Which retinal layer is not present in the fovea?

Which retinal layer is not present in the fovea?

• A. Retinal nerve fiber layer
• B. Internal limiting membrane
• C. Inner nuclear layer
• D. Outer nuclear layer

Answer: (A)

The fovea is a specialized pit where inner retinal layers are pushed away from the center to maximize cone density and minimize light scattering. Because the retinal nerve fiber layer consists of the axons of ganglion cells, there are no ganglion cell axons passing through the very center of the fovea. In other words, the nerve fiber layer is absent at the foveal center, even though the other layers—such as the internal limiting membrane, inner nuclear layer, and outer nuclear layer—are still present (though rearranged or thinned) around it. The result is that the fovea achieves its high-acuity vision by removing the NFL right at the center.