Dark adaptation of the long-wave cones at different eccentricities.

Using a Wright colorimeter the ordinary long-term, long-wave cone dark-adaptation curve was measured at 0, 2, 4, 7, 17, 25, 40 and 49 degrees nasally in the visual field. In opposition to previous findings, the results show that the dark-adaptation function of the long-wave cones changes markedly when the test field is moved outward from the rod-free fovea. It is suggested that the kinetics of the long-wave cone photopigment change with eccentricity. Also, at variance with previous findings, the present curves at all eccentricities may reasonably well be interpreted as consisting of three different sections; a first section where the threshold decreases rapidly, followed by a major, approximately linear section and a terminating section that converges asymptotically towards the final level of sensitivity. This finding suggests that the dark-adaptation process of the cone system, under the given experimental conditions, is based on three somewhat different processes.