Which part of the eye is responsible for color vision?

The part of the eye responsible for color vision is the cones. Cones are photoreceptor cells located primarily in the retina and are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, allowing them to detect colors. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different ranges of colors: short (blue), medium (green), and long (red). This trichromatic system is fundamental for perceiving a full spectrum of color.

In contrast, rods, while essential for vision in low-light conditions and for detecting movement, do not contribute to color perception. The macula is a region of the retina where vision is sharpest, but it primarily contains cones and therefore is not directly responsible for color vision itself. The cornea, the eye's outermost layer, primarily serves to focus light onto the retina and plays no role in color discrimination. This makes cones the clear choice when identifying the mechanism of color vision.