Do you actively use your peripheral vision?

I tend to use it a lot. It's not quite as 'clear' as my normal vision, so when I'm standing around, I'll often be looking around me so I know what's going on. Usually though, I can use my peripheral vision and see things, albeit not as clear.
 
Kreeeee said:
Bingo!

That was what I was trying to say :)
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Yeah approximately 10 degrees in any direction* from your central vision point and your resolving power drops off to almost zero due to lack of cones on the retina and because light stops travelling through the most modifiable portion of the lens.

*the resoloving area of the retina (fovea) is slightly pear shaped to the medial, so you can resolve things closer to the left of your right eye (and vice versa).

In case anyone cares :o
 
I've got 4 monitors at work, 3 of cctv and one for the PC, I can watch the multiplex screen and notice anything going on while I'm working on the computer.
 
I have problems with my peripheral vision due to glaucoma. One of the effects of glaucoma is a loss of peripheral vision. I have tests every 6 months to measure that loss. So far it's minimal so I can still see whats on the TV as I type this ;)
 
I dont believe you'll be able to train yourself to read with your peripheral vision. Light entering the eye is focused onto the fovea, the spot with the most colour-percieving cells. This is the centre of your vision and it is why the centre of your vision is where you see most clearly. The lens does not focus light onto the rest of the retina in such a way that would allow you to read with your peripheral vision.

The fact that you see better at night out of the side of your eyes proves the point. The lens is directing light to the cornea, which is rubbish at seeing in the dark, which is why things are brighter to the side. The fundamental problem with trying to read with rod cells is that they information from several cells is combined, which essentially makes the image less sharp. There is no way around this which is why you can't read with your peripheral. Its fine for seeing real-world objects, but not for close-up focus.
 
Skull said:
I dont believe you'll be able to train yourself to read with your peripheral vision. Light entering the eye is focused onto the fovea, the spot with the most colour-percieving cells. This is the centre of your vision and it is why the centre of your vision is where you see most clearly. The lens does not focus light onto the rest of the retina in such a way that would allow you to read with your peripheral vision.

The fact that you see better at night out of the side of your eyes proves the point. The lens is directing light to the cornea, which is rubbish at seeing in the dark, which is why things are brighter to the side. The fundamental problem with trying to read with rod cells is that they information from several cells is combined, which essentially makes the image less sharp. There is no way around this which is why you can't read with your peripheral. Its fine for seeing real-world objects, but not for close-up focus.
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absolutely true - the fovea has all the cones for resolution and colour whilst the edges are all rods bunched together - no colour response and very poor resolution but more sensitive to light and a lot more sensitive to movement.
you can't teach yourself to read with the rods any more than you can teach yourself to have zoom vision, or infrared vision :p
 
Bigstan said:
I've just tested this with my two monitors (at roughly 45 degrees).

I have the thread open on this monitor and a video on the other. I can make out what's happening in the video whilst reading the text on this monitor but If I turn and watch the video, there is no way I can read the text on this monitor.

Stan :)
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same here :|
 
Kreeeee said:
I care :)

That makes sense, it allows you to focus on what's dead ahead easier.
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It also allows your binocular vision area of max resolution to be larger, useful for when we're out hunter/gathering in Tesco :D

aardvark said:
you can't teach yourself to read with the rods any more than you can teach yourself to have zoom vision, or infrared vision :p
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That got a good lol. A boy can always dream though :p
 
I am not talking about being able to read the newspaper sat on a table a few feet to my right, im talking about signs, number plates etc.

It IS possible because people in the past have demonstrated that ability. if I REALLY concentrate I can make out patterns on things 3" high. Text is just that, a pattern so no reason why it would be any different.
 
Yes, if it was big enough, you might well be able to read it. However you have to remember that people who have this amazingly clear peripheral vision probably naturally have more cone cells in their retina than the rest of us do.
 
DRZ said:
I am not talking about being able to read the newspaper sat on a table a few feet to my right, im talking about signs, number plates etc.

It IS possible because people in the past have demonstrated that ability. if I REALLY concentrate I can make out patterns on things 3" high. Text is just that, a pattern so no reason why it would be any different.
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The lettering would have to be pretty large, your acuity drops to well below 6/60 (ie the biggest letter on the optician's snellen chart) in your periphery
 
MasterMike said:
I have a distracting eye floater which makes it very difficult to concentrate on small details... I'm slowly learning to ignore it though.
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Same here mike, it drives me mental. I have several cobwebs but one large ball in my left eye. Im trying to ignore it too.
 
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