sclera

[ skleer-uh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a dense, white, fibrous membrane that, with the cornea, forms the external covering of the eyeball.

sclera

/ ˈsklɪərə /

noun

1. the firm white fibrous membrane that forms the outer covering of the eyeball Also calledsclerotic

sclera

/ sklîr′ə /

1. The tough, white, fibrous tissue that covers all of the eyeball except the cornea.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sclera¹

1885–90; < New Latin < Greek sklērá (feminine) hard

Word History and Origins

Origin of sclera¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek sklēros hard

Example Sentences

The motivation underlying this work stems from the limited options currently available to ophthalmologists for investigating the finer details of the sclera in living patients and specimens.

From Science Daily

Uveitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the choroid of the eye, which lies between the retina and the sclera.

From Science Daily

“The Bachelor” star Joey Graziadei shared Thursday that he has Gilbert syndrome, a liver condition that explains why the sclera — the white outer coating — of his eyes appear yellow.

From Los Angeles Times

Amid criticism, Moore later retracted his claim, saying he had only transplanted the eye’s outer portion—the sclera and cornea.

From Scientific American

Separately, the sclera, the eye’s outer layer, would most closely resemble those of horses and cows and include a nictitating membrane, the built-in goggles that make it possible to see underwater.

From New York Times