Final answer:
The protein that binds with vitamin A to create the photosensitive pigment in the retina is opsin, which forms rhodopsin when combined with retinal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protein that binds with vitamin A to make up the photosensitive pigment of the retina is opsin. Opsin is a transmembrane protein that combines with retinal, a molecule derived from vitamin A, to form rhodopsin. The rhodopsin molecule is crucial for vision as it is sensitive to light; when a photon strikes rhodopsin, it causes a photoisomerization reaction within retinal, changing its shape from 11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinal. This change in shape triggers a signal to the brain that is interpreted as vision. This process is part of the visual cycle necessary for normal vision, and it repeats continuously to maintain sight.