Anyone who has been on an investigation along with me knows that I have spoken about the difficulties paranormal investigators face in dealing with vision in total darkness. When the lights are turned off and the investigation starts, you may see lights flickering or disappearing, faint glows that gradually fade in and out, lights that appear to dance in front of you, or lights that seem to move so close that we feel like we could touch them. But when we reach out, there is nothing. We may mistakenly believe we are experiencing paranormal phenomena because we don’t know what our eyes face when processing information in darkness.

Tim Doyon is my name and I am a Paranormal Investigator. I hold a Parapsychology certification and founded FindersCreepers, a Paranormal Research group. I have had enough experiences over the years to be comfortable saying I believe in life after death. I am not suggesting that paranormal phenomena aren’t possible. I’m simply suggesting that all those who work at night (e.g. Paranormal Investigators, Pilots, Astronauts and Military personnel, among others, should be aware of their physical limitations. a person must be aware of their physical limitations in order to be fully prepared for whatever may happen. Please understand that I am not a Doctor, Scientist or Engineer. This is my personal experience, based on military training and personal study. Let me now begin.

Lights that flicker or completely disappear

Averted Vision is a result of the natural anatomy of our eyes. There are two types of light-detecting cells in the human retina: rods and cones. The rods can be used in low-light conditions. While the cones are for color vision and daylight, they also support color vision. There are approximately 5-7 million cones in the human eye and between 100-130 millions rods. The fovea is the central spot of the retina where the cones are located. The rods surround the cones, covering a larger area known as the macula. It is almost impossible to see faint lights in darkness when we are looking at them. We are often in dark places as Paranormal Investigators. Do not jump to conclusions if you notice a faint light in your peripheral vision. Try looking at the object again. But this time, you should not stare directly at it. Instead, turn your gaze 15 to 20 degrees towards the side. It may appear again if you look at it directly again. If it disappears again, it is likely that your vision has been obscured.

Faint, glowing shapes that slowly fade away

You may have witnessed a ghost trying to appear in your face if you’ve ever seen a faint glow before your eyes. An alternative possibility is to experience an After-Image. An after-image refers to an image that the brain retains even after it has been removed from the object. I will show you an optical illusion that is very popular. This illusion is known as the Yorick’s Skull Illusion. It relies solely on the natural tendency of the eye to create an after-image. This illusion is amazing and I guarantee you will be amazed if you try it. The after-image’s color is proportional to the object being viewed. White will appear as black or black and vice versa.

How does after-imaging affect the Paranormal Investigator? If you’re in darkness and someone lights their flashlight on you, it is possible to see an after-image of the light flash before you eyes. How can you tell if this is an after-image or the real thing? You can try looking in a different direction and blink. If the image appears again, it is more likely that you are seeing an after-image and not something supernatural. If this is the case, close your eyes and allow your eyes to relax for a few moments. For a brief moment, you might press your palms against the surface with your hands. The image will disappear in no time and you can return to your task.

Lights that appear closer than they really are Paranormal Eye UK

Processing information in the dark can be difficult because we don’t have visual clues that can help us compare it to the object we see. The human eye uses the surrounding objects to determine an object’s size when it looks at it. As an example, I will give you another optical illusion.

The following illustration shows railroad tracks that extend towards the horizon. The image also shows two moons. One is large and one is closer to the horizon. The two moons actually have the exact same dimensions. Our brain uses the railroad tracks as visual references to help us determine the true size of our moons.

This effect is so strong, even though we know that they are identical in size, it is still hard to see them as such.

The Paranormal Investigator will attempt to understand the object if he/she is sitting in darkness and notices an orb, or any other kind of faint light. He/she might believe that the object is bigger or smaller than it is if he/she is unable to see any visual references. The investigator might also misunderstand the object’s actual distance using this information. The more extreme the phenomenon, the larger the room. Investigators may see the tunnel’s end as a tiny red light that is emitted directly at our faces.

Dancing Lights

Do you remember sitting in a darkened room and suddenly seeing your hand move around? The Autokinetic Effect could be what you are experiencing. The illusion of movement that is effected by a dimly lit object when it is viewed in darkness is called the autokinetic effect. It is unknown what causes the illusion. However, the effect is thought to be caused by small movements in the eyeball and the loss of nearby references that normally stabilize visual perception. You can reduce the autokinetic effect by using visual scanning techniques that are more effective than staring at the source of light or increasing the intensity of the lights if you have the ability.

All This is the Point

Paranormal Investigators might experience many other types of phenomena as their brains attempt to interpret the information at night. It is difficult to discern the size, distance, and movement of objects when there are few, if any, visual clues. Many of the things we see before us. What can we do to stop or reduce the likelihood of these problems?

Dark Adaptation

We should first adjust our eyes to the darkness. After being exposed to complete darkness for 15-20 minutes, chemical changes in our retinas begin that improve our ability to see faint objects. After adjustment, our brains can regain some visual references that are necessary to process any other information that comes into our vision.

Any sudden exposure to light can cause this adaptation to be reversed. It is controversial, but it is important to use only red-filtered flashlights during investigations. This will help us see in the dark.

There were many traditions we followed while aboard a U.S. Navy ship. Taps was one of them. It came across the loudspeakers at dusk each night. “Taps, taps. Lights out. All hands, turn into your bunks and keep quiet around the decks. Now taps By that time all lights on the ship had been turned off and only the red-filtered lights lit the interior. This was done to make it easier for us all to navigate the ship and still maintain our night vision. It works well for the Navy so I believe it will work for us.

Here are some ideas we may all be able use:

  • To maintain your visual acuity in darkness, consider only dim lighting of the site when investigating.
  • Consider using dimly lit, red-filtered flashlights for all investigations.
  • Before any investigation begins, ensure that everyone has at least 15-20 minutes of darkness adaptation.
  • If possible, avoid bright lights. Be sure to advise your team members to ensure that they can close their eyes before taking a photo.
  • Use night vision cameras equipped with good IR lighting when practical.
  • Do not stare directly at objects. Instead, scan or look about 15-20 degrees to the side for visual targets.
  • Wear good quality sunglasses every day, especially during nighttime investigations.
  • Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamin A.
  • Avoid smoking – Cigarette smoking can reduce oxygen levels and cause a decrease in one’s ability to see in darkness.
  • Keep your lights dimmed as much as possible during the drive to the investigation location. This will allow you to continue driving safely.
  • After you have adjusted for darkness, hold your hands tightly over your eyes for a few seconds. This could help you adjust to the darkness faster than normal.