Compound eye

Compound eyes are special eyes found in many small animals like insects and crustaceans. They look different from our eyes because they are made of thousands of tiny parts called ommatidia. Each tiny part can see a little bit of what is around it.

The brain puts all these little pictures together to make one big picture. This helps animals see wide areas and notice quick movements. For example, honey bees can see changes in light very fast, which helps them stay safe.

Compound eyes come in different types. Some, like those of the mantis shrimp, focus light from one direction. Others, found in animals that are active at night, use special ways to see in the dark.

People have liked the look of compound eyes for a long time. They have inspired art, movies, and books, such as The Man with the Compound Eyes by Wu Ming-yi and Dragonfly Eyes by Cao Wenxuan.