The neurons within the retina act to integrate the visual signals received by the rods and cones and transfer the information to the optic nerve. This specialized area of the retina is for the most acute vision. When a person is actively focusing or attending to an object the eyes are moved so that the image is focused on the fovea. It is thinner, containing only the cones necessary for detection of sharp images. The cones in this area are long and thin resembling rods so that they can be closely packed.
Blood vessels are absent as well.
Each foveal cone is directly connected to a neuron in the optic nerve. This is where the optic nerve and blood vessels enter the eye through the optic disc.