Decreased retinal sensitivity in depressive disorder: a controlled study

The mean pupil response to high-intensity blue light was significantly reduced in depressed patients (N = 39) compared to healthy controls (N = 24) with a P value of 0.023.

• A reduction in the number of daylight hours was significantly associated with a decrease in sustained pupil response across all groups (P = 0.007).
• Depressed patients with a seasonal pattern were compared to those without and healthy controls regarding pupil responses to light.
• All groups demonstrated a similar effect of daylight hours on the pupil response mediated by melanopsin.
• The findings suggest that light exposure interacts with depressive symptoms, particularly affecting the pupil's response to blue light.

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