Layers in Ophthalmology: Cornea to LGN in Tables
Last updated: October 2026
Pages on this topic
- 10 layers of the retina: quick table and which layer holds what
- Where lesions sit on OCT, layer by layer
- This page: Layers of every eye structure, cornea to LGN
The layered structures of the eye and its surroundings, from cornea to the lateral geniculate nucleus, in one place. For the retina in depth, see Retinal Layers and Retinal Layers & OCT Made Easy.
For full structure-by-structure anatomy with measurements, blood supply and nerves, see ocular anatomy in depth.
The globe
| Structure | Layers (outside to inside unless stated) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cornea | Epithelium; Bowman layer; stroma; Pre-Descemet (Dua) layer; Descemet membrane; endothelium | Dua layer (2013) is a tough acellular layer just in front of Descemet: the plane of the big bubble in DALK (type 1 bubble) |
| Sclera | Episclera; scleral stroma; lamina fusca | Lamina fusca is pigmented and blends with the suprachoroid |
| Iris (front to back) | Anterior border layer; stroma (with sphincter near the pupil, clump cells of Koganei); dilator with anterior pigment epithelium; posterior pigment epithelium | Texts describe 2, 4 or 5 layers; iris colour depends on stromal melanocytes |
| Trabecular meshwork (inner to outer) | Uveal; corneoscleral; juxtacanalicular (cribriform) | Juxtacanalicular tissue gives most outflow resistance |
| Choroid (outer to inner) | Suprachoroid (lamina fusca); Haller layer (large vessels); Sattler layer (medium vessels); choriocapillaris; Bruch membrane | Choriocapillaris is fenestrated and feeds the outer retina |
| Bruch membrane (outer to inner) | Basement membrane of the choriocapillaris; outer collagenous zone; elastic layer; inner collagenous zone; basement membrane of the RPE | Five layers; breaks cause angioid streaks and allow CNV |
| Retina (outer to inner) | RPE; photoreceptors; external limiting membrane; outer nuclear; outer plexiform; inner nuclear; inner plexiform; ganglion cell; nerve fibre; internal limiting membrane | See the retinal layers pages for what lies in each |
Tear film, muscles and coverings
| Structure | Layers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tear film (inner to outer) | Glycocalyx; mucin; aqueous; lipid | Classically three layers (mucin, aqueous, lipid); mucin and aqueous mix as a gel; lipid from meibomian glands slows evaporation |
| Extraocular muscles | Outer orbital layer (small fibres, inserts into pulleys); inner global layer (larger fibres, inserts on the globe) | Basis of the active pulley hypothesis |
| Optic nerve sheath and meninges | Dura mater; arachnoid; pia mater | Pia and arachnoid from neural crest, dura from mesoderm; CSF in the subarachnoid space transmits raised ICP to the disc |
| Facial mimetic muscles (4 layers) | 1: orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus minor, depressor anguli oris. 2: platysma, depressor labii inferioris, levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, zygomaticus major. 3: levator labii superioris, orbicularis oris. 4: mentalis, levator anguli oris, buccinator | The facial nerve enters layers 1–3 from their deep surface and layer 4 from its superficial surface |
Lateral geniculate nucleus
| Layers | Cells | Input |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Magnocellular (motion, low contrast) | Layer 1 from the opposite eye, layer 2 from the same eye |
| 3 to 6 | Parvocellular (detail, colour) | Layers 4 and 6 from the opposite eye; layers 3 and 5 from the same eye |
| Between the main layers | Koniocellular (blue-yellow colour) | Both eyes |
Memory hook for the LGN: crossed fibres go to layers 1, 4 and 6 ("C-1-4-6"); uncrossed to 2, 3 and 5.
Key sources
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Basic and Clinical Science Course, Section 2: Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology (current edition)
- Dua HS, Faraj LA, Said DG, et al. Human corneal anatomy redefined: a novel pre-Descemet layer (Dua's layer). Ophthalmology. 2013;120:1778-1785
Related: Retinal layers, Eye embryology made easy, Orbital anatomy made easy.
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📘 Want the exam-ready deep dive? This topic, and much more is covered in Ophthalmology Explorer (A High-Yield Clinical Reference for Ophthalmology Residents, Fellows & Board Exams) — available on Kindle. See all my books.
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