders or eye conditions at the first sign of symptoms.
Iris, color, and natural eye care
During her appearance on M6, Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger went into detail on several fascinating topics.
She notably explained where iris color comes from, a unique trait determined by melanin concentration, as well as how the tear system functions. The tear film and the blinking of the eyelids provide an essential self-cleaning and moisturizing mechanism to protect the eye from external aggressors.
To catch all of Dr. Zwillinger’s explanations on how do eyes work, feel free to watch our replay clip from the September 20 episode of E=M6!