Can Blind People See?

It is said that kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. While that is an inspiring metaphor, it begs a literal question: can blind people see?

If you were to take a break from your current activity to consider searching for “blind seeing miracles,” you'd very likely encounter several psychic claims regarding blind people receiving sight. The saying, “We live by faith, not by sight,” comes to mind; this time, as food for thought about whether those who say it care so much about the blind to make them see. Or is it just a show for validation? And can they really do that? 

Recently, I learned something about people identified as blind that I think many people are not aware of. So, I thought sharing them with you would be a great service to humanity. How about that? Let's get into it!

Can Blind People See?

Growing up, I've often wondered what experience blind people have. I've seen them move around with a stick and the assistance of others. “Are they sensing or feeling something? What are they seeing?” I ask. But can they even see to begin with?

The common understanding I had about blind people is that they cannot see. It seems many, if not most people, have the same conception about the blind. In fact, the word “blind” generally means without sight or a lack of the ability to see. But what if I told you that blind people can see?

Global estimations suggest that around one billion people have vision disabilities, with around forty-five million blind people. Among the estimated 45 million people who are blind, different vision impairments are observed, with a small portion of those labeled blind being totally blind. That is, most blind people can see, but not in the way everyone else can. So, what can blind people see?

What Can Blind People See?

Several health reports posit that around fifteen to eighteen percent of blind people are totally blind, and conversely, around eighty-five to eighty-two percent can still see. This is determined through a description of a specific definition of blindness: legal blindness. What is legal blindness?

Legal blindness is an official recognition of a person with a vision comparison of 20/200 feet as blind. That is, when a person is observed to see things a normal person would see at 200 feet but at 20 feet of visual acuity, it is determined that such person is legally blind.

However, total blindness is a state where a blind person is determined unable to see anything within the field of vision, including the reflection of light. This seems to be the common perception people have about blind people, but it affects a small portion of the spectrum. That is, total blindness is rare.

Before I share what blind people see, let me tell you a story. I watched Tommy Edison share some interesting things about his experience as a blind person. How being blind is relieving from certain burdens that come with complete sight, the empathetic treatment and pity he gets from people, and other benefits that he enjoys.

One point Edison made that got to me was that blind people may not see people, but they can hear people's voices and know their hearts. It was refreshing to hear that, as it speaks to an experience of genuine sensibility and feeling.

Many people who are blind have partial vision, meaning they can perceive things with a blurry view. Some can see colors, different shapes, and a hazy perception of light, allowing them to differentiate light from darkness. In contrast to a person with normal vision, a blind person has limited sight but can recognize voices and sense the presence of people and objects.

In the manner that normal people experience the ups and downs of life, blind people do too. They have their good times, bad times, and ugly ones. Imagine what impression your pity creates on a blind person; it may be saddening or maybe fun. However, it is worth noting that they are intelligent people, too. That's it for those who didn't know. Hold on, I've got something else to say.

You know, we could go on to mention people with blindness and talk about their experiences. But I want to point out something I find to be of great importance: the illusion of sight, which blind people are prone to. It is called Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS).

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS)? It is a psychophysical condition involving visual hallucinations, observed with blind people. It's also called visual release hallucinations, a situation where the brain of a blind person compensates for their loss of vision with visuals of what isn't really there, thereby giving them the illusion of sight.

Here comes the story of an elderly man who experienced complications with his sight, necessitating a medical operation on both eyes. Afterward, he was well for a time. Eventually, he became blind, but here's the intriguing part: at some point, he began to see things like houses, trees, and people. It was reported that he knew those visions weren't real but wondered what had happened to him. This man was the grandfather of Charles Bonnet.

Charles Bonnet, a naturalist and philosopher of the 18th century, is known for his contributions in the field of science. He is especially known for his documents of the phenomenal experiences of visual hallucinations by blind people, particularly those of his grandfather and himself. Later, his description of this particular experience was developed and popularized as Charles Bonnet syndrome by Georges de Morsier.

I think it's important to know how common such activities are with blind people, so when you hear someone shout, “I can see, I can see!” it doesn't always mean they stopped being blind. It could be that their psyche compensates for the desire and demands of the moment with some changes in their perception of their present environment. To reiterate my point, blind people can see.

To learn more about CBS, consider checking out this article from the National Library of Medicine. Feel free to share your thoughts, and don't forget to check out our previous discussion titled “Forgive Us Our Trespasses.”