What structure within the eye is responsible for color vision?

The structure responsible for color vision in the eye is the cone cells located in the retina. Cone cells are photoreceptors that function best in bright light and are essential for detecting fine detail and color. There are three types of cone cells, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light corresponding to the colors blue, green, and red. When light hits these cones, they respond by sending signals to the brain, which interprets these signals as color.

In contrast, rods, another type of photoreceptor, are primarily responsible for vision in low-light conditions and do not detect color. The retinal pigment epithelium plays a supporting role by nourishing the photoreceptors and maintaining the health of the retina, while the optic nerve transmits visual information from the retina to the brain but does not participate directly in the process of color detection. Therefore, the cone cells are specifically responsible for our ability to perceive color in our visual field.