Comparing The Human Eye And Backward Design

The eye is a complex organ than has brought about much debate in the world of science. The primary focus of the debate is whether or not there is a God based on the design of the human eye. Many argue that the eye is proof that there is no God because of its backward design. However, some people, such as Bergman, believe that this backward design proves the opposite. Bergman and fellow believers argue that this design is more complex and a much better design than what a big bang and evolution could produce. Therefore, according to Bergman, the human eye is proof that there is indeed a creator who knew the best way in which to make our whole bodies, and specifically our eyes.
Within the eye there are two special receptors that receive light.
These specialized receptors are rods and cones. For the eye to see, light must travel through the pupil and then through the rods and cones. Rods specifically see objects on a gray scale. They are sensitive to light and can make out the general outline of objects but not in color. Cones, however, see color. There are three types of cones, red, green, and blue, and from these three different types of cones a wide spectrum of colors can be detected and create a very sharp image. Within the rods and cones there are visual pigments that change shape when light hits them. This in turn activates opsin which sends signals to the nerve. After that, bleaching will occur and with the help of ATP the pigment will reassemble. This whole process is known as photoreception. The signal the opsin has sent will travel through bipolar, horizontal, amacrine, and retinal ganglion neurons, and then exit the eye through the optic nerve which leads to the occipital lobe of the brain. In this lobe, the brain processes light and provides us with visual perception and color recognition.
There are two different types of eyes that a species can have. There are inverted eyes, like the ones that humans, have and then there are verted eyes that some animals such as squids have. The difference between these two types of eyes is the direction the rods and cones are facing. In an inverted eye the rods and cones are backwards. This means that the light has to bounce off the back of the eye to reach the front of the rods and cones that it needs to travel through. The light then goes through the many neurons and exits the eye through the optic nerve. Since the rods and cones are backwards, the optic nerve must travel some distance within the eye and then exit the eye through the optic disc. Where the optic nerve exits, there is a blind spot.
A verted eye, in comparison to an inverted eye, has a much simpler passageway.
The rods and cones face forward so that when the light enters through the pupil, it travels straight to the rods and cones without having to bounce off the back of the eye. The light travels through the rods and cones and then through the many neurons. By the time the light reaches the optic nerve, it is already out of the eye. Since the optic nerve is not in the eye, there is no blind spot that occurs. For this reason, evolutionists believe that the verted eye is superior to the inverted eye. They say that this design is much more practical and makes much more sense than having backwards rods and cones that in turn create a blind spot. They consider the blind spot a flaw in the design, even though they do admit that it is a minor imperfection. The design of the inverted eye in their minds is one of the best pieces of evidence that there is no creator because no one, especially not an intelligent God, would create such a backward
design.
Although some may argue that the blind spot where the optic nerve exits the eye is evidence of poor design, I personally agree with Bergman because he opposes their claims with solid evidence. Even though the human eye does contain a blind spot, the blind spot is barely even noticeable. In fact, special testing must take place for one to realize that there is indeed a blind spot. Both eyes work together to provide full visual coverage so that the blind spot is hardly ever noticeable. Also, this design makes it possible for the eye to have binocular vision which inverts the image so that images will be perceived correctly.
The way in which the human eye has been designed also allows faint details to be perceived.
The macula in the eye provides the sharpest vision. It is extremely sensitive, in fact it is one hundred times more sensitive that the rest of the retina. It is also very tiny, having a diameter equal to the diameter of lead in a pencil. The macula has to be this small for sensing and operating properly without overloading the brain. Its extreme sensitivity allows it to rapidly communicate a large stream of data to the optic nerve in accuracy. This allows great amounts of detail to be perceived. To keep the brain from overloading and allow the macula to sense many details, the blind spot is necessary. The blind spot is located in the peripheral area. The peripheral retina surrounding the macula provides a large visual field without distracting the individual. The peripheral area is not nearly as sensitive as the macula and does not collect a large amount of detail which is how it keeps the individual focused on the primary image while at the same time being aware of its
surroundings.
Bergman explains the complex design of the eye and gives the reader evidence that the blind spot is in no way, shape, or form a flaw in the design, but rather the backwardness of the design creates an impressive neurological feedback system that is in many ways superior to the verted eye. This system is so complex and beneficial, thus proving that there has to be a God to think of such an incredible design. His argument is valid because it is made on solid evidence and research. Although the design of the eye may be backward to what a human would propose, it is in many ways an intelligent design. The blind spot that some would call a flaw provides visual aid to the macula and thus creates a more detailed image. It is not an imperfection, but an important part of the complex design that God in his great knowledge determined to be the perfect design for the human eye.