Seeing is believing: The glasses effect

[DevilsAdvocate]

I wear glasses. I used to wear rather large glasses with large metal frames. I wore this type of glasses for a long time (at least ten years). A few years ago I chose small smaller more fashionable spectacles. These are much smaller, particularly in the lower portion of the lenses. They have very slim lenses, and thin very dark brown frames. At first, it felt like looking trough goggles. I could clearly see the dark frames, the altered vision within the lenses, and the blurry vision outside the lenses. The dark frames were obtrusively visible and made it like looking through goggles. A few years later, I can’t even see the frames if I try to look at them. I just see a fuzzy line or small reflection at best.

That just blows me away. At one point, the frames disturbed me greatly because I could clearly see them and it looked like goggles. A few years later, not only do the frames not bother me, but I can’t even see them if I try!

I’m not sure where I am going with this, but it is sort of weird. If you are exposed to something long enough, you can’t see what is really there.

 

[Nex]

Actually, that's weird that you mention it. Recently I went from glasses to contact lenses, and I can really tell.

I can't see what I couldn't see but was used to before -- the frames. My eyes are naked!

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

I tried contacts for a while. That was an "eye-opening" exerience. I could see thing much "wider" for lack of a better term (no relections from the glasses is probably what I mean). But with contacts in I would constantly blink and my eyes would water, so I gave it up.

But you are right! The weird thing about wearing glasses is that somehow ignore the frames. What really gets me is that I cannot see the frames even if I try. I focus my eye (or eyes) right where I know the frame is, but I see nothing (except maybe a blury line or light reflection). Why can't I see what is obviously there and which was before so obvious as to cause distration?

 

[Jeff Corey]

Most people don't notice their nose until prompted.

 

[PixyMisa]

Strange.

Certainly I've adjusted to the frames of various pairs of glasses over the years, but I've always been able to see them when I look.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Strange.

Certainly I've adjusted to the frames of various pairs of glasses over the years, but I've always been able to see them when I look.

Maybe it is just me. No matter how hard I try, I cannont see my glasses frames when they are on. I mean totaly invisible. I cannot see them no matter how hard I try.

 

[The Mighty Thor]

What kind of frames?

I read about a perception experiment where the subject was given glasses that showed the world upside down. After a period of use, the subject's mind re-inverted the images and he could function normally. On removal of the glasses, another period of adjustment was necessary to see things the right way up.

 

[DeVega]

Hmmm DA - I take it you have had your

peripheral vision checked - that's the test when you buzz when you see a light, or say how many you can see?

I do know what you mean about the edges of the frame. I got new glasses recently & went for huge, wide frames so that I couldn't see the edge - shockingly unfashionable! I could see my optician cringing! But they are only for working at my computer and I didn't want to be bugged by the frames...

I can still see them though... damm, it's bugging me now...

DeVega

 

[CFLarsen]

Most people don't notice their nose until prompted.

..........................





















AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!

 

[B.S]

You can lose a large chunk of your peripheral vision and not notice it under normal daylight conditions. Your mind will "fill in" the blank spot with whatever you are seeing near that area. Sounds like what is happening with your glasses frames. Your brain must treat them the same way it does "blind spots" in the periphery.

 

[Open Mind]

peripheral vision checked - that's the test when you buzz when you see a light, or say how many you can see?DeVega

DeVega, raises an important point, if you have not had your eye pressure (and field) checked in recent months probably worth a check. If you have been having any other symptoms such as seeing rainbow coloured halos (not white halos) around exposed white lights, bouts of blurry vision or headaches/pain/tension around eyes etc. you need to get this checked as soon as possible.

Not wishing to alarm you mate, just better to protect vision and have peace of mind.

 

[Explorer]

I think this is just another example of the selectivity of the human brain.

In the case of sound, the brain can pick out individual conversations in a crowded room and ignore the rest, quite amazing really.

I suppose this also demonstrates how we can accomodate and compensate for disabilities as well, and still live a relatively normal life.