dark adaptation

noun

, Ophthalmology.

1. the reflex adaptation of the eye to dim light, consisting of a dilatation of the pupil and an increase in the number of functioning rods accompanied by a decrease in the number of functioning cones ( light adaptation ).

Other Words From

• dark-a·dapted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dark adaptation¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

A phone is portable light pollution, however: It can take 30 minutes to regain dark adaptation after a peek at the screen.

From Washington Post

Mowgli So everyone wanted a dark adaptation of The Jungle Book, right?

From The Verge

The environment channeled an eerie underground bunker, with models emerging from the shadows, all a dark adaptation of Wang’s industrial-cool aesthetic.

From Architectural Digest

Other factors in aging vision may also play a role in driving ability, including perception of color and brightness, slower light and dark adaptation and slower visual processing in general.

From Reuters

To come now to the sense of sight, we have light adaptation, dark adaptation, and color adaptation.

From Project Gutenberg