What Does the Sclera Do?

Sclera: This is commonly referred to as the white of the eye. It is fibrous and provides support for the eyeball, helping it keep its shape. Conjunctiva: A thin, transparent membrane that covers most of the white of the eye, and the inside of the eyelids. It helps lubricate the eye and protect it from microbes.

What is the purpose of the sclera?

Sclera Function

The sclera, along with the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye, maintains the shape of the eyeball. The tough, fibrous nature of the sclera also protects the eye from serious damage — such as laceration or rupture — from external trauma.

What three functions does the sclera have for the eye?

The sclera forms the posterior five-sixths of the connective tissue coat of the globe. It is continuous with the dura mater and the cornea, and maintains the shape of the globe, offering resistance to internal and external forces, and provides an attachment for the extraocular muscle insertions.