• The scatter of the differential light threshold has a short-term and a long-term component. Although these components are significantly positively correlated, the relationship is not strong enough to accurately predict in an individual patient the long-term fluctuation from the short-term fluctuation. The reversible variation of the retinal sensitivity with time is statistically related to the temporal variation of the short-term scatter, to the variation in reaction time, and probably to the variation in the intraocular pressure.