What is meant by photopic conditions?

Photopic conditions refer to well-lit environments where there is enough light for vision to be dominated by cone photoreceptors in the retina. Under these conditions, humans and many animals can perceive color and fine detail, as the cones are responsible for high acuity vision and color discrimination. In contrast, in low light environments, vision is primarily mediated by rod photoreceptors, which are more sensitive to light but do not provide color information. This distinction highlights why the concept of photopic conditions specifically relates to environments that are sufficiently illuminated to allow for optimal visual function via the cones.