Correct Option (A):
The cornea is the specific part of the eye that is transplanted during eye donation. It is the transparent, dome-shaped front surface of the eye, crucial for focusing light onto the retina. Its avascular nature (lack of blood vessels) significantly reduces the risk of immune rejection by the recipient's body, making it ideal for transplantation to restore vision in individuals suffering from corneal blindness.
Incorrect Options:
- Option B (Lens): The lens is primarily involved in focusing light. While it can be replaced with an artificial intraocular lens during procedures like cataract surgery, it is not the component transplanted in eye donation.
- Option C (Retina): The retina is a complex and delicate layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye, responsible for converting light into neural signals. Due to its intricate structure and connection to the brain, it is not currently transplantable.
- Option D (The whole eye): Transplanting the entire eye is not surgically feasible or medically practiced for restoring vision. The complex network of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles required for a functional eye cannot be successfully reconnected to the recipient's brain and orbital structures.