How to See in the Dark

No matter how sharp your eyesight is, many people still find it very challenging to see at night or in the dark. Even though your eyes are supposed to adjust accordingly, we lose a big percentage of this ability every time we stare at bright sources of light directly which is something we’ve been doing subconsciously since we were kids. If you have been having difficulties seeing in the dark or are going on a trip that requires extra sharp night vision like hunting, you might want to consider the various solutions mentioned here to improve your vision in the dark. 

Imitate Pirates

Did you know that not all pirates wore eye patches to cover their eyes from sword injuries? Many of them actually covered an eye to be able to see better in the dark. During the morning light, one of their eyes would be exposed to the maximum amount of light. The patched eye, on the other hand, is more relaxed and less exposed to the sun, and therefore, it’s vision becomes stronger and more sensitive to light, allowing them to have perfect night vision. 

Did You Know?

  • The most feared pirate of all time was Blackbeard. c, a.k.a. Blackbeard, was known as the terrifying pirate who terrorized the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The man became popular among his contemporaries but for all the wrong reasons. He is easily regarded as the most vicious and brutal of them all, taking an army of his men aboard ships. He was a legend, together with his treasure-hunting plight. That is one fearful pirate!

Blackbeard picture in black and white image

  • The infamous pirate flag is called Jolly Roger. White skulls and crossbones are synonymous with the world of pirates and for good reason. These flags are authentic and were flown by sea thieves centuries ago. Although there is no definite record associating the flag with data, some theories believed that red flags were commonly used to signal that no mercy would begin to any capture in naval warfare. The flag was called Joli Rogue (pretty red) by the French, translated into Jolly Roger in English. Another theory steamed that the term was derived from “Old Roger,” a phrase for the Devil. Sure thing, this pirate flag is shrouded in mystery!

a Jolly Roger flag in 19th century image

  • The famous Julius Caesar had a taste of being a pirate’s captured victim. Incredibly, Julius Caesar, the most famous Roman of all time, was once a victim of Sicilian pirates. He was held for a ransom of today’s value of over $250,000. Caesar eventually became a mentor of pirates and won their respect, but upon his release, he vowed to return to make them pay. He kept his word true even after he was released and returned to take the lives of all his captives, even the sum he was forced to pay.
  • Zheng Li And Ching Shih were a powerful pirate couple in China. Their run as pirates was almost unmatched regarding success and complete dominance. Zheng Yi was a Chinese pirate who lived from 1765 to 1807. Zheng Yi is known for leading a pirate coalition of 600 ships. This force of over 40,000 men was divided into six fleets and terrorized merchant ships of all nationalities sailing between Hong Kong and Malaysia. The Chinese pirate married a former Cantonese prostitute Zheng Yi Sao in 1805. Mrs. Cheng, as she is sometimes known, made a unique contribution to Asian piracy history after her husband’s death. 

Get a Monocular 

Now a monocular is a high-end night vision device and it usually works to help you see particular objects in the dark very clearly. Monoculars have come a long way in terms of advancements and technology and therefore, making sure that you pick the right one for your needs without paying a fortune is necessary. To be able to get the best night vision monocular out there make sure you keep in mind the budget you’re willing to spend, how often you’re going to be using it, and the purpose behind getting one. There are so many different options available for your purchase, make sure to invest in the right one for the events you will be needing it for like hunting, watching rare bird species at night, or just for your home security. There are hundreds and thousands of different types of monoculars out there and this is why it’s imperative to be more knowledgeable about them before you make a purchase.

Wear Cool Red Night Shades 

Wearing red glasses or goggles a few minutes before getting into a dark area will allow your rods to adjust to darkness more quickly. The reason behind this is that sometimes your eyes do not pick up the color red at night, and this makes it difficult for you to see clearly. This is actually a common pilot trick that helps them see better when flying at night. 

Don’t Look Straight at Things

Moving your eyes a little bit instead of focusing on a target that you’re trying to see is necessary for you to be able to see better in the dark. So if you try looking left and right or tilting your head and averting your vision around the object, you will find that you will be able to see it better. Also, if you try looking at things from a lower point of view you might be able to create shadows and silhouettes that can improve your night vision drastically. You can think about it in the same way we’re all able to see stars so clearly in a night sky when there’s isn’t bright light around. 

Protect Your Vision  

Make sure you don’t look directly into very bright objects for too long, lower the brightness of your computer, and adjust your diet to improve your vision in the dark. Make sure you increase your vitamin A and zinc intake, eat greens, healthy fats, and stay hydrated because it directly impacts your vision and the overall health of your eyes.

Massages

If you make sure that you are well-rested regularly throughout the day by limiting your screen time or taking regular breaks from your computer at work, you will notice enhancements to your night vision. What is more interesting is that if you try closing your eyes tightly and massaging slowly and gently using the palm of your hands for 10-15 seconds you will notice improvements to your night vision right after. 

Stop Smoking 

Smoking has many negative effects on your health – but what you might not know about smoking is that it decreases the production of pigments like rhodopsin which is essential for vision. If you stop smoking you might be able to regain your night sight abilities. 

Stop Smoking 

Like many other things in life, with enough hard work, time, and energy you’ll be able to naturally improve your night vision significantly over time. If you try and train yourself to enhance your night vision, eat well and practice more to become conscious of when your eyes are tired and how it works, you will be able to see in the dark very easily. Unless you have an actual eye problem that requires glasses – but even then, you can still train yourself to give your night vision a boost.