What function does the vitreous humor serve in the eye?

The vitreous humor is a clear, gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina in the eye. One of its primary functions is to help maintain the shape of the eye, ensuring that it does not collapse or lose its structure. This is essential for providing the eye with the proper shape to function effectively, allowing light to enter and be focused onto the retina. Additionally, the vitreous humor also plays a role in the optical quality by helping to keep the retina in place and absorbing shocks.

While the other functions mentioned—such as focusing light onto the retina and processing visual information—are critical for proper vision, they are performed by different structures in the eye. The lens is responsible for focusing light, the retina contains the cells that process visual information, and light-sensitive cells are primarily found within the retina itself. Therefore, the primary role of the vitreous humor is related to maintaining the shape and integrity of the eye.