What is the macula lutea?

The macula lutea — more commonly called the macula — is the most sensitive spot in the center of the light-sensitive retina in the back of the eye. The macula is responsible for visual acuity, central vision and color vision.

“The macula is the area of the retina that allows us to see 20/20,” says Maria Richman, OD, spokeswoman for the American Optometric Association. “It is the small and highly sensitive part of the retina that’s responsible for detailed central vision. The macula allows one to appreciate detail and perform tasks that require central vision, such as reading.”

The macula makes it possible to see in great detail while the rest of the retina provides peripheral (side) vision.

Why is it called macula lutea?

Like many medical terms, macula lutea is Latin: Macula means “spot” and lutea means “yellow.” The macula lutea is a very small spot in the central retina — it’s just 5.5 millimeters (less than a quarter-inch) in diameter.

Also, when viewed or photographed by your eye doctor, the macula lutea has a yellowish appearance (in contrast to the rest of the retina, which is red). The yellow color is due to the macular pigment, which is composed mainly of lutein and zeaxanthin from your diet.

Macular pigment protects cells in the macula from the potentially harmful effects of high-energy visible (HEV) blue light from the sun.