Why do you not see color at the periphery of your vision?

At birth, humans lack significant visual acuity (sharpness) and color perception. As infants develop over the first several months of life, visual perception gradually improves and eventually reaches adult levels. The human visual system relies on different types of photoreceptor cells, including rods and cones, to process visual information. In the human retina, there are two main types of cones: those sensitive to short-wavelength (blue) light, medium-wavelength (green) light, and long-wavelength (red) light. These cone cells enable us to perceive color.

There are more rods than cones in the human eye, which are more sensitive in dim lighting. However, the cones are concentrated in the central part of the retina, particularly an area called the macula, where the most detailed vision occurs. This concentration of cones within the macula gives rise to the high visual acuity and color perception in the central region of our vision.

The peripheral regions of our vision, although useful in sensing movement, detecting objects, and providing a wide field of view, have fewer cone cells and a lower concentration of color-sensitive cones compared to the central area. As a result, the peripheral areas of our vision have reduced color sensitivity, color discrimination, and color accuracy. Therefore, we perceive objects and colors in the peripheral regions as less vivid, washed out, and less distinct than in the central region of vision. While we can detect light and motion in the peripheral areas, precise color perception and discrimination occur primarily within the central region of the visual field.