The pigmented area in the center of the retina is known as the macula, specifically called the macula lutea. It is an oval-shaped, yellow-pigmented region responsible for sharp, central vision. The macula contains a high concentration of cone photoreceptor cells that enable detailed color vision and fine visual tasks such as reading and recognizing faces. Beneath the photoreceptors lies the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a pigmented cell layer that nourishes and supports the retina by absorbing stray light and recycling visual pigments.
The macula's pigmented appearance comes from pigments like lutein and zeaxanthin, which help filter harmful blue light and protect the retina from oxidative damage. The central depression in the macula is the fovea, which has the highest density of cone cells for the clearest vision.
Thus, the pigmented area in the center of the retina is primarily the macula lutea, vital for detailed and color vision. The retinal pigment epithelium underneath plays an essential supportive and protective role for this crucial vision area.
