Adaptometry is the clinical and scientific process of tracking the visual threshold of the eye as it transitions from bright light to total darkness. The test measures the time it takes for rods and cones to regenerate their photopigments. Researchers use this data to understand night vision, glare recovery, and the impact of different light spectra on human vision.
The adaptometry results showed that the amber warning lights preserved the driver's night vision much better than the cool white LEDs.
Related terms
Scotopic
Describes night vision at very low light levels, when only rod cells respond and color disappears.
Photopic
Describes daylight vision, when cones dominate, providing color and sharp detail at luminances above a few cd/m squared.
Mesopic
Describes the in-between vision of twilight and street lighting, when rods and cones both contribute.