Plain English Meaning

The kind of seeing your eyes do in good light — clear, detailed, and in full color. It's your normal daytime vision.

Full Definition

Vision used in bright-light conditions, produced by the cones in the central part of the retina. It provides sharp detail and full color perception and is the type of vision pilots rely on during daytime flight.

Context Anchor

Seen in night flying and night vision discussions, where pilots compare how the eyes work in bright light, dim light, and darkness.

Derivation

From the Greek 'phos' meaning light, and '-opic' meaning relating to sight or vision. So 'photopic' literally means 'light vision' — vision that works in light.

Why Pilots Care

Recognizing when photopic vision is no longer helps pilots avoid the dangerous of reduced vision after .