Unveiling the Mystery: What Do Blind People See?

Blindness is a condition that, according to the WBU,  affects millions of people around the world. Many people are curious and have misconceptions about what it is like to be blind because they have never experienced it or interacted with someone who is blind. So exactly what do blind people see? Truth is, there is no one answer to that question. The answer depends on the period of life at which the person became blind as well as whether they have any functional vision. Let us dive a little deeper in order to debunk the myths and present the facts surrounding that question.

Being Born Blind Versus Becoming Blind later in life

The period of life at which someone becomes blind is a determining factor as to what that person is able to see. Understanding the mechanism by which we as humans are able to see will help explain why this is so.

The Science Behind It All

The eye is responsible for sending visual information to the brain through the optic nerve. In a person with normal vision, light enters the eye and is focused onto the retina, where it is then transmitted to the brain for interpretation. However, in a person who is blind, this process is disrupted in some way, preventing visual information from reaching the brain.
What blind people see will largely depend on whether any messages used to go from the optic nerve to the brain at all; that is, if the person used to see any at all before blindness. That will in turn determine whether there are any visual memories to call upon.

Being Born Blind

If a person was born totally blind, they would not have experienced sight and therefore have no visual memories or concepts. Everything they experience in life would have been through their other senses; for example, they could recognize a car by the sound of the engine, the smell of exhaust and, if they are able to touch it, its texture and shape. For these people, blindness means that they do not see anything at all. It is not that they see black, they just have absolutely no visual perception. We will demystify the question of “do blind people see black” later in the article.

Becoming Blind Later in Life

However, if a person becomes blind later in life, they do have some concept of the visual world. They may have some residual vision or visual memories that they can still access. So to answer the question of “what do blind people see” for these people, the quick answer would be that they see what they imagine! They draw on what they can perceive from their other senses and create images in their minds of what objects may look like based on what they used to be able to see. For example, a blind man who is attracted to a woman’s voice may conjure up beautiful images of her in his imagination.
Another scenario is also true. A person who loses their sight due to a severe injury or illness may see flashes or patterns of light, or they may see a blurry or distorted version of what they used to see. This is like trying to watch an HD movie on a VHS player, it’s not going to be the best quality.

Legally Blind

Upon hearing the word blind, many believe that this automatically translates to a complete lack of sight. However, that is not necessarily true. Some people are completely blind [that is, have no sight at all], and, as discussed above, what they see will depend largely on at what stage in life they lost their sight.
On the other hand, some blind people have some degree of residual vision. A person who is considered “legally blind” may have some vision in one or both eyes, but it is severely impaired.
While there are some variations, it is widely accepted that to be considered legally blind, one has to have a vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye. This translates into a range of varying vision levels. So for these individuals, what do blind people see?

• Only light and dark [a condition called light perception] – in this case, the individual would be able to determine if the light is switched on in a room or not.
• Certain colours – some may report seeing primary colours only for instance.
• Blurred vision – may have difficulty distinguishing shapes or reading text.

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

There is yet another category of visions of what blind people see. Phantom Vision syndrome or Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a condition where a person with visual impairment or blindness experiences vivid, complex visual hallucinations. These hallucinations can include a wide range of imagery, such as people, animals, patterns, and landscapes, and can occur in both eyes or in one eye. The images can be fixed or mobile.

Although it is not a common occurrence, some people with Charles Bonnet Syndrome may experience hallucinations that are disturbing or frightening. These hallucinations are not a sign of mental illness and are not harmful, but can be distressing for the person experiencing them. Not all blind individuals experience these hallucinations but they can happen to anyone with vision loss.

Do Blind People See Black?

When it comes to the question of “do blind people see black,” the answer lies within the fact of when they acquired their blindness. If a person was born blind, they would not see anything at all, including black. Many of these persons liken this to trying to see from your elbow, it is just impossible, there is nothing and no way to see.
However, if a person became blind later in life, they may still have some residual vision and may see black as a result of the absence of light. This is because the brain is wired to interpret the absence of light as black, so even if a person is only able to see a small amount of light, the brain will interpret it as black.
It is also worth mentioning that the concept of “black” is a socially constructed idea and people who were born blind will not have the same understanding or perception of it. For example, a blind person may not understand the difference between “black” and “dark blue” because they have never seen the colour.

In Conclusion, What Do Blind People See?

So, understanding what do blind people see will need one to take various factors into consideration as there is not a one size fits all response. What blind people see varies widely. It is usually as a result of a combination of when they became blind and how much residual sight they have.
It is important to note though that while blindness can be challenging and difficult, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. Blind people are still able to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives, and they have the same desires and ambitions as sighted people. With the help of technology, such as screen readers, Braille, and other assistive devices, blind people are able to access information and participate in activities just like sighted people. This is where Blind Accessibility Tips comes in. Do you know of a blind person who needs technology training, particularly with their Windows computer or smartphone? Check out our tutorials and downloadables. After learning these pieces of technology, blind people will wow you with their independence!