How to See in the Dark

Eyesight is a gift we should be deeply thankful for. To be able to see the beauty nature offers us is indeed a gift, and taking care of this gift is a way in which we can truly appreciate it. While it is common knowledge that we are capable of viewing objects and people in daylight and under artificial light, it is also possible to see in the dark.

If you may have noticed, when you switch off your light when you are ready to sleep, the room may appear pitch dark to you. However, after a few minutes, the silhouette of every object or person in the room comes alive. So you are capable of seeing in the dark, though not very clearly.

However, you can practice seeing in the dark and improve your night vision, without having to use any technology such as night vision goggles or any other such devices.

Why should you learn to see in the dark? For one, there are a lot of people whose jobs require them to function during the night, or who require the ability to see clearly in the night for various reasons.

For instance, you may be a security guard or an army person. It may also be good if you have to drive late at night, and generally for your safety say if there is a blackout or you have to cross a dark street late at night.

Though human night vision cannot match those that some animals possess, the human eye can be trained to see better in the dark than it normally does. Given here are some techniques of eyesight improvement that will help you master this art.

There are a few techniques that will help you see in the dark better over time. They are as simple as they can get, and all you require is a good amount of practice to ensure these work. Take a look.

• Prepare to be in the dark. Usually, our eyes take a few minutes to adjust to the dark. To practice seeing in the dark, keep your eyes shut for a few minutes before you enter a dark area. This way, the time spent adjusting to the dark will be lesser. This is one of the many eye exercises you can perform before going to bed.

• Dark doesn't mean pitch dark. When we talk about seeing in the dark, it doesn't mean you cannot use ambient or natural light to view an object or person in the dark. Again, to view objects in such dim light requires you to practice well. It could be the moonlight or the light from a crack of the door.

• The power of human vision is not limited to daylight. Our eyes are designed to view objects at night too. Human eyes contain 'rods' that surround the periphery of the retina. Rods are designed to function in low or no light situations, and these give the eyes what is known as peripheral vision.

To make the most of them, focusing at a point that is close to the object of your vision is better. This, however, may cause poor judgment about your own distance from the object. This is why so much focus has been placed on practice.

• Don't focus on an object in the dark for long. Focusing for too long on an object in the dark can work against you. This is because 5 to 10 seconds after you look at an object, your peripheral vision begins to weaken.

As such, learning to see in the dark with such a limitation requires you to scan your environment, not focus on just one area. You should keep your eyes moving and blink several times when in the dark to enhance your night vision. This technique will also help you track any movement in the dark.

The basic idea behind learning to see in the dark is to practice, but not try too hard. Because you may be overcome by the need to see in the dark, you are likely to squint, stare, or do anything else in your capacity to be able to see. This however, can weaken your night vision.

Also, it is suggested that since vitamin A improves vision, you should resort to its intake. However, do not do so without consulting a health expert as an excess may cause you harm. Finally, performing the basics of eye care to avoid any eye problems will help you in your endeavor.

As you can see, these are very simple and basic techniques that can help you see in the dark without the use of any technology.