Pupil size v age.

[LeeB]

I was looking on the tintnent at the relationship between max pupil diameter and age, just to check where my pupil size fits, It shows a rapid decline with age , leading to an expected of just over 5.5mm or so at my 47 years.

Now last night I got dark adapted and carefully using a set of verniers measured my pupils, and give or take a little parallax which I was very careful to eliminate as much as possible mine still measure around 8mm is not a tiny bit more.

Now heres the question, like a muscle thats well used say in the arm, can an astronomers eyes defy age (not perfectly i understand) but slow the process of shrinkage, after all it is a musclular reaction (I think) .

A little careful survey may be fun, and I'm sure theres a thesis for someone out there.

Also the graph is based on a sample average, which I assume means I have big eyes anyway, given that the average  is only just go over 7mm. Because i did astronomy as I developed from the age of 7-8 , did that have an effect on my max pupil size as well.

As a final point, I am unsure of exactly how dark it was when the measurements were taken in the survey, although mine exceeded the 5.5mm size quoted while ambient light was still good enough to read a page of a book (with difficulty)

[ronin]

For whatever reason discussions of pupil size and age always reminds me of the Monty Python Yourshireman sketch.

[kev]

Well, mines about 6.5 ish these days ( im 55). Used to be just over 7 when i was 17.

Sent from my iPhone so excuse the typos!

[leelee970]

Very brave using a set of Verniers in the dark to measure your pupils.

I know what would happen to me if I tried – ouch.

Lee

[LeeB]

Very brave using a set of Verniers in the dark to measure your pupils.

I know what would happen to me if I tried – ouch.

Lee

Please be careful , I used plastic verniers but still sharp....

[LeeB]

Well, mines about 6.5 ish these days ( im 55). Used to be just over 7 when i was 17.

Sent from my iPhone so excuse the typos!

Still well over the average for your age. you have the eyes of a 23 year old if the graph is to be believed

[RichM63]

I always think that this is a bit like 'how fast will your car go' questions.

It all depends on conditions etc etc.

I had mine measured by my specialist eye surgeon in August.

@50, he arrived at 8.4mm with his equipment.

But this doesn't mean that I'll dilate to this in the real world, unless I go and live in a deep cave for a while.

I'll keep 6.5mm as a more realistic aperture.

[nicks90]

Its only really a consideration if your EPs and scope demand it, but my EPs mean I need a Max pupil size of 6.2mm which is more than do-able.

However when maximum exit pupil size is an advantage - staring up at the sky au naturel - I cheat and its usually after a few beers lying on the sunlounger! Soak up them photons with light buckets for eyes.

Hyperthetically, certain types of drug users would get great wide field views if they were conscious enough to look up in a dark sky........

[cathalferris]

You can more safely and more accurately measure your pupil aperture, if you use the vernier calipers while looking at a defocused bright star or planet. Adjust the calipers such that you almost get the straight edges intruding on each side of the edge of the defocused disk. As you move the calipers over and back through the stars light path, you should be able to see the occlusion of portions of the light path by the calipers.

Done carefully, it should be more accurate than measuring looking in a mirror, as parallax is not an issue. It really depends on how well you can discern the caliper edges while defocusing. Not everyone can do this based on conversations with friends, but I can. I must revisit that measurement at some stage..

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