Variation of visual detection over the 24-hour period in humans

A circadian rhythm for visual sensitivity has been intensively assessed in animals. This rhythm may be due to the existence of a circadian clock in the mammalian eye, which could account for fluctuating sensitivity to light over the day in certain species. However, very few studies have been devoted to the human visual system. The present experiment was designed to assess a possible rhythm of visual sensitivity using a psychophysical method over the whole 24h period. Twelve subjects underwent visual detection threshold measures in a protocol that allowed one point every 2h. The results show that the visual detection threshold changes over the 24h period, with high thresholds in the morning, a progressive decrease over the day and the early night, and an increase during the last part of the night. These data suggest that a circadian rhythm influences visual sensitivity to mesopic luminance in humans.