Cone numbers and densities Cone numbers and densities
(modified and expanded from Curcio et al., 1990, Table 2)
Study Age Total Peak Mean Diameter of Central-per
numbers density density S-cone free ipheral
(cones/mm2) (cones/mm2) zone gradient*
(µm)
Krause --- 7,000,000 --- --- --- ---
(1868)
Salzer --- 3,360,000 --- --- --- ---
(1880)
Østerberg 16 6,300,000 147,300 5,300 --- ---
(1935) -
6,500,000
Polyak --- >4,000,000 --- --- --- ---
(1941)
Williams --- --- --- --- 118 ---
et al.
(1981a)
Yuodelis & 37 --- 208,203 --- --- ---
Hendrickson 72 119,868
(1986)
Ahnelt et --- --- --- --- --- ---
al. (1987)
Nork et --- --- --- --- 38 ---
al. (1990)
Curcio et 44 4,720,000 311,000 4,260 --- 83.6
al. (1990) 27 --- 98,200# --- --- ---
35 4,080,000 120,000 4,760 --- 28.05
34 5,290,000 181,800 5,480 --- 34.37
35 - L+ 4,250,00 166,300 3,850 --- 51.57
35 - R+ 4,610,000 190,300 4,160 --- 54.01
36 4,470,000 324,100 4,570 --- 82.25
32 --- 181,100 --- --- ---
Curcio et --- --- ---- --- 100 ---
al. (1991)
* Peak density/mean density at eccentricities > 14 mm.
+ Fellow eyes; L - left eye; R - right eye.
# Not measured at foveal center.
ReferencesAhnelt, P.K., Kolb, H. & Pflug, R. (1987). Identification of a subtype of cone photoreceptor, likely to be blue sensitive, in the human retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology 255, 18-34.
Curcio, C.A. & Allen, K.A. (1990). Topography of ganglion cells in human retina. Journal of comparative Neurology 300, 5-25.
Curcio, C.A., Sloan, K.R., Kalina, R.E. & Hendrickson, A.E. (1990). Human photoreceptor topography. Journal of Comparative Neurology 292, 497-523.
Curcio, C.A., Kimberly, A.A., Sloan, K.R., Lerea, C.L., Hurley, J.B., Klock, I.B. & Milam, A.H. (1991). Distribution and morphology of human cone photoreceptors stained with anti-blue opsin. Journal of Comparative Neurology 312, 610-624.
Krause, W. (1868). Über Stäbchen und Zapfen der Retina. Nachr. v. d. K. Gesells. d. Wiss. Göttingen, p. 163.
Nork, T.M., McCormick, S.A., Chao, G.-M. & Odom, J.V. (1990). Distribution of carbonic anhydrase among human photoreceptors. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 31, 1451-1458.
Østerberg, G.A. (1935). Topography of the layer of rods and cones in the human retina. Acta Ophthalmologica 13 (Supplement 6) 1-97.
Polyak, S. (1941). The Retina. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Salzer, F. (1880). Über die Anzahl der Sehnerverfasern und der Retinazapfen im Auge des Menschen. Sitzungsbericht der K. Akad. d. Wiss., Wien (Vienna), Abth. 3, Mathem.-Naturwiss. Cl., v. 81, fasc. 1, p. 7.
Yuodelis, C. & Hendrickson, A. (1986). A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the human fovea during development. Vision Research 26, 847-855.
Williams, D., MacLeod, D.I.A. & Hayhoe, M. (1981). Punctate sensitivity of the blue sensitive mechanism. Vision Research 21, 1357-1375.
