What Part of the Brain Controls Vision

Vision is an intricate function of the brain that extends from the front to the back of the head. To produce vision, the eyes record details and send it through the optic nerve to be processed by the occipital lobe. The brain also integrates other information, such as sensory stimuli, to result in the application of sight, such as picking up an item. Problems with vision, such as vision gaps, can result from damage to specific parts of the brain.

Optic Nerve Responsible for Vision

When light reaches the retina in the eye and an image is developed, it moves to the remainder of the brain through the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the second cranial nerve, and is the connection between the brain and eyes. Damage to the optic nerve avoids any info from being sent from the eyes to the remainder of the brain. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research specifies that info from the left eye goes to the right hemisphere and vice versa; this is because the optic nerve crosses at the optic chiasm, causing the optic nerve from each eye to send its details to the opposite side of the brain.

Occipital Lobe
The part of your brain that controls your vision resides in the Occipital Lobe and is called the Visual Cortex.

What Part of the Brain Is Responsible for Vision

As soon as the information passes from the optic nerve to the remainder of the brain, it is sent to the occipital lobe, where vision is processed. The occipital lobe is located in the back of the brain, above the cerebellum, and forms the center of the visual perception system, according to the Centre for Neuro Skills. Each hemisphere has its own occipital lobe; therefore, each occipital lobe processes the information sent to that particular hemisphere. The occipital lobe controls how an individual views sight, so damage to this brain section can result in visual field cuts, and problems identifying color or movement of a things.

Visual Cortex

The last part of the brain associated with vision is the visual cortex, where sensory and motor info is incorporated with vision. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research states that several visual pathways are included. For instance, the ventral visual path controls how an individual identifies items, while the dorsal visual path manages an individual’s visual-motor action to things. To puts it simply, the visual cortex enables you to understand that you’re taking a look at a plate, for example, and then permits you to choose it up.

Reyus Mammadli/ author of the article

I’m the author and editor of this health blog, active since 2008. With a background in medical and biotechnical devices, I focus on making health and self-care topics—especially in ophthalmology—clear and accessible.

Although I’m not a licensed physician, I’ve spent over 15 years working with medical literature and guidelines, with particular attention to trusted ophthalmic sources such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, National Eye Institute, and PubMed. I also follow the latest updates in diagnostics and treatment technologies.

My aim is to help readers better understand eye diseases, tests, and treatment options—so they can feel more confident when consulting a doctor.

Note: This blog does not provide medical diagnoses or treatments. It offers clear, reliable health information to support informed conversations with healthcare professionals.