How do our eyes see?
The mechanics
This video (created by the National Eye Institute NIH) explains how our eyes receive information, how that information is translated into nerve impulses and sent to the brain, and how the brain converts it to information our thinking processes can then analyze and interpret … based upon our history of experiences.
the physical issues
However, while the process of seeing is amazing, there are many ways our eyes do not effectively perceive what is in our physical world. From blindness to far/near sightedness to detached retina to a number of “common” eye issues (SEE: Eyes - Common Problems), physical eye problems challenge our ability to accurately “see.” BUT EVEN THEN - we do not accurately “see” because we ALL have a “blind spot” - and there is nothing we can do about that because that is part of the human eye design. This means we really are NOT seeing our environment accurately - our brains “fill in” what we “miss seeing” - but the “filling in” is based on faulty expectations and experiences.
the “attention” issues
AND ON TOP OF all the physiological aspects and issues, our brains are tricked … by what we actually CONSCIOUSLY pay attention to…
THAT’S how magicians (and conmen/women) can get away with so many “sleight of hand” type tricks.
… by optical illusions … by so many things that, it is just safer - or wiser - to accept that what we perceive visually is based on so many different factors, that we are lucky to have ANY experience in common with someone else.
THAT’S why detectives, etc., interview as many witnesses as possible … so they can develop (hopefully) a MORE complete picture of what happened.