Column: Eyes on deer work differently than ours, and it mostly works to their advantage

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 28, 2026

Deer and many other animals have a layer on their retina called the tapetum lucidum. When light strikes the retina, some of it hits light receptive organs called rods and cones. The rest strikes the tapetum and is reflected back so that more is absorbed, then ultimately transmitted to the brain for interpretation. That’s one reason deer see better in low light, but it’s not the only reason. They have larger eyes than we do, which allow more light to reach the retina. There, cones process color while rods are sensitive to light in general, and further help with visual perception in low light. A deer’s rods are much bigger than ours, and bundled three to each nerve ending, offering still greater advantage. The deer still win far more often, but we only have to win once. ~ Bob Humphrey