What is the function of the cornea in the human eye?

The function of the cornea in the human eye is primarily to cover the iris and pupil and to admit light. The cornea is the transparent, dome-shaped front layer of the eye that serves as a protective barrier against dirt, germs, and other potential damage. It plays a critical role in focusing light onto the retina, which is essential for clear vision. The cornea is curved, allowing it to bend (refract) incoming light rays as they enter the eye, thus aiding in the precise focusing of those rays onto the lens and ultimately onto the retina.

While the lens is responsible for adjusting focus on objects at various distances and the retina processes visual information, these functions are different from the cornea's primary role. The cornea does not directly aid in color perception or process visual information, which are functions of other parts of the eye and the visual system.