Compensatory mechanisms likely occur in aging that ensure relative constancy of pupillary responses to blue light despite changes in lens transmission.Īging is associated with yellowing of the lens and reduced transmission of short-wavelength light. The reduction in pupillary responses was comparable in response to blue light and red light, suggesting that lens yellowing did not selectively reduce melanopsin-dependent light responses. Irrespective of wavelength, pupillary responses were reduced in older individuals and further attenuated by severe, but not mild, cataract.
Dose-response curves for pupillary constriction to 469-nm blue light and 631-nm red light were compared between young normal adults aged 21–30 years ( n = 60) and older adults aged ≥50 years (normal, n = 54 mild cataract, n = 107 severe cataract, n = 18). Herein, we tested the hypothesis that older individuals show greater impairment of pupillary responses to blue light relative to red light. This could result in reduced activation of blue light-sensitive melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells, which mediate non-visual light responses (e.g., the pupillary light reflex, melatonin suppression, and circadian resetting). With aging, less blue light reaches the retina due to gradual yellowing of the lens.
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