Optical coherence tomography in healthy human subjects in the setting of prolonged dark adaptation

Human studies have established that short periods of dark adaptation can induce outer retinal thinning and various band intensity changes that can be detected with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Similar findings were observed in mice, including a positive correlation between the degree of outer retinal changes and dark adaptation duration. We decided to assess potential retinal structural changes following prolonged dark adaptation in humans. 40 healthy subjects without any ocular diseases participated in this study. For each subject, one eye was covered for dark adaptation for four hours, and the other eye was left uncovered as a control. Before and after the dark adaptation period, both eyes were assessed with OCT. Using the Heidelberg Spectralis system, basic statistical functions, and qualitative and quantitative analysis, we were able to compare retinal layer thicknesses and band intensities between covered (dark adapted) versus uncovered (control) eyes. Prolonged dark adaptation did not induce any significant thickness, volume, or intensity changes in the outer retina or in the inner or overall retina. These observations thus alter our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying dark adaptation’s neuroprotective effects in preventing blindness and require further study.