What Do Blind People See?

 

Vision runs the gamut from super vision to total absence of sight.  To be classified as ‘legally blind’, a person’s visual acuity must be 20/200 or less in their best eye with the aid of conventional eyewear or their field of vision must be less than 20 degrees in their best eye with the aid of conventional eyewear.  More information about this is available at the American Foundation for the Blind at https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/eye-conditions/low-vision-and-legal-blindness-terms-and-descriptions?gclid=CjwKCAjwz_WGBhA1EiwAUAxIcc_zUTzmjI5_IbkCjL8SWUiGJXmbB1d4R1z93SYuWl-MgXMso3FRYhoCAGQQAvD_BwE#LowVision_vs._LegalBlindness.

We know that normal visual acuity is 20/20, but what does that mean?  It refers to the fact that a person with normal vision can see things as clearly at 20 feet as other normally sighted individuals can see from the same distance. Many outstanding athletes have superior vision that may be as good as 20/10.  In other words, they can see things at 20 feet that others cannot see unless they are 10 feet away.

If someone’s vision is 20/200, they will need to be 20 feet away from something in order to be able to see it as well as a normally sighted person can see from 200 feet.  This is the minimal condition for legal blindness, but this limited definition does not take into account the numerous visual obstructions and distortions that are produced by various eye disorders. Approximately 15 percent of those effected are totally blind.  The remaining 85 percent see something even if it is nothing more than the ability to perceive light.

I have been dealing with macular degeneration since childhood.  Initially, I could simply not read what my teachers wrote on the blackboard.  Eventually I needed large-print books or magnifying glasses to read text.  Over the years my condition has gradually grown worse.  In the beginning, I was aware of a small blind spot in the center of my sight that prevented me from seeing details.    Progressively, that region has increased and obstructed greater portions of my field of vision.

At present, my world is a distortion of light and dark smudges in various shapes and sizes periodically overshadowed by bright defused clouds of light stemming from lamps, sunlight and other sources of illumination.  In familiar surroundings, I can generally interpret these images and navigate adequately.  In unfamiliar environments, it is just a senseless array of confusion.

While my physical sight is extremely limited, I see my mental challenges quite clearly.  Simply moving around my own home requires a great deal of concentration.  Imagine trying to drive along a winding mountain road in the dead of night with a heavy fog all around. Consider the relief you would experience upon reaching your destination. Similarly, when I crawl into bed at night, I am grateful to be able to close my eyes and simply rest.

When I misjudge a doorway, step or table, I often rediscover the laws of gravity and physics, It really is true that two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Those events often generate feelings of anger, frustration and, quite frankly, humiliation.  No, I shouldn’t feel humiliated, but when my forehead or nose strikes the edge of an open door, I do, nonetheless.

I find that I have a strong need to feel useful.  Thankfully, I have been able to manage a moderately successful massage practice for the past eighteen years.  The hardest part is maintaining my schedule. The actual massage procedure comes easily to me because I depend so heavily on my sense of touch. 

I do what I can to help out around the house.  My loving wife offers guidance, expresses gratitude for my efforts and silently endures my blunders.  Thankfully, a significant amount of housework does not require much visual detail.  I can easily empty the trash, fold laundry, load and unload the dishwasher and feed our pets. I even manage to do a little cooking.

Like most people with disabilities, those with visual limitations see a wide range of social challenges.  I know a woman who is totally blind.  She sums up her experience at social events as “park her, feed her and leave her.”  I don’t get the impression that it really is a complaint on her part, merely an observation of reoccurring events.  I told her it sounds like a legal firm, but I know exactly what she means. 

Personally, I feel very comfortable with this approach.  Upon entering a social gathering, the first thing I want to do is find a place to sit down.  It takes me out of the flow around me and offers a sense of stability.  I like to eat, so I’m always thankful for a plate of food as long as it is easy finger food and doesn’t include dip, toppings, or anything else that is messy.

Furthermore, I don’t expect anyone to feel obligated to entertain me.  We are there for social interaction.  It would be selfish for me to expect my wife or anyone else to babysit me.  I am generally quite content to listen to the conversations I overhear. Depending on the size and setting of the event, I occasionally am able to join in.

Engaging in dialog in a restaurant or large gathering is challenging.  Sighted people have numerous visual cues to aid in the interaction.  Facial expressions, body language, hand gestures and the ability to watch the movement of lips as people talk all supplement what is being said even when the voices may not be fully heard.  Without those cues, much of the interaction is easily missed.

In small groups, I try to engage in conversations.  I am aware that I occasionally commit social gaffes, but my friends are quite understanding about that.  In larger settings, I prefer to remain quiet and avoid misdirecting the dialog.

Communication is often awkward for those who are blind, but it is also challenging for those with limited experience interacting with people who have disabilities.  Is it appropriate to say, “It’s good to see you?”  Of course, it is, and I will probably say the same.  For a sighted person, the expression may be literal.  For me, it is figurative.

In restaurants, food servers are notorious for taking orders from everyone in the dining party and then gesturing toward one who is disabled and asking the rest of the group, “What does he/she want?”  In those situations, my wife often says, “Honey, she is ready for your order.”  In one restaurant we frequented, she told the server my name so that she could direct her questions to me personally.

I see myself as an educator.  For those who don’t know how to engage with people who are blind, I try to kindly inform them so they will be able to do better in the future.  Frequently in medical offices, I ask aides to allow me to take them by the elbow so they can lead me to a treatment room.    In subsequent visits, I often find that they take the initiative to offer their elbow without me having to ask.

 

I think that most people want to be helpful but aren’t sure what to do or how to act.  My task is to supply that information in a way that will encourage their natural tendency.  Being angry or belligerent will only make them want to run in the opposite direction the next time they encounter someone with a disability.

Perhaps the most important thing that blind people are ideally suited to see is a lesson that has been taught by most spiritual leaders over several millennia:  who individuals are is far more important than how they appear.   Certainly, we are capable of being superficial in other ways, but jewelry, apparel, facial features and body shape are less likely to influence our initial perceptions about those we encounter or distract us from personal development.  Thankfully, physical limitations do not restrict one’s effort to nurture a meaningful inner life.  Conversely, fashion and beauty are multi billion dollar industries that too often mask severely damaged souls.  This is one area where blindness might actually be a blessing.

What do blind people see?  Physically, that varies widely based on the nature and severity of the visual disorder.  In life, we see how demanding things can be in order to attain even a moderate level of success.  Within ourselves, we see whether we possess the courage and determination to prevail. Mentally, creatively, socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually our perceptions are 20/20 and, for some, perhaps 20/10.