Researchers led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have, for the first time, recorded a tiny mechanical “twitch” in rod photoreceptors in living human and animal eyes at the moment they detect light. The finding reveals a fundamental mechanism underlying night vision and could enable new, non-invasive ways to assess retinal health. Rod cells are essential for low-light vision and are often the first affected in age-related retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, which affects an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Current clinical tests for rod function are limited and often subjective. The new approach could lead to objective tools to assess night vision, monitor decline over time and support earlier medical intervention, with further clinical studies planned in Singapore.

A comprehensive review highlights how popular non-surgical aesthetic procedures—from injectables to lasers—affect the skin’s core functional triad: equilibrium, resistance, and self-healing. While these treatments enhance appearance, they can disrupt skin balance, weaken defenses, and impair natural repair, leading to adverse reactions. The study provides evidence-based strategies to minimize risks and optimize outcomes in aesthetic medicine.