Macula

Definition

The macula is a small, central area of the retina in the eye that is responsible for high-acuity vision, enabling activities such as reading and driving. It contains a high concentration of photoreceptor cells that detect light and color.

Related terms

Retina:

The light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light into neural signals sent to the brain.

Photoreceptor cells: Specialized neurons in the retina that convert light into electrical signals which are interpreted by the brain as visual images.

Visual acuity: The ability of the eye to perceive fine details, primarily determined by the density of photoreceptor cells in the macula