As we age, the amount of rods in the retina tends to?

As we age, the amount of rods in the retina tends to?

• A. Increase
• B. Decrease
• C. Stay the same
• D. Fluctuate

Answer: (B)

Rods are the photoreceptors that handle vision in dim light and provide peripheral vision. As we age, the retina gradually loses photoreceptors, and this loss is more pronounced for rods than for cones. That means the total number of rods tends to decline over time. This reduction underlies poorer night vision and reduced sensitivity to low light, especially in the peripheral visual field. In contrast, cones—responsible for color and detail in daylight—are less affected early on, which is why color vision can remain relatively better until later in life. So, the common aging pattern is a decrease in the amount of rods in the retina.

Rods are the photoreceptors that handle vision in dim light and provide peripheral vision. As we age, the retina gradually loses photoreceptors, and this loss is more pronounced for rods than for cones. That means the total number of rods tends to decline over time. This reduction underlies poorer night vision and reduced sensitivity to low light, especially in the peripheral visual field. In contrast, cones—responsible for color and detail in daylight—are less affected early on, which is why color vision can remain relatively better until later in life. So, the common aging pattern is a decrease in the amount of rods in the retina.