There are different forms of this condition-early onset, which is an inherited disorder also known as retinal dysplasia, and late onset PRA. For example, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an eye disorder that causes retinal degeneration. However, there is research on eye problems to which some cat breeds are more prone, which could affect a cat’s ability to see in daylight or darkness. The tapetum lucidum provides greater light sensitivity, and it is estimated that this structure allows a cat to see six to eight times better than we can in the dark.ĭo Some Cat Breeds See Better in the Dark?Ĭurrently, there isn’t strong evidence that some cat breeds see better in the dark than others. Inevitably, some of this light is still not picked up by the photoreceptors and that light escapes and reflects back out from the eye, which accounts for the infamous shine that we see when looking at a cat's eyes in the dark. This structure catches light that may have passed between the rod and cone photoreceptors and is not absorbed by the retina, and reflects this light back to them to provide another chance for supporting their vision in the dark. When we look back at the image above that details the structure of a cat's eye, we can see that near the retina at the back of the eye is something called the tapetum lucidum. Nearsightedness is often confused with the function of rod and cone cells in a cat's eye and how this relates to cats seeing objects with lower resolution/detail than humans in many cases during both day and night. Nearsightedness occurs due to a refractive error where light coming into the eye focuses on the front of the retina (as opposed to behind the retina with farsightedness), resulting in blurry vision. While cats can be nearsighted, it's not something that can be attributed to all cats (as is the case for humans). These features give cats the ability to see more of what's around them, both during the day and night. What else do we know about cats' eyesight and how it differs from our own? Cats have better peripheral vision than humans, in addition to an overall wider field of vision (around 200 degrees) in comparison to the typical 180 degree field that humans have. As you can imagine, the functions of both the rod and cone cells in cats’ eyes are very useful for kitties who are on the prowl for rodents and other creatures that may be scurrying around at night! The cone cells in cats’ eyes help them to assess speed and distance. With more rod cells, cats can detect and follow movement more easily than humans can in low light conditions. The greater amount of cone cells that humans have means that we can see more vibrant colors during the daytime than cats can, as well as see objects with greater resolution/detail during the day.This abundance of rod cells allows them to sense shapes and objects in the dark better than we can, but not necessarily at the same level of detail. Cats have more rod cells and fewer cone cells than humans.Cone photoreceptor cells detect color and adjust for brightness, but do not work as well in low light.Rod photoreceptor cells are responsible for vision in low light conditions and for detecting and following movement.There are two main photoreceptor cells in the retina: rod cells and cone cells. The retina holds the key to one of the biggest differences between cat and human eyesight. How Does Night Vision Differ Between Cats and Humans? When relaxed, the lens becomes thinner, which helps cats focus on objects that are farther away. When contracted, the lens thickens and helps cats focus on objects that are closer. The lens also contains small ciliary muscles that contract and relax (just like all muscles do). The lens can be found behind the iris, and it also has a role in focusing light onto the retina. In low light settings, the pupil will enlarge to allow more light in, and in brighter light the pupil becomes smaller to reduce the amount of light entering the eye. This is because it controls the expansion and shrinkage of the pupil, which is the black circular at the center of a cat’s eye. The iris, or colorful part of the eye, is responsible for controlling the amount of light entering from the cornea. The retina contains cells that detect light called photoreceptors. It also allows light into the eye and focuses it onto the retina at the back of the eye. In the front of a cat’s eye is the cornea, which serves as the first barrier of protection for the eye. At night, when it’s particularly dark, the cornea, retina, iris, pupil, and lens of your cat’s eyes work together to help them during their hunting expeditions.
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