In a previous lifetime, I was a middle school science teacher. I’ve always been fascinated by science and the discoveries that have been made and yet to be made.  I came across an article about eyes. While the human eye is very complex and capable, the animal world can teach us something out how we see.

A common misconception is that dogs see in black and white. That’s not true. Humans have three color-detecting cells in our eyes called cones, while dogs only have two. They see much like a human with red-green color blindness, meaning they see in yellows and blues. While dogs can see better in low light than humans, they tend to be near-sighted. Things need to be near the dog to be seen clearly. However, their ability to sense motion and their keen sense of smell makes up for sight limitations.

Animals of prey tend to have eyes on both sides of their heads – fish, rabbits, and deer are examples. They can see predators coming from either side and from the back. Pretty effective if a predator is sneaking up on them to eat them. Mice can actually move each eye independently on each side, increasing their ability to detect movement. However, side-eye animals have trouble seeing what’s right in front of them.

An eagle can see the movement of their favorite snack, bunnies, from two miles away. They can detect movements of field mice from 650 feet. When the sun sets, owls have that same vision capability in the darkness.

Geckos are 350 times more sensitive to color than the human eye. They have incredible color vision, even at night. Certain snakes cannot only see color but infrared. They can see through their prey and what they are hunting can “glow” which is especially effective at night.

So how do you see?

Do you have dog vision?
Do you have limitations in one area that you make up for by another? Have you found a way to overcome what you can’t see easily?

Do you have prey eyes?
Do you see others and everything around you? Maybe occasionally missing what’s right in front, because you’re so busy and involved in the lives of others?

Do you have eagle/owl eyes?
Can you see what’s coming? Can you see far off and seem to have a sense for what’s out there? Both in the bright of day or the dark of night.

Do you have gecko/snake eyes?
Do you see many colors, many sides to an issue or people? Do you feel you can see what is inside of another person?

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.
Ralph Waldo Emerson