Fovea centralis

Looks like

A tiny pit at the centre of the macula, packed only with cones.

What it does

Gives the sharpest detail vision — whatever you look straight at.

Keeping it well

Never look at the sun or an eclipse without proper filters; that burns a permanent blind spot here.

Related conditions

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Blepharitis & styes
• Cataract
• Colour blindness
• Conjunctivitis
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Eye melanoma (uveal melanoma)
• Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
• Jet lag
• Keratitis (corneal infection and ulcer)
• Keratoconus
• Onchocerciasis (river blindness)
• Presbyopia
• Retinal artery occlusion (eye stroke)
• Retinal detachment
• Retinal vein occlusion
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Retinoblastoma
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Short and long sight (refractive error)
• Sjögren's disease
• Squint & lazy eye
• Toxoplasmosis & CMV
• Uveitis & iritis