Approximately how many rods are in the human eye?

• A. 120 million
• B. 6-8 million
• C. 20 million
• D. 100 million

Answer: (A)

Rods are the photoreceptors that support vision in low light and provide peripheral sensitivity. They dominate the retina, with about 120 million rods in each eye, far more than the cones. Cones, which handle color and fine detail, number roughly 6–7 million and are concentrated in the central retina around the fovea. This distribution explains why night vision relies on the outer retina and why central vision is less sensitive in dim conditions. The figure around 120 million is the commonly cited count for rods, making it the best match. Other numbers reflect cone counts or rough estimates that don’t capture the large rod population.