Final answer:
The cornea and lens of the eye are primarily responsible for refracting light to create a focused image on the retina. The pupil is not a refractive structure, but rather it regulates the amount of light entering the eye. The combined action of the cornea and lens is necessary for clear vision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The components of the eye responsible for refracting light to create a focused image on the photoreceptors of the retina are the cornea and the lens. The correct answer to the student's question is E. B and C: the cornea and the lens. The cornea, with its curved shape and greater refractive index than air, refracts light first, focusing it towards the lens. The lens then further refines the focus of this light, adjusting its shape to ensure that images are cast onto the retina clearly, whether the objects are near or far.
The retina, which contains the photoreceptor cells known as rods and cones, is where the focused image is finally projected. The ability of the eye to adjust the shape of the lens to focus light is crucial for maintaining clear vision at various distances, a process known as accommodation. Without the cornea and lens working in harmony, the image would not be properly focused, leading to vision problems such as myopia or hyperopia, depending on how light is focused in relation to the retina.
In summary, while light enters the eye via the pupil, the pupil is not primarily responsible for the refraction of light. Instead, the cornea and the lens work together to bend the light rays and focus them onto the retina, creating the basis for our vision.