Change in optical responsiveness that takes place in dark adaptation as the level of sensitivity of the retinal rods initially surpasses that of the retinal cones. As optical responsiveness is assessed in the darkness following a brilliant flare of light, the cones achieve highest possible responsiveness after approximately seven minutes. Total level of optical responsiveness persists in increasing for approximately twenty minutes because rhodopsin rejuvenates, causing the rods to attain their greatest level of sensitivity.
ROD-CONE BREAK: “The rod-cone break affects vision as rhodopsin replenishes.”