Do Blind People See Darkness or Light?

Blindness is a profound and varied experience that can manifest in many ways. Depending on the extent of the visual impairment and how the person lost their sight, the perception of light and darkness can differ significantly. Some individuals may have no visual perception whatsoever, while others retain some level of light detection and can even discern between certain colors. In this article, we explore the diverse experiences of blind individuals and their perception of light and darkness.

Understanding Blindness

Blindness can be categorized in different ways, with total blindness and legal blindness being two primary forms. Total blindness refers to a complete lack of visual perception, where the individual cannot detect any light or images. Legal blindness, on the other hand, involves a significant reduction in visual acuity, often to the point where reading or distinguishing objects becomes challenging. Here, we delve into the personal experience of one individual who has been legally blind for almost fourteen years.

Experiences of Legal Blindness

For individuals like myself, the experience of blindness is complex and multi-dimensional. As a legally blind person, I have very limited visual perception, but not a complete lack of it. My right eye allows me to detect light and dark, but it lacks the ability to discern colors and has only peripheral vision. My left eye, on the contrary, has no light perception at all. To adapt to this reality, I have trained to use a long white cane and a guide dog, enhancing my ability to navigate the world.

Visual Hallucinations and Brain Adaptation

One of the most fascinating aspects of my experience is the visual hallucinations that my brain produces in the absence of external visual stimuli. When I close my right eye or enter a dark environment, the left eye, which has no light perception, still 'sees' something. I call this swirling pattern and colors a 'jumbling spinning firework display of color and light.' This phenomenon is my brain's attempt to construct a view of the world, even in the absence of visual information.

The Left Eye Experience

My left eye, which has no light perception, still 'sees' a swirling pattern of colors and shapes. These shapes and colors are in constant movement, and the spiral effect has been present since the loss of sight. This visual hallucination is unique to my left eye, and it's my brain's way of filling in the gaps in my visual experience.

The Right Eye Experience

My right eye, while still functional, lacks the ability to perceive detailed visual information. It can only distinguish between light and dark. A recent painting of my backyard from the porch illustrates this. The painting represents what I see with my right eye, which is mostly light and dark color blocks of various shades of grey or black, with only the yellow being bright. The details and color variations are minimal, reflecting the limited visual perception of my right eye.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the experience of blindness can vary widely, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether blind people see darkness or light. For me, the answer is that I do not see nothing or merely black. Instead, I see a swirling firework display of color and light in my left eye, while my right eye sees mostly light and dark color blocks. Both of these views are constructions of my brain, reflecting the lasting impact of my visual impairment.

I hope this firsthand account has provided some insight into the diverse experiences of blindness and the complex ways in which the human brain can still perceive the world, even in the absence of visual stimuli.

All the best.