Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I've come across two blind people in public that have been firmly pressing a finger against one of their eyeballs. Why is this? (self.Blind)
submitted by NakedTonyDanza
Thanks for any insight you can provide, this has had me curious for months now. It sounds deeply uncomfortable, but the people doing it didn't seem phased in the least.
(edit) Thanks for the responses, everyone. You can't really just walk up to a stranger on the street and say "Hey, uh... why're you touching yer eyeball?". I mean, maybe you can, but it's probably not something Mister Rogers would advise.
(edit) Thanks for the responses, everyone. You can't really just walk up to a stranger on the street and say "Hey, uh... why're you touching yer eyeball?". I mean, maybe you can, but it's probably not something Mister Rogers would advise.
bondolo 7 points 6y ago
Artificial eyes? A friend was once accused by a TSA agent of being able to see. She tapped her long finger nails onto her fake eyes producing a spine chilling audible clicking and said "These are just for show buddy; they don't actually work."
I have seen the behaviour more often with people who have coral implants to fill their eye socket, usually retinal blastoma survivors.
I have seen the behaviour more often with people who have coral implants to fill their eye socket, usually retinal blastoma survivors.
awesomesaucesaywhat 3 points 6y ago
That's so awesome. I knew a kid who would pop out his fake eye to freak out substitute teachers in middle school.
ClumsyVampire 1 points 6y ago
the first and only time i met my biological grandmother (mom was adopted) i was 6 and she was like 90 and popped out her glass eye and asked if i wanted to hold it. i burst into tears
fastfinge 5 points 6y ago
I used to do this all the time as a kid! I still do it when I'm really, really stressed to this day. I have absolutely no idea why. It...just feels like that's where my hand should go? I dunno. But it's an extremely bad habit. It's bad for the eye itself. Plus, putting your hand near your eye gets germs on your face, and means you're more likely to get colds, the flu, pink eye, and other terrible things. Also, it makes you look stupid. Yet, a a lot of children who are born blind pick up this habit, and it takes a lot of effort to break them of it.
NakedTonyDanza [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks for the response, it's helped settle a lot of internal debate. I've absolutely had my share of bad nervous habits as well so it makes sense.
fastfinge 3 points 6y ago
If the blind people you see doing this are children, and you are in some sort of authority over them, you should absolutely say something about it. It may be that people are already working with them, to get them to quit. If they're adults, they already know it's a bad habit, and they just haven't managed to quit. Approaching them is probably not going to be helpful.
In my case, I tried all sorts of things. What eventually helped was putting my hand into a fist, and resting my chin on it. It kept my hand occupied, and put my body into a similar position as when I was pressing on my eye. When I felt my hand going up to my eye, I just redirected it into a fist under my chin. No idea what public impression I gave, always resting my chin on my fist like that, but it was the first step in stopping that habit almost entirely.
In my case, I tried all sorts of things. What eventually helped was putting my hand into a fist, and resting my chin on it. It kept my hand occupied, and put my body into a similar position as when I was pressing on my eye. When I felt my hand going up to my eye, I just redirected it into a fist under my chin. No idea what public impression I gave, always resting my chin on my fist like that, but it was the first step in stopping that habit almost entirely.
Unuhi 3 points 6y ago
I do that or rub my eyes when they hurt.
(Also the reason I don't wear makeup)
(Also the reason I don't wear makeup)
TempestheDragon 1 points 6y ago
This comment speaks to me on a spiritual level. Makeup takes so much time and is expensive and mascara would get on my glasses, too.
WhatWouldVaderDo 2 points 6y ago
It's usually called oculodigital stimulation, and can be associated with multiple causes of blindness (especially LCA -- Leber's Congenital Amaurosis). It's thought to be a way to mechanically stimulate the retina, since it is not naturally stimulated by light. Over time, it can be harmful, since the eyes can be physically moved back into the head.
Note that the underlying reason is different from when most people rub their eyes due to irritation (for example, many people will rub their eyes after staring at a computer screen for hours). oculodigital stimulation is mainly because it "feels good," and can be habitual.
Sorry I don't have time to post references, but a quick google should give you additional info.
Note that the underlying reason is different from when most people rub their eyes due to irritation (for example, many people will rub their eyes after staring at a computer screen for hours). oculodigital stimulation is mainly because it "feels good," and can be habitual.
Sorry I don't have time to post references, but a quick google should give you additional info.
CatchTheseWords 1 points 6y ago
I'd say they're doing it in public because they don't have a grasp of what is socially appropriate.
The medical reason for it is known as oculo-digital reflex, and relates to the stimulation a blind individual receives from the action.
The medical reason for it is known as oculo-digital reflex, and relates to the stimulation a blind individual receives from the action.
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