scotopic
Rod-mediated sight condition
Scotopic describes vision adapted to low light conditions, when the eye's rod cells dominate over cones.
Scotopic vision lacks color perception and fine detail but detects dim light effectively: After twenty minutes in darkness, scotopic vision allows you to navigate by starlight.
The term appears in ophthalmology and vision science, contrasting with photopic (bright-light) vision.
Total absence of light
- twilightLight after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- starlightLuminance from distant suns
gloaming · crepuscular · nighttime · shadows · penumbra · dimness · candlelight · half-light
Cells sensing light
- rodsThin cylindrical shafts
- retinaLight-sensing tissue layer
- photopigmentLight-absorbing retinal molecule
- hyperpolarizationExcessive membrane voltage negativity
Responsiveness to stimuli
- peripheral visionSight at edges
- acuitySharpness of mind or sight
- night blindnessImpaired vision in darkness
- recovery timePeriod needed to heal
darkness
Total absence of light
starlight · gloaming · crepuscular · nighttime · shadows · penumbra · dimness · candlelight · half-light · nocturnal
photoreceptors
Cells sensing light
- rodsThin cylindrical shafts
- retinaLight-sensing tissue layer
- photopigmentLight-absorbing retinal molecule
sensitivity
Responsiveness to stimuli
- peripheral visionSight at edges
- acuitySharpness of mind or sight
- night blindnessImpaired vision in darkness