The layer of blood vessels located between the sclera and the retina is the

• A. Ciliary body
• B. Cornea
• C. Aqueous humor
• D. Choroid coat

Answer: (D)

Think of the eye’s vascular layer as the tissue that directly nourishes the retina. The layer located between the sclera (the white of the eye) and the retina is the choroid, sometimes called the choroidal coat. It’s full of blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the outer retina, especially through the choriocapillaris, supporting the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium. The pigment in the choroid also helps absorb stray light to reduce glare and improve visual clarity. The cornea is the transparent front surface, not a vascular layer; the ciliary body sits more anteriorly as part of the middle uvea and is involved in focusing and aqueous humor production, not the posterior vascular layer between sclera and retina.