Macula lutea

Macula Lutea

The Macula Lutea (also known as the macula) is a small, yellowish area located in the center of the retina of the human eye. It is responsible for providing the sharpest and most detailed vision, particularly for tasks such as reading and recognizing faces.

Anatomy

The macula lutea is approximately 5.5 mm in diameter and is located temporal to the optic disc. It is characterized by its yellow color, which is due to the presence of xanthophyll pigments. The macula is made up of two main parts: the fovea centralis, a small pit in the center of the macula that contains the highest concentration of cone cells and provides the sharpest vision, and the parafovea and perifovea, which surround the fovea and contain a mix of cone and rod cells.

Function

The macula lutea plays a crucial role in high-resolution central vision. The high concentration of cone cells in the fovea allows for detailed color vision in bright light conditions. The parafovea and perifovea contribute to peripheral vision and vision in low light conditions.

Clinical significance

Damage or degeneration of the macula lutea can lead to a loss of central vision. The most common condition associated with the macula is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. Other conditions that can affect the macula include macular edema, macular hole, and macular pucker.

See also

• Retina
• Fovea centralis
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Macular edema
• Macular hole
• Macular pucker