S-crystallin, a putative actin-binding protein in the octopus retina, has been implicated to be involved in the cytoskeletal reorganization of octopus photoreceptors during light and dark adaptation. Previous studies reported differential expression and translation of S-crystallin mRNA and protein in light- and dark-adapted octopus retinas. This study examines the temporal regulation of mRNA transcription and protein translation quantitatively over a two hour course of light or dark adaptation. Quantitative RT-PCR found higher mRNA transcription levels overall in light-adapted vs. dark-adapted retinas. Western blot analysis detected over two-fold greater protein translation levels in dark vs. light control samples and noticeably higher levels in retinas dark-adapted for 30 and 75 minutes. A cyclic pattern of transcription/translation was observed over the course of adaptation. These results suggest that differential expression and translation of S-crystallin mRNA and protein is regulated by lighting conditions and is dependent on time of adaptation to those conditions.