Iris pigmentation and photopic visual acuity: A preliminary study

Department or Administrative Unit

Anthropology and Museum Studies

Document Type

Article

Author Copyright

Copyright © 1975 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Publication Date

11-1975

Journal

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

Abstract

Visual acuity under varying conditions of light stress was tested in four human populations. It was found that the density of iris pigmentation had no significant effect on visual acuity under conditions of bright light. While some acclimatization to local light levels was observed, significant population differences in visual acuity were obtained. A hypothesis is advanced as to the adaptive value of varying densities of pigmentation of the iris based on the known heat absorption properties of melanin granules.

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This article was originally published in American Journal of Physical Anthropology. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

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