Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

What colors are human eye cones sensitive to?

1. Red, Yellow, and Green

2. Red, Green, and Blue

3. Red, Green, and Yellow

4. Blue, Yellow, and Green

The correct answer is: Red, Green, and Blue

Human eye cones are specialized photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision and are primarily sensitive to three specific wavelengths of light. These three types of cones are often referred to as S-cones (short wavelength), M-cones (medium wavelength), and L-cones (long wavelength). The S-cones are most sensitive to blue light, the M-cones are sensitive to green light, and the L-cones are sensitive to red light. Together, these cones allow us to perceive a wide range of colors through the combination of red, green, and blue light. This trichromatic theory of color vision is foundational in understanding how human vision works. Other color combinations mentioned in the alternative answers do not effectively represent the primary sensitivities of the human visual system, which are indeed centered around red, green, and blue.