Macula lutea
Sensory (eye & ear)OrgansHeadLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- An oval, yellowish area at the centre of the back of the retina, on the visual axis, coloured by the carotenoid pigments lutein and zeaxanthin.
- Function
- Provides sharp central and colour vision - reading, recognising faces, driving.
- Size
- About 5.5 mm across, centred ~3.5-4 mm temporal to the optic disc.
- Clinical note
- Age-related macular degeneration destroys central vision while peripheral vision remains; it is the main cause of sight loss in older adults in wealthy countries.