Question about retinal reflectivity

deq · Nov 3, 2005

Was out in the woods the other night with Rocky and I took a torch with us so I could see where I was going, Rocky's eyes were really brightly reflecting the light from the torch whenever he was looking towards me / the torch, just like "cat's eyes" on the road / real cat's eyes.

However, last night, did the same walk, but his eyes were completely non-reflective, totally dark. The torch was just as bright and he was the same kind of distances from me.

Any ideas on why that may be. Will go again tonight and see what happens...

_Mary_ · Nov 3, 2005

Hi deq, your right in that animals have "green eye" as opposed to us having "red eyes" the same happens if you take a picture of the animal with flash.

Why Rocky`s eyes should shine green one time and not the next I don`t know, unless he was`nt in quite the same position when looking at you as he was the first time, the animal has to be looking at you face on I think, if its head is turned and is looking at at an angle I think they stay dark.

Something to do with the light fron the torch/flash catching the retina I think, but hopefully someone else will know for sure

deq · Nov 3, 2005

Well, we went out tonight and I realised it's all down to where exactly the light is shining from.
It was a head torch I was using, and on the first night it was on my head so the light was from the torch, very close to my own line of sight, to the dog and back to me.

The second night I carried the torch in my hand and therefore the reflection from his eyes didn't come straight back to my eyes. Try it...
Simple eh? :idea:

Question about retinal reflectivity

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