Trilobites had compound eyes, which are made up of many individual lenses. This type of eye provides a wide field of vision, which would have been useful for trilobites to find food and avoid predators. Trilobite eyes were located on the top of their heads, which suggests that they were primarily bottom-dwelling animals. They would have used their eyes to scan the seafloor for food, such as small animals and algae.
The structure of the lenses in trilobite eyes also provides information about the environmental conditions in which they lived. The lenses were made of calcite, which is a mineral that is easily damaged by ultraviolet radiation. This suggests that trilobites lived in environments with relatively low levels of ultraviolet radiation, such as the deep ocean or under the cover of vegetation.
The study of trilobite eyes has provided valuable information about the lifestyle and environment of these extinct animals. Their eyes were complex and well-suited for their environment, and they provide a glimpse into the diversity and complexity of life during the Paleozoic era.