Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Practice Exam

Which type of visual receptors are responsible for processing color?

1. Rods

2. Cones

3. Bipolar cells

4. Photoreceptors

The correct answer is: Cones

The correct choice is indeed the type of visual receptors known as cones. Cones are specialized photoreceptor cells located in the retina that are primarily responsible for color vision and function best in bright light conditions. They are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, which correspond to the colors red, green, and blue. This allows the brain to perceive a wide range of colors when these cones are stimulated by light. Rods, on the other hand, are another type of photoreceptor but are primarily responsible for vision in low-light conditions and do not contribute to color perception. Bipolar cells serve as intermediaries in the retina between photoreceptors (rods and cones) and ganglion cells that transmit visual information to the brain, but they do not have the capability to process color themselves. Photoreceptors is a more general term that encompasses both rods and cones, but since only cones are specifically responsible for processing color, the correct answer focuses solely on this type.